California (CIF) State high school football championships at El Camino College: Previews, game times
El Camino College in Torrance is one of three Southern California sites joining El Saddleback College in Mission Viejo 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 El Camino College below pitting regional champions from the South and North.
Editor's note: Check back here all weekend for live updates, photos, game stories, video highlights, state packages and more from SBLive reporter Bodie De Silva for each of the state-championship games.
DIVISION 7-AA — 4 p.m. Friday
North: Ferndale (10-4), North Coast Section
South: Fairfax (10-4), LA City Section
State finals record: Ferndale (0-0), Fairfax (0-0)
Head coaches: Clint McClurg (Ferndale), Juan Solario (Fairfax)
Players to watch: Ferndale — QB-DB Tanner Pidgeon, RB Trent Titus, WR-DB Isaak Kasso, WR Wes Renner
Players to watch: Fairfax — QB Ivan Levant 3,563 passing yards, 44 touchdowns, WR-DB Sebastian Ikolo 54 receptions, 1,098 yards, 17 touchdowns, 32 tackles, one interception, WR-DB Darvens Joseph 42 receptions, 753 yards, 11 touchdowns, one interception, one sack, WR-DB Adrian Moss 26 receptions, 446 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions, RB-DB Henry Prince 233 rushing yards, seven touchdowns, four sacks.
Fact check: Since losing to Arcata for the second time this season in late October, Ferndale has ripped off five wins in a row. Their defense is allowing less than eight points per game during that stretch. They've blown out three opponents during the win streak including last week's 32-7 regional bowl win over Portola... Fairfax has played three games decided by less than 10 points in their 14 games. The Lions have surpassed 50 points in a game three times but have combined for 32 total points across their four losses.
Skinny: Ferndale must be prepared for a Fairfax offense that will air the ball out early and often. The Lions did not play in close games for much of the season but have now played in two straight games decided by less than a touchdown heading into Friday's championship.
CalPreps computer predictions: Ferndale 28, Fairfax 13
SBLive prediction: Fairfax 34, Ferndale 28
DIVISION 5-AA — 8 p.m. Friday
North: Pleasant Valley (10-3), Northern Section
South: Ramona (10-5), Southern Section
State finals record: Pleasant Valley (2-0), Ramona (0-0)
Head coaches: Mark Cooley (Pleasant Valley), Ken Mushinskie (Ramona)
Players to watch: Pleasant Valley — RB-LB Lucas Benson 870 yards, 20 touchdowns, 38 tackles, one interception, QB Joseph Garcia 1,240 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, WR-LB Quinntyn Thomas-Brass 76 catches, 484 yards, four touchdowns, 56 tackles, one sack, TE-DE Gavin Garretson 20 catches, 312 yards, five touchdowns, 40 tackles, 16.5 sacks, WR-DB Keith Thompson 13 catches, 272 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions.
Players to watch: Ramona — QB Jeremy Acosta 2,467 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes, 454 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, RB Sincere Tolbert 1,952 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns, WR Jake Valenzuela 55 catches, 1,112 yards, 13 touchdowns, RB-LB Peter Mesa 206 rushing yards, three touchdowns, 177 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, LB Troy Long 166 tackles, four sacks, one interception, LB Michael Perez 143 tackles, LB Luis Mesa 100 tackles, six sacks, WR-DB Royce Mendoza 18 catches, 328 yards, five touchdowns, 58 tackles, nine interceptions, three forced fumbles.
Fact check: Ramona was sitting at 3-3 early in the season before their current run that has included several blowouts aside from a 31-10 loss at Norte Vista. The Rams balanced offense has been clicking with 35 points or more in four straight games before last week's win over Torrance. Ramona has big time playmakers on the ground and through the air and have 21 interceptions on the season... Since getting shutout against Chico, Pleasant Valley has won six straight, scoring 28 or more in five straight. The Vikings picked up experience against top competition against Oak Ridge and Modesto Central Catholic, dropping both games.
Skinny: Ramona's ability to score in multiple ways combined with their propensity to take the ball away gives them an edge over a Pleasant Valley program that has state titles in 2016 and 2018.
CalPreps computer predictions: Pleasant Valley 31, Ramona 21
SBLive prediction: Ramona 27, Pleasant Valley 20
DIVISION 6-A — 11 a.m. Saturday
North: Colusa (13-0), Northern Section
South: Sweetwater (8-6), San Diego Section
State finals record: Colusa (0-0), Sweetwater (0-0)
Head coaches: Mike Badaluco (Colusa), Ervin Hernandez (Sweetwater)
Players to watch: Colusa — QB Bo Coronado 2,500 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, 244 rushing yards, TE-DE Isaiah Travis 42 catches, 891 yards, 12 touchdowns, 53 tackles, six sacks, WR-DB Landon Humphrey 31 catches, 584 yards, nine touchdowns, one interception, WR Charlie Santana 20 catches, 350 yards, one touchdown,
Players to watch: Sweetwater — QB Zaryan Crews 367 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 927 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, RB-DB Xzavier Crews 1,517 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns, 33 tackles, two interceptions, RB-DE Izell Wright 1,422 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns, 69 tackles, five sacks, FB-LB Carlos David Delgado 1,186 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, 119 tackles, 3.5 sacks.
Fact check: Sweetwater opened 0-4 while playing against San Diego Section teams in higher divisions. They've since won six of their past seven games, scoring 38 points in five of those games. The Red Devils offensive attack features three 1,000-yard rushers and only 67 pass attempts... Colusa has cruised past nearly every opponent, outscoring their opponents by 311 points. The RedHawks offense (30 rushing touchdowns, 29 passing touchdowns) has been balanced and enters with back-to-back 42 point games.
Skinny: Sweetwater's commitment to their rushing attack has led them to this point and seems to have gotten stronger as the year has gone on. They'll need to continue that against a Colusa team that has yet to lose and has been cruising offensively.
CalPreps computer predictions: Colusa 38, Sweetwater 22
SBLive prediction: Sweetwater 37, Colusa 30
DIVISION 5-A — 3 p.m. Saturday
North: Woodland Christian (14-0), Sac-Joaquin Section
South: Banning (9-6), LA City Section
State finals record: Woodland Christian (0-0), Banning (0-0)
Head coaches: Mike Paschke (Woodland Christian), Raymond Grajeda (Banning)
Players to watch: Woodland Christian — QB Gabe Sanchez 1,519 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns, QB Isaiah Hunt 868 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, RB-DB Noah Hinkle 1,245 total yards, 20 touchdowns, four interceptions, WR-DB Devin Herrera 639 total yards, nine touchdowns, one interception.
Players to watch: Banning — QB Robert Guerrero 2,276 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, 324 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, RB-DB Jordan Villanueva 736 rushing yards, seven touchdowns, WR-DB Steven Perez 1,191 total yards, nine touchdowns, 144 tackles, five interceptions, LB Pedro Ibanez 123 tackles, three forced fumbles, one interception, DE Kody Galloway 120 tackles, 6.5 sacks, WR-DB Michael O'dell 16 catches, 177 yards, three touchdowns, 37 tackles, five interceptions
Fact check: Woodland Christian has posted shutouts in half their games, outscoring their opponents 610-87. The Cardinals have allowed more than 14 points just once and enter Saturday's game with shutouts in two of their past three... Banning seemingly has turned the corner over the past month during their five game winning streak. The Pilots have dedicated themselves to their rushing attack, not attempting a pass in last week's win over La Jolla Country Day.
Skinny: Woodland Christian has cruised past opponents all season while dominating on both sides of the ball. Their get their best test yet against a Banning rushing attack that has rushed for 312, 320, and 406 yards over their past three games.
CalPreps computer predictions: Woodland Christian 27, Banning 17
SBLive prediction: Banning 27, Woodland Christian 24
DIVISION 3-A — 7 p.m. Saturday
North: Marin Catholic (13-1), North Coast Section
South: Mayfair (12-3), Southern Section
State finals record: Marin Catholic (1-2), Mayfair (0-0)
Head coaches: Mazi Moayed (Marin Catholic), Derek Bedell (Mayfair)
Players to watch: Marin Catholic — RB-DB Charles Williams, QB-TE Peter Macaulay, WR-DB Braiden Bachich-Dixon, DE Mario Crocitto, WR-DB Chase Merrick
Players to watch: Mayfair — QB Jeremiah Calvin 2,848 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, RB-LB Louis Johnson 671 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns, 42 tackles, RB Ryan Heredia 442 rushing yards, six touchdowns, WR-DB Chaz Gilbreath 69 catches, 1,249 yards, 11 touchdowns, 46 tackles, three interceptions, DB Miles Mitchell 81 tackles, one sack, one interception
Fact check: Marin Catholic has outscored their opponents by 410 points this season, scoring 24 points or more in every game other than a 10-6 loss to San Marin in early November. The Wildcats sealed last week's win over McClymonds with a late interception... Mayfair has also been on a run offensively, scoring 31 or more in all six games during their current winning streak. The Monsoons scored a season high 52 points in last week's win over Mount Miguel and are 4-0 in games decided by 10 points or less this season.
Skinny: Expect a back and forth shootout in this one between talented offenses. Charles Williams and Peter Macaulay carried Marin Catholic to last week's win over McClymonds. They'll need more of that on Saturday to hoist the state title.
CalPreps computer predictions: Marin Catholic 28, Mayfair 21
SBLive prediction: Marin Catholic 34, Mayfair 30
(Feature photo by Eric Taylor)
-- Bodie De Silva | bodie@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca
