Week 15: SoCal wins two of three state championships, but does it prove anything?
Concord De La Salle rallied late to ruin an impressive comeback by
Corona Centennial and take a 37-31 victory to win the Division I bowl
championship.
Oceanside finished big for a come-from-behind 28-14 victory over
Marin County Novato to win the Division II bowl championship.
St. Bonaventure struggled before defeating Modesto Central
Catholic, 35-31, to capture the Division III bowl championship.
These were the results in what is considered by most observers to be the
state championship playoffs which were held Saturday at the Home Depot
Center in Carson.
Good games all, and worthy of special recognition. But are they enough
to really determine state championships (although the CIF readily
emphasizes they are not designed as state championship contests, but rather bowl games).
They were exercises in the second year in a two-year plan to test the interest and
capabilities of such games, and the plan is expected to be extended another
two years. There is even talk of expanding the number of games, perhaps
to five or as many as eight, but that still is in the rumor stage.
Whaever the number or games might be, isn't it the method of determining
the participants most in question? Is selection by committee better, or
more time element/financially prudent, than earning a spot by playing
qualifying games?
Or do we even need "state" playoffs games?
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About this blog
Roger Murray is the prep sports editor for the Whittier Daily News.
Pioneer play for the 3rd place at the St Anthony Tournament. The Titans were down by 21 pts. But the titans turn it around in the 2nd half. The Titans won in double overtime. The final score was Pioneer 99 Anaheim 89. Michael Crosby had double double with 46pts and 29 rebounds. Michael Saldana had 28pts. Tony Hernandez had 10pts. It was the best game I ever seen Pioneer play in seven years. I hope this will turn the Titans around. Pioneer record now is 5-9
Great write up Mr. Murray.
What makes most logical sense for true state championship titles can be done by starting the football season for all schools with a "0"/zero week game, no bye weeks, 13 games to Section title games rather than 14. Then a state playoff with twenty from SS, SD & LAC sections playing two rounds down to the best five teams and twenty from Central & Northern sections doing the same.
On or about December 21st the final ten teams will play a Friday double header and Saturday triple as currently done. This would extend the existing schedule to state title games by just one game for a total of sixteen games.
To be crowned a state champ, teams must play in Div. I through V conferences that year, along with City teams from 4A and 3A facing Div. I through IV champs in non league. If Div. VI to VIII teams want in they must face L.A. City champs and two top ten final ranked teams from SS in non league.
Teams that want to be section champs in Div. VI down to XIII like Oaks Christian in X can watch for not playing up in higher conferences all year or they can bid to move up now. Look at Orange Lutheran's rise from Div. XII to VI to I in the same time period. That's how to build a program.
5A through 1A state of California title game qualifiers can be voted and selected perhaps by the sports writters.
Or by just taking the Pac 5 (or 8), Inland, Western and Northern section champs with no more political switches, and letting L. A. City champs battle San Diego champs for a chance to go.
Five section champions from the south and five from the north earning it all year long with strength of schedule and final records to prove who is the final top five best in California.
As long as we are playing football, it is okay with me.
To answer your question: It "proves" to be very entertaining. But it in the big picture it is just a fictional state title, but it seems like it is very fun for all parties involved. I hope they dont add extra games, because then it wont mean anything. I hate to say this in a politically correct world, but everyone cannot be a Champ. I think the system is fine the way it is.