No, DLS is still in the NCS. They just reorganized the playoff brackets to add another division so that DLS and another team (in this case Pitt) would both advance from the NCS D1.
Final NorCal Match-up projections Calpreps vs CalHi
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The NCS was able to find a loophole in the CIF rules. The specific rule states, "Only Section champions will be eligible for Regional Championships." Since Pittsburg lost in the semis and was moved to DI final championship game, their win over Clayton Valley made them a section champion.
The rules used to state that no runner up teams could be selected - that language was used to counter the CCS' practice of allowing the D1-D3 final runner up teams to be selected by the CCS section to represent in the RBG games.
No biggie but Mc(C)lymonds please not Mc(L)ymonds. Thanks guys
Pitt got the just kidding playoff game played on the field didn’t count. Yep they are NCS champs after going 2-1 in the playoffs. And DLS is still in the NCS and yes they are champion as well.
Ignoring the most important item on the resume. This is like saying someone should be given a job as a physicist because they graduated with honors, played several sports, was part of many club activities, and did a ton of volunteer work even though they didn’t actually study physics.
SF controlled there own destiny virtually the entire season. Few teams had this luxury. They lost. End of story.
Hmmm, not sure this was a “luxury” as they only lost one game after a really successful campaign and now go home. By your logic, Serra didn’t control their own destiny yet are being awarded the open. If SF didn’t bear DLS, Serra wouldn’t be in the open. I’m rooting full heartedly for Padres but your logic in post above seems flawed.
Again SF has a better resume than Serra those are the facts. The facts they lost to them by 3-4 points doesn’t change that fact. And in Norcal where losing doesn’t mean elimination it’s especially true.
To be even more frank, no, they don't have a better resume.
You don't seem to recognize the glaring omission from their resume. A section championship. Serra actually has one, SF doesn't. Unless the team plays in the NCS, this omission is of utmost importance.
Furthermore, by your logic, Rocklin still has a better resume than Folsom as well. They split the head-2-head against Folsom, have 2 less defeats, a league title, and beat a Granite Bay team that Folsom lost to.
Yet Rocklin is now watching from home.
Do you know why? They don't own a section championship and Folsom does.
As @Cal 14 keeps telling people, read and comprehend the freaking requirements. It ain't that hard.
Lastly, once the Bowl games were increased from 3 games to 5 games and then again from 5 games to 13 games -- it stopped being about sending "the best teams". It became about inclusion.
Be real and honest --- there are much better teams than 9-3 Chico and 6-7 Sacred Heart Cathedral sitting at home for the holidays. Probably at least 50 better teams with better resumes (sans a section title).
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You do understand my comment is tongue n cheek right? If you read any of my posts you would grasp this. I’m all about winners advancing always have been. It’s also why I don’t view many of these teams/programs as state champs, simply look at them as winning state bowl games. The expanded format makes everyone a champ it seems. I do appreciate you taking the time to try and make a point however.
Come on TR, you can't be serious? Inclusion? All schools still playing are Section Champs except maybe Pitt. What's wrong with Fall River playing for a State Championship? Or Escalon? Our state has 1026 football playing schools, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada combined only have 998.
California having 13 State Champions is not that crazy to think about. Of course there will be those who say "there's only 1 State Champ". Seriously though?
This is the best set-up available with what we have, only 13 playoff qualifying schools will end their season with a win.
I agree with you pantera, but I think you and Thunder are actually on the same page.
The current setup is about inclusion, but not so much in the politically correct inclusion sense. It recognizes that a Fall River (who I'm glad didn't opt out this year) or an Escalon deserves this opportunity. It recognizes that the earlier versions of the bowl setup was too exclusionary.
People keep on going on about how 'the best teams aren't advancing', but that isn't the intent. It was never the intent. That's never the intent in any high school playoff system. It's the teams that advance in their divisions. People are being willfully ignorant about that at this point.
SF really missed an opportunity this season. Losing that CCS championship to Serra will haunt them for decades. My understanding is that SF had a ton of seniors on this years team. How were they at the lower levels (F/JV) compared to Serra and others in the WCAL?
Serra played with a lot of Sophomores on varsity this season meaning this Serra varsity team will be together for quite a few years. It is also my understanding that Serra is loaded at the lower levels (F/JV). St. Francis may have squandered the opportunity of a lifetime from a program standpoint. But hey, at least St Francis get's to talk about beating DLS and winning the WCAL title. That league recognition works out great long term for the WCAL & Serra Padres.
When a program gets an opportunity like the one that St Francis had this season, it must capitalize on the opportunity.
Honestly I think the SF season really highlights how difficult it is to maintain success with HS kids. I think Sf was probably the better team and the best in WCAL for sure. I don’t think they were the best in Norcal I still think that is DLS. SF started slow in all their playoff games and it cost them against Serra. It’s shows a lack of focus and discipline that programs like DLS have built. Winning isn’t easy building tradition and culture takes time. We see this at many levels of the sport teams sniffing success and failing before finally reaching the ultimate goal. In HS however teams only have 4 years so it really becomes about program building and tradition. (And no above above comment doesn’t mean I think SF deserves the open they lost)
