California (CIF) State high school football championships at Saddleback College: Previews, game times
Saddleback College in Mission Viejo is one of three Southern California sites joining El Camino College in Torrance and Pasadena City College to host 15 CIF State Bowl championships Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8-9..
Check out these previews all being played at Saddleback below pitting regional champions from the South and North, along with the Open Division game matching national powers Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and Serra (San Mateo). Those two teams were selected by CIF's football committee as the top two teams in each region.
Editor's note: Check back here all weekend for live updates, photos, game stories, video highlights, state packages and more from SBLive reporters Tarek Fattal, Myckena Guerrero and Mitch Stephens for each of the state-championship games.
DIVISION 2-AA — 4 p.m. Friday
North: Grant (12-2), Sac-Joaquin Section
South: La Serna (12-3), Southern Section
State finals record: Grant (2-0), La Serna (0-0)
Head coaches: Carl Reed (Grant), Andy George (La Serna)
Players to watch: Grant — S-WR Kingston Lopa (6-5, 190) 18 college offers, 39 catches, 711 yards, 16 touchdowns; RB Wayshawn Parker (6-0, 185, Washington State commit) 1,907 rushing yards, 24 TDs; QB Luke Alexander (185 of 276, 3,051 yards, 42 TDs); RB Devin Green (5-11, 205, UNLV commit) 7 games, 613 yards rushing, 14 TDs; DE Jeremiah Tuileila (6-3, 225) 122 tackles, 21.0 sacks.
Grant after winning last season's 36-34 3-AA championship game over San Jacinto.
Photo: Gary Jones
Players to watch: La Serna — ATH Owen Long (6-2, 195) Idaho commit, 1,431 rushing yards, 26 touchdowns; WR Jayden Northup (6-3, 180) 96 career catches, 1,624 yards, 22 touchdowns, 95 career tackles, 11 career interceptions; RB-MLB Adrian Castro (6-0, 230) 138 tackles, 10 rushing TDs.
Fact check: A longtime SJS power hit hard times from 2017-2021, going a combined 11-31 including a combined 2-19 over three seasons starting in 2019. But the program has recaptured all its glory with a state 3-AA title in 2022 with a sterling 36-34 championship game home win over San Jacinto when Lopa caught two TD passes. … It’s a return to the big stage for the Pacers, who pulled one of the biggest upsets in State Bowl history, shocking Long Beach Poly 25-20 in the 2008 Open final at the Home Depot Center. …. This year’s team is absolutely loaded, with likely the best RB tandem in Northern California with Parker and Green. Their two losses were by a total of four points. … La Serna makes its first state appearance after starting the season 1-2 and 2-3, winners of 10 straight, scoring at least 42 points in every game with explosions of 58, 62, 50 and 52 points. … In his ninth season, George has led the Lancers to a combined record of 84-23 in that span. This is the 11th season La Serna has won at least 10 games since 2008.
Skinny: As consistent as the Lancers have been with Long leading the way, Grant’s two-headed monster in the backfield is simply too difficult to defend. Throw in 42 TD passes from Alexander and the game’s top recruit Lopa, Grant will have to play sloppy to lose. Should be a back-and-forth thriller.
CalPreps computer predictions: Grant 38, La Serna 31
SBLive prediction: Grant 35, La Serna 34
DIVISION 1-AA — 8 p.m. Friday
North: De La Salle (11-2), North Coast Section
South: Mission Viejo (12-3), Southern Section
State finals record: De La Salle (7-8), Mission Viejo (1-0)
Head coaches: Justin Alumbaugh (De La Salle), Chad Johnson (Mission Viejo)
Players to watch: De La Salle — QB Toa Faavae, RBs Derrick Blanche Jr. and Dominick Kelley, DL Chris Biller, TE-LB Drew Cunningham; WR-CB Jaden Jefferson; WR-DB Johnathan Guerrero.
Players to watch: Mission Viejo — OT Mark Schroller (6-6, 295), CB Dijon Lee (6-3, 180) the state’s No. 5 junior commit with 15 offers including Auburn, Oregon and Oklahoma; WR Phillip Bell (6-2, 195) 37 offers including Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State; CB Treyvon Tolmaire (Boise State commit), ATH Travis Anderson (Boise State commit), OT Daxton Christman-Gourley (6-6, 270), LB Jack Matranga (6-2, 220), WR Vance Spafford (5-11, 175, So.) 77 catches, 1,510 yards, 21 touchdowns after 36-608-11 as freshman; QB Luke Fahey (6-0, 185, So.) 152 of 242 for 2,086 yards, 24 TDs; RB Hinesward Lilomaiava (1,061 yards, 16 TDs).
Fact check: These longtime super powers have faced off four straight years, winning two each, the last game in 2007. Mission Viejo won the first two meetings, 17-14 and 36-26 and the Spartans won the last two, 35-28 and 35-7. Total score: De La Salle 110, Mission Viejo 88. … De La Salle has won 11 straight since opening with humbling losses to Orange Lutheran 35-14 and Serra 28-0. … The Spartans, not as dominating as when it won seven state titles from 2006-2015, but they are still formidable as shown in a surprising 41-0 regional title win over previously unbeaten Clovis North, which had beat JSerra Catholic handily. … In the win streak, DLS has recorded three shutouts and outscored foes 336-107. … Mission Viejo has won seven straight since a 20-10 loss to San Clemente. The Diablos were particularly impressive in the playoffs, outsourcing formidable opponents handily: Oaks Christian (39-14), Murrieta Valley (31-21), Servite (34-15) and last week Granite Hills (49-21), piling up 406 yards of offense and allowing just 92 yards rushing.
Skinny: Before last week, De La Salle hadn’t got its usual charge off the offensive line resulting in a sputtering offense. Mission Viejo’s fronts might just prove too big and physical and with the playmaking abilities of Fahey, Bell, Lee and Spafford, the inspired De La Salle defense — playing for its longtime popular defensive line coach Steve Jacoby who passed suddenly at midseason — likely can’t hold the Diablos down for four quarters. DLS’s sprinter QB Faavae will need to break some long ones.
CalPreps computer predictions: Mission Viejo 24, De La Salle 19
SBLive prediction: Mission Viejo 28, De La Salle 17
DIVISION 3-AA — 11:30 a.m. Saturday
North: Acalanes (10-4), North Coast Section
South: Birmingham (12-2), LA City Section
State finals record: Acalanes (0-0), Birmingham (0-1)
Head coaches: Floyd Burnsed (Acalanes), Jim Rose (Birmingham)
Players to watch: Acalanes — WR-DB-K Trevor Rogers (Cal commit, 67 catches, 1,085 yards, 14 TDs, 4 interceptions), WR-DB-KR Paul Kuhner, QB Sully Bailey (3,196 total yards, 43 total TDs), 187 of 306, 2,861 yards, 31 TDs, 335 yards rushing, 12 TDs)), MLB Collin Malmquist (106 tackles).
Players to watch: Birmingham — WR-DB Peyton Waters (6-2, 180, Washington commit) 71 catches, 1,150 yards, 15 TDs, 58 tackles, 7 career interceptions), QB Kingston Tisdell (122 of 190, 2,104 yards, 27 touchdowns, no interceptions), RB Ronnell Hewitt (194 carries, 1,342 yards, 16 TDs as sophomore) rushed for 665 and 10 as freshman.
Fact check: Acalanes, which boasts Hall of Fame QB Norm Van Brocklin as an alum, won its first second and regional titles the last two weeks, so this is unfamiliar territory. … Burnsed, 76, has coached 40 years with previous stops at Miramonte-Orinda and Solano Junior College. …. Acalanes started the season 0-3. … The 12 wins for Birmingham is the most in program history since Ed Croson led the Patriots to a 13-1 campaign in 2007. … Rose took over two seasons later and after a couple rough seasons, has won at least eight games nine times since 2011. … Waters and Rogers have battled numerous times in 7-on-7 tournaments and figure to do so in college. … Rogers and Kuhner were part of Acalanes’ surprising 4x100 relay team that finished second in the state in a blazing time of 40.96 seconds.
Skinny: Acalanes really caught fire in the playoffs, but hasn’t faced a big, physical squad like Birmingham. They’ll likely need to break a couple long ones with Rogers and Kuhner. Birmingham’s brawn could prove decisive.
CalPreps computer predictions: Acalanes 28, Birmingham 24
SBLive prediction: Birmingham 28, Acalanes 27
DIVISION 1-A — 3:30 p.m. Saturday
North: Folsom (12-2), Sac-Joaquin Section
South: St. Bonaventure (12-3), Southern Section
State finals record: Folsom (4-1), St. Bonaventure (2-0)
Head coaches: Paul Doherty (Folsom), Joey Goyeneche (St. Bonaventure)
Players to watch: Folsom — QB Ryder Lyons (6-3, 205, 16 college offers including USC, Oregon, Notre Dame, BYU, Utah) 4,262 total yards, 59 TDs; WR Jameson Powell (83 ca, 1,201 yards, 13 TDs), WR Bryan Ray III (55, 801, 12), MLB Mason Kelly (104 tackles), S RJ Whitten (Yale commit), DL Nela Tupou (6-4, 210).
Ryder Lyons last week when he accounted for 324 yards and all four touchdowns in a 28-25 win over Pittsburg.
Dennis Lee
Players to watch: St. Bonaventure — QB Anthony Wolter (6-2, 190, Nevada commit) 10 games, 145 of 212, 15 touchdowns; OT Shaun Torgeson (6-5, 285, Portland State commit), RB Koen Glover (5-11, 190, 215 carries, 1,288 yards, 17 TDs), LB Jeremiah Barrios (5-9, 200, So., 124 tackles), DE Matt Perez (6-2, 215, 13.5 sacks), DB Max Peters (6 interceptions).
Fact check: Two proven programs that have never met. St. Bonaventure won state titles in 2007 and 2008, the second and third years of the Bowl Championships; Folsom has won state titles in 2010, 2014, 2017 and 2018 — mostly riding the right arms of prolific QBs such as current Bengals’ starter Jake Browning, Kaiden Bennett and Dano Graves. Lyons, at this stage, is the most athletic and most sought after, and as a passer and runner, most dominant. … Folsom’s losses were to NorCal Open representative Serra (21-14) and D1-AA champion De La Salle (14-7). … They’ve won nine straight, four by a touchdown or less including the last three. … The Seraphs also started slow at 1-2, won six straight before a 13-10 setback to Oaks Christian. Since then, they’ve won five in a row, including a miraculous 21-20 game at St. Augustine in the regional finals.
Skinny: It’s really a quite simple plan to beat Folsom — stop or slow Lyons. Easier said than done. St. Bonaventure is battle tested, but containing Lyons is next to impossible. Plus Folsom’s defense is highly under-rated.
CalPreps computer predictions: Folsom 31, St. Bonaventure 17
SBLive prediction: Folsom 21, St. Bonaventure 20
DIVISION 2-AA — 8 p.m. Saturday
North: Serra-San Mateo (12-0), Central Coast Section
South: Mater Dei (12-1), Southern Section
State finals record: Serra (1-4), Mater Dei (3-0)
Head coaches: Patrick Walsh (Serra), Frank McManus (Mater Dei)
Players to watch: Serra — QB Maealuiaki Smith (6-4, 200, Oklahoma State commit), S Joseph Bey (6-1, 195, San Jose State commit), LB-RB Jabari Mann (6-0, 210, San Jose State), LB-RB Danny Niu (6-0, 6-1, 215, San Diego State), TE Cole Harrison (6-5, 215), LB Marley Alapati (6-0, 205), WR-DB Kyan Loud (6-2, 180, Montana commit), RB-CB Jaden Green (WCAL, Utility POY), DE Colin Tahitua (WCAL DL POY).
Serra senior QB Maealuiaki Smith is headed to Oklahoma State
Photo: Dennis Lee
Players to watch: Mater Dei — QB Elijah Brown (Stanford commit, 8,979 career passing yards, 111 TDs), RB Nate Frazier (5-11, 208, Georgia commit), RB Jordon Davison (5-11, 203, Jr., 50 college offers), DL Aydin Breland (6-5, 290, 5-star, top recruit California, Oregon commit), OT Brandon Baker (6-5, 285, No. 3 California recruit, Texas), CB Zabien Brown (6-0, 180, No. 4 California recruit, Alabama), OL DeAndre Carter (6-4, 340, No. 11 California recruit, Auburn).
Fact check: The teams met in the 2021 Open Division title game and Mater Dei prevailed, 44-7. … McManus is a first-year head coach and longtime DBs coach. … Walsh is in his 22nd season and propelled Padres over his alma mater De La Salle as prééminent NorCal program. This is the third straight season Serra has represented NorCal in the Open game. … According to 247Sports, Mater Dei boasts 10 of the state’s top 100 senior recruits and six of the top 15, and seven of the top 80 junior recruits, including No. 2 Nasir Wyatt, an edge rusher, and No. 6 Daryus Dixson, a cornerback. Since 2016, Serra is 84-17, Mater Dei is 95-5.
Skinny: The senior class of Serra is talented, experienced and extremely smart. The Padres returned nine starters from last season on defense, which is littered with sons of coaches. The team’s GPA is well over 3.0, according to Walsh. But while Serra is sending football players to San Jose State, San Diego State and Montana, Mater Dei’s roster is filled with players going to Power 5 conferences. Even reserves. Serra’s only hope rests on its defense forcing multiple turnovers. With 4-year starter and Stanford-bound Elijah Brown at QB, a long shot. Then again,experience, emotion and spirit matter. The Padres match the Monarchs in those categories. Both teams are expertly coached.
CalPreps computer predictions: Mater Dei 44, Serra 8
SBLive prediction: Mater Dei 24, Serra 13
