Playoff time for high school football, and new teams aim to crash the party

For the first time in years, the Southern Section and City Section football playoffs will start with a hint ofuncertainty as to which team finishes as champion in the highest divisions.

- By Eric SONDHEIMER

Since 2016, every Southern Section Division 1 championship game has been won by St. John Bosco or Mater Dei. This season, Mater Dei has losses to Corona Centennial and Santa Margarita. St. John Bosco’s invincibility was punctured with a 35-31 regular-season finale loss to Mater Dei.

“We have to pick ourselves up. We're still a good football team,” St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro said.

‘Then there’s Sierra Canyon, which is 10-0, has the best defense anywhere with five shutouts and still gets ranked No. 4 bya computer that decides Southern Section playoff pairings. Do you think the Trailblazers have something to prove?

“We're kind of the new kids on the block,” coach Jon Ellinghouse said. “We've gained some valuable experience. We have a team that belongs on the stage.”

Sierra Canyon is opening the playoffs in two weeks, hosting Santa Margarita as part ofan eight-team Division 1 bracket released on Sunday. St. John Bosco is seeded No. 1, Corona Centennial No. 2, Mater Dei No. 3. The championship game is set for Friday, Nov. 28, at the Rose Bowl.