Last but not least is the East Valley. Let them play in the snow is all I have to say leading in.
No. 1 Paraclete 30, Desert Hot Springs 20
Notre Dame 23, Grace Brethren 21
Linfield Christian at Big Bear
Snow or no snow, this should be a fun one on Saturday. The Bears have their option offense working at a level that hasn’t been seen since the days of Kriss Proctor, as Zakk Planz has Big Bear executing at a high level. Linfield Christian has playoff experience, winning the Northeast Division last year, but I don’t see their move up being as smooth as St. Margaret’s was.
Big Bear 28, Linfield Christian 18
No. 4 St. Margaret’s 27, Campbell Hall 21
No. 3 Sierra Canyon 38, Bishop Diego 14
Sage Hill at Twentynine Palms
The key question in this game is Twentynine Palms’ resiliency. The Wildcats had a chance for their fourth straight De Anza League title slip out of their grasp last week with a loss to Big Bear at home and now face a Sage Hill team with an effective running attack. 29 Palms is capable of a run, making the East Valley finals two years ago, but I see this run ending sooner rather than later.
Sage Hill 20, Twentynine Palms 14
Brentwood 28, Rubidoux 26
Yucca Valley at No. 2 Aquinas
The Falcons are the hottest team in the division to date, winning nine in a row thanks to the efforts of a balanced rushing attack led by junior RB Burrell Handy. Yucca Valley profitted from a credible nonleague schedule and a tough league to make it into the playoffs, but this is a tough haul for the Trojans, as the Falcons are clicking on all cylinders.
Aquinas 35, Yucca Valley 12
