Airing It Out

The inaugural All Santa Cruz County High School Lions’ Senior Bowl football game is Saturday at Cabrillo College at 4 p.m.
All the county’s seniors — including most of the players named to the Sentinel’s All-County team on Sunday — are eligible to play in the event.
The North team, coached by San Lorenzo Valley’s Doug Morris, features seniors from the Cougars, Harbor, Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz and Soquel.
The South team, coached by Monte Vista Christian’s David Reese, features seniors from the Mustangs, Aptos, St. Francis, Pajaro Valley and Watsonville.
Tickets for the event, which is being put on by Santa Cruz Host Lions Club, are $10.

Eight Teams Making Inaugural Appearance

CARSON, Calif. – The matchups for the 2011 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games presented by Farmers are now set following the selection of participating teams, CIF Executive Director Marie M. Ishida announced Sunday. The games will be held Friday-Saturday, Dec. 16-17 at The Home Depot Center in Carson and will be broadcast live by Time Warner Cable.

The Selection Committee, comprised of the 10 CIF Section Commissioners, has selected the following teams to participate in the 2011 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games Presented by Farmers.

OPEN DIVISION: De La Salle, Concord vs. Westlake, Westlake Village
De La Salle (12-1, 7-0) was the Division I Champions from the North Coast Section. The Spartans, who play in the East Bay League, are coached by Bob Ladouceur. They will face Westlake High School (14-0, 9-0) which was the Northern Division Champion from the Southern Section. The Warriors, who play in the Marmonte League, are coached by Jim Benkert.

De La Salle, making its sixth appearance in as many years in the State Championship, lost only one game all season – to St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL). They have not lost to a Northern California team since 1991.

Undefeated Westlake is making their first State Bowl Championship appearance and is the top-ranked team in Southern California. The Warriors defeated Del Oro of Loomis earlier this year in overtime, the Northern contender in this year’s Division II Bowl Game.

DIVISION I: Bellarmine, San Jose vs. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita
Bellarmine High School (12-1, 7-0) was the Open Division Champions for the Central Coast Section. The Bells, who play in the West Catholic Athletic League, are coached by Mike Janda. They will face Santa Margarita (12-2, 3-2) which was the Pac 5 Champion from the Southern Section. The Eagles, who play in the Trinity League, are coached by Harry Welch.

Bellarmine defeated the defending CIF State Division I Champion Palo Alto for the Central Coast Section Championship. The Bells’, which are making their second State Championship appearance, only loss of the season was to De La Salle, in two overtimes.

Santa Margarita’s only two losses of the season were to Servite (overtime) and Mater Dei. They will also be making their first appearance for a State title.

DIVISION II: Del Oro, Loomis vs. Helix, La Mesa
Del Oro High School (13-1, 5-0) was the Division III Champion for the Sac-Joaquin Section. The Golden Eagles, who play in the Sierra Foothills League, are coached by Casey Taylor. They will face Helix High School (12-1, 5-0) which was the Division II Champion for the San Diego Section. The Highlanders, who play in the Grossmont-Hills League, are coached by Troy Starr.

Del Oro’s only loss of the season was to Open Division challenger Westlake of Westlake Village. The Golden Eagles are making their first CIF State Championship Bowl Games appearance.

Helix, making their first State Championship appearance, defeated seven-time defending Oceanside for the San Diego Division II Championship. Their only loss of the season was their opener against Eastlake.

DIVISION III: Campolindo, Moraga vs. Washington Union, Fresno
Campolindo (14-0, 6-0) was the Division III Champion for the North Coast Section. The Cougars, who play in the Diablo Foothill League, are coached by Kevin Macy. They will face Washington Union (13-0, 5-0) which was the Division IV Champion for the Central Section. The Panthers, who play in the North Sequoia League, are coached by Jeff Freitas.

Campolindo upset the top two-seeded teams (Marin Catholic and Cardinal Newman) on their way to the North Coast Section Division III title. The Cougars will be making their first State Championship appearance.

Washington Union won their second consecutive Central Section Division IV title and has won 21 consecutive games. The Panthers are appearing at the CIF State Championship Bowl games for the first time.

DIVISION IV: Le Grand vs. Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth
Le Grand (12-0, 7-0) was the Division V Champion for the Sac-Joaquin Section. The Bulldogs, who play in the Southern League, are coached by Rick Martinez. They will face Sierra Canyon (14-0, 6-0), which was the East Valley Champion for the Southern Section. The Trailblazers, who play in the Alpha League, are coached by Jon Ellinghouse.

Le Grand, appearing in their first State Championship, has scored 702 points in just 12 games and won its second straight Sac-Joaquin Championship.

Sierra Canyon recorded two of its wins this year against Paraclete, a team which defeated the Trailblazers for the East Valley Southern Section Championship last year.