Chaparral Gets Top Seed in Division 2 as Inland Teams Enter CIF Playoffs

Chaparral earned the No. 1 seed in Division 2 of the CIF Southern Section football playoffs after finishing ninth in the hsratings.com rankings. The Pumas (6-4) will host Orange, a 10-0 team, in their first-round game on Friday, Nov. 6.

The eight-team structure of the Division 1 bracket this season directly impacted seeding across the region. Centennial was the only Inland program placed in Division 1. The Huskies (7-3) hold the No. 6 seed and will play No. 3 Mater Dei (8-2) at Santa Ana Stadium on Friday, Nov. 13.

Coach Matt Logan noted that this matchup represents the sixth meeting between the two schools in three years. The teams have met 14 times since 2014, including five previous playoff encounters. Logan said the repetition is not ideal but inevitable until Division 1 expands to 16 teams.

Chaparral coach Andrew Ramer said the staff prepared for any divisional placement. He described Division 2 as challenging, noting that no games in the bracket are easy. Rancho Cucamonga coach Alex Pierce agreed that the field is strong from top to bottom. The Cougars (7-3) are the only other Inland team in Division 2 and will travel to play Crean Lutheran (8-2) on Friday.

Chino Hills also benefited from the smaller Division 1 bracket. The Huskies (6-4) received the No. 1 seed in Division 4 and will host Culver City on Friday. Coach Keland Johnson said the home game is a welcome change after a road-heavy season. If more than eight teams had been selected for Division 1, Chino Hills would have landed in Division 3 with a double-digit seed.

Four other Inland teams hold the No. 1 seed in their respective brackets. San Dimas (8-2) leads Division 7 and will host Paramount (9-1). Notre Dame (9-1) leads Division 11 and will play South Torrance (6-4) at Ramona High. Ontario (8-2) leads Division 12 and will host Arcadia (7-3). Rialto (3-7) leads Division 13 and will host Arroyo (6-4).

Eleven additional Inland teams received top-four seeds. Norco, Colton, Banning, and Carter are No. 2 seeds. Great Oak, Beaumont, Citrus Valley, Santiago, Moreno Valley, Montclair, and Rubidoux are No. 3 seeds. In the 8-person football playoffs, Calvary Baptist (9-0) is the only Inland team with a top-four seed. The Cougars will host Cornerstone Christian (6-2) in Division 1 on Friday, Nov. 13. A total of 65 Inland teams qualified for the postseason this season.