CIF State Football Champs 2006-2011

Open Division

2011 - De La Salle
2010 - De La Salle
2009 - De La Salle
2008 - Grant

Division I

2011 - Santa Margarita
2010 - Palo Alto
2009 - Oceanside
2008 - Centennial Corona
2007 - De La Salle
2006 - Canyon Country

Division II

2011 - Helix
2010 - Folsom
2009 - Servite
2008 - Cathedral Catholic
2007 - Oceanside
2006 - Orange Lutheran

Division III

2011 - Washington Union
2010 - Escalon
2009 - Junipero Serra
2008 - St. Bonaventure
2007 - St. Bonaventure
2006 - Oaks Christian

Division IV/Small Schools

2011 - Serra Canyon
2010 - Bishops School
2009 - Modesto Christian
2008 - St. Margaret's

De La Salle Wins Third Straight State Football Championship

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

De La Salle's dominance of the California State Bowl Championships continued Saturday night with a 35-0 win over Westlake in the Open Division Championship game.

It was the Spartans third straight state title.  Head coach Bob Ladouceur has taken his school to six straight championship games, winning four, which is the most be any school in the current era of state championships.

The victory was the result of a well-rounded performance by the offense and the defense.

The defense pitched its fifth shutout of the season.  For the season, the Spartans only allowed 110 points with 30 of them coming in the team's only loss of the year (30-6) to St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida).

On offense, Wisconsin-bound quarterback Bart Houston rushed for two touchdowns and threw for one.  Houston finished his career with a record of 39-1 as a starter.

Westlake entered the game ranked #7 nationally by MaxPreps.com.

Before the game, I spoke with Westlake head coach Jim Benkert on the High School Football America radio show.  Click here to listen to that interview.

Santa Margarita Wins Division I Crown

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Santa Margarita quarterback Johnny Stanton had a stellar game in the Division I state championship game against Bellarmine.

The junior QB passed for four touchdowns and scored the game winning touchdown on a one-yard dive with 16 seconds left in the game to lead the Eagles to a 42-37 win.

It was the school's first state football title and gave head coach Harry Welch his third state title since 2006, all with different schools.

Helix Wins CIF Division II Championship

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Helix captured the school's first state football championship Saturday beating Del Oro 35-24 in the Division II title game.

The Highlanders (13-2) were led by quarterback Bobby Heatherington who finished 19-of-30 for 179 yards and one touchdown.

Washington Union Captures CIF D-3 Title

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Washington Union beat Campolindo 21-16 Saturday to capture the CIF Division III championship.

Campolindo, which was picked to finish last in the Diablo Foothill Athletic Conference, actually out-gained the state champs in total offense (336-301) and had more first downs (19-13).

Senior QB Chris Cain led the Washington Union attack with two rushing touchdowns, plus he threw for one.  Donald Phelps rushed for 185 yards.

Compolindo held Notre Dame-bound Deontay Greenberry to just four catches for 57 yards and one TD.  Greenberry finished the season with 109 catches for 2,206 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Third Year Program Wins CIF Division IV Title

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Sierra Canyon is the 2011 CIF Division IV champs after a 34-13 win over Le Grand in the state title game.

Sierra Canyon, in just its third year of 11-man football, fell behind 13-7 in the second quarter, but then went on a 27-0 run to capture the school's first state title.

Le Grand, the Sac-Joaquin Valley Division V champ, suffered its first loss of the season.

Sierra Canyon is now 35-5 in three years of 11-man competition.

California High School Football Scores - Playoffs/Sectional Championships

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

After seven straight San Diego Section Division II titles Oceanside's streak is over.

Helix, a team that lost four times to the Pirates during the streak, beat them 44-6 on Monday to capture the title, plus a possible berth in the State Bowl Championships that will be announced this Sunday.

The Highlanders raced-out to a 24-0 halftime lead and never looked back.  Michael Adkins sealed the deal in the third quarter with touchdown runs of 25 and 61 yards.  Adkins finished with 137 yards on only 9 carries.

After an season opening loss to Eastlake, Helix has now ripped-off 12 straight wins.

California High School Football Scores
Monday, December 5, 2011

Playoffs
Championships

San Diego Section

Division I Championship
Poway 56 Vista 0

Division II Championship
Helix 44 Oceanside 6

Division III Championship
Cathedral Catholic 41 Olympian 0
*5th straight title

Division IV Championship
Valley Center 20 Santana 14

California High School Football Scores - Playoffs/Sectional Semifinals & Championships

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

Folsom quarterback Tanner Trosin's career came to an end Saturday in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship game, but not before becoming the state's best all-time passer and all-purpose player.

Trosin became the first quarterback in state history to top the 5,000 yard passing mark in a single-season with 407 yards in the Bulldogs 39-35 loss to Vacaville.  Trosin ended the season with 5,185 yards passing.  He also rushed for 101 yards on Saturday to become the state's single-season leader in all-purpose yards with 6,349 yards this season.  The senior also ended this year with 69 touchdowns; 49 passing and 20 rushing.

Vacaville improved to 13-1 and now has to sit back and wait for next Sunday when the state's ten section commissioners will be on the state bowl teams.  Folsom finishes 8-3 this season.

California High School Football Scores
Saturday, December 3, 2011

Playoffs
Sectional Semifinals

North Coast Section

Division I
San Ramon Valley 37 Monte Vista 21

Division II
Concord 24 Rancho Cotate 14

Division III
Marin Catholic 41Encinal 6

Division IV
Salesian 35 Healdsburg 6
Ferndale 27 Fortuna 17

Division V Championship
Hoopa Valley 27 Tomales 8

Sac-Joaquin Section

Division I Championship
Granite Bay 30 Pleasant Grove 24

Division II Championship
Vacaville 39 Folsom 35

Division V Championship
Le Grand 58 Highland 20

Division VI Championship
Bradshaw Christian 62 Foresthill 6

California High School Football Scores - Playoffs/Sectional Semifinals

California High School Football Scores
Friday, December 2, 2011

Playoffs
Sectional Semifinals

Central Section

Division I
Bakersfield 31 Clovis 14
Bullard 40 Edison 28

Division II
Garces 21 Tehachapi 13
Clovis North 35 San Joaquin Memorial 20

Division III
Kingsburg 34 Dinuba 10
Ridgeview 42 Madera South 21

Division IV
Washington Union 35 Coalinga 20
Wasco 35 Mission Oak 13

Division V Championship
Fowler 21 Liberty 17

Division VI Champioship
Mendota 41 Farmersville 33

Central Coast Section

Open Division Championship 
Bellarmine 41 Palo Alto 13

Los Angeles City Section 

Division I
Carson 24, San Pedro 19
Narbonne 41, Dorsey 7

Division II
South East 42, Canoga Park 20
Los Angeles Marshall 37, Granada Hills 34

North Coast Section

Division I
De La Salle 48 Pittsburg 0

Division II
Windsor 35 Dublin 0

Division III
Campolido 35 Cardinal Newman 24

Sac-Joaquin Section

Division III Championship
Del Oro 21 Oakdale 7

Division IV Championship
Escalon 20 Hilmar 17

San Diego Section

Division V
Santa Fe Christian 42 Bishop 6
Christian 63 Francis Parker 42

Southern Section

PAC-5 I
San Clemente 51, Tesoro 16
Santa Margarita 21, Mission Viejo 20

Inland II
Corona Centennial 41, Rancho Cucamonga 21
Vista Murrieta 39, Upland 18

Northern III
Westlake 62, Thousand Oaks 0
Oaks Christian 27, St. Bonaventure 24

Western IV
Culver City 37, Santa Monica 0
Arroyo Grande 45, Chaminade 36

Central V
Rancho Verde 42, Colony 14
Palm Springs 17, Carter 7

Southwest VI
Tustin 21, Foothill 20
El Toro 47, La Habra 41

Southeast VII
West Covina 63, La Mirada 34
La Serna 28, Muir 3

Eastern VIII
Summit 35, Serrano 0
Heritage 20, Citrus Hill 17

Southern IX
Beckman 57, Estancia 21
Corona del Mar 41, Laguna Beach 14

Northwest X
Lompoc 56, Torrance 21

Midway XI
Monrovia 41, Covina 27

East Valley XII
Sierra Canyon 42, Bishop Diego 16
Paraclete 45, Rim of the World 17

Northeast XIII
Lancaster Desert Christian 33, Salesian 22
Rio Hondo Prep 27, Boron 8

8-Man
Division II Championship
Joshua Springs 56, Cuyama Valley 12

California High School Football Scores - Playoffs/Semifinals

California High School Football Scores
Thursday, December 1, 2011

San Diego Section 

Division I
Poway 51 San Pasqual 28
Vista 23 Eastlake 21

Division II
Helix 21 Mission Hills 0
Oceanside  27 La Costa Canyon 7

Division III
Cathedral Catholic 24 Point Loma 0
Olympian 40 Mar Vista 8

Division IV
Valley Center 23 Madison 21
Santana 38 Coronado 26

LA Times Top 25 High School Football Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

There was plenty of shuffling in the latest LA Times Southland Top 25 rankings with Westlake and Redlands East Valley making big moves into the Top 5.

This week's games could also cause some shake-ups as #1 Servite faces undefeated and #10 Orange Lutheran.  #2 Santa Margarita also will face a challenge this week when it takes on Mater Dei, sitting at #16 with a 2-3 record.

Another Top 25 showdown will take place Friday night when #9 Poly takes-on #23 Lakewood.

Here's this week's rankings:

LA Times Top 25

1. Servite (4-1), LW: #1
2. Santa Margarita (5-0), LW: #2
3. Westlake (5-0), LW: #9
4. Redlands East Valley (5-0), LW: #12
5. Mission Viejo (4-2), LW: #3
6. Oaks Christian (3-2), LW: #4
7. St. Bonaventure (4-1), LW: #5
8. Corona Centennial (4-1), LW: #6
9. Long Beach Poly (5-1), LW: #7
10. Orange Lutheran (5-0), LW: #8
11. Upland (5-0), LW: #10
12. San Clemente (6-0), LW: #11
13. Vista Murrieta (5-0), LW: #13
14. St. John Bosco (4-1), LW: #18
15. Loyola (5-1), LW: #14
16. Mater Dei (2-3), LW: #20
17. Edison (3-2), LW: #21
18. Crespi (5-1), LW: #19
19. Bishop Amat (5-1), LW: #17
20. Dorsey (4-1), LW: #22
21. Los Alamitos (4-1), LW: #23
22. Rancho Cucamonga (5-0), LW: #24
23. Lakewood (5-1) LW: #25
24. Riverside North (4-1), LW: #15
25. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (5-1), LW: #16

Top LA-area Player at Midseason

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

When it comes to high school football coverage in Southern California, no one tops LA Times writer Eric Sondheimer.

Click here to check-out his midseason report card on some of the Southern Section's top players.

Oaks Christian & Bellevue (WA) Headline Mission Viejo Kickoff Classic

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

The 2011 Mission Viejo Football Classic, with six games in two days, will get football off to a flying start in Orange County.

Headlining the event will be a showdown Saturday night between nationally-ranked Oaks Christian and Washington-power Bellevue, winners of eight Class 3A state titles in the last ten years.

Oaks Christian enters the game ranked #21 by MaxPreps.com, Bellevue holds down the #22 spot.  It's the season opener for both teams.

Bellevue lost several starters from last year's team that captured the school's third straight state title, including their starting quarterback and its top rusher.  Oaks Christian needs to find a replacement at quarterback as well, but Ishmael Adams, who rushed for over 1,000 yards, is back.

Bellevue is no stranger to playing out-of-state powers, having played De La Salle (Concord, CA), Long Beach Poly (CA) and Katy (Texas) over the the last decade.

Oaks Christian is building a national reputation, having sent several players into the NFL over the last decade, including Jimmy Claussen of the Carolina Panthers.  Over the last ten years, OC has amassed a 136-14.

Aside from the eight teams from California, Utah has the second most teams in the Mission Viejo Classic with Bingham, Alta and Timpview traveling to SoCal.

Mission Viejo opens its season ranked #11 by USA Today faces Centennial of Bakersfield tonight.

Here's a look at the rest of this weekend's schedule in Mission Viejo:

Friday, September 2nd
Cypress vs. Garces
Centennial-Bakersfield vs. Mission Viejo

Saturday, September 3rd
Bakersfield vs. Timpview (UT)
Crenshaw vs. Alta (UT)
Orange Lutheran vs. Bingham (UT)
Oaks Christian vs. Bellevue (WA)

California High School Football Scores - Week 1

California High School Football Scores
Thursday, September 1, 2011

Blair 25, Fulton 14
Beyer 52,  Pacheco  0
Bonita 40, San Dimas 20
Brea Olinda 45, Placentia Valencia 13
Champion Christian 53,  Mercy  14
Clovis North 22,  Independence  0
Colony 30, South Hills 29
El Camino Real 48, North Hollywood 7
Ganesha 14, Montclair 10
Hanford West  32,  Roosevelt  15
Jefferson 30, Canoga Park 10
Los Angeles Marshall 50, Belmont 18
Mariposa County  21,  Summerville  15
Merced  31,  Clovis West  30
Monroe 26, Hollywood 20
Pasadena Poly 20, Brethren Christian 13
Rancho Cucamonga 52, Silverado 0
Redlands 21, Wekiva (FL) 7
Riverside Christian 23, Douglass 12
San Diego Jewish Academy 35, Milken 8
San Fernando 46, Sun Valley 8
Saugus 31, Burbank Burroughs 20
Servite 20, Oceanside 0
South Gate 24, Panorama 21
Trabuco Hills 28, Capistrano Valley 21
Van Nuys 50, Firebaugh 6
Villa Park 46, San Juan Hills 6

Pleasant Grove & Monterey Trail to Battle on ESPN

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

While national rankings don't guarantee an appearance on national television, it doesn't hurt.

Wednesday, ESPN announced that Pleasant Grove High School, ranked #8 in MaxPreps.com's Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders Poll, will face Monterey Trail on ESPN2 on August 27th.



Last year the Eagles bookended their season with wins over Monterey Trail.

Pleasant Grove, which finished 13-1, beat MT 20-12 in the season opener, and then beat them again 21-6 to win the CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title on December 4th.

To hear more about Pleasant Grove's #8 MaxPrep ranking, click here to listen to Steve Spiewak, MaxPreps.com's senior high school football writer, talk about the Eagles on the High School Football America radio show on July 21st.

Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star High School Football Game Set for July 20th

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle



It's had many different names, but 37 years after begining, the Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game is still going strong in Santa Clara County.

The Silicon Valley Youth Classic's North-South rivarly resumes on July 20th at San Jose State's Spartan Stadium.  Matt Kiesle of Piedmont Hills is the head coach of the South squad; Karriem Stinson of Harker High is the leader of the North stars.

Since the start of the game in 1974, 3,000 players have taken part in the all-star game.  Several have gone on to the pros.  That list includes: Jeff Garcia of Gilroy, Jeff Toews of Del Mar, John Tuggle of Independence, Erik Howard and Randy Kirk of Bellarmine, Pat Tillman of Leland, Trent Edwards and Jared Allen of Los Gatos, Jeff Ulbrich of Live Oak, Tully Banta-Cain of Fremont, Carl Monroe of Overfelt, Rich Campbell of Santa Teresa, Tim Ryan of Oak Grove and Nathan Jackson of Pioneer.

Click here for the North Roster
Click here for the South Roster

The game currently bears the name of Charlie Wedemeyer, who lived 32-years after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease.  Wedemeyer, who was the head football coach at Los Gatos High School at the time of his diagnosis, was involved in the game every year until his death in 2010.

Chicago Bears Helps High School Team During Lockout

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

The NFL lockout is Narbonne High School's gain.

The Press-Telegram in Long Beach reports that Chicago Bears tight end Brandon Manumaleuna is back at his alma mater as a volunteer coach.  Manumaleuna is a '97 graduate of Narbonne.

During his 10-year NFL career, Manumaleuna has played for the Bears, St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers.

Click here to read the story from the Long Beach Press-Telgram.

California Expands High School Football Playoffs for 2012

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

Starting with the 2012 season, there will be another round of football playoffs.

The California Interscholastic Federation has approved adding regional championship games in all five divisions that will determine, which teams will play for state championships.

Since state titles games began in 2007, section commissioners have been charged with selecting one team from Northern California and one from Southern California to play for the state championship.  Under the new plan, section commissioners will pick two schools from the each area that will play for the right to advance to the state championship games in Carson.

The 2012 schedule now calls for the regional championship games to be played the weekend of December 7th and 8th, with the state championships to be played the following weekend.  Section championships will have to be completed by December 1st.

With the addition of the regional championships, some teams could play as many as 16 games, which is similar to Pennsylvania and Texas.

Not everyone is happy with the new plan.  Click here to read a story from the North County Times on officials in the San Diego Section that aren't happy with the added round of playoffs.

Who's Better? De La Salle or St. Thomas Aquinas? We'll Find Out This Year

by Jeff Fisher

California High School Football Huddle

They've been two of the best high school football programs in their respective states for a long time...now De La Salle (Concord, CA) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) will square-off on the field for bragging rights.  And, ESPN will be there to capture the action and give a national audience a look at the California/Florida bragging rights battle.

ESPN officials have announced they will televise the September 23rd match-up live on one of their networks.  Last year STA won Florida's 5A championship; De La Salle, which is riding a 25-game win streak, won California's Open Division title.

Of course that 25-game win streak doesn't hold a candle to the Spartans' national record 151-game win streak that was set between 1992-2003.

Maybe the only disappointment about the game is that long-time Raider head coach George Smith won't be guiding his team.  Smith announced earlier this year that he had decided to retire.  If the legendary Smith, who led Aquinas to six state titles, hadn't stepped-down, the game would have matched two of high school football's best.  De La Salle's Bob Ladouceur owns a 372-23-3 record since he took over in Concord in 1979.

"Playing a great program like St. Thomas Aquinas is a positive opportunity. Win or lose, they'll make us a better team. It should be an exciting game," said Ladouceur in a news release.

Former defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo will take over for Smith, but it was the former coach who spoke about the match-up in the ESPN news release saying "To have the chance to play a program like De La Salle is a great challenge for our program and to us a great thing for high school football in both states. It should be an outstanding game for both schools, both states and fans of high school football nationwide."

California - 2011 National Signing Day

Brandon Andrews (Central Union, WR) - South Dakota St.
Jared Baker (Loyola, RB) - Arizona
Quinn Bauducco (Moorpark, LB) - Minnesota
Mike Bercovici (William Howard Taft, QB) - Arizona St.
Victor Blackwell (Mater Dei, WR) - USC
Zach Boman (Clovis North, DL) - Lafayette
Tra'Mayne Bondurant (Fairfield, CB) - Arizona
Charles Burke (Edison, LB) - USC
Amir Carlisle (Kings Academy, RB) - USC
Donnie Duncan (Alexander Hamilton, WR) - New Mexico
Michael Eubank (Centennial, QB) - Arizona St.
Faitele Faafaoi (Tustin, OL) - Arizona
George Farmer (Serra, WR) - USC
Andre Heidari (Stockdale, K) - USC
Ryan Henderson (Rancho Verde, DB) - USC
Christian Heyward (Point Loma, DL) - USC
Hank Hobson (Stockdale, LB) - Arizona
Cody Kessler (Centennial, QB) - USC
Devin Lucien (Crespi, WR) - UCLA
Marqise Lee (Serra, WR) - USC
Tre Madden (Mission Viejo, LB) - USC
Steven Manfro (Valencia, RB) - UCLA
Marcus Martin (Crenshaw, OL) - USC
Trent Mason (Dana Hills, LB) - South Dakota St.
David Moala (Junipero Serra, DL) - Arizona St.
Dame Ndiaye (Hoover, DE) - Arizona
Raymond Nelson (Christian, TE) - UCLA
Jerry Neuheisel (Loyola, QB) - UCLA
Sean O'Grady (Tesoro, DL) - Arizona St.
Patrick Onwuasor (Inglewood, WR) - Arizona
Jordan Perkins (Lodi, RB) - Northwestern
Junior Pomee (Rancho Verde, TE) - USC
David Richards (Palmdale, WR) - Arizona
J.R. Tavai (Mira Costa, DL) - USC
Cody Temple (Liberty, OL) - USC
Greg Townsend, Jr. (Beverly Hills, DL) - USC
Brandon Tuliaupupu (Claremont, DT) - UCLA
Soma Vainuku (Eureka, FB) - USC
Rashad Wadood (Lakewood, CB) - Arizona St.
Brent Walker (Norco, OL) - Arizona St.
Aaron Wallace (Rancho Bernardo, LB) - UCLA
Torian White (Lakewood, OT) - UCLA
Matt Wile (Francis Parker, K) - Michigan
DeVante Wilson (Corona, DL) - USC
Max Wittek (Mater Dei, QB) - USC
Antwaun Woods (Taft, DL) - USC
Ben Wysocki (Los Alamitos, OL) - UCLA

Wilson HS Football Coach Steps Down

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

After two seasons and a 4-16 record, Wilson head football coach Brian Zavala has stepped-down as head coach.

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that Zavala may have had something to do with the return of former football could Dave Merrill to oversee the program.

Folsom QB Names California's Mr. Football

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

Quarterback Dano Graves of Division II state champ Folsom has been named Cal-Hi Sports' Player of the Year.

Graves wins the Mr. Football Award after set a record for touchdowns in a season by throwing for 62 and running for 23.  Graves' 85 TDs shattered the old state mark of 76 touchdowns.

Diamond Bar High School Hires former QB as New Head Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

Ryan Maine, who led Diamond Bar to back-to-back CIF Southern Sectional championships in the late 90s, is the school's new head football coach.

Maine takes over for John Martin, who resigned after four years as the head coach.  Martin was 14-26 as head coach.

South El Monte Head Football Coach Resigns

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

Ray Hernandez has resigned after two years as the head coach of the South El Monte football program.

Hernandez only won four of 21 games in two seasons.

Palo Alto Football Coach Named California High School Football Coach of the Year

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

Palo Alto head football coach Earl Hansen continues to bask in the glow of the Vikings 2010 Division I California state football championship.

ESPN RISE Cal Hi Sports named Hansen as the California Coach of the Year.

Hansen, who just completed his 23rd year as the school's head coach, owns a 174-85-3 record.

Palo Alto ended the school's sixth undefeated season with an upset win over heavily-favored Centennial-Corona 15-13 in the state championship game.