The stage is set for an epic weekend of high school football across the Bay Area.
De La Salle and Pittsburg will play on Friday night for the North Coast Section’s Open Division championship. In the Central Coast Section, Archbishop Riordan and Serra will meet Friday for an Open title as well.
The winners will advance to the state playoffs. The losers will play next week for section Division I titles.
But that’s only part of this weekend’s story.
Semifinal games will be held in numerous divisions, with the winners moving on to section finals and a step closer to the regionals.
All section champions in the NCS and CCS qualify for NorCals.
HSRatings.com, which projects winners for each game, doesn’t have many blowouts in its forecast this weekend.
It says 15 of the 22 games that include at least one team from the Bay Area News News Group’s coverage area will be decided by one score.
Here is a breakdown of the top matchups:
Friday
No. 2 Serra (7-4) vs. No. 1 Archbishop Riordan (11-0) in CCS Open Division final at San Jose City College, 7 p.m.: A rematch two weeks in the making will bring together the West Catholic Athletic League’s two best teams this season to decide the CCS Open title. There are no secrets between these two: Riordan’s prolific offense runs through quarterback Michael Mitchell Jr., a four-year starter who has rewritten the WCAL record books. But Riordan’s defense, led by linebacker Skylar Tiatia, also made some key stops as the Crusaders won the league championship on the road over Serra on Nov. 7. Serra is expected to start freshman QB William Orr after he split reps with junior Caleb Bandel last time the teams played. This is not an elimination game. The loser will play Los Gatos or Palma for the CCS Division I title next week. HSRatings.com projects Riordan to prevail 35-26. – Christian Babcock
No. 2 Pittsburg (10-1) vs. No. 1 De La Salle (11-0) in NCS Open Division final at Diablo Valley College, 7 p.m.: De La Salle’s last loss to an NCS opponent came in 1991 to Pittsburg. Can the Pirates do it again? It will be an uphill battle. De La Salle has looked dominant all season behind a rushing attack that includes speedy North Carolina commit Jaden Jefferson, productive Brady Smith and junior standout Duece Jones-Drew, who is healthy after returning to action last week. De La Salle’s defense, anchored by defensive tackle Mya Telona, shut out San Ramon Valley last week and is holding opponents to an average of 8.7 points per game. Pittsburg’s potent offense is led by two quarterbacks, sophomore Javale Jones and senior Carlos Torres, who share time. Arizona-bound wide receiver RJ Mosley will be a focal point for the De La Salle defense as he’s already eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the year. De La Salle has won 32 consecutive NCS titles – all in the section’s highest division — and 41 overall. Their record against NCS teams since the Pittsburg loss in 1991 is 282-0-1. The loser Friday will play Cardinal Newman or Acalanes for the NCS Division I title next week. HSRatings.com projects De La Salle to win 38-14. – Nathan Canilao
No. 4 Palma (11-0) at No. 3 Los Gatos (8-3) in CCS Open/Division I semifinal, 7 p.m.: Can Los Gatos defeat the Monterey Peninsula area’s best team? Palma established itself as the class of the southern end of the CCS late this season and will now get the chance to test itself against another CCS blueblood. The Chieftains beat Soquel twice, though the Knights were without star quarterback Sam Whelan in the majority of both contests. Palma QB Patrick Driscoll has completed 68.6% of his passes. But the Chieftains’ offense runs through junior RB Eli Dukes, who has Division I offers from Cal and Stanford, among others. Dukes has rushed for 2,236 yards and 31 touchdowns on 190 carries this season. Los Gatos is known for its balanced offense but had a strong defensive performance and a game-winning goal-line stand last week against St. Francis. The Wildcats may have to play their best game of the season to win. These traditional CCS powers have met just once in the MaxPreps era (2004-present), a 20-14 Los Gatos victory in 2007. HSRatings.com projects another Los Gatos win on Friday, 31-26. – Christian Babcock
No. 4 Acalanes (11-0) at No. 3 Cardinal Newman (10-1) in NCS Open/Division I semifinal, 7 p.m.: Acalanes has been one of the Bay Area’s top teams this season, with wins over Mitty, St. Ignatius, Menlo-Atherton, Clayton Valley and Campolindo. Can the Dons continue to roll in a matchup against the North Bay’s best? When these teams met in a 2022 NCS Division IV semifinal, Cardinal Newman won 17-14. This season, under first-year coach Joel Isaac, Acalanes has passed every test behind an explosive offense and stout defense. Junior quarterback Tyler Winkles threw for five touchdowns and ran for two last week as the Dons routed another North Bay power, Marin Catholic, 51-21. The receiving core of Finley Rivera, Grant Ricker and Andrew Upp will look to keep the offensive humming this week. Cardinal Newman’s defense is particularly strong in the secondary as Ka’vaughn Emoni Penney and Kordel Strane each have six interceptions. The Cardinals’ offense is led by running back Malakai Pathoumnourack, who has accounted for 18 touchdowns. HSRatings.com projects Acalanes to advance 28-27. – Nathan Canilao
No. 4 Clayton Valley Charter (6-5) at No. 1 Campolindo (9-2) in NCS Division II semifinal, 7 p.m.: Campo was within three yards of a winning touchdown when time expired in the first meeting between these teams, about a month ago on the same field where they’ll play Friday. Final: Clayton Valley 21, Campo 16. Campo drove inside the Ugly Eagles’ 10-yard line four times that night but was held to one touchdown on those possessions. The rematch figures to be just as tight. Both teams survived in the opening round last week, with Clayton Valley defeating Windsor 20-19 and Campo edging Livermore 28-26. Clayton Valley’s Jhadis Luckey had a big game in the first meeting with Campo, rushing for 181 yards and a touchdown in 34 carries. Campo’s Micah Parker carried 15 times for 141 yards in that game. HSRatings.com projects Clayton Valley to win Friday, 27-21. – Darren Sabedra
No. 3 Lincoln-San Jose (8-3) at No. 2 Willow Glen (9-2) in CCS Division IV semifinal, 7 p.m.: Two of the three oldest public schools in San Jose will meet for the second time this season, this time with much higher stakes. When the teams played in a season opener at Lincoln on Aug. 29, the home side won 38-37 as Kyan Phillips ran for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Willow Glen’s Aiden Akery threw for 239 yards and four TDs that night. Lincoln lost three of its last four regular-season games in the highly competitive BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division – the league’s “A” tier – and edged Scotts Valley 24-21 to open the playoffs. All three of Lincoln’s losses have been by one score. Willow Glen finished first in one of the BVAL’s “B” divisions and last week extended its win streak to nine games with a 31-13 first-round victory over San Lorenzo Valley. HSRatings.com projects Lincoln to win 28-27. – Darren Sabedra
Saturday
No. 2 Oakland Tech (4-7) vs. No. 1 McClymonds (9-2) in Silver Bowl at Castlemont High School, 1 p.m.: McClymonds will be heavy favorites once again as the Warriors seek their 16th Silver Bowl championship. When these teams plated on Oct. 11, McClymonds got off to a slow start but eventually cruised to a 35-6 victory at Laney College. The trio of quarterback Berell Staples, wide receiver Prince Staten and running back Dominic Davis lead the West Oakland school’s offense. Senior defensive tackle Koi Taiese will anchor a McClymonds’ defense that has been dominant, particularly in OAL play. Oakland Tech will look to counter with dynamic quarterback Elijah Rucker and speedy receiver Vernard Scott Jr. HSRatings.com has McClymonds winning 35-7. – Nathan Canilao
Schedule
CCS playoffs
Open/Division I
Open final
No. 2 Serra (7-4) vs. No. 1 Archbishop Riordan (11-0) at San Jose City College, Friday, 7 p.m.
Division I semifinal
No. 4 Palma (11-0) at No. 3 Los Gatos (8-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Division II
Semifinals
No. 3 Santa Teresa (11-0) vs. No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral (5-6) at Kezar Stadium, Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 4 Menlo School (9-2) at No. 1 St. Ignatius (5-6), Friday, 6 p.m.
Division III
Friday’s semifinals
No. 7 Sacred Heart Prep (6-5) at No. 3 Menlo-Atherton (5-6), 7 p.m.
No. 8 San Mateo (8-3) at No. 4 Live Oak (9-2), 7 p.m.
Division IV
Friday’s semifinals
No. 3 Lincoln-San Jose (8-3) at No. 2 Willow Glen (9-2), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Half Moon Bay (8-3) at No. 1 Branham (6-5), 7 p.m.
Division V
Semifinals
No. 3 Terra Nova (8-3) at No. 2 Sobrato (7-4), Saturday, 1 p.m.
No. 4 Jefferson (9-2) at No. 1 Piedmont Hills (8-3), Saturday, 7 p.m.
NCS playoffs
Open/Division I
Open final
No. 2 Pittsburg (10-1) vs. No. 1 De La Salle (11-0) at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, Friday, 7 p.m.
Division I semifinal
No. 4 Acalanes (11-0) at No. 3 Cardinal Newman (10-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Division II
Friday’s semifinals
No. 3 California (8-3) at No. 2 Monte Vista (6-5), 7 p.m.
No. 4 Clayton Valley Charter (6-5) at No. 1 Campolindo (9-2), 7 p.m.
Division III
Friday’s semifinals
No. 3 El Cerrito (9-2) at No. 2 Rancho Cotate (6-5), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Ukiah (7-4) vs. vs. No. 1 Vintage (7-4) at Memorial Stadium in Napa, 7 p.m.
Division IV
Friday’s semifinals
No. 7 Redwood (6-5) at No. 3 Miramonte (6-5), 7 p.m.
No. 4 Granada (6-5) at No. 1 Hayward (8-3), 7 p.m.
Division V
Saturday’s semifinals
No. 3 Salesian (10-1) at No. 2 Ferndale (10-0), 1 p.m.
No. 5 Maria Carrillo (8-3) at No. 1 St. Vincent de Paul (9-1), 1 p.m.
Division VI
Semifinals
No. 3 Bishop O’Dowd (7-4) at No. 2 St. Helena (11-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Fortuna (7-4) at No. 1 St. Bernard’s (10-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Division VII
Friday’s semifinals
No. 3 Willits (9-2) at No. 2 Piedmont (7-4), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Concord (7-4) at No. 1 Middletown (9-2), 7 p.m.
Oakland Section
Silver Bowl
No. 3 Oakland Tech (4-7) vs. No. 1 McClymonds (9-2) at Castlemont HS, Saturday, 1 p.m.