Friday Night Lights: CIF-SS Playoff Opening Round Delivers Drama

Division 1 Showdowns

Mater Dei 33, Sierra Canyon 13 The top-seeded Monarchs (11-0) flexed their muscles against Sierra Canyon, with Oregon-bound RB Jordon Davison breaking loose for a 77-yard touchdown run that broke the game open. Mater Dei’s defense, led by Alabama commit Chuck McDonald, held Sierra Canyon’s explosive offense in check. The win sets up a semifinal matchup with Centennial. St. John Bosco 31, Santa Margarita 29 The Braves survived a scare from Santa Margarita in a thriller that came down to the wire. Trailing by 13 in the third quarter, St. John Bosco rallied behind key defensive stops and clutch offensive drives. UCLA commit Epi Sitanilei anchored the defensive front with two crucial sacks in the fourth quarter. Centennial 25, Mission Viejo 20 Corona Centennial pulled out a hard-fought victory behind QB Husan Longstreet’s 236 passing yards and rushing TD. RB Malachi Roby was the workhorse with 188 yards and two scores on the ground. A late interception by Fifita Moore sealed the win for the Huskies.

Division 2 Highlights

Murrieta Valley 49, Los Alamitos 28 The Nighthawks’ high-powered offense continued to roll, with senior RB Dorian Hoze leading the charge. Murrieta Valley has now scored 40+ points in seven straight games and looks like a serious title contender. Newbury Park 24, San Clemente 13 Playing in challenging weather conditions, Newbury Park’s defense stepped up to shut down San Clemente’s rushing attack. The Panthers advance to face Oaks Christian in the quarterfinals.

Other Notable Results

Pacifica (Oxnard) 45, Long Beach Poly 41 In the upset of the night, Pacifica outlasted perennial power Long Beach Poly in a shootout. The Tritons’ offense could not be stopped, putting up 45 points against a typically stout Jackrabbits defense. Crean Lutheran 20, Loyola 23 (OT) Loyola survived an overtime thriller against Crean Lutheran to advance. The Cubs’ defense came up with a crucial stop in the extra period to secure the victory.

Looking Ahead

The quarterfinals are now set across all divisions, with traditional powers Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, and Centennial still on a collision course. But as the first round showed, upsets lurk around every corner in playoff football. Next week’s matchups promise even more drama as teams continue their quest for a CIF-SS championship.

Game of the Week Preview

All eyes will be on the Division 1 semifinal between #1 Mater Dei and #4 Centennial. The Monarchs’ explosive offense against the Huskies’ opportunistic defense should make for must-see football under the Friday night lights. Follow @Repmax_io for live updates from next week’s quarterfinal action across Southern California.

Complete CIF-SS Quarterfinals Results

Division 1

• Mater Dei 33, Sierra Canyon 13
• Centennial 25, Mission Viejo 20
• Orange Lutheran 42, JSerra 20
• St. John Bosco 31, Santa Margarita 29

Division 2

• Murrieta Valley 49, Los Alamitos 28
• Oaks Christian 35, San Juan Hills 21
• Yorba Linda 24, Serra 20
• Newbury Park 24, San Clemente 13

Division 3

• Simi Valley 41, La Habra 34
• Loyola 23, Crean Lutheran 20 (OT)
• Edison 24, Bonita 0
• Vista Murrieta 21, Cajon 0

Division 4

• St. Bonaventure 34, Redondo Union 20
• Apple Valley 48, Culver City 28
• Oxnard Pacifica 45, Long Beach Poly 41
• Thousand Oaks 21, El Modena 14

Division 5

• Summit 45, Huntington Beach 14
• La Serna 56, Rio Mesa 35
• Foothill 38, Lakewood 35
• Palos Verdes 27, Mayfair 13

Division 6

• St. Francis 28, Muir 27
• Murrieta Mesa 19, Northwood 10
• Glendora 31, Rancho Verde 13
• Dana Hills 38, San Dimas 35

Division 7

• West Torrance 44, Oak Park 28
• Rio Hondo Prep 28, King 7
• Warren 40, Golden Valley 14
• Peninsula 7, Yucaipa 3

Division 8

• Lancaster 25, Beckman 17
• Serrano 28, Hemet 13
• Salesian 20, Irvine 10
• St. Pius X-St. Matthias 23, Segerstrom 22

Division 9

• Highland 42, Burbank 28
• Quartz Hill 55, Sonora 34
• Wilson 19, Village Christian 17
• Great Oak 27, St. Genevieve 17

Division 10

• St. Anthony 20, Shadow Hills 7
• Garden Grove Pacifica 27, Brentwood 23
• South Pasadena 34, Valley View 31
• Silverado 35, Chino 32

Division 11

• Portola 14, Santa Paula 10
• Baldwin Park 28, Big Bear 21
• El Rancho 40, Los Amigos 20 (Thursday)
• San Gorgonio 26, Grand Terrace 23

Division 12

• Mary Star 23, Dos Pueblos 21
• Palmdale 42, Chaffey 26
• Carter 57, Canyon Springs 32
• Wilson 27, Estancia 12

Division 13

• Gahr 34, Artesia 7
• Anaheim 24, Arrowhead Christian 19
• Lynwood 44, El Monte 37
• Pasadena 22, San Marino 16

Division 14

• Duarte 27, Nordhoff 21 (OT)
• San Gabriel 41, Costa Mesa 35
• Ganesha 43, Century 42
• Pioneer 27, La Quinta 20

L.A. City Section Quarterfinals

Open Division

• Narbonne 47, Dorsey 13
• Birmingham 42, Gardena 19
• San Pedro 37, Banning 26
• Carson 27, Garfield 17