November 4, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK: A year ago, five OC high school football squads captured CIF titles

CdM’s John Humphreys holds up the CIF championship plaque last November after the Sea Kings defeated Grace Brethren 56-28 in the CIF Division 3 title game. (Photo Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

About a year ago, seven Orange County high school football teams went for CIF titles and five of them: Corona del Mar, Sunny Hills, Marina, Esperanza and San Juan Hills brought home the top prizes.

Cypress and Mater Dei finished as runner-ups in their divisions.

The coronavirus pandemic has postponed the start of the 2020 season, but the memories remain of the exciting CIF title games a year ago for fans, coaches, players and students.

OC Sports Zone photographers and reporters covered five of the finals and provided follow-up coverage on the other games. Fernando M. Donado, Mark Bausman and Jim McCormack captured the excitment with photos and Tim Burt and Tom Connolly wrote the stories.

Here’s a look back at the Orange County champions. Please click on each link for the story. For best viewing of photo slide shows, please go directly to either our mobile link or desktop at ocsportszone.com to view this story.