First glance at CIF football playoffs: top seeds and opening round OC games

Zeta League champion Saddleback No. 1 in Division 13.

Saddleback High School’s football team, which captured the Zeta League title going undefeated, is the only Orange County team earning a top seed in the CIF football playoffs that begin this week.

Coach Rob Thompson’s Roadrunners (8-2 overall) open at home Friday against Pacific, which was the Mountain Valley co-champion. Pacific is also 8-2.

The Roadrunners, who have won the last two league titles, are led by quarterback Andre Scott.

“I am surprised that we are number one in Division 13 but excited for the challenge,” Thompson said Sunday.

The Roadrunners lost their CIF playoff opener last year, but are hoping for a longer run this season.

Irvine, the No. 3 team in the Iota League, is third-seeded and home for its opener Friday night in Division 8 against Temecula Valley (5-5). Irvine is 7-3 overall. The game will be at Irvine Stadium.

Irvine Coach Tom Ricci said Sunday: “We are just happy to be here.”

He will comment later after looking further at the bracket.

There are six games this week involving OC teams in Division 8.

Coach Rick Curtis Crean Lutheran team, which captured the Epsilon League title, is home for the first round Friday night in Division 2 against Leuzinger. The Saints enter with a 10-0 record.

Portola, the defending CIF Division 11 champion, is in the Division 10 bracket and will play at Brentwood Friday night. Coach Peter Abe’s team finished sescond in the Omicron League.

Coach Jack McInally’s Calvary Chapel team (10-0) and Coach Joseph Tagaloa’s Segerstrom squad are also in the playoffs. Both teams are on the road for openers.

Tango League champion Costa Mesa and Omicron League champion Pacifica are also in the playoffs. Costa Mesa has a road game, Pacifica at home.

Godinez, which finished third in the Zeta League, is in the playoffs for the first time since 2017, according to Coach Aron Kaye. The Grizzlies (5-5) will play at Pioneer Friday night in the Division 14 opener.

Woodbridge, coached by former Warrior star running back Connor McBride, earned a home game in Division 13, the same division as Saddleback. The Warriors (2-8) advanced by winning a coin flip for third place. Woodbridge plays its home games at University.,

First round games for most divisions are Friday, Nov. 7 Some could be moved to Thursday, Nov. 6 if there are stadium conflicts. First-round games in Division 1, an eight team bracket, are Friday, Nov. 14

DIVISION 1

Trinity League co-champion St. John Bosco (9-1) is top seeded. Corona Centennial is second and Trinity League co-champion Mater Dei (7-2) is third. Mission League champion Sierra Canyon (10-0) is fourth.

Servite (6-4) and Orange Lutheran (2-8) from the Trinity League earned at-large berths.

Games on Nov. 14:

Orange Lutheran at St. John Bosco

Santa Margarita at Sierra Canyon

Mission Viejo at Mater Dei

Servite at Centennial Corona

DIVISION 2

Murrieta Valley (7-3) is top seeded, Chaparral (5-5) second, Alpha League runner-up San Clemente (6-4) is third and Bravo League champion San Juan Hills (1-9) is fourth. Alpha League team Los Alamitos (8-2) earned an at-large berth.

OC games:

Tustin at Rancho Cucamonga

Corona del Mar at Murrieta Valley

Yorba Linda at Los Alamitos

Downey at San Juan Hills

Beaumont at San Clemente

Leuzinger at Crean Lutheran

DIVISION 3

Mission League co-runner-up Bishop Amat (6-4) is seeded first, Delta League runner-up Capistrano Valley (8-2) is second, Foxtrot League co-champion Dana Hills (9-1) is third and Baseline League runner-up Chino Hills (7-3) is fourth. Edison (5-5) earned an at-large berth.

OC games:

Laguna Beach at Notre Dame Sherman Oaks

Aquinas at Dana Hills

Huntington Beach at Edison

Inglewood at Capistrano Valley (location TBA)

DIVISION 4

Sierra League champion Charter Oak (9-1) is seeded No. 1, Epsilon League No. 3 entry La Habra (8-2) is second, Oaks Christian (4-6) third and Westlake (10-0) fourth. Western (6-4) from the Delta League earned an at-large berth.

OC games:

Villa Park at Westlake

Western at Cathedral

El Modena at La Habra

DIVISION 5

Pioneer League champion Torrance (10-0) is seeded first, Iota League champion Troy (9-1) second, Foxtrot League No. 3 team Aliso Niguel is third and Loyola (4-6) fourth. Orange (6-4) from the Foxtrot League is an at-large entry.

OC games:

Long Beach Millikan at Aliso Niguel

Orange vs. Troy at Fullerton

DIVISION 6

Del Rey League champion Crespi (10-0) is seeded first in Division 6. There are no OC teams seeded in the top four.

OC game:

El Toro at Orange Vista

DIVISION 7

Desert League co-champion Palm Springs (9-1) is seeded first in Divison 7. There were no OC teams seeded in the top four.

OC game:

Segerstrom at Victor Valley

DIVISION 8

Desert League co-champion Palm Desert (7-3) is seeded first in Division 8, St. Monica (8-1) second, Iota League No. 3 team Irvine (7-3) is third and Lamba League runner-up Fullerton (8-2) is fourth.

OC games:

Marina at Palm Desert

Beckman at La Mirada

Temecula Valley vs. Irvine at Irvine Stadium

Calvary Chapel at Quartz Hill

La Quinta at Fullerton (Thursday night)

Mary Star at Brea Olinda

DIVISION 9

Desert League Sky League runner-up Silverado (6-4) is seeded first. No OC teams earned top four seeds. No games involving OC teams.

DIVISION 10

Ironwood League No. 3 team Village Christian (5-5) is seeded No. 1, Monrovia (7-3) second, Pacifica (7-3) third and Santa Monica (6-4) fourth.

OC games:

Portola at Brentwood

El Rancho at Pacifica, Bolsa Grande

St. Margaret’s at Redlands Valley East

DIVISION 11

Del Rey League champion St. Anthony (3-7) is the top seed. There are no OC teams seeded in the top four. No OC games in bracket.

DIVISION 12

Desert Valley League runner-up Yucca Valley (6-4) is seeded first. There are no OC teams seeded in the top four.

OC games:

Costa Mesa at Yucca Valley

Ocean View at Santa Paula

DIVISION 13

Saddleback is seeded first, Sigma League co runner-up Rancho Alamitos (6-4) is seeded second, Kasier (4-5) is third, Omicron League at-large entry Buena Park (5-5) is fourth.

OC games:

Pacific at Saddleback

Desert Hot Springs vs. Woodbridge at University

Nordhoff at Buena Park

Montebello at Rancho Alamitos (day and location TBA)

DIVISION 14

Mission League co-runner-up South El Monte (6-4) is seeded first. There are no OC teams seeded in the top four.

OC games:

Bolsa Grande at Ontario

Godinez at Pioneer

Anaheim at Webb

(To see the complete brackets, go to the CIF website and click on brackets)

—Send changes to Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com; follow us on X @ocsportszone)