It goes without saying that all four CCS Division I matchups are must-see action, and our Harold Abend has previewed all of those matchups. The other divisions shouldn’t be overlooked, though, and there are a few particularly good games to watch out for.
Division II
No. 8 Live Oak (9-1) @ No. 1 Los Gatos (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
A battle of one-loss teams that only fell in games against the eventual champions of their leagues will get the action underway in Division II. Both teams have shown versatility this year outside of their usual schemes, with Los Gatos happy to throw the ball with quarterback Yost Girvan and Live Oak giving QB Caleb Ojeda, a converted wide receiver, the liberty to direct the offense as he sees fit.
No. 7 Oak Grove (8-2) @ No. 2 Salinas (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Pit should be rocking as the playoffs get underway with the Cowboys hosting an Oak Grove team that’s won seven straight. The Eagles got off to a rough start, a combination of early injuries, eligibility matters and a grueling nonleague schedule, but playing such good competition has paid off as they won yet another BVAL Mt. Hamilton title this year in convincing fashion. They allowed just 40 points in seven league games, but their defense will need to be more than just good to slow down a Salinas offense led by quarterback Carl Richardson. The Cowboys’ lowest offensive output on the entire season was 24, and they’ve scored at least 35 in all but two games. JJ Chin, Cade Smith and Austin Villanueva all have tremendous speed and can find the end zone on any play, whether taking a quick pass from Richardson or taking the top off the defense on a deep ball.
Division III
No. 5 San Benito (5-5) @ No. 4 Aptos (5-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
Yes, the Haybalers won 22-14 when these teams got together in the regular season, but it would be foolish to doubt the Mariners with how they finished the regular season. They pushed both Palma and Salinas to the brink, looking like an experienced team instead of the young, unproven bunch that started the season. Still, this is a matchup that favors Hollister as the Balers are far bigger in the middle, where they’ll look to pick up three yards and a cloud of dust throughout the night.
No. 6 Burlingame (5-5) @ No. 3 Mountain View (7-3), Saturday, 1 p.m.
After a 45-7 Panthers romp in last year’s Division IV quarterfinals, Mountain View will look to make things right. Not only do the Spartans have the revenge factor as a team, they’ve got one of their top individual players with a chip on his shoulder. Wide receiver Austin Flax, who caught nine touchdowns and found the end zone three more times this season on two kick returns and a pick-six, broke his foot when the teams met last year. Burlingame has peaked at the right time, though, beating Sacred Heart Prep and San Mateo to close the regular season with stifling defense and a passing attack that’s become much more efficient as the year’s gone on, meaning defenses can’t just focus on stopping what’s already been a strong rushing attack with Lucas Meredith and sophomore Elijah La Guardia.
Division IV
No. 7 Monte Vista Christian (7-2) @ No. 2 Branham (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Both teams will be looking to put last week behind them, as each had a chance to win an outright league title but had to settle for a three-way tie after close losses. Branham was shut out for three quarters in a 16-8 loss to Silver Creek, while MVC fell to Seaside in three overtimes. Any overconfidence that either team could have had at the start of the month has faded away, leaving both sides to focus on the road that’s right in front of them.
No. 6 Saratoga (8-2) @ No. 3 Carmel (5-5), Friday, 7 p.m. at Monterey Peninsula College
If you like offense, ignore how long the drive may be and make the trek to MPC for this one. Saratoga was in a similar position last year, losing 54-48 to Gonzales in the Division V quarterfinals, and the Falcons are ready to bounce back in what should be another high-scoring affair this year. Even if the teams combine for upwards of 100 points, it still may not be Carmel’s highest-scoring game, though. In nonleague play, the Padres lost 69-61 to Templeton. As the Padres have done well stopping the run as of late, including in a 41-14 win over San Benito, expect Saratoga to throw even more than usual.
Division V
No. 7 Pacific Grove (7-3) @ No. 2 Santa Cruz (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
With the PCAL Cypress title already locked up, the Cardinals dropped a tough one last week to a Watsonville team playing for nothing but pride. Quarterback Dillon Danner, sophomore running back Qwentin Brown and the rest of Santa Cruz’s roster will have to put that one in the rearview mirror and avoid repeating the mistakes that led to four turnovers in that game as the Cardinals host a PG team that won the Santa Lucia Division with just a 22-man roster. Early in the year, the Breakers beat Santa Cruz 30-15, the last game the Cardinals had lost until the stunner to close the regular season. Between those two, they went on a six-game winning streak.
