As football playoffs begin all over the state (except for the Central Coast Section), MaxPreps takes a look at some of the most intriguing brackets in Southern California. Be sure to visit the latest California Bowl Game rankings to see how some of these teams look in the statewide picture.
Southern Section Pac-5 Division
Zachary Green is rushing hard to get St. Bonaventure to the Pac-5 title game and perhaps a Regional Bowl Game.
Photo by Lee Calkins
(9-1). No one has played a more difficult schedule than the Seraphs. Chances are, this battle-tested bunch will be prepared for anything and everything in their way.
Our pick: St. John Bosco (Bellflower) (6-4, four forfeit losses). With senior offensive lineman and USC commit
Nico Falah leading the charge, the Braves received what appears to be a more-than-favorable draw.
Next in line: Mission Viejo (10-0). The Diablos have a game-changer in senior defensive back and USC commit
Max Redfield. If he's involved early, and often, the sky's the limit for this team.
Sleeper: Mater Dei (Santa Ana) (8-2). The Monarchs have been here before. Plenty of times. One of the more storied programs Southern California has to offer, you can never count them out in the playoffs.
Defending champion: Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) (8-2). The Eagles have struggled ever since a season-ending injury to senior quarterback and Nebraska commit Johnny Stanton. They've never been the same.
Comment: St. Bonaventure, with senior running back and Arizona commit
Zachary Green, is capable of making a postseason run. The Seraphs, however, figure to face a tough test in the second round against senior quarterback and Utah commit
Conner Manning from
El Toro (Lake Forest).
Southern Section Inland Division
Vista Murrieta overcame forfeits last season to win the Inland Division. Despite a perfect on-the-field record, the team was passed-up for a State Bowl Game berth. Vista Murrieta seeks its fourth-straight title game appearance.
File photo by John Downey
(10-0). Senior defensive back and USC commit
Su'a Cravens and his teammates are determined to win the championship and qualify for a CIF State Bowl game after last season's disappointment.
Our pick: Vista Murrieta. It's difficult to imagine a scenario in which the Broncos do not win it all. If the focus turns toward Cravens, they have enough weapons to still get the job done.
Next in line: Centennial (Corona) (9-1). The Huskies have been considered the cream of the crop from out in the Inland Empire in recent years and they don't appear ready to relinquish the title.
Sleeper: Upland (10-0).
Joe Mathis is one of the nation's more sought-after unsigned prospects, and with the senior defensive lineman in the mix, the Scots will put a scare into a couple teams.
Defending champion: Vista Murrieta. In terms of the bracket this time around, the only thing separating the Broncos from the title game could be
Rancho Cucamonga or
Charter Oak (Covina).
Comment: Book it. Write it down. Make a mental note. Cravens & Co. are destined to successfully defend their title. It's just a matter of time before Vista Murrieta is sized for its title rings.
Southern Section Western Division
Lompoc is gunning for a third-straight section title, and is certainly motivated after being skipped-over for a State Bowl Game spot last season.
File photo by Nicholas Koza
(10-0). The Braves will go as far as
Lavon Coleman takes them. Problem is: The senior running back and Washington commit has struggled with injuries throughout the season.
Our pick: Chaminade (West Hills) (9-1). No one has been hotter than senior running back
Terrell Newby. With several Pac-12 Conference offers, he has been a man on a mission the past month.
Next in line: Serra (Gardena) (8-2). The Cavaliers have struggled to replace senior running back Anterio Bateman, who broke his left ankle earlier this season. Someone needs to step up. And quickly.
Sleeper: Cathedral (Los Angeles) (8-2). With senior quarterback and LSU commit
Hayden Rettig underneath center, the Phantoms are one of those teams that no one wants to face in an elimination game.
Defending champion: Arroyo Grande (8-2). There will be no repeat for the Eagles, unfortunately. Following some playoff shuffling, they are competing in the Northern Division this time around.
Comment: Corbin Covey of
Camarillo has been unstoppable this season. The senior receiver has 124 catches for 1,208 yards and eight scores. The Scorpions, however, might not make it out of the first round against senior quarterback and Vanderbilt commit
Chad Kanoff from
Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood).
Southern Section Southwest Division
Edison is the favorite this season after bowing out in the first round last season.
File photo by Terry Jack
(9-1). A narrow 20-14 nonleague loss to powerhouse Mater Dei in the fourth game of the season is the only thing that stands between the Chargers and an unblemished record.
Our pick: Edison. The plan moving forward for the Chargers appears to be: Keep the ball on the ground and in the hands of senior running back
Marquis Ross. Stick with the thing that works, right?
Next in line: Tustin (10-0). A no-nonsense approach to the game has served the Tillers well thus far. The philosophy does not figure to change from here on out, not with a championship on the line.
Sleeper: Los Alamitos (6-4). The Griffins gave Edison a run for its money in a Sunset League game earlier this season. A 24-14 loss, however, was the end result. The road to redemption begins now.
Defending champion: Tustin. An Empire League title was a foregone conclusion for the Tillers this season. Duplicating the feat and winning a championship in this division is an entirely different story.
Comment: Edison and Tustin appear to be on a collision course for the finals. It would be rather surprising to see either one of these programs upset along the way.
Los Angeles City Section Division I 
Narbonne seeks to repeat as LA City Section champs, and this season perhaps move on to a Regional Bowl Game.
File photo by Jason Paar
(10-0). With senior quarterback and Washington commit
Troy Williams calling the shots, the Gauchos are poised to run the table and stake claim to a CIF State Bowl Game berth.
Our pick: Narbonne. There's no way Williams and his teammates stumble on the road to a championship. Expect them to add some more hardware to the trophy case on the school's campus.
Next in line: Crenshaw (Los Angeles) (9-1). The Cougars opened eyes with a 13-2 victory over Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) earlier this season. They have proven to be a formidable foe and Narbonne knows this well.
Sleeper: Venice (Los Angeles) (8-2). The Gondoliers are talented. However, chances of making a prolonged postseason run are extremely limited given the fact that Narbonne and Crenshaw stand in the way.
Defending champion: Narbonne. Williams did it once as a junior. And he'll probably do it again. He has completed more than 70 percent of his passes for 1,925 yards and 27 touchdowns this season.
Comment: For argument's sake, Crenshaw could challenge Narbonne if the two were to meet in the title game. Senior defensive backs, UCLA commit
Mossi Johnson and Utah commit
Dominique Hatfield, might be able to give Williams problems. Problem is: Narbonne is far superior across the board.
Sean Ceglinsky has covered prep and college sports in Southern California for the better part of the past 15-plus years. Follow him on twitter: @SeanCeglinsky
