Here is the closest predicted CIF Southern section first-round playoff matchups
- San Clemente at Damien (Division 2)
Calpreps projects a tight 28-26 win for San Clemente, an at-large team from the competitive Alpha League, which includes Mission Viejo. San Clemente reached Division 1 playoffs in 2023, but Damien, now 8-2 and the Baseline League champion, might prove a formidable opponent. The question is: have the Spartans been tested enough? - Yorba Linda at Chaparral (Division 2)
Yorba Linda is predicted to win 31-27 after a strong 9-1 season. Meanwhile, Chaparral, despite facing a tougher schedule, is looking to its QB, Dane Weber, who will be starting his first playoff game. - Mira Costa at La Habra (Division 3)
With a predicted 21-20 score in La Habra’s favor, this one is as close as it gets—a true toss-up. - Thousand Oaks at St. Paul (Division 4)
Calpreps gives St. Paul the edge at 24-23. Expect contrasting styles, with St. Paul favoring a disciplined, physical approach and Thousand Oaks leaning on its dynamic athletes, including QB Jackson Tyler, who holds major offers. - Western at Huntington Beach (Division 5)
Huntington Beach, the No. 1 seed, faces off against No. 16 seed Western in what is predicted to be a razor-thin 35-34 matchup. This game embodies the spirit of competitive equity.
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- Aliso Niguel at San Dimas (Division 6)
Calpreps predicts Aliso Niguel to narrowly defeat San Dimas, 28-27, in a classic 7-10 matchup. San Dimas enters as an automatic qualifier, while Aliso Niguel secured an at-large spot. - West Valley at West Torrance (Division 7)
In a closely projected No. 1 vs. No. 16 game, West Torrance is expected to edge out West Valley by a mere point, 22-21. Notably, four matchups in Division 7 are projected as one-point games. - Rancho Christian at Hemet (Division 8)
A rematch from Week 10 and last year’s first round in Division 10, this one sees Hemet projected to win 31-30 despite Rancho Christian’s recent 31-28 victory. - Village Christian at Covina (Division 9)
Covina is expected to narrowly beat Village Christian, 31-30. - St. Monica at Brentwood (Division 10)
Calpreps favors St. Monica by just one point, 28-27, in another down-to-the-wire prediction.
