Division 1-A: San Clemente (Southern Section Division 2 champion, 11-3) vs. Edison (Southern Section Division 3 champion, 13-1)
San Clemente emerged as the Division 2 champion by edging a high-scoring Murrieta Valley squad, but faces an even taller task in facing Edison. The Chargers are as hot as they come, winning nine straight entering the CIF Division 1-A Southern semifinal. Quarterback Griffin O’Connor (3,229 yards, 34 touchdowns, six interceptions) leads an Edison offense that can score in a variety of ways. The Tritons have a rushing attack that features quarterback Jack Sears (1,015 yards, nine touchdowns) and running back Austin Whitsett (1,013 yards, three touchdowns, as well as touchdown machine Brandon Reaves (702 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns; 740 yards receiving, 11 touchdown receptions), and will look to break through an Edison defense that has allowed 18.4 points per game.
Division 2-A: Los Angeles (LA City Section Division II champion, 11-3) vs. Sierra Canyon (Southern Section Division 4 champion, 13-0)
Los Angeles rolled through the LA City Section Division II playoffs, allowing just 12 points combined in four wins. The Romans will face a Sierra Canyon team that hasn’t tasted defeat all season, but came as close to it as possible in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 final, winning in double overtime over Corona del Mar. Powered by running back Bobby Cole (2,018 yards, 29 touchdowns), the Trailblazers will meet a Los Angeles defense that has been as close to unrelenting as possible, allowing just 9.4 points per contest.
Division 3-A: La Jolla Bishop’s (San Diego Section Division 3 champion, 13-0) at Cerritos Valley Christian (Southern Section Division 9 champion, 12-2)
Bishop’s cruised to a San Diego Section Division 3 championship, winning each playoff contest by 16 or more points, and will face a Valley Christian team that had just an easy time with its Southern Section Division 9 bracket. Bishop’s will rely on a defense that surrendered just 12.7 points per game in 2016, as it goes up against a Valley Christian attack headed by running back Gianni Hurd, who has rushed for 1,940 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Division 4-A: Yorba Linda (Southern Section Division 8 champion, 12-2) vs. Long Beach St. Anthony (Southern Section Division 10 champion, 12-2)
St. Anthony’s historic season, which included its first CIF-SS title since 1948, continues with a contest against Yorba Linda. The Mustangs rely on running back Jaydyn Webb, who has rushed for 1,182 yards and 16 touchdowns, in a balanced offensive attack. They’ll put that to the test against a St. Anthony defense that has surrendered 16.7 points per game. A game that promises to be a low-scoring, tightly contested matchup will provide a participant in the Division 4-AA final.
Division 5-A: Arroyo (Southern Section Division 12 champion, 13-1) at La Jolla Country Day (San Diego Division 4 champion, 11-3)
Arroyo finds itself in the state semifinal after squeezing past Rancho Mirage in a 35-34 overtime win in the Southern Section Division 12 final. La Jolla Country Day didn’t have nearly as difficult a time winning its section, defeating Santana 38-24 in the final a week after pushing past Southwest EC 21-14 in the semifinal. The Torreys are excellent through the air, with quarterback Braxton Burmeister completing 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,994 yards and 48 touchdowns to go with 1,258 yards rushing and 23 scores on the ground. The Knights’ defense (15.4 points per game allowed) will have to limit Burmeister to come away victorious and with a birth in the Division 5-A final.
Division 6-A: San Diego Horizon (San Diego Section Division 5 champion, 7-6) at Strathmore (Central Division VI champion, 13-0)
Horizon is a surprise arrival in the state semifinals after needing three straight wins in the San Diego Section Division 5 playoffs just to get past .500 on the year. The Panthers hit their stride in the postseason, scoring at least 40 points in each of their victories to win the section title. Meanwhile, Strathmore hasn’t lost all season, allowing 40 total points combined in three playoff wins. The Spartans have a fearsome defense that has surrendered an average of just 11.8 points and will look to ride that stout unit to a berth in the state final, while Horizon will look to continue doing what works, which is handing the ball to Diandre Daniels (172 yards, one touchdown in the section final).
