Division 1: St. John Bosco 42, Mater Dei 28
St. John Bosco and Mater Dei met in a rekindling of an annual rivalry that saw some bonus football with a title game rematch. The Monarchs took the regular season meeting in a close contest, but it was the Braves who went home with some revenge and hardware to boot, taking down previously undefeated Mater Dei in a game powered by a ground attack that outgained the Monarchs 376-75. St. John Bosco moves on to the state final, where the Braves will face Northern California power De La Salle.
Division 2: San Clemente 45, Murrieta Valley 35
In a battle of a potent offense versus a stingy defense, the latter emerged victorious. San Clemente not only put up enough points to win, but also limited Murrieta Valley to 35 points, enough to secure the CIF-SS Division 2 title in the process. San Clemente quarterback Jack Sears was a one-man wrecking crew for the Tritons’ offense, completing 19 of 24 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and rushing 17 times for 179 yards and two more scores. Combined with Sears’ performance, the Tritons’ defense clamped down enough to emerge with a 10-point victory and a trip to the Division 1-A state semifinal against CIF-SS Division 3 champion Edison.
Division 3: Edison 44, La Mirada 24
The Chargers jumped all over La Mirada in the first half, taking a 28-10 lead into halftime. Edison staved off a furious 14-point rally from the Matadores in the second half, scoring six in the third and 10 in the fourth to ice the victory and CIF-SS Division 3 title. Quarterback Griffin O’Connor completed 15 of 29 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown (with one interception), and rushed for 52 yards and two more touchdowns. Running back Jack Carmichael added 181 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 14 carries as the Chargers rolled to a title. They’ll face Division 2 winner San Clemente in the Division 1-A state semifinal Friday.
Division 4: Sierra Canyon 36, Corona del Mar 35
It took two overtimes to determine a winner, but the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers emerged victorious thanks to Bobby Cole. The running back took a handoff through the line, led by his fullback, and into the end zone for a two-point conversion that sent those in attendance into a frenzy and the Trailblazers home as CIF-SS Division 4 champions. Cole raised the title plaque with teammates surrounding him after also scoring on a 59-yard run earlier in the contest, with his efforts proving to be the difference. Coronal del Mar quarterback Chase Garbers completed 20 of 34 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown and rushed 19 times for 78 yards and three scores in a losing effort. Undefeated Sierra Canyon will face Los Angeles in the Division 2-A semifinals on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Granada Hills.
Division 5: Calabasas 35, Capistrano Valley 14
Missing senior and U.S. Army All-American Darnay Holmes, Calabasas faced a tougher task than usual in the CIF-SS Division 5 final. No matter for the Coyotes, who rolled past Capistrano Valley on the arm of record-setting quarterback Tristan Gebbia. The senior threw five touchdown passes, spreading scores among four different targets as Calabasa captured their second straight title and extended their undefeated season to 14-0. Gebbia finished with 487 yards passing, connecting with Nikko Hall 10 times for 158 yards and freshman Johnny Wilson for seven completions, 123 yards and two scores. Brendan Radley-Hiles caught eight passes for 132 yards and a touchdown as the Coyotes cruised to a championship and an appearance in the Division 2-AA semifinals against San Diego Madison on Friday.
Division 6: Paraclete 21, Los Altos 14
The drought is over. Paraclete ended a five-year period without a title by taking down Los Altos on Friday. Chris Ramirez’s fumble recovery in the end zone proved to be the difference to lift the Spirits to a championship. Los Altos running back Tyler Nevens rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, but the Spirits stuck to their gameplan of bottling up the running back, keeping pace on offense while taking advantage of timely mistakes — a Nevens fumble at the goal line, for one — to keep the score close before Ramirez was there to score the winning touchdown. Paraclete will play in the Division 3-AA semifinal against Chula Vista Mater Dei on Friday at Antelope Valley College.
Division 7: San Gorgonio 27, Norte Vista 21
Dual-threat quarterback Kaleb Hayes completed eight of 13 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown, but did the most damage on the ground, rushing 17 times for 134 yards and a touchdown as the Spartans edged Norte Vista for the CIF-SS Division 7 title. San Gorgonio weathered a 14-point storm by Norte Vista in the fourth quarter, scoring eight points to come away with a six-point win. San Gorgonio will face Valley View in the Division 5-AA semifinals Friday.
Division 8: Yorba Linda 31, Burbank 21
A dream season came crashing down in defeat for Burbank on Friday. The Bulldogs fell to Yorba Linda in the CIF-SS Division 8 title game on a night filled with uncharacteristically high winds. Burbank’s passing attack, led all season by quarterback Guy Gibbs, was held to two scores through the air as the Bulldogs were forced to turn to the ground game. it was there where Yorba Linda proved superior, as the Mustangs’ Jayden Webb rushed for 205 yards and four scores. Top-seeded Yorba Linda iced the game with an 18-yard field goal to give the Mustangs a 10-point lead with 3:28 and send them to the championship win. Yorba Linda will face CIF-SS Division 10 champion Long Beach St. Anthony in the Division 4-A semifinals Saturday at Veterans Stadium.
Division 9: Cerritos Valley Christian 59, Silverado 13
Silverado made its first appearance in the CIF-SS Division 9 title game Saturday, and it likely wishes it could run it back. Five turnovers marred their experience, and Valley Christian didn’t let the opportunity pass. The Crusaders grabbed a 31-7 lead by halftime, and it was over but for the shouting after that. Quarterback Isaac Joseph thew four touchdown passes and running back Gianni Hurd found the end zone twice to power Valley Christian’s first title win since 1995. The Crusaders will face La Jolla Bishop’s, champion of San Diego Section Division 3, in the Division 3-A semifinals Saturday.
Division 10: St. Anthony 33, Aquinas 32
A high-scoring affair produced 47 points between the two teams in the first two quarters, but ground to a halt in the second half, as the participants scored just 18 points in the second half. It was St. Anthony that came away with a triumph by the closest of margins, ending a drought that spanned close to four generations with the Saints’ first title since the Truman Administration. Aquinas saw the championship slip through its collective fingers after Branden Rankins scored his second touchdown to give the Falcons the lead at 32-27. Quarterback Johnny Buksa V rushed for over 150 yards and a score and put the Saints in position to win the game after completing a pass to Kaman Selu inside Aquinas’ 5-yard line. Running back Talaun Patton scored the second of his two touchdowns shortly thereafter to lift the Saints to the title. St. Anthony will face Yorba Linda in the Division 4-A semifinals at Veterans Stadium Saturday.
Division 11: Valley View 33, Quartz Hill 32
Junior quarterback Matthew Tago completed 21 of 32 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t quite enough for Quartz Hill. Valley View’s Justin Keeling rushed 24 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns, and fellow junior Rudy Lovato added 130 yards and a touchdown on the ground to power the Eagles’ offense to victory. Keeling’s touchdown from three yards out proved to be the difference, despite a missed PAT, as Valley View clinched the CIF-SS Division 11 title. The Eagles will face CIF-SS Division 7 champion San Gorgonio Friday.
Division 12: Arroyo 35, Rancho Mirage 34
Arroyo put the game, the season and the title on the line in overtime and came away victorious. The Knights converted their two-point attempt in the extra period, as quarterback Ernesto Camacho connected with receiver Devin Knight on a low completion for a successful conversion attempt and their first championship since 1986. Arroyo kicker Jesse Ortiz can hang his hat on his two 41-yard field goals, which kept the Knights in the contest before the thrilling overtime finish. Arroyo will face La Jolla Country Day in the Division 5-A semifinals Saturday.
Division 13: Rancho Christian 52, Santa Ana 14
Rancho Christian entered the CIF-SS Division 13 title game with a run-first approach, and it paid off with big dividends. Running back Jaden Schieberi rushed 16 times for 221 yards and four touchdowns, and fellow junior Elijah Campbell ran seven times for 47 yards and two scores as the Eagles coasted to the championship triumph. Schubert caught a 66-yard pass for an additional touchdown on his only reception of the night. Rancho Christian will face Franklin in the Division 6-AA semifinals Friday.
