2026 Flag Football Playoffs: Opening Round Results
Divisions I and II
Oddly, all higher seeds in D-I prevailed, whereas in D-II it was the exact opposite, with all lower seeds advancing. The most unexpected was an solid 31-6 win for 12 Vincent Memorial (11-8) over 5 Canyon Crest (16-4).
Divisions III and IV
In D-III it was balanced 2-2 , including the only lower seed with a losing record, 10 Poway (7-9) topping 7 El Camino (12-3). Similarly, D-IV was mixed 2-2, again with a ‘peaking’ team, a lopsided 52-0 win for 6 Imperial (6-12) over 11 Montgomery (11-6).
Next round is on Thursday October 29.
Open Division
Quarterfinal matches begin Wednesday October 28.
All games are at home of higher (smaller number) seed*.
All Final games are at Olympian on November 7, starting at 10am.
OPEN DIVISION
| Quarterfinals October 28 |
Semifinals November 3 |
Final November 7 |
| 1 San Marcos (21-1) 8 Carlsbad (14-7) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
Semifinal Winners |
| 4 Torrey Pines (13-8) 5 Mira Mesa (18-5) |
||
| 2 Bonita Vista (20-5) 7 Classical (13-6) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
|
| 3 Helix (16-1) 6 Mission Hills (16-5) |
DIVISION I
| Round 1 October 27 |
Quarterfinals October 29 |
Semifinals November 3 |
Final November 7 |
| 8 Ramona (13-6) 14-13 9 Hilltop (15-2) |
1 Cathedral (13-7) 8 Ramona (14-6) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
Semifinal Winners |
| 5 Point Loma (16-2) 27-6 12 Brawley (16-6) |
4 Granite Hills (10-7) 5 Point Loma (17-2) |
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| 7 Mt. Carmel (12-7) 20-14 10 Steele Canyon (10-10) |
2 Scripps Ranch (13-8) 7 Mt. Carmel (13-7) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
|
| 6 Mater Dei (15-5) 34-19 11 Calexico (15-6) |
3 La Costa Canyon (12-5) 6 Mater Dei (16-5) |
DIVISION II
| Round 1 October 27 |
Quarterfinals October 29 |
Semifinals November 3 |
Final November 7 |
| 8 Del Norte (10-9) 9 Mission Bay (12-11) 32-7 |
1 Morse (14-2) 9 Mission Bay (13-11) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
Semifinal Winners |
| 5 Canyon Crest (16-4) 12 Vincent Memorial (11-8) 31-6 |
4 Our Lady of Peace (11-9) 12 Vincent Memorial (12-8) |
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| 7 El Camino (12-3) 10 Poway (7-9) 12-6 |
2 Grossmont (12-8) 10 Poway (8-9) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
|
| 6 Madison (17-2) 11 Valley Center (12-6) 18-12 |
3 Escondido Charter (10-8) 11 Valley Center (13-6) |
DIVISION III
| Round 1 October 27 |
Quarterfinals October 29 |
Semifinals November 3 |
Final November 7 |
| 8 Holtville (13-7) 33-32 9 Lincoln (12-9) |
1 Patrick Henry (8-11) 8 Holtville (14-7) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
Semifinal Winners |
| 5 O’Farrell (16-3) 13-0 12 West Hills (10-6) |
4 San Pasqual (15-7) 5 O’Farrell (17-3) |
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| 7 El Centro Southwest (13-7) 26-3 10 San Ysidro (10-10) |
2 Westview (5-10) 7 El Centro Southwest (14-7) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
|
| 6 Eastlake (10-8) 11 Clairemont (5-13) 13-12 |
3 Santa Fe Christian (10-9) 11 Clairemont (6-13) |
DIVISION IV
| Round 1 October 27 |
Quarterfinals October 29 |
Semifinals November 3 |
Final November 7 |
| 8 Santana (9-9) 35-13 9 Escondido (9-13) |
1 Rancho Buena Vista (8-8) 8 Santana (10-9) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
Semifinal Winners |
| 5 El Cajon Valley (11-8) 12 Oceanside (6-14) 26-7 |
4 Liberty (14-3) 12 Oceanside (7-14) |
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| 7 Hoover (12-11) 10 Rancho Bernardo (5-15) 28-0 |
2 El Capitan (7-13) 10 Rancho Bernardo (6-15) |
Quarterfinal Winners |
|
| 6 Imperial (8-16) 52-0 11 Montgomery (11-6) |
3 Otay Ranch (9-11) 6 Imperial (9-16) |
*The Division and Seeding selection process divides the top 56 MaxPreps** state-ranked local teams into 8 top teams, then 4 equal 12 team groups. The top 8 teams become the Open Division, the next 12 are Division I (D-I), the next 12 become Division II, and so on.
In the D-I/II/III/IV brackets, the top 4 seeds get a first round bye and teams 5-12 are paired into a standard structure, similar to the national collegiate tackle football 12-team format.
**The entirely computer generated and proprietary MaxPreps.com ranking algorithm, based solely on wins and losses, plus the opponents strength of schedule, is described here.
Henrik Jonson, Webmaster