As part of the first week of the Central Coast Section playoffs, Prep2Prep will be previewing each playoff bracket, releasing our previews throughout the week. This feature focuses on the Open Division IV bracket.
OVERVIEW
Of all five CCS divisions, Division IV appears to be the most open. The field includes the top four teams from the BVAL Santa Teresa Division, the top two from the SCVAL El Camino Division and the second and third-placed teams from the MBL Pacific Division. More than half the field has been involved in thrilling games throughout the season, and even the 9-1 top seed will be taking on the team responsible for its only loss in the first round.
With just three leagues comprising the field, there’s tons of familiarity among the field. 5 of 8 games played within the field were decided by one score. Alisal spoiled Christopher’s homecoming with a 28-21 double-overtime victory on October 13 after the host Cougars came back from a 14-point deficit and blocked a field goal to force overtime. With the SCVAL El Camino title on the line, Santa Clara overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter at Cupertino last Thursday. Cupertino had a chance to put the game away, but a fumble at the 1-yard line led to a 99-yard Bruin drive. Chris Brown ran for the touchdown to cut it to one and completed a pass to Richard Corona for the game-winning two-point conversion.
Both Cupertino and Alisal are looking to make the most out of rare playoff appearances. Cupertino hasn’t been in the postseason since 2002, and Alisal is making just its fifth appearance in 52 years.
Although Leland and Christopher are the two highest-seeded teams, this has all the makings of the most unpredictable field of the five CCS brackets. A blowout game anywhere in the field would be more of a surprise than a crazy finish, and most of these teams are quite familiar with wild endings to games. While the three Open Divisions will receive the bulk of the attention because of state title implications, the Division IV field should make for some of the most exciting football in the area.
Click here for the full printable bracket.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leland QB/FS Carson Yates, Leland CB/WR Cannon Yates, Leland HB/DB Kyle Anderson, Leland WR/DB Anthony Gonzales, Leland ILB/WR Brett Mason, Leland SS/WR Max McCash, Leland ILB/FB Garrett Swanson, Christopher RB/LB Tyler Davis, Christopher QB Ben Sanford, Christopher TE/MLB Jason Scirigione, Christopher TE/FS Joseph Cupp
Branham RB Nolan Gallagher, Branham RB/SS Kyle Loeffler, Branham MLB/TE Mitchell Braun, Santa Clara QB Chris Brown, Santa Clara RB/FS Erik Ketton, Santa Clara WR/CB Richard Corona, Santa Clara WR/K Nick Garcia
Independence HB Jonathan Medina, Independence RB Jason Lam, Independence QB Neiko Allen, Independence WR Isaiah Gonzales, Independence WR/DB Jevon Smith, Alisal QB Andrew Marquez, Alisal RB/MLB Thomas Martinez, Alisal RB Anthony Vazquez, Alisal RB Israel Corona
Cupertino RB/SS Alex Bruckhaus, Cupertino RB/ILB Joey Wilson, Cupertino WR/CB Michael Robles, Cupertino FS/WR Dylan Thiel, Willow Glen QB/CB Lorenzo Gayles, Willow Glen WR/RB Connell Ryans, Willow Glen RB/DB Waking Bailey, Willow Glen RB/LB Tyler Hawkins
SLEEPER TEAM
If Alisal can shake off the rust, Cesar Chaidez’s team could be a force to be reckoned with. The Trojans lost three straight to open the year and started just 1-4, but have now won five straight, including the double-overtime thriller at Christopher. Perhaps the stunning loss at Soledad, in which the Trojans let a 17-0 lead slip away en route to falling to 0-3, served as a wake-up call. The very next week, Alisal scored with less than two minutes remaining to beat North Salinas and hasn’t looked back since.
However, rust could certainly be an issue for a team that’s had two weeks off. The October 13 game at Christopher was one of the few games to not be postponed by the North Bay fires, and and the Trojans had their bye week scheduled for November 3. As a result, they finished their regular season before any other team in the section. Whether the prolonged wait made the Trojans rusty or allowed them to recharge will be dictated by their results.
TITLE GAME PREDICTION
Christopher over Leland
