CCS PCAL Football realigning to 7 team divisions with exit of Christopher and Gilroy

[NorCalSportsFan]

Great news! CCS PCAL moving to 7 team divisions.

Gabilan Division (realigns to 7 from 9) *

Alisal

Alvarez

Aptos

Palma

Salinas

San Benito

Santa Cruz

*Opens up teams to have 4 nonleague games instead of 2.

Mission Division


Carmel

Monte Vista

Monterey

North Salinas

Scotts Valley

Seaside

Soquel

Cypress Division

King City

North County

Pacific Grove

Rancho San Juan

St. Francis

Soledad

Watsonville

Santa Lucia Division

Gonzales

Greenfield

Harbor

Marina

Pajaro Valley

San Lorenzo Valley

Stevenson

*Note: Christopher and Gilroy have left the PCAL

 

[Cal 14]

Great news! CCS PCAL moving to 7 team divisions.

Gabilan Division (realigns to 7 from 9) *

Alisal

Alvarez

Aptos

Palma

Salinas

San Benito

Santa Cruz

*Opens up teams to have 4 nonleague games instead of 2.

Mission Division


Carmel

Monte Vista

Monterey

North Salinas

Scotts Valley

Seaside

Soquel

Cypress Division

King City

North County

Pacific Grove

Rancho San Juan

St. Francis

Soledad

Watsonville

Santa Lucia Division

Gonzales

Greenfield

Harbor

Marina

Pajaro Valley

San Lorenzo Valley

Stevenson

*Note: Christopher and Gilroy have left the PCAL

The Santa Clara County schools don't want none.

 

[RLS13]

No real big surprises here, Santa Cruz will be competitive with Alisal and Alvarez, but probably be back down in the Mission next year. Deepening on how those 3 teams schedule out of league, good chance that 6 of the 7 make playoffs. I don't see the big 4 slowing down at all. Salinas maybe scary good next year and will probably be the early favorite.

I really like the Mission, at first glance all 7 are really equal. Seaside and MVC will bounce back after being beat up in the Gabilan last year, Carmel and Monterey have a lot of good young talent, SV, Soquel and NS were all playoff teams last year. This Division will be fun to watch.

Cypress should be competitive as well. Curios to see how St. Francis does moving up after their nice playoff run this year. King City and PG should also be competitive. (but hoping PG goes 0-10) Rancho San Juan will have seniors that played for the program for 4 years. I believe it is just a matter of time before they are in the Mission or even Gabilan. Watsonville and NC will have some nice players to build around, while Soledad, unfortunately will be looking for its 4th coach in 5 years.

In the Santa Lucia, Gonzales is dropping down 2 divisions, and it is probably the right move as the program look's to rebuild after COVID and their HC left last year. SLV is probably the early favorite, I believe this program is to strong to be in the Santa Lucia for very long. Marian will hopefully field a team. Harbor won more game last year then the three previous season combined. PV and Greenfield, both had good turnouts which is a positive for these schools. And RLS will look to dominate the division as they do every year. Well they at least look to dominate, but they only have 1 outright league title in their history (+/- 45 years of football). Hopefully 2022 brings #2.

 

[Cal 14]

No real big surprises here, Santa Cruz will be competitive with Alisal and Alvarez, but probably be back down in the Mission next year. Deepening on how those 3 teams schedule out of league, good chance that 6 of the 7 make playoffs. I don't see the big 4 slowing down at all. Salinas maybe scary good next year and will probably be the early favorite.

I really like the Mission, at first glance all 7 are really equal. Seaside and MVC will bounce back after being beat up in the Gabilan last year, Carmel and Monterey have a lot of good young talent, SV, Soquel and NS were all playoff teams last year. This Division will be fun to watch.

Cypress should be competitive as well. Curios to see how St. Francis does moving up after their nice playoff run this year. King City and PG should also be competitive. (but hoping PG goes 0-10) Rancho San Juan will have seniors that played for the program for 4 years. I believe it is just a matter of time before they are in the Mission or even Gabilan. Watsonville and NC will have some nice players to build around, while Soledad, unfortunately will be looking for its 4th coach in 5 years.

In the Santa Lucia, Gonzales is dropping down 2 divisions, and it is probably the right move as the program look's to rebuild after COVID and their HC left last year. SLV is probably the early favorite, I believe this program is to strong to be in the Santa Lucia for very long. Marian will hopefully field a team. Harbor won more game last year then the three previous season combined. PV and Greenfield, both had good turnouts which is a positive for these schools. And RLS will look to dominate the division as they do every year. Well they at least look to dominate, but they only have 1 outright league title in their history (+/- 45 years of football). Hopefully 2022 brings #2.

All of the divisions look fine to me. The Gabilan is going to do what Gabilan does, which is good or bad, depending who you are.

I'm very happy to see that Salinas really stepped up their non-league schedule for next year. Clayton Valley, Clovis, Valley Christian... all good barometers for what they'd see in the CCS D-1 playoffs. I wouldn't mind Half Moon Bay filling that last spot for a return visit from this season.

 

[SqMike]

What was the reason on why the Gilroy schools left? They are right in the middle between the Salinas, SJ schools, and Santa cruz County? Tired of getting beat by the gabilan big 4?

 

[SqMike]

Also Gabilan should be a 6 team league. Instead of having 3 sacrificial lambs it will be better to have 2. I know the big 4 complain about scheduling.

 

[RLS13]

What was the reason on why the Gilroy schools left? They are right in the middle between the Salinas, SJ schools, and Santa cruz County? Tired of getting beat by the gabilan big 4?

I have yet to see an article expelling why officially they left. I don't think football was the main reason. Christopher has spent most of its time in the Gabilan, but Gilroy has bounced back on forth.

I think it became more of a geography thing for them. Back in the day the only Schools in South Santa Clara were Gilroy and Live Oak and they both played in the MBL (Monterey and Salinas schools). Live Oak left when Sobrato opened, now with Christoher and more schools in South San Jose, it probably make more sense, especially in non football sports to try and stay closer, instead of having to go down to the Salinas Valley for Tuesday Night Girls Soccer game. Also they are the last Public Santa Clara County schools in the PCAL. After last years county mandated restrictions with regards to sports, maybe they felt it was better to stay in Santa Clara county. Not sure if that had to anything to do it.

 

[Anonymous411]

Also Gabilan should be a 6 team league. Instead of having 3 sacrificial lambs it will be better to have 2. I know the big 4 complain about scheduling.

1 of the sacrificial lambs will make the equity playoffs and win division 5

 

[colhenrylives]

1 of the sacrificial lambs will make the equity playoffs and win division 5

We like to refer to the CIF's new emphasis as "AYSO Playoffs."

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

All of the divisions look fine to me. The Gabilan is going to do what Gabilan does, which is good or bad, depending who you are.

I'm very happy to see that Salinas really stepped up their non-league schedule for next year. Clayton Valley, Clovis, Valley Christian... all good barometers for what they'd see in the CCS D-1 playoffs. I wouldn't mind Half Moon Bay filling that last spot for a return visit from this season.

I was bummed they had to cancel San Ramon Valley game in my neck of the woods this season due to COVID. Salinas should be very strong at skill positions next season and if line reloads could be very good. I like the nonleague games. SRV would be a good addition since it was cancelled.

 

[Cal 14]

I was bummed they had to cancel San Ramon Valley game in my neck of the woods this season due to COVID. Salinas should be very strong at skill positions next season and if line reloads could be very good. I like the nonleague games. SRV would be a good addition since it was cancelled.

Turns out the final non-league game is Seaside. That’s fine. Local game, if still a little bit of a breather. This year’s game was not competitive at all.