Area Prep Grids Go Title Hunting
By Kenneth Miller | Publisher
Ten area high school football teams learned their playoff destination Nov. 2 when the pairing was announced for the CIF- Southern Section and CIF Los Angeles City Section championship football playoffs that will begin on Friday Nov. 14.
Undefeated Torrance (10-0) and lowly Gardena which finished with a 3-6 record will be the only South Bay schools to host a playoff opener.
The Tatars will host a CIF Division 5 contest against their Pioneer League rival Redondo Union Seahawks which they defeated on Oct. 3rd, 34-24 at Redondo Union (6-4) to secure the league crown.
Gardena Panthers, out of the rugged Marine League, will play host to Hamilton Yankees (4-6) in a CIF Los Angeles City Division I playoff contest. Hamilton gave Crenshaw its lone defeat on Sept. 5 at Crenshaw 23-6.
Crenshaw (8-1) and the Coliseum League champ will travel to San Pedro (5-5) in the other area Open competition.
The Southern Section abandoned its Open Division format, but will have a massive 14 divisions in its 11 person football championship tournament.
Meanwhile, the City Section will field an Open Division field that will be led by once dominant Carson (7-3) as its No. 1 Seed. The Colts will play host to defending LA City Division I Champion King Drew Magnet (8-2) which requested to be in the Open and will join the competitive Marine League for the 2026-27 season.
Bay League Champion Leuzinger (8-1) will play in CIF-SS DII and will have its work cut out when they travel to undefeated Crean Lutheran (10-0).
In Division III, South Bay teams Mira Costa, Palos Verdes and Inglewood will all be on the road. Costa (7-3) will go to Chino Hills (8-2), and Inglewood (5-5) takes on Capistrano Valley.
In Division 7, red hot El Segundo (8-2) will visit Calabasas (6-4); and in Division 10 West Torrance (6-4) travels to Liberty (5-5).
South Bay Black Journal Predictions
Leuzinger by 4 over Crean Lutheran
Mira Costa by 6 over Chino Hills
Inglewood by 2 over Capistrano Valley
Torrance by 8 over Redondo Union
El Segundo by 5 over Calabasas
West Torrance by 7 over Liberty
Valencia by 10 over Palos Verdes
Hamilton by 8 over Gardena
Carson by 14 over King Drew Magnet
San Pedro by 10 over Crenshaw
