Photo by Tim Lunney
Football:
At first glance, the 2025 CIF-SS playoff football brackets don’t appear as controversial as they have in recent years.
However, the ‘formula’ still has its flaws.
Perhaps the biggest head scratcher from the San Gabriel Valley area is 10-0 Los Altos, the Hacienda League champions, having to travel to 2-8 Upland in a Division 6 first-round game.
The Highlanders finished fifth (of six) in the Baseline League standings, and their two wins came over Citrus Valley and Ayala, who combined to go 3-17.
In Division 2, winning the Baseline League championship didn’t seem to do Rancho Cucamonga any favors.
The Cougars (7-3) will host the Delta League champs from Tustin (9-1).
RCHS enters the playoffs on a five-game win streak, while THS has won their last six games.
The Tillers are ranked No. 16 in the state by MaxPreps, and the Cougars sit at 28th.
The winner of Friday’s D-2 showdown will face either top-seeded Murrieta Valley (7-3) or Corona del Mar (9-1).
Also in Division 2, Damien (8-2), the Baseline League’s No. 3 seed travels to Vista Murrieta (7-3).
The Broncos finished fourth in the Big West Upper Division and they’re ranked 21st in the state.
The Spartans (47th) two league losses came to Rancho Cucamonga and Chino Hills by a combined nine points.
DHS enters the postseason 8-2 for the third consecutive year and quarterback Isaiah Arriaza hopes to lead the Spartans to their first playoff win in eight years.
In Division 3, Chino Hills will host Mira Costa.
The Huskies (8-2) fell just shy, 31-24, at Rancho Cucamonga in the Baseline League title game.
CHHS (52nd) will enter the playoffs having won four of their last five games, including a 27-19 victory over Damien.
Mira Costa (7-3) finished fourth in the Bay League behind Leuzinger (8-1), Palos Verdes (7-3) and Inglewood (5-5).
The Mustangs are ranked No. 88.
In the first of two games that feature 210 Prep Sports programs facing off, Muir visits Charter Oak in a D-4 contest.
The Mustangs (8-2) make their second visit to Charter Oak (9-1) in two months.
On September 6th, COHS edged MHS, 34-33.
Muir (128th) and Charter Oak (81st) secured a Pacific and Sierra League title, respectively.
In Division 5, Bonita (6-4) travels to Covina District Field on Friday to battle the Valle Vista League co-champs from Northview (8-2).
The Bearcats (No. 143) and Vikings (123) met up twice in 2023.
NHS edged BHS (14-13) in a week-six showdown and Bonita ended Northview’s season (21-20) in a first-round playoff game.
The Vikings lone VVL loss was a one-point setback to Alta Loma (21-20) in week nine, and the Bearcats finished second in the Sierra League after Charter Oak left La Verne with a 23-6 victory three nights ago.
Also in Division 5, the reigning two-time CIF-SS champs from Rio Hondo Prep (10-0) will make the 65-mile drive to Thousand Oaks (8-2).
RHP secured a second consecutive Gold Coast League title two weeks ago.
The Kares (129th) moved up two CIF-SS divisions from a year ago after soundly defeating Warren, 43-16, in the D-7 title game.
Rio Hondo Prep claimed its first 10-0 season since 2019.
The Lancers finished second in the Conejo Coast League and they’re ranked 144th in the state.
Etiwanda (5-5) finished fourth in the Baseline League behind RCHS, Chino Hills and Damien in that order.
The Eagles (155) head to St. Paul (D-5) in spite of the Swordsmen being just 3-7 and finishing third in the Angelus League.
St. Paul (191) has been outscored 392-242 and they enter the playoffs having fallen 43-42 in a week-10 showdown with Paraclete in overtime.
SPHS’ three wins came against St. Francis (2-8), St. Pius (4-6) and Bishop Alemany (1-9), who combined to go 7-23.
In Division 6, arguably the area’s feel-good story of the year saw Alta Loma securing a share of the Valle Vista League championship with Northview and West Covina.
In 2023 and 2024 combined, the Lions went 6-14.
ALHS, led mostly by underclassmen, had to secure road wins at Northview and San Dimas in the final two weeks to win a share of the VVL crown.
And they did so by defeating the Vikings and Saints, 21-20, and 28-7, respectively.
For some reason, Alta Loma (172) has to travel to Downey to battle a St. Pius (4-6) program that finished fourth in the Angelus League and are ranked No. 231.
The Warriors four wins came against Sierra Vista (6-5), Newbury Park (6-4), St. Francis (2-8) and Bishop Alemany (1-9).
As mentioned above in a D-6 contest, undefeated Los Altos, who has outscored its opponents by a combined margin of 417-124, and ranked 156th, heads to No. 235 Upland.
The Highlanders have been outscored 261-187 in 2025.
In Division 7, the Sierra League’s No. 3 seed from Claremont (7-3) will make the 80-mile drive to face a Palm Springs (9-1) program that is ranked 203rd.
The Indians lone loss was a week-nine 35-28 setback at Palm Desert to the eventual Desert Empire League champs.
Claremont (264) snapped a three-game losing streak on Thursday with a 24-15 Sierra League victory at Colony.
The Wolfpack will not have Brandon Coronado behind center, but Jake Caron’s boys fight their asses off every Friday night, and they have a number of game changers including running back Tai Thompson and New Mexico-bound stud receiver, Max Leeper.
West Covina (7-3) had the opportunity to claim an outright Valle Vista League championship with a Thursday win over their visitors from Northview.
However, the Vikings cruised to a 35-0 victory to secure at least a share of their fifth consecutive VVL title.
The Bulldogs (187) will host La Canada (9-1) in a D-7 showdown.
The Spartans (241) feature a defense that has surrendered just 100 points all season.
LCHS’ lone loss was a 23-22 setback at South Pasadena back on October 10th.
In Division 9, San Dimas (5-5) travels to Rowland.
For the first time since 2014, the Saints don’t boast a season record over the .500 mark.
On the field, they were actually 4-6, but an ineligible Burbank player cost the Bulldogs a 28-point victory at SDHS in week zero.
SDHS has officially been outscored 241-195 after the Burbank forfeit and they finished fourth in the Valle Vista League.
Rowland (10-0) cruised to a Gano League championship, and they outscored their opponents by a combined margin of 416-149.
RHS is ranked 297 and SDHS enters the postseason at 302.
In Division 10, Pasadena travels to Santa Monica.
The Bulldogs (6-4) finished third in the Pacific League after a 28-20 loss to first-place Muir on Friday night at the Rose Bowl.
The reigning D-13 champs are ranked 415th and they travel to battle a Vikings (368) program that finished 6-4, including a third-place showing in the Pioneer League.
Monrovia (7-3) will host Hillcrest in a D-10 contest.
The Wildcats are without a quarterback, so they’ve been forced to run the ball almost literally on every down.
But MHS found a way to finish second in the Rio Hondo League and they’re ranked 147th in the state.
The Trojans (5-5) finished third in the Sunbelt League, and they currently sit at No. 424.
Lastly, in Division 11, Maranatha travels to Baldwin Park.
The Minutemen (7-3) have been shorthanded and hampered by injuries all season.
But MHS still secured the Mesquite League’s No. 2 seed.
Maranatha (534) will battle a Braves program that enters the postseason having lost five of their last six games.
BPHS (5-5), ranked 453rd, escaped the VVL cellar with a 42-35 victory over last-place Diamond Ranch in week 10.
Baldwin Park’s five wins came against Keppel (0-10), Covina (4-6), California (5-5), Sierra Vista (2-8) and Diamond Ranch (2-8).
Maranatha hopes to get an early connection going between quarterback Cooper Berry and the school’s record-setting receiver, Nico Vergara.
Random Notes: The Baseline League got five of its six teams into the playoffs.
Upland was the only 210 Prep Sports program to earn a spot without being at or over the .500 mark.
The Pacific League boasts just three playoff programs (Muir, Burbank & PHS).
For perhaps the first time in ages, Mater Dei is only seeded third in the eight-team Division 1 bracket.
St. John Bosco is No. 1, and Centennial Corona is the two seed.
Good luck to all of our local teams.
Please consider supporting 210 Prep Sports, which is a one-man band. Nothing is too small & everything is appreciated.
CIF-SS Playoff Schedule for 210 Prep Sports Programs:
Division 2:
Tustin at Rancho Cucamonga
Damien at Vista Murrieta
Division 3:
Mira Costa at Chino Hills
Division 4:
Muir at Charter Oak
Division 5:
Etiwanda at St. Paul
Bonita at Northview
Rio Hondo Prep at Thousand Oaks
Division 6:
Alta Loma at St. Pius
Los Altos at Upland
Division 7:
Claremont at Palm Springs
La Canada at West Covina
Division 9:
San Dimas at Rowland
Division 10:
Pasadena at Santa Monica
Hillcrest at Monrovia
Division 11:
Maranatha at Baldwin Park
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