Lights will be getting a little brighter on Friday night’s when high school playoff football starts.
Here in the Southern Section teams are starting to assert themselves and separate from the pack. The section is comprised of 13 divisions. The winner of each division will make it to a bowl game at the end of the season.
Southern California boasts the finest collection of overall football talent in the state. Out of the 13 divisions the Pac-5 and West Valley divisions are the cream of the crop.
Here at Prep2Prep, we will be covering the Pac-5 and West Valley divisions as well as providing coverage to some of the other top playoff divisions.
Pac-5
Top to bottom the Pac-5 is the most competitive division in the Southern Section if not the state. It is a shame that only one school will get an invite to a bowl game with all the talented teams in the division. Centennial won the Pac-5 last season and looks primed to repeat this year.
Here's our playoff projection:
1. Centennial (8-0)
2. St. John Bosco (8-0)
3. Mater Dei (6-1)
4. Oaks Christian (8-0)
5. Serra (7-1)
6. Long Beach Poly (6-2)
7. Westlake (7-1)
8. Bishop Amat (7-2)
9. Loyola (7-1)
10. Norco (7-1)
West Valley
Mission Viejo heads our rankings as the only undefeated team in the division. The Diablos have one game left in the regular season and are heavy favorites against their next opponent El Toro.
Not too far behind are Vista Murrieta and Tesoro. The Broncos put up 62 points last week in a win over Murrieta Mesa , and the Titans lit up the score board with a 68-point performance against a helpless Dana Hills.
Both Vista Murrieta and Tesoro have the scoring power to overtake Mission Viejo in the playoffs. But, like the Pac-5, this is a talented division throughout.
Here's our playoff projection:
1. Mission Viejo (9-0)
2. Vista Murrieta (7-1)
3. Tesoro (7-2)
4. Hart (7-1)
5. Chino Hills (6-2)
6. San Juan Hills (7-1)
7. Rancho Cucamonga (6-2)
8. Edison (5-3)
9. Upland (5-3)
10. Fountain Valley (6-2)
Northwest
Notre Dame and Twentynine Palms headline the Northwest division as the only two undefeated teams. Notre Dame beat previously undefeated Linfield Christian 16-9 last week to vault up to the No. 1 spot. Linfield Christian falls to the No. 3 spot behind Twentynine Palms who put up 42 points in a Week 8 win over Desert Mirage.
Here's our playoff projection:
1. Notre Dame (8-0)
2. Twentynine Palms (8-0)
3. Linfield Christian (7-1)
4. Bishop Montgomery (7-1)
5. Mission Prep (6-2)
6. Valley Christian (7-2)
7. Rancho Mirage (7-2)
8. Ontario Christ (6-2)
9. Templeton (5-3)
10. Maranatha (5-3)
Southwest
Teams are stacking up wins in the Southwest Conference and the rankings could fluctuate dramatically before it’s playoff time.
La Habra is viewed by many as the team to beat in the division, but the Highlanders have a loss to their name. La Habra lost to Mission Viejo in Week 3, which shouldn’t hinder its chances at clinching the top overall spot.
Meanwhile, Villa Park and Valencia are undefeated. But the two Southern Section schools strength of schedule does not work in their favor.
Here's our playoff projections:
1. La Habra (7-1)
2. San Clemente (6-2)
3. Corona del Mar (6-2)
4. Villa Park (8-0)
5. Valencia (8-0)
6. Tustin (7-1)
7. Sonora (7-1)
8. Buena Park (6-2)
9. Foothill (6-2)
10. University (7-1)
