May 16, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

PREVIEW: Plenty of interesting match-ups for Friday’s CIF football playoffs

Orange High captains (from left) David Gonzalez, Dylan Moses, Daylen Pedroza and Andrew Andrade head out for a game earlier this year. (File photo Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Looks like some great match-ups Friday night for week two of the CIF football playoffs.

For Division 1, which includes Mater Dei, it’s round one and for all other divisions, this will be the quarterfinal round.

OC Sports Zone is excited to be part of the coverage and we hope you check back throughout the evening for updates on our scorelist. We will update the scores as we get them and report all the finals at the end of the night along with photos and stories of some of the games along with follow-up coverage on Saturday.

SCORES AND UPDATES FROM FRIDAY NIGHT GAMES

Some interesting games tonight:

—Orange (10-1) is on the road to face J.W. North in Division 10 and hoping to advance to the semifinals next week. With the duo of quarterback Daylen Pedroza, receiver Andrew Andrade and running back Isacc Galvan on offense and a stellar defense, the Panthers have a solid shot of advancing. However, J.W. North is also 10-1 and playing at home so can’t be counted out.

—Teams can’t look ahead, but we can….if Orange and Segerstrom can win two more games, they would meet in the CIF Division 10 finals.

—Portola is looking to reach the semifinals in Division 14 with a win on the road against South Torrance. This looks like a match-up of two teams with great running games and it will be a good test for Peter Abe’s Portola team, which won its first CIF playoff game last week over Capo Valley Christian.

—Mater Dei (10-0) shouldn’t have much trouble in its opener against Bishop Amat (9-1). The Monarchs are trying to repeat as CIF champions. That game is at Santa Ana Stadium.

—Marina has had quite a season and looks to continue its success with a Division 11 quarterfinal round game against Ontario Christian at Westminster High School. We will have a game story and photos.

—Segerstrom and Katella in Division 10 matches two quality programs. Katella brought home a CIF title a couple years ago and Segerstrom is trying to reach the finals for the first time. This one should be really close!

Please click here for a preview:

–In Division 9, top-seeded and undefeated Foothill looks to advance with a victory on the road against San Dimas (10-1) and Newport Harbor hopes to move on with a victory over Monrovia Friday night. Foothill and Newport Harbor are on opposite sides so could meet in the finals.

—Corona del Mar has a home game on Saturday against Cajon at Newport Harbor in Division 3. Look for the high-flying Sea Kings to get one step closer to that big prize they’ve been shooting for all year.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com