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The much-debated size of the Division 1 bracket for the CIF-SS football playoffs settled Sunday at an expected number, but one slightly different than past seasons.
Eight.
The Southern Section announced the playoff pairings highlighted with an eight-team, Division 1 bracket.
The teams are: No. 1 St. John Bosco (9-1), No. 2 Centennial (9-1), No. 3 Mater Dei (7-2), No. 4 Sierra Canyon (10-0), No. 5 Santa Margarita (7-3), No. 6 Mission Viejo (9-1), No. 7 Servite (6-4) and No. 8 Orange Lutheran (2-8, including two forfeits).
“We’re interested in devising the best, true to form, competitive equity playoff model that we can,” section assistant commissioner Joe Hoggatt said. “But we’re looking at all 14 divisions, and that was the best for Division 1 and for all 14 divisions, and that’s why Division 1 was at eight.”
“If you look at the ratings (on HSratings), there’s a big gap between eight and nine,” Hoggatt added. “That made it an easier choice.”
In HSratings, which guides the construction of the playoff brackets, Orange Lutheran has a power rating of 61.3, about 5.5 points ahead of Murrieta Valley (55.9).
Murrieta Valley claimed the No. 1 seed in Division 2.
Hoggatt settled on eight teams, he said, after considering input from several sources, including CIF-SS commissioner Mike West.
Last season, Division 1 featured 10 teams with several first-round byes.
In 2023, Division 1 had eight teams. The year before that, it was 10.
The section’s football advisory committee, Hoggatt confirmed, wanted the section to consider making Division 1 a 16-team bracket.
“We’re not opposed to that,” said Hoggatt, who in his first year of his position. “But it’s got to be competitively balanced and equitable.”
St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro is among those who believes Division 1 should be 16 teams.
“Why separate Division 1 into their own category,” he said before the Braves’ game against Mater Dei last week. “Encourage people to play up. Encourage people to get better and improve in their programs. People would surprise you.”
“I don’t understand why our kids get shorted a week (of playing) just because they perform at a high level,” the coach added.
Two Division 1 pairings stand out for the first round on Friday, Nov. 14.
First off, Mission Viejo, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, faces county No. 3 Mater Dei, which will be the home team.
The county powers last collided in 2019 in the Division 1 playoffs. Mater Dei won 49-24 behind seven touchdowns by then quarterback Bryce Young.
Mission Viejo enters the postseason after defeating Los Alamitos 76-49 to clinch the outright Alpha League title.
Diablos quarterback Luke Fahey, who is committed to Ohio State, passed for a school-record 569 yards, third most in Orange County single-game history.
Mater Dei rallied from a 21-point deficit to upset St. John Bosco 36-31 on Oct. 31 by scoring 16 points off four turnovers. Defensive back CJ Lavender had two interceptions for the Monarchs,, the two-time defending Division 1 champion.
“Did people count us because we had two losses?” Mater Dei coach Raul Lara said after the game.
“I’ll tell you right now, even if we lost this game (against St. John Bosco), I’m pretty sure any of the eight teams (in Division 1) don’t want us in the first round.”
The other intriguing first round game is Santa Margarita at Sierra Canyon.
Both teams have experienced and strong defenses. The Eagles, with linebackers Leki Holani and Dash Fifita, are holding opponents to 13.9 points. The Trailblazers allow an average of 4.3.
“Anybody can beat anybody in (Division 1),” Hoggatt said.
The other first round games are familiar matchups.
Servite again travels to Centennial, which beat the Friars 42-14 in the teams’ season opener in Corona.
Orange Lutheran plays at St. John Bosco, which blanked the Lancers 48-0 in the Trinity League at Orange Coast College.
The Braves have defeated Orange Lutheran in two of the past three seasons in the Division 1 playoffs.
“To be the best, you got to compete against the best,” Servite coach Chris Reinert said earlier this season. “That helps to elevate yourself, too.”