Two weeks ago, we published quarterfinal previews for all divisions in the North Coast Section. Since then, the landscape has changed dramatically. The devastating Camp Fire out of Paradise not only left thousands without homes up north, not to mention those who lost their lives, but the resulting air quality throughout Northern California forced two straight weeks of postponements, and likely means that multiple CIF qualifiers will ultimately be decided by a coin flip.
So, as the same teams now prepare for those quarterfinal games after a couple weeks of not knowing what was going to happen, we re-visit these match-ups, but with a twist for the Thanksgiving holiday. In the midst of so much devastation, instead of breaking down each game like we did before, we give a couple reasons to be thankful for each of these games.
OPEN DIVISION
No. 3 Clayton Valley at No. 2 Liberty
Clayton Valley fans can be thankful that, for the first time since the inception of the Open Division, the Ugly Eagles will not see their season derailed with a semifinal game at De La Salle. Football fans in general should enjoy the atmosphere of the downtown Brentwood campus at Liberty, complete with packed stands tossing streamers in the air as the Lions enter the stadium before kickoff.
The game is scheduled to be streamed live on the NFHS Network.
DIVISION I
No. 5 Monte Vista at No. 4 San Ramon Valley
The visiting Mustangs are grateful for a second shot at the Wolves, who denied them of the top seed when they beat Monte Vista in the regular season finale. San Ramon Valley fans should be grateful for at least one more chance to watch Stanford-bound Tristan Sinclair in action. Sinclair was a first-team all-league recipient on both sides of the ball. With Vintage’s win over Antioch two weeks ago, the winner of this game will get another home game in the semifinals.
The game is scheduled to be streamed on the NFHS Network via NorCal Sports TV, and will also be shown to AT&T UVerse subscribers in the Bay Area on Channel 99 and on Channel 32 to Comcast subscribers in Contra Costa County.
No. 7 San Leandro at No. 2 California
California fans should be grateful for a program which has won seven or more games in every year this decade. Pirate fans are grateful for winning playoff games in back-to-back seasons, following what had been a 12-year drought before last year.
No. 6 Amador Valley at No. 3 Freedom
Fans at host Freedom should be grateful for at least one more shot to see three-year standout and Michigan commit Giles Jackson, an electrifying athlete every time he touches the ball. Likewise, Amador Valley fans are grateful to see EBAL-Valley MVP Dominick Mazotti show defenders what a 6-foot-4, 230-pound quarterback who runs over linebackers looks like.
The game is scheduled to be streamed live on the NFHS Network.
DIVISION II
No. 8 American Canyon at No. 1 Rancho Cotate
Rancho Cotate remembers the feeling all too well of what an interrupted season feels like, after last year’s fires in the North Bay. The Cougars should be grateful for another home game, and the opportunity to celebrate the careers of two-way standouts such as Elias Rantissi and Connor Barbato. American Canyon, meanwhile, should be grateful for the presence of running back Eddie Byrdsong, who ran wild for 356 yards and four touchdowns in their comeback win over Montgomery.
No. 7 Benicia at No. 2 Bishop O’Dowd
O’Dowd fans get another shot to watch Stanford-bound running back Austin Jones, while Benicia can show gratitude for its playoff win in three years, in its first season back in the North Coast Section.
No. 6 Ukiah at No. 3 Campolindo
Campolindo fans can be grateful for another chance to extend their 16-game post-season winning streak, while Ukiah fans should be grateful for a program which has won 23 games in the last three years, after winning just seven games in the four years prior to that.
The game is scheduled to be streamed live on the NFHS Network.
No. 5 Marin Catholic at No. 4 Granada
The host Matadors can be grateful they are playing for their fourth straight berth in the section semifinals. Marin Catholic, meanwhile, is trying to keep alive an even longer string of success, having reached the section title game in each of the last six seasons.
DIVISION III
No. 8 Encinal at No. 1 Cardinal Newman
Cardinals’ fans are grateful to get their season re-started, after a nearly one-month layoff, and to once again see senior Dino Kahaulelio in action on both sides of the ball. Encinal, meanwhile, should be grateful for the arrival of coach Keith Minor this season. After leading Saint Mary’s-Albany to the 2013 section title, he has the Jets playing fantastic defensive football, having earned a rematch with Cardinal Newman in the quarterfinals after losing to the Cardinals in this round last year.
No. 11 Terra Linda at No. 3 Las Lomas
Terra Linda fans can be grateful simply for the extended season, after Rich Cotruvo’s defense came up with a huge two-point stop to preserve the upset win over Pinole Valley in the first round. Las Lomas fans are no doubt grateful for the resurgence of the last two years under coach Doug Longero, and this year’s unbeaten mark in the regular season.
No. 5 Miramonte at No. 4 El Cerrito
El Cerrito fans should be grateful for another shot at Miramonte. Last year, the Gauchos had an 11-point lead with under four minutes remaining in the quarterfinals before the Matadors came back to stun them. Miramonte fans can be grateful for the consistency of the last four seasons under coach Jack Schram, having compiled 36 victories and at least one playoff win each year.
DIVISION IV
No. 8 St. Patrick-St. Vincent at No. 1 Moreau Catholic
The unbeaten and host Mariners should be grateful that coach Rob Gatrell decided to take over this year when Andrew Cotter left for Freedom after a decade at the helm. As a head coach, Gatrell is 24-0 all-time, having led Windsor to a 14-0 record and an NCS title in the 2011 season. The St. Pat’s faithful is no doubt grateful to see a healthy Akil Edwards on the field. Without Edwards this year, the Bruins failed to score a point in two games, but the dual-sport standout accounted for seven touchdowns in the first-round win over Saint Mary’s.
No. 5 St. Bernard’s at No. 4 San Marin
The Crusader Nation is grateful to be playing beyond Thanksgiving for the fifth straight season, this time with junior dual-threat quarterback Will Omey pulling the strings to the offense. San Marin, meanwhile, should be grateful for another shot at St. Bernard’s, after losing in last year’s quarterfinals to the Crusaders.
The game is scheduled to be streamed live on the NFHS Network.
No. 6 Fortuna at No. 3 Kennedy-Richmond
The Fortuna faithful could be grateful for some time to get healthy, as a banged-up Huskies team struggled with injuries during league play, but will appear a bit healthier in this game and that could mean good things for their veer offense. Kennedy fans should be grateful for the last three seasons. After struggling since the start of the century, the Eagles have compiled 27 wins in the last three years.
DIVISION V
No. 8 Cloverdale at No. 1 Kelseyville
The first meeting between these teams this year was no run-away, with Kelseyville winning 22-15, so no doubt that the Cloverdale fans are grateful for a second shot at the Knights. Kelseyville should be grateful for winning the outright NCL title this year, after coming within a point of it last season. Even the Knights only loss this year, in the season opener to Stellar Prep, came after little preparation time for the team, which had been impacted by poor air quality during early August.
No. 7 St. Helena at No. 2 Salesian
The host Pride can be grateful for a return to Division V, where they won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014 before competitive equity moved them up a division. The visiting Saints should be grateful for coach Brandon Farrell, who won his 100th game as a head coach this year.
No. 3 Stellar Prep at No. 6 Berean Christian
The three-seed Thunder should be grateful for a challenging regular season schedule, one which included higher-division opponents and a season-opening win over Kelseyville. Berean Christian should be grateful for the opportunity to host another playoff game, after beating Ferndale in the first round, and for the Jackson brothers – Jayden and Justice – who comprise the team’s biggest threats in the passing and running game.