There are two weeks remaining in regular season play for the San Diego Section’s tackle football teams. Some schools only have one regular season game left.
The new playoff format promises to be more competitive at the top of each division. The top four Division I teams will split off to form the elite Open Division as before but the next eight teams will form the Division I bracket, not 12 as before.
The latest section rankings place No. 1 Carlsbad (8-0), No. 2 Mission Hills (6-2), No. 3 Cathedral Catholic (5-3) and No. 4 Granite Hills (6-2) among the top four Division I teams.
The next eight Division I teams include No. 5 Santa Fe Christian (9-0), No. 6 Helix (6-2), No. 7 La Costa Canyon (5-3), No. 8 Lincoln (3-5), No. 9 Oceanside (4-4), No. 10. San Marcos (4-4), No. 11 Rancho Bernardo (7-1) and No. 12 Torrey Pines (5-3).
The next 12 teams will comprise the Division II playoffs and the next 12 after that the Division III bracket and the next 12 teams the Division IV bracket.
There are 14 teams listed in Division II through Division IV, meaning two teams in each division will not qualify for the playoffs.
The Division V bracket will now include 16 teams with no first-round byes. There are 22 teams in the division, meaning six teams will not qualify for postseason play.
Division V-AA includes 10 teams. Eight will make the playoff cut.
Six teams comprise the 8-player division. Four teams will make the playoff cut.
League champions are automatic playoff qualifiers.
EASTERN EXPOSURE
Where do the East County teams stack up? Granite Hills entered the week at No. 4, moving up from No. 6 following last Friday’s 52-11 Grossmont Hills League victory at Mount Miguel to improve to 3-0 in Grossmont Hills League play. The Eagles would make the Open Division cut-off if the playoffs started today.
Granite Hills and Mount Miguel are both included in the Division I playoff pool. Despite being ranked No. 58, it’s possible the Matadors (2-5) could be playoff-bound.
Teams can move down one playoff pool.
The Division II playoff pool includes Helix Charter and Steele Canyon (and possibly Mount Miguel). Helix entered the week at No. 6 in the section rankings, which would place the Highlanders as the No. 2 seed. Steele Canyon (4-4) has dropped to No. 26 in the section rankings, which could drop the Cougars to the Division III pool.
The Division III playoff pool includes Christian and Grossmont. Christian (5-3) has slipped to No. 31 in the section rankings while Grossmont (6- 3) entered the week at No. 25. Grossmont could earn the No. 1 seed.
The Division IV playoff pool includes El Capitan and Monte Vista. El Capitan (4-4) has won its last three games and now sits at No. 46 in the section rankings, No. 10 in the division. However. Monte Vista (3-5) is ranked 67th, which would place it outside both the Division IV and Division V pools.
El Capitan currently leads the Grossmont Valley League standings. With a successful finish, the Vaqueros could qualify for the playoffs as a league champion. Monte Vista will need to snare a win or two to end the season to stand a chance of qualifying for postseason play.
The Division V playoff pool includes four East County teams: West Hills (6-2), Santana (5-3), Valhalla (5-3) and El Cajon Valley (2-6). It’s a very competitive mix. West Hills and Santana would both make the Division IV playoff cut despite being in the preseason Division V playoff pool.
Additionally, Valhalla entered the week at No. 30 in the section rankings, which would place the Norsemen in the Division III bracket despite being assigned to the Division V playoff pool.
Playoff seeding in the lower divisions could be somewhat complicated and contentious.
Mountain Empire (5-3) and Foothills Christian (4-3) are both assigned to the Division V-AA playoff pool.
The section playoffs are slated to kick off Nov. 6 for Division II through Division V-AA and Nov. 13 for Division I and Open.
There will be four rounds in Division II through Division V and three rounds in Division I, Division V-AA and 8-player. The Open Division will feature two rounds (semifinals and championship).
Finals in Division I through Division V are Nov. 27-28 and Nov. 20-21 in Division V-AA and 8-player. The Open Division championship game is Nov. 21.
The Southern California regional championships are Dec. 4-5 and state championship bowl games Dec. 11-12.
Only the section champion in Open through Division V qualify for the regional playoffs. There is no regional championship at this time for Division V-AA and 8-player.
Some movement in the section rankings is possible over the last two weeks of regular season play.
SOARING EAGLES
Senior Zac Benitez passed for 245 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Eagles to their third consecutive win and sole possession of the league lead. Benitez finished the game with a 171.5 quarterback efficiency rating.
Senior Courtney Miller- Thompson had five receptions for 87 yards and three scores, including a 30-yard catch. Sophomore Manny Walker (three catches, 17 yards), senior Davion Williams (one catch, 23 yards) and senior Romeo Pepi (one catch, 49 yards) each caught one touchdown pass.
Granite Hills rolled up 300 yards in total offense. Senior Jacob Nunez collected seven kicking points in the game.
“The kids played well,” Granite Hills head coach Kellan Cobbs said. “The defense had a blocked punt and scoop and score touchdown. Zac had six touchdown passes. Nick McKindley (senior) kicked a 44 yard field goal.”
Benitez has been racking up some serious numbers of late. He has now passed for 1,900 yards and 27 touchdowns against just four interceptions through eight games. He’s also rushed for 78 yards and three touchdowns for a 128.8 quarterback rating.
Miller-Thompson leads the Eagles with 823 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns while senior Gage Spalding tops the team with 445 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
The Eagles close out regular season play with a game this Friday at San Jacinto (8-0 overall, 3-0 in Mountain Pass League) and an Oct. 30 matchup for the Grossmont Hills League championship (and automatic playoff berth) at Helix (2-0 in league).