The CIF’s power ratings, a football version of diversity, inclusion, and equity, worked in all but four games in the week 12, first round of San Diego Section playoffs.
The National Football League long has fostered the “on-any-given-day-any team-can-win” mantra. There aren’t upsets; they’re…well, surprises.
There were four “surprises” as the San Diego Section postseason got underway. Three ninth-ranked squads beat No. 8 seeds and a 5 seed upended a 4 seed.
WARHAWKS HAVE HISTORY
No. 9 Madison’s 27-0, Division I victory over No. 8 Mater Dei might be classified as an upset, considering what played out in the regular season.
The Warhawks, traditionally strong and blooded with two state championships in three seasons since 2010, limped into the Division I bracket with six losses in their eight previous games.
Mater Dei, the defending state D-IIAA champion, was riding a six-game winning streak but ran into a Warhawks defense that suffocated the Crusaders, who finished with minus 45 yards rushing.
COUGARS GET HEALTHY
Escondido coach Stephen Dixon told John Maffei of The San Diego Union that his Cougars squad was “whole” for the first time, after losing eight of 10 during the regular season, including its last six.
The 37-21 D-IV win over Calexico was a nice bounce and also maintained the Cougars’ record of never losing to the Bulldogs in this infrequently played series.
| YEAR | TEAM | OPPONENT | SCORE |
| 1956 | Escondido | Calexico | 26-6 |
| 1957 | 48-12* | ||
| 2002 | 32-6 | ||
| 2003 | 35-0 | ||
| 2008 | 70-0 | ||
| 2009 | 79-0 | ||
| 2023 | 37-21* |
*Playoff games.
El Capitan, seeded ninth, ushered out Patrick Henry, another eight seed, 30-14 in D-III, and Maranatha ranked fifth in DV-AA, rocked No. 4 Rock, 35-14.
DREADED ADMINISTRATIVE GLITCH
Orange Glen had a whopper.
The Patriots forfeited their D-IV playoff opener to Crawford not long after it was determined the Patriots had used an ineligible player for a 10th consecutive game.
Someone was asleep at the Academic check point.
The player was a classroom grading casualty almost from Day I but was allowed to play the entire regular season before those responsible discovered the oversight.
OPEN SEASON
Action advances to the quarterfinals this week with four Open Division stalwarts beginning play in a couple blockbusters. Helix (9-1) is at Lincoln (10-0) and Granite Hills (10-0) visits Carlsbad (10-0).
Those four rank from sixth to eighteenth in Cal-Hi Sports’ state Top 50.
There are lots of other interesting quarterfinals matchups, including but not limited to those ranging up and down the Roman numerals:
D-I—6 Cathedral (4-7), @3 El Camino (7-4).
D-II—6 El Centro Central (9-2), @3La Jolla (8-2).
D-III—9 El Capitan (7-4), @1 Mission Bay (8-3).
D-IV—5 Crawford (8-3), @4 Santana (5-6).
D-V—4 Hoover (7-4), @1 Calexico Vincent Memorial (8-3).
DV-AA—4 Maranatha (5-6), @1 Holtville (7-2).
D-VI—4 Coastal (5-5), @Foothills Christian (7-2).
