CIF-SS Projections Report Card

Hits, Misses, and All In Between

In the end, we got 86% of the teams in their correct divisions. There were some close shaves. My biggest mistake was including J Serra in the field, as in the end, they weren’t. Next egregious error was not including Notre Dame Sherman Oaks. I picked Serra Gardena, due to a higher overall rating and the fact that they beat Notre Dame head-to-head, although they had one more league loss. Didn’t think committee would pick six Mission League teams, which they didn’t, I just picked the wrong five.

FULL CIF-SS 11-PERSON FOOTBALL BRACKET

Of teams I got wrong, I did have most in previous projections. Missed on Roosevelt, but Norco’s exclusion got them in, due the strength of the Big West Upper. Had Santiago and Temecula Valley in separately, in previous projections, but not both. Didn’t think they’d take all six Big West Lower teams, and they did. Both Serra teams being out of the field, pushed Murrieta Mesa from D4 (where I thought they’d be) into Division 3.

Didn’t think Temecula Valley or Santiago would make it, due to how the divisions broke. But with some of the late movement up top (Norco Forfeits, Long Beach Poly withdrawing, and the exclusion of both J Serra and Serra Gardena), there was a trickle down effect, in terms of how the tops and bottoms of divisions ended up.

My biggest whiffs were Alhambra, Roosevelt, Shadow Hills and Dominguez, who I don’t think I had in any previous projections, as At-Large teams. Happy Dominguez got in, just wasn’t sure if committee would take five Gateway teams. To me, the most glaring omission was Rim of the World, on the outside looking in, despite a 9-1 record.

Again, this has been a fun run, it always is. Thanks to all who read and chimed in with their thoughts, the interaction is greatly appreciated. Looking forward to covering some playoff football now. Some great match-ups on the docket.

Here are some of the more intriguing match-ups (If you’ll excuse my IE bias)

D4: Cajon vs. Great Oak - Citrus Belt Champions against second-place team from Big West Lower. Great area contest for those fan bases.

D6: Orange Vista vs. El Toro - Khalil “The Real Deal” Abdul-Aziz leads the Coyotes against a El Toro, which also has a pretty decent QB tradition.

D8: Elsinore vs. Patriot - Tigers’ Head Coach is an old D-Lineman, while Chris Fowler, at Patriot, was a linebacker during his playing days. Expect some throwback football in this one.

D9: Norte Vista vs. Vista Del Lago - 17th straight playoff appearance for Ken Batdorf and the Braves, 6th straight CIF appearance for Ravens, who reached Semi Finals four straight years before last year’s 1st Round ouster. Teams last played in 2007.

D9: Riverside Poly vs. Corona Santiago - First League title for Bears since 2014. Poly missed CIF last year, after run to 2023 D11 Final. First playoff appearance for Sharks since 2019, when they lost to Corona Del Mar in D3.

D12: Perris vs. Citrus Hill - Good to see Ron Gueringer back in the CIF Playoffs, trying to restore Citrus Hill to past glory. Back-to-Back playoff appearances for Perris Head Coach Paul Martin.