OPEN DIVISION: DE LA SALLE VS. MATER DEI-SANTA ANA
Records: De La Salle 12-0, Mater Dei 12-0
Kickoff: Saturday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, 8 p.m.
Series history: De La Salle holds a 4-2 series edge. The Concord powerhouse defeated Mater Dei 28-21 in the programs’ first matchup back in 1998 and 42-0 in the rematch a year later. The Spartans won 31-28 in 2000 and 34-6 in 2001 as DLS was in the midst of its national record 151-game winning streak. The teams would not meet again until 2017, when the Monarchs routed DLS 52-21 in the Open championship game. Mater Dei won again in 2018, this time a much more competitive 35-21 showdown.
Storylines: The most storied programs in modern state history will face one another in the last California high school football game of the season. De La Salle is making its first appearance in the Open championship game since 2019, when the Spartans lost 49-28 to St. John Bosco-Bellflower. The Spartans are playing in a California record 17th state championship game, but are 7-9 overall and have not won one since 2015. … De La Salle’ coaching staff, led by Justin Alumbaugh, has had three weeks to prepare for the Monarchs since defeating Pittsburg 10-7 in the NorCal Open championship. The Spartans split-back veer offense runs through quick QB Toa Faavae and running backs Dominic Kelley, Derrick Blanche and Duece Jones-Drew. The DLS defense is even more star-studded, with Oregon signee Matt Johnson Jr. anchoring the line, and future Division I DBs Jaden Jefferson, Ant Dean and Emery Speight patrolling the secondary. The Spartans defeated NorCal powers St. Francis, Serra, Grant-Sacramento and San Ramon Valley during their undefeated season, but are still heavy underdogs. Mater Dei is just that good, with the Monarchs ranked as the top team in the nation by MaxPreps. First-year coach Raul Lara, who led Long Beach Poly during its legendary 2001 game against De La Salle that was later immortalized in the Hollywood film “When the Game Stands Tall,” oversees a roster that has future Division I college football players at every position. Mater Dei has seven of the Top 100 players in California in the class of 2025. CBs Chuck McDonald and Daryus Dixson are committed to Alabama and Penn State, respectively. Linebacker Nasir Wyatt and running back Jordon Davison are bound for Oregon. Their top wide receivers, Chris Henry Jr. and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, are both juniors. De La Salle will need to play close to a perfect game to be competitive.
Computer projection: Calpreps.com predicts Mater Dei will win 44-3.
– Joseph Dycus
DIVISION I-AA: PITTSBURG VS LINCOLN-SAN DIEGO
Records: Pittsburg 12-2, Lincoln 11-2
Kickoff: Friday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, 8 p.m.
Series history: Have never played each other in the MaxPreps era (since 2004).
Storylines: After an all-time classic win over Folsom in the NorCal regional championship game last week, Pittsburg will be looking to capture its first state title in school history. The Pirates lost in the Division I-A title game in 2017 and 2022, but come into this year’s game determined to make a statement. Pittsburg quarterback Marley Alcantara has had a magical season and will be the catalyst for the Pirates offense. The Southern Oregon commit has thrown for over 2,800 yards and 40 touchdowns while not having an interception this season. Look for Pittsburg wide receivers R.J. Mosley, Makari Kenion, Leduane Thomas, Truly Bell and freshman speedster Kenny Ward to be heavily involved in the passing game. Pittsburg’s hard-hitting defense will be key if the Pirates want to leave Southern California with a win. UCLA commit Juju Walls leads a talented defense that includes Boise State-bound linebacker Dominik Calhoun and San Diego State signee Etene Pritchard Jr. On the back end, Pac-12 defensive backs Jamar Searcy (Washington State) and Jadyn Hudson (UCLA) will have to contain a Lincoln offense led by Oregon commit Akili Smith Jr. UC Davis commit Aden Jackson is a force for the San Diego school, averaging over 112 yards per game. Pittsburg’s offensive line will have to account for sophomore standout Prince Tavizon, who has 11 sacks on the year.
Computer projection: Calpreps.com predicts Lincoln wins 31-27
– Nathan Canilao
DIVISION 3-AA: AMADOR VALLEY VS. FRONTIER-BAKERSFIELD
Records: Amador Valley 10-4, Frontier 10-4
Kickoff: Friday at Long Beach City College, 8 p.m.
Series history: Have not played in the MaxPreps era (since 2004).
Storylines: Amador Valley will try to cap its magical season with the program’s first state title. The Dons, coached by Danny Jones, defeated Bishop O’Dowd 42-18 to capture the North Coast Section Division II crown and then beat McClymonds 44-33 to win a NorCal championship. The explosive Dons offense puts up an average of 37 points per game and has converted on 47 of its 65 two-point conversion tries. Oregon State commit Tristan Tia has thrown and run for a combined 50 touchdowns, with his favorite target being 1,503-yard receiver Anthony Harrington. RB Ismael Duenas has run for 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns in just nine games. Kade Robertson and Ben Stout have combined for 13 receiving touchdowns as big-play complements to Harrington. Amador’s defense has been up-and-down, but held McClymonds to just six points in the fourth quarter as the Dons outscored the Oakland powerhouse 22-6 in the final period to clinch a come-from-behind NorCal victory. Frontier has run through the Bakersfield gauntlet on its way to a title, playing powerful Liberty-Bakersfield to a 25-20 loss in the regular season, and beating crosstown foes Centennial and Bakersfield in section play. Frontier beat Murietta Mesa 39-7 to advance to the state championship game. RJ Green led all Frontier runners with 868 yards and nine touchdowns, while pass-rusher Logan Slaton has 10 sacks. Both teams lost to Liberty-Brentwood this season, with Frontier falling 24-7 and Amador losing 34-28.
Computer projection: Calpreps.com predicts Frontier will win 35-24.
– Joseph Dycus
DIVISION 7-AA: MOREAU CATHOLIC VS. LINDSAY
Records: Moreau Catholic 10-4, Lindsay 10-5
Kickoff: Friday at Fullerton UHSD Stadium, 4 p.m.
Series history: Have not played in the MaxPreps era (since 2004).
Storylines: Moreau Catholic has turned a strong regular season into an unforgettable playoff run. The Mariners, seeded as the No. 1 team in the NCS Division VII bracket, have taken full advantage of the opportunity presented to them. After completing a 6-4 regular season, they swept through the D-VII bracket with a 49-14 blowout of St. Bernard’s and close wins over Del Norte-Crescent City (14-7) and Ferndale (26-22). Now, after a dominant 42-11 win over Leland in the CIF NorCal 7-AA championship game, the Mariners will meet Lindsay for the 7-AA state title. MC has faced a number of run-heavy opponents along its playoff journey, and Lindsay is no exception.The Cardinals are led by Jose Cortes, a senior running back who has compiled 2,088 yards on 303 carries this season. Junior Elijah Cortes is Lindsay’s second-leading rusher with 885 yards on 103 totes, an average of 8.6 yards per carry. Fortunately for Moreau, they’ve done this before. Ferndale and Leland were both very run-heavy teams. Moreau perhaps offers more through the air. While Lindsay has only attempted 17 passes all season, Moreau leading receiver Jalen Arnold alone has caught 64 balls for 1,493 yards. Senior quarterback Jeremiah Charles has been efficient through the air, completing 65% of his passes for 2,761 yards. But the Mariners can run the ball too. The duo of Jayden Bryant (910 yards) and Peyton Collins (744) leads a rushing attack that has gained nearly 2,000 yards on the ground this year. And when called upon to stop the run defensively or gain a short-yardage first down, coach Keith Minor thinks Moreau will be ready. The Mariners’ leading tacklers, linebackers Seth Evans (138 tackles) and Eriq Fields (122), have been standouts all season.
Computer projection: Calpreps.com predicts that Moreau Catholic will win 35-14.
– Christian Babcock