Round 1 of the CIF playoffs is in the books and the teams left playing are getting smaller by the week. TeamFB7 highlights the top matchups to watch this week involving SoCal teams in Round 2.
The first round of the CIF playoffs across Southern California was filled with upsets, top performances and several games that went down to the wire. Many games in the Southern Section were decided by one score and there were a lot of surprising results down in San Diego County.
With the amount of teams decreasing each week, we are being treated to several excellent matchups in the second round. Two of the top divisions, Southern Section Division 1 and the San Diego Section Open Division, start games this week after having a bye last week. Here is a rundown of some of the top games TeamFB7 will be watching this week.
RELATED: CIF-SS Division 1 Players To Watch
Breaking Down the Top CIF Playoffs Matchups in Southern California for Round 2
Centennial (7-3) vs. Mater Dei (8-2)
Centennial eliminated Mater Dei from the playoffs last season in the semifinals with a blocked field goal on the final play of the game. Mater Dei beat Centennial earlier this season 10-9, ironically with a blocked field goal near the end of the game, but both teams are much different than they were back when they played in Week 2. Mater Dei is averaging 42 points per game since naming Randy Wright as its offensive coordinator and naming freshman Paytyn Guess as the starting quarterback. Asir Nembhard leads the Trinity League in rushing with 1,093 yards and 13 touchdowns. Mater Dei’s defense is among the best in the state and is led by a great trio of linebackers in DJ Clanton, Mike Davis and Ezekiel Su’a.
The Huskies are 6-1 since that loss to Mater Dei. Jaden Jefferson is throwing for 225 yards per game with 18 touchdowns and has 6 rushing touchdowns. USC commit Quentin Hale is his top target and Braylin Drake has been the top rusher for much of the season. Matt Salmeron leads Centennial’s defense with 96 tackles and Washington commit Jaden Walk-Green is back at safety after missing much of the season due to injury.
Other CIF-SS Division 1 Games: San Clemente (8-1) vs. Santa Margarita (10-0); Orange Lutheran (5-5) vs. St. John Bosco (7-3); Mission Viejo (8-1) vs. Sierra Canyon (10-0)
Chaparral (7-4) vs. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks | 8-3)
Cal QB commit Dane Weber had a monster game in the first round in a 56-35 shootout win over Orange. Weber threw for 227 yards with a pair of touchdowns and ran for 88 yards with 4 touchdowns. UCLA WR commit Michael “Kiko” Farinas ran for 104 yards with a touchdown and had 107 yards receiving with 2 touchdowns. Miami commit Eli Woodard had a nice game at receiver and running back Kingston Hunter had a season-high 130 yards rushing.
Notre Dame started freshman quarterback West Dutton in his first varsity game in a first round win over Capo Valley. Its former starting quarterback Tahj Skinner had 107 yards receiving and running back Noel Washington has been a big play threat all season for the Knights. Dylan Northcutt is the best defensive back for Notre Dame and will have his hands full with Chaparral’s crop of talented receivers.
Inglewood (9-1) vs. Palos Verdes (10-1)
These are the top two teams in the South Bay and Inglewood beat Palos Verdes a few weeks ago 26-23. Inglewood quarterback Lincoln Jahn has thrown for 757 yards with 10 touchdowns in his last three games and threw for 277 yards with 3 touchdowns against Palos Verdes. Marlon Watson has been running the ball well for the Sentinels and ran for 233 yards with a touchdown against Huntington Beach last week. Oklahoma commit Elija Harmon is playing like a future NFL defensive lineman recently and is a tough matchup for any offensive lineman.
Palos Verdes has reached two consecutive CIF championship games and won a title in 2024. Nevada commit Ryan Rakowski is one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the area completing 73 percent of his passes for 2,283 yards with 24 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. Jalen Flowers is one of the best class of 2028 prospects and leads the team in receiving and interceptions. Junior linebacker Weston Reis leads the Sea Kings in tackles and will be busy trying to stop Watson in this game.
Chaminade (8-3) vs. Pacifica (Oxnard | 9-2)
Pacifica has one of the best offenses in the CIF Southern Section and won a 56-50 shootout against Bishop Amat in the first round. Portland State commit Taylor Lee threw for 346 yards with 5 touchdowns and Alijah Royster had 173 yards receiving with 3 touchdowns on just 4 catches. San Diego State commit Isaiah Phelps led Pacifica in rushing with 97 yards with a touchdown and led the Tritons with 18 tackles.
Chaminade had a good defensive performance in the first round in a win over Corona del Mar. Elijah Williams returned an interception for a touchdown at the end of the game and Hudson Manning had 4 sacks. Jeremy Mellalieu threw for 231 yards with 2 touchdowns and Andrew Cordero had 175 yards receiving with 2 touchdowns. Chaminade has battled injuries on the offensive line all season and the run game has been lacking, but Mellalieu has been playing very well since returning from an injury.
Other CIF-SS Division 2 Quarterfinal: San Juan Hills (9-2) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (8-3)
Mission Hills vs. Cathedral Catholic
This is the top matchup in the San Diego Open Division. Cathedral Catholic features the best player in the Section in USC commit Honor Fa’alave Johnson, but he had been relegated to playing mostly safety this season. The Dons unleashed him at running back in their Week 10 win over Lincoln and he ran for 152 yards with 4 touchdowns. Koa Smith-Mayall has played well at quarterback and San Diego State commit Isaac Cook leads the team in receiving.
Mission Hills is led by Minnesota commit Furian Inferrera at quarterback and he throws for 181 yards per game with 18 touchdowns and has 9 rushing touchdowns. Ryan MacKenzie is the team’s leading receiver with 888 yards with 9 touchdowns. Brayden Roberson is one of the better two-way players in San Diego at receiver and cornerback. Cathedral Catholic won the Open Division last season.
Other CIF San Diego Section Open Division Semifinal: Santa Fe Christian (11-0) vs. Carlsbad (9-1)
