san fernando

SOCAL REGIONAL BOWL GAMES

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

DIVISION 1-AA

Los Alamitos (12-2) vs. San Diego Cathedral Catholic (10-2) at Long Beach City College, 7:30 p.m.

DIVISION 2-AA

La Habra (11-3) at Bakersfield Christian (12-0), 7:30 p.m.

DIVISION 3-AA

Ventura (11-2) at Arroyo Grande (9-4), 7:30 p.m.

DIVISION 4-AA

Immanuel Reedley (13-0) at Barstow (10-3), 7:30 p.m.

DIVISION 5-AA

El Cajon Christian (7-7) at Cerritos Valley Christian (11-3), 7:30 p.m.

DIVISION 6-AA

Valley View (9-5) at Valley Center (7-6), 7:30 p.m.

DIVISION 7-AA

San Fernando (5-8) vs. Woodbridge (6-8) at Irvine University, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

DIVISION 1-A

Oxnard Pacifica (14-0) at Granite Hills (10-3), 7 p.m.

DIVISION 2-A

Rio Hondo Prep (14-0) vs. Santa Fe Christian (13-0) at Carlsbad, 7 p.m.

DIVISION 3-A

Delano Kennedy (11-3) at Carson (10-3), 6 p.m.

DIVISION 4-A

Hillcrest (8-5) vs. Beckman (9-4) at Tustin, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 5-A

Bishop Union (11-3) at South Gate (11-3), 6 p.m.

DIVISION 6-A

San Diego Morse (9-4) vs. Grace (11-3) at Moorpark College, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 7-A

Santee (10-4) at South El Monte (10-4), 6 p.m.

Note: Winners advance to state bowl championships Dec. 12-13 at Saddleback College, Fullerton High and Buena Park High.

STATE BOWL CHAMPIONSHIPS

SATURDAY, DEC. 13

At Saddleback College

OPEN DIVISION

Santa Margarita (10-3) vs. Concord De la Salle (12-0), 8 p.m.

Junior cornerback Ayden Celis recovered a fumble at San Fernando’s 22-yard line with 1:27 remaining and the second-seeded Tigers held on to beat No. 1-seeded Cleveland 21-14 at Birmingham High.

It was the ninth City title for San Fernando (11-3) and its first since 2017.

Melvin Pineda plowed into the end zone on fourth and goal from the one-yard line to end San Fernando’s first drive and, after teammate Brandan Marshall recovered a fumble at the Tigers’ 46, Pineda capped the ensuing possession with another one-yard touchdown, his sixth of the playoffs, to make it 14-0.

Cleveland marched to San Fernando’s eight-yard line late in the second quarter but a 25-yard field-goal attempt by Samael Cerritos hit the left upright.

Oluwafemi Okeola intercepted an overthrown pass at the San Fernando 46 early in the third quarter and nine plays later quarterback Domenik Fuentes scored on a three-yard keeper to pull the top-seeded Cavaliers within eight.

Three runs by Brandon Maldonado gained 37 yards to set up Fuentes’ one-yard plunge and a two-point conversion run by Joseph Hurtado that tied the score, 14-14, with 9:33 left.

San Fernando responded with a 75-yard drive, regaining the lead on a two-yard run by Andrew Newchurch, his 16th touchdown of the season, and a clutch extra point by Isaac Ortega with 4:36 remaining in the game.

“It was probably my last [high school] football game and we got the win,” Newchurch said. “The play was overload left and it was wide open. We’re proud to add to the school legacy — we hadn’t won City in a long time.”

The Tigers lost to eventual-champion Chatsworth in the first round of the Division II playoffs last season.

Cleveland (5-9) was seeking its first City title.

With heavy rain expected this weekend, the chance for high school football players in Los Angeles to run, tackle and enjoy playing in the mud is more than possible. There’s eight City Section teams hosting playoff games Friday night with grass fields that have little grass left.

That means fun times ahead.

“It’s not going to be pretty,” Venice coach Angelo Gasca said of his field’s condition for a game against Franklin.

The coaches might not like mud, but Gasca said his players are excited.

“Everyone is looking forward to it,” Gasca said.

San Pedro, Venice, Eagle Rock, Cleveland, San Fernando, Santee, Jefferson and Wilson have either not changed their fields into all-weather turf or chose to keep grass. Eagle Rock next season is switching to all-weather, so coach Andy Moran might have a final home game in the mud against Dorsey.

San Pedro lost to Eagle Rock in the rain in 2022. Pirates coach Corey Walsh has not forgotten. He prepared with wet footballs in practice this week for Friday’s game against Crenshaw.

“We’re super excited,” he said.

The people who aren’t excited are the bus drivers who will have to clean their buses; fans who will break out umbrellas, plastic hats and boots; parents who will have to clean uniforms; sportswriters trying to keep stats with no covering.

Yes, Southern California is not used to playing high school football in the rain. One of the most famous games was Servite beating Edison 16-6 in the 2009 Pac-5 championship game at Angels Stadium. The lead sentence in the Los Angeles Times story was, “Playing in conditions more suitable for sea gulls and ducks.”

Look for ducks and mud on Friday night.

HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Quarterfinals

OPEN DIVISION
#1 San Pedro 23, #8 Verdugo Hills 0
#4 LA Marshall 31, #5 Wilmington Banning 20
#3 Panorama 6, #6 LA Wilson 0
#2 Eagle Rock 18, #7 Narbonne 14

DIVISION I
#8 Carson 18, #16 Venice 7
#5 Franklin 20, #13 Sylmar 12
#11 El Camino Real 12, #3 Birmingham 7
#2 Bell 17, #7 Garfield 12

DIVISION II
#1 Sun Valley Magnet 34, #9 South East 8
#12 Angelou 19, #13 Mendez 6
#3 San Fernando 20, #6 Lincoln 7
#7 Sherman Oaks CES 18, #2 Crenshaw 12

DIVISION III
#9 Van Nuys 14, #1 South Gate 6
#13 Westchester 50, #12 Monroe 7
#6 Arleta 19, #3 LA Hamilton 6
#2 Hawkins 52, #7 Chatsworth 0

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Games at 3 p.m. unless noted)

Semifinals

OPEN DIVISION
#4 LA Marshall at #1 San Pedro
#3 Panorama at #2 Eagle Rock

DIVISION I
#8 Carson at #5 Franklin
#11 El Camino Real at #2 Bel

DIVISION II
#12 Angelou at #1 Sun Valley Magnet
#7 Sherman Oaks CES at #3 San Fernando

DIVISION III
#13 Westchester at #9 Van Nuys
#6 Arleta at #2 Hawkins

Note: Finals (all divisions) Saturday, Nov. 15 at Garfield High.