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Game of the Week
(5) St. Augustine (9-3) at (1) Cathedral Catholic (10-1) (Division III)
For the second year in a row, there will be a second helping of the Holy Bowl. And if the first game between the Saints and Dons – a three-point Cathedral win on Nov. 6 – round two should be a good one. Each offense likes to move the ball in different ways – Cathedral Catholic with a ground game led by bruising back Jordan Lance and St. Augustine with an aerial attack featuring quarterback Evan Crower and receiver Dana Barbaro. The Dons have won four straight in this religious rivalry.
Best of the Rest
(3) Escondido (8-2-1) at (2) Eastlake (9-0-2) (Division I)
Can Escondido win without much of a passing game? So far so good for the Cougars, who make the long trip to the South Bay to take on unbeaten Eastlake. The Titans are certainly talented enough to make a trip to the finals, with the likes of UCLA bound Tony Jefferson pacing both the offense and defense, but this win will be as much mental for Eastlake, who lost at home in the Division II finals last season. Expect a grinding, physical game that will come down to which defense is tougher.
(7) Helix (8-4) at (6) Scripps Ranch (7-5) (Division II)
Neither of these teams was expected to win in the quarterfinals – and yet one of them will make it to Qualcomm Stadium. Which team can keep their playoff run going? Expect big plays from both offenses in this one. Helix has made the section finals two of the past three seasons.
(4) Santa Fe Christian (10-1) at (1) Mission Bay (11-0) (Division IV)
The team that figures out how to stop Dillon Baxter will beat Mission Bay, but so far no team has. Baxter has thrown for 1,651 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 2,402 yards and 40 more scores. No one has even come close to beating the Bucs in their last six games, as their average margin of victory has been 29.2 points per game. Santa Fe Christian runs the misdirection to near perfection, led by quarterback Keaton Giannotti and running back Sam Hoekstra. If the Eagles can keep Mission Bay’s offense off the field they will have a shot at the upset. Easier said than done.
(3) Bishop’s (7-4) vs (2) Christian (7-4) (at Granite Hills High) (Division V)
The Knights and Patriots met in last season’s Division V semis in an overtime thriller. Will the second act produce as much drama? Both teams have defenses led by tough middle linebackers – Micah Seau for Bishop’s and Tyrone Sauls for Christian. The Patriots won the regular season meeting between these two 21-7.
Game of the Week
(5) St. Augustine (9-3) at (1) Cathedral Catholic (10-1) (Division III)
For the second year in a row, there will be a second helping of the Holy Bowl. And if the first game between the Saints and Dons – a three-point Cathedral win on Nov. 6 – round two should be a good one. Each offense likes to move the ball in different ways – Cathedral Catholic with a ground game led by bruising back Jordan Lance and St. Augustine with an aerial attack featuring quarterback Evan Crower and receiver Dana Barbaro. The Dons have won four straight in this religious rivalry.
Best of the Rest
(3) Escondido (8-2-1) at (2) Eastlake (9-0-2) (Division I)
Can Escondido win without much of a passing game? So far so good for the Cougars, who make the long trip to the South Bay to take on unbeaten Eastlake. The Titans are certainly talented enough to make a trip to the finals, with the likes of UCLA bound Tony Jefferson pacing both the offense and defense, but this win will be as much mental for Eastlake, who lost at home in the Division II finals last season. Expect a grinding, physical game that will come down to which defense is tougher.
(7) Helix (8-4) at (6) Scripps Ranch (7-5) (Division II)
Neither of these teams was expected to win in the quarterfinals – and yet one of them will make it to Qualcomm Stadium. Which team can keep their playoff run going? Expect big plays from both offenses in this one. Helix has made the section finals two of the past three seasons.
(4) Santa Fe Christian (10-1) at (1) Mission Bay (11-0) (Division IV)
The team that figures out how to stop Dillon Baxter will beat Mission Bay, but so far no team has. Baxter has thrown for 1,651 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 2,402 yards and 40 more scores. No one has even come close to beating the Bucs in their last six games, as their average margin of victory has been 29.2 points per game. Santa Fe Christian runs the misdirection to near perfection, led by quarterback Keaton Giannotti and running back Sam Hoekstra. If the Eagles can keep Mission Bay’s offense off the field they will have a shot at the upset. Easier said than done.
(3) Bishop’s (7-4) vs (2) Christian (7-4) (at Granite Hills High) (Division V)
The Knights and Patriots met in last season’s Division V semis in an overtime thriller. Will the second act produce as much drama? Both teams have defenses led by tough middle linebackers – Micah Seau for Bishop’s and Tyrone Sauls for Christian. The Patriots won the regular season meeting between these two 21-7.