WESTERN DIVISION
UPPER
No. 1 Mira Costa (8-2/Bay 1) vs. Quartz Hill (6-4/Golden 4)
These two hooked up in last year's championship game, with QH getting the win. Not this time. MC is among the favorites. They are not great, but they are solid on both sides of the ball.
No. 8 Inglewood (7-3/Ocean 2) vs. Chaminade (6-4/At-large)
Inglewood is not a championship-caliber team, but good enough to win the first-round game.
No. 5 St. Francis (8-2/Mission 2) vs. Gahr (6-4/SGVL 2)
Gahr has the best passing game in SoCal, with QB Casey Nielsen and WR Shaan Johnson leading the show. But the postseason is all about defense, and it just so happens that's where the Gladiators or suspect.
No. 4 Palmdale (8-2/Golden 1) vs. Santa Monica (4-6/Ocean 3)
Palmdale could make some noise. A trip to the semis again this year is not out of the question.
LOWER
No. 3 Alemany (7-3/Mission 1) vs. Highland (6-4/Golden 3)
Alemany has a tough road if it wants to get back to the semis, where it lost by just a TD to Quartz Hill last year. The opener won't be so tough, though.
No. 6 Warren (9-1/SGVL 1) vs. West Torrance (7-3/Bay 3)
Warren has the best offensive player in the division in RB Jesse Callier. He hasn't been stopped since early last season. He will run it up vs. WT, but things will get tougher vs. Alemany in the second round. The bigger question: Do the Bears have what it takes to win the title defensively?
No. 7 Redondo (8-2/Bay 2) vs. Knight (6-4/Golden 2)
Arguably the best first-round matchup, but it's unlikely Knight is up to task in its return to the postseason.
No. 2 Culver City (9-1/Ocean 1) vs. Dominguez (4-5/SGVL 3)
OK, this looks like it has blowout written all over it, considering the CC is an offensive juggernaut. But Dominguez's defense can keep it close and give its offense a chance to win it late.
Coming Thursday: Pac-5 and other local teams
TRUE,THE BEARS MUST PLAY BETTER DEFENSE THAN THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO.ALEMANY IS THE BEST TEAM IN THE DIVISION (ALONG WITH THEIR RIVAL ST. FRANCIS),BUT I HAVE A GUT FEELING ABOUT THE BEARS.THIS FEELING IS BASED ON THEIR PERFORMANCE AGAINST VISTA MURRIETTA EARLIER IN THE SEASON.YES THE BEARS MADE SOME MAJOR ERRORS WHICH HAVE SINCE BEEN WORKED ON, BUT THERE WAS AN INDICATION OF THE BEARS VERSATILITY IN THE PASSING GAME OF THEIR STILL RAW QUARTERBACK SAM BETTANCOURT :HE MADE SOME GREAT PASSES IN THE SECOND HALF WHICH,IF REPEATED AGAINST ALEMANY MAY PROVE TO BE A MAJOR ASSET,SINCE ALEMANY'S FINE DEFENSE WILL MORE THAN LIKELY CONTAIN JESSE. GO BEARS!!!!!!