CCS Open/Division 1
The new Open Division playoff format was introduced to enable the CCS to send its top two teams to state regional playoffs because of the requirement for a team to win its section in order to advance to the regionals. Adopted from the North Coast Section model, the winners of the 1-8 and 2-7 matchups advance directly to the Open finals with the loser of the Open Championship getting a backdoor shot at a Division 1 championship by playing the winner of the lower bracket.
While it is obviously a reasonable solution to an unnecessarily manufactured problem, in a year like 2024, it does deprive fans of what could have been a fascinating run to the title of the best team in CCS considering there were as many as five legitimate contenders for the Open Division title under the old format. It seems a little incongruous that a team like Archbishop Riordan may end up running a gauntlet of Soquel, Los Gatos and St. Ignatius/Saint Francis, but will “only” get a Division 1 title to show for it.
But that is the system we have now so let’s take a look at the two matchups coming up this weekend.
Open Final: No. 1 St. Ignatius vs No. 2 Saint Francis, Fri 11/22, 7:00 at San Jose City College
How they got here
St. Ignatius 45, Salinas 7: Jarious Hogan scored two touchdowns as St. Ignatius built an early 28-point lead and cruised to the victory. Six different players scored touchdowns for the Wildcats – including two on defense to open up the big early lead.
Saint Francis 24, Valley Christian 14: Kingston Keannaaia ran for 219 and two touchdowns as Saint Francis built an early 14-point lead and held on for the victory over WCAL rival Valley Christian.
Calpreps rankings
St. Ignatius 33
Saint Francis 48
Breakdown:
The two teams met October 18 with Saint Francis winning 27-13, but SI has not lost since and had a less stressful opening round. In that first meeting, SI built a 13-0 halftime lead only to get overrun in the second half by the powerful Saint Francis running game, led by Keannaaia, who finished with 212 yards and 2 TDs rushing.
Pick: St. Ignatius 27, Saint Francis 24.
Division 1 Semifinal: No. 5 Los Gatos at No. 3 Archbishop Riordan, Sat 11/23 1:00
How they got here
Archbishop Riordan 41, Soquel 7: The Crusaders raced out to a 20-0 first-quarter lead and were never threatened in a one-sided win over PCAL-Gabilan champion Soquel.
Los Gatos 14, Serra 7: Serra led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, but Los Gatos prevailed in a defensive struggle. Senior QB Scotty Bowman completed 14-of-21 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown and junior Grayson Doslak carried the ball 20 times for 148 yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats, who reached the top bracket despite not winning the PAL-Bay regular-season title.
Calpreps rankings
Los Gatos 55
Archbishop Riordan 46
Breakdown:
This looks like another fantastic matchup between a pair of teams with contrasting styles. Riordan, which likes to put the ball in the air with junior QB Mike Mitchell Jr. (166-of-253 passing, 2,332 yards, 29 TDs), recovered from a 1-2 start in the WCAL to win its final four games and finish third. Meanwhile Los Gatos, which relies on a running game anchored by Doslak (114 carries, 807 yards, 13 TDs), has lost only against NCS finalist Pittsburg and Wilcox in the battle for the PAL-Bay title.
Pick: Archbishop Riordan 31, Los Gatos 20
