Four OC teams earn top seeds under new CIF football playoff system (brackets, reaction)

Mater Dei, Tustin, Laguna Beach and Segerstrom football teams earned top seeds in the CIF playoffs that begin this week.

There are 216 teams in 14 playoff divisions, CIF officials said Sunday. It’s the first year of a new playoff system in which teams were ranked based on this year’s play and ratings from the Cal Preps website.

“I think it’s a fair process put together by trying to match the most equal teams into divisions,” said CdM Coach Dan O’Shea, who will take his team on the road to face Warren in the Division 2 playoffs. “The at-large spots may need to be evaluated using the Cal Preps ratings but beyond that, many of us are thrilled with the challenges this now poses in the playoffs.

“All 16 teams can win if they play well and lose if they don’t, but whoever comes out of each division would have earned it with four massive games consecutively.”

Mater Dei (8-0) is first in the open division. St. John Bosco (9-1) is seeded second, Servite (8-2) is third and Centennial (10-0) fourth.

Mater Dei will open the playoffs at home vs. Norco (8-2) n the opening round on Friday, Nov. 12. The open division consists of eight teams.

Openers for the rest of the divisions are this week.

Tustin (7-3), the Empire League runner-up, is top seed in Division 5 and will host Freeway League champion La Habra in the opening round. Laguna Beach (9-1)) the Pac-4 League champion, is seeded first in Division 9 and Segerstrom, the Big Four League co-champion, is seeded first in Division 10.

Segerstrom (4-6) earned the top seed with a 24-13 victory over Garden Grove Friday that also earned the Jaguars the co-championship with Garden Grove. However, Segerstrom got the No. 1 spot from the league by virtue of the win.

Segerstrom will host Salesian (7-3) in the opening round Friday night at 7:30.

“My reaction to being a top seed is pretty humbling,” said Segerstrom Coach Joseph Tagaloa. “Considering how our season has gone thus far, I’m very thankful that we were able to get such a ranking.

“All that matters now is getting a win. Rankings are nice but everyone who made it in has a shot, so we have to prepare to be ready to get everyone’s best effort, Obviously as a one seed everyone is going to be gunning for you so we better be prepared to play our best football.”

Segerstrom has been to the semifinal round of the playoffs once, in Tagaloa’s first year in 2016.

The Orange Coast League is also well represented. Orange is the No. 3 seed in Division 4. Coach Robert Pedroza’s Panthers will be home to host La Serna. The Panthers defeated Santa Ana 41-21 Thursday night to win the league title.

Santa Ana, the No. 2 representative, will be in the Division 6 playoffs and will host Mayfair Friday night at 7 at Santa Ana Stadium.

“We are excited to get a home game vs. a Mayfair team who had a great season which should make for a very exciting game,” said Saints Coach Charlie TeGantvoort.

Costa Mesa, the number three team from the Orange Coast League, is in the Division 12 playoffs and will play at top seed Compton Friday night.

Estancia, an at-large team out of the Orange Coast League, will open up hosting San Bernardino in the Division 13 playoffs.

The Pacific Hills League and Pacific Valley League were also well represented. All four teams from the Pacific Hills League, including league champion Irvine (10-0) advanced.

There was speculation that undefeated Irvine could be in one of three divisions, but Tom Ricci’s team wound up unseeded in Division 4 and will face St. Francis (7-3) on the road. Long Beach Poly is seeded first in the division, Chaparal second, Orange third and Cypress fourth.

Ricci said he was disappointed that his squad didn’t receive a home game for the opener.

JC Clarke’s Northwood team, which finished 5-5 and won the Pacific Valley League title, will be home for the opening round of the Division 11 playoffs vs. Big Bear (9-1).

Dana Hills, the No. 2 team from the Pacific Hills League, is in Division 5 and will play at El Modena, a Crestview League at-large entry.

Laguna Hills, an at-large entry, is in Division 10 and will play at Covina.

Portola (7-3), led by star running back Nova Kebeli, also earned an at-large berth in the Division 9 playoffs and will host Colony (4-6) Friday night. The Bulldogs won their first seven games before losing their three league contests.

Woodbridge, the No. 2 team from the Pacific Valley League, is in Division 12 and will play at Norwalk Friday night.

The Sunset League is also well represented. League champion Los Alamitos is in the open division and will face St. John Bosco at St. John Bosco.

Edison, the number two team, will host Murrieta Valley in the opening round of the Division 2 playoffs.

Corona del Mar, the No. 2 team from the Sunset League is in Division 2 and will play at San Gabriel Valley League champion Warren (9-0).

Other OC teams with high seedings include Orange Lutheran, third in Division 2 and Edison, fourth in Division 2.

Foothill is third in Division 3 and San Clemente is fourth in Division 3. Orange is third and Cypress fourth in Division 4. El Modena is fourth in Division 5. Newport Harbor is third in Division 6, Pacifica is third in Division 7 and Estancia is third in Division 13.

Western, the Orange League champion, is on the road to face Lompoc in Division 9.

“It’s tough being a league champ going on the road,” said Coach Dan Davidson. “However, it’s a great opportunity to play such a great opponent like Lompoc. The players will be happy because we will be leaving school early on Friday.”

TO SEE BRACKETS FROM EVERY DIVISION FROM CIF, CLICK HERE