With the wildfire in Paradise spreading smoke and unhealthy air quality across Northern California, seven of the eight quarterfinal games across Division II and III have been pushed back to Monday, and the semifinals will be played the following Saturday.
We take a look at each of those quarterfinal games in this preview.
For an updated Division II printable bracket, click here.
For an updated Division III printable bracket, click here.
DIVISION II
No. 8 American Canyon at No. 1 Rancho Cotate, Monday, 7 pm
For a while last weekend, it looked as if Rancho Cotate would be hosting Montgomery this Friday, as the Vikings led American Canyon for the first three quarters. Then, Eddie Byrdsong erupted in the fourth quarter, leading a 29-point explosion over the final 12 minutes as the Wolves rallied for a 43-29 victory in the first round.
American Canyon trailed 16-7 in the third quarter of its game against Montgomery, but Byrdsong finished the game with 45 carries for 356 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-clinching 51-yard burst with three minutes remaining.
The Wolves will be hard-pressed, however, to find the same level of success against the top-seeded Cougars, who scored 48 points in the first three quarters of their rout over Casa Grande last weekend. Seniors Elias Rantissi and Connor Barbato lead a front seven that has been stingy all season, while Riley Cronin and Tai Peleti are both playmakers in the secondary. Then there is the balanced offensive attack – Rasheed Rankin has run for 1,170 yards and 20 touchdowns, while Sumari Jones has added close to 500 yards on the ground. Jared Stocker has completed 65 percent of his passes this year for 2,372 yards and 23 touchdowns.
This will be the third meeting all-time between the programs, who split a pair of non-league games in 2013 and 2014.
No. 5 Marin Catholic at No. 4 Granada, Monday, 7 pm
This has the potential to be one of the top quarterfinal games, featuring two teams who have both faced elite competition throughout the season. A young Marin Catholic faced some early hurdles with losses to teams such as Campolindo, McClymonds and Antioch, but the Wildcats have fine-tuned their game against MCAL opponents down the stretch.
Dual-threat junior quarterback Gaven Cooke has thrown for 1,114 yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding 822 yards and 14 scores on the ground. Meanwhile, Matteo Perez has emerged as the lead back after some early injuries in the backfield, having gone over the 1,000-yard mark in the regular season.
With Granada, there is little secret what the Matadors want to do, but stopping them is a different story entirely. Octavio Morales and Zack Macintire are both threats in the backfield, while Malini Ti’a has proven near impossible to cover in the play-action passing game. If Granada has its Wing-T humming, it will create additional pressure for every Marin Catholic possession.
This is the first meeting between these programs.
No. 7 Benicia at No. 2 Bishop O’Dowd, Monday, 7 pm
Host O’Dowd has won six straight since a non-league to St. Mary’s-Stockton, including last week’s playoff win over Hayward, in which Mo Flynn threw for four touchdown passes, including three to Jelani Warren.
Benicia, meanwhile, has won seven of eight games after a 1-2 start to the season, with the lone loss coming to unbeaten Las Lomas in the DAL-Valley title game. Junior quarterback Kameron Lane has played a big role, throwing for 20 touchdowns with just six interceptions, while senior Aaron Jenkins leads a deep cast of running backs with 628 yards and eight scores. Seniors Elijah Harris and Justin Zimmer are both threats in the passing game.
This will be the first meeting all-time between the programs. Bishop O’Dowd is seeking its fourth straight NCS semifinal appearance.
No. 6 Ukiah at No. 3 Campolindo, Monday, 7 pm
Winning post-season games has to almost feel like a given right to Campolindo fans in recent years, as the Cougars’ win over Redwood last week was their 16th straight victory in the playoffs, having won four straight NCS titles.
Campolindo scored all 35 of its points last week in the first three quarters, as junior quarterback Grant Harper threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Meanwhile, Ukiah pulled away from Maria Carrillo in the second and third quarters for the Wildcats’ eighth win of the season.
These teams met for the first time two years ago in the Division II semifinals, with Campolindo winning by a 48-7 score.
DIVISION III
No. 8 Encinal at No. 1 Cardinal Newman, Monday, 7 pm
This is one of two quarterfinal rematches from last year in Division III. Cardinal Newman rolled past Encinal in last year’s quarterfinals, but faces arguably a more prepared Jets’ team this time around, certainly one which has faced better competition after moving up to the WACC-Foothill this season.
Encinal made last week’s eight versus nine game surprisingly one-sided, routing Petaluma 49-0, as junior quarterback David Romero-Reinholz threw for 199 yards and four touchdowns, two each to Teddy Oliver and Landis Green. Green also scored on a punt return, and the Encinal defense added a pair of scores on fumble and interception returns.
Cardinal Newman, which had a first-round bye, comes in averaging 369 yards of offense per game, led by dual-threat junior Jackson Pavitt, who has thrown for 24 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Sophomore Shane Moran has also emerged in the backfield, while senior two-way standout Dino Kahaulelio is the rock on defense from his linebacker position.
These programs have met three teams in the playoffs, with Cardinal Newman winning all three games.
No. 5 Miramonte at No. 4 El Cerrito, Monday, 7 pm
Another rematch from last year, this was one of the best quarterfinal games in 2017, when Miramonte rallied from an 11-point deficit with under four minutes remaining, stunning El Cerrito, 31-30.
Both teams carry considerable momentum into this one, as Miramonte rolled up nearly 400 yards of offense in last week’s win over Alameda, including 152 yards and three touchdowns on the ground from senior Henry Vacakis. El Cerrito, however, raced past Tamalpais, 55-7, as the Gauchos’ talented secondary wiped out what had been an effective Red-Tailed Hawks’ passing game during the season.
These programs have met in the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, with Miramonte winning both meetings.
No. 7 De Anza at No. 2 Eureka, Friday, 7 pm
The only game from these two divisions not to get moved to Monday due to the catastrophic fire in Paradise, the host Loggers are in the same position as last year’s playoffs, heading into the quarterfinals with an unbeaten record.
Eureka had a bye last week, while De Anza rolled past Tennyson, as Taemon Evans threw for five touchdowns in the 45-22 win. Eureka, meanwhile, is averaging 482 yards of offense per game, and quarterback Cruz Montana has thrown for 23 touchdowns with just three interceptions. The Loggers made it this far last year with an unbeaten record, only to fall to Rancho Cotate in a heart-breaker.
Eureka and De Anza have never played each other before.
No. 11 Terra Linda at No. 3 Las Lomas, Monday, 7 pm
As has been the case nearly all season, Las Lomas rolled past an overmatched opponent in the first round last week, cruising past Newark Memorial. Only one of the Knights’ victories so far this year have come by less than 28 points, and that was a season-opening 12-7 win over Acalanes.
Terra Linda notched the biggest upset – on paper, at least – by taking down Pinole Valley last week, 21-20, stopping the Spartans’ two-point conversion to hold on for the victory. Two-way standout Jackson Zabierek carries the load at running back for the Trojans, who will no doubt look to control the ball and the clock to play keep-away from an explosive Las Lomas attack.
This will be the first meeting between these programs, who are each led by successful veteran coaches in Terra Linda’s Rich Cotruvo and Las Lomas’ Doug Longero.