New CCS Football Playoff Divisions Breakdown?

[jordan24]

Can someone make sense of the new CCS Football divisions and offer playoff predictions based on the new Divisions for this year? There appears to be three "Open" type divisions followed by D1 and D2 based on the Cal-Hi Sports article below. Cal-Hi Sports also predicts Serra will be in the playoffs this season and has the Padres as Open II Champs. That would be good for the CCS.

http://www.calhisports.com/2015/08/25/norcal-every-section-champ-predicted/

 

[colhenrylives]

How can anyone predict that Serra will wind up with no penalty whatsoever? That seems to be highly unlikely, given precedent and how last season's affair played out.

 

[PALbooster]

Can someone make sense of the new CCS Football divisions and offer playoff predictions based on the new Divisions for this year? There appears to be three "Open" type divisions followed by D1 and D2 based on the Cal-Hi Sports article below. Cal-Hi Sports also predicts Serra will be in the playoffs this season and has the Padres as Open II Champs. That would be good for the CCS.

http://www.calhisports.com/2015/08/25/norcal-every-section-champ-predicted/

Jordan,

I agree with Col Henry that there is nothing to suggest that Serra's suspension will be overturned.

The way the CCS play-offs will work this year is that the top 4 teams in each of the 5 A leagues (WCAL, SCVAL-Deanza, Monterey-Gabilan, PAL-Bay and BVAL-Mount Hamilton) will be automatic qualifiers for the play-offs and then the top 4 teams from these 5 leagues that did not get an automatic bid by total CCS points will also make the play-offs. These 24 teams will comprise the open division. There is a provision where the winner of the SCCAL and MTAL can opt to enter the open division. If they elect to do so the two teams with the lowest CCS points will be bumped out of the open division play-offs into the non-open play-offs. Once the 24 teams for the open division play-offs are set they will be grouped by their Cbed enrollments with the top 8 teams being in open division I, the next 8 in open division II and the smallest 8 in open division III.

For the remaining 8 leagues that are B and C leagues (with the exception noted above) there will 10 automatic qualifying spots (the SCCAL and MTAL each get 2 teams and the remaining 6 leagues (SCVAL - El Camino, Gabilan - Monterey, PAL-Ocean, PAL-Lake, BVAL- Santa Teresa, and BVAL - West Valley) only have their league champion get an automatic spot. The last six spots will go to the at-large teams from these leagues based on total CCS points. Once the 16 team filed is set for these play-offs they will be split into two eight team divisions based on the schools Cbed enrollment levels.

I believe there is still a provision that only section winners can qualify for Northern California Regional play so the CCS will have 5 section winners at the end of the CCS play-offs that could be eligible. I do not know if the CCS will put forward the winners of the non-open divisions to be eligible for regional play.

Come back in midseason and I will begin to project what the field will look like and what division each team is likely to be in.

One change in CCS points for this season is that the WCAL will be an A league not an A+ league so teams that play a WCAL team will get 2 points - not 2.5 points, which will make it more difficult for the lower WCAL teams to qualify for at-large spots in the play-offs.

 

[jordan24]

ColHenry, it was Cal-Hi Sports that made this bold prediction - they may have some info that we do not...

PALBooster, thanks for the breakdown. Excellent! Can't wait for the season to kick off!

 

[2wcats]

With this new format it opens up an intriguing opportunity to get all three open championship games at one venue say Avaya for a big Saturday day of football.

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

Serra already lost appeal with new CCS head.

 

[jordan24]

With this new format it opens up an intriguing opportunity to get all three open championship games at one venue say Avaya for a big Saturday day of football.

Why not Levi's Stadium?!? Heck, Jed "Dork" wouldn't mind taking more $$$ for his palace. It's apparent he has no regard for his team since they scheduleTaylor Swift and and other concerts during football season. smh!

 

[Muddenguts]

Jordan,

I agree with Col Henry that there is nothing to suggest that Serra's suspension will be overturned.

The way the CCS play-offs will work this year is that the top 4 teams in each of the 5 A leagues (WCAL, SCVAL-Deanza, Monterey-Gabilan, PAL-Bay and BVAL-Mount Hamilton) will be automatic qualifiers for the play-offs and then the top 4 teams from these 5 leagues that did not get an automatic bid by total CCS points will also make the play-offs. These 24 teams will comprise the open division. There is a provision where the winner of the SCCAL and MTAL can opt to enter the open division. If they elect to do so the two teams with the lowest CCS points will be bumped out of the open division play-offs into the non-open play-offs. Once the 24 teams for the open division play-offs are set they will be grouped by their Cbed enrollments with the top 8 teams being in open division I, the next 8 in open division II and the smallest 8 in open division III.

For the remaining 8 leagues that are B and C leagues (with the exception noted above) there will 10 automatic qualifying spots (the SCCAL and MTAL each get 2 teams and the remaining 6 leagues (SCVAL - El Camino, Gabilan - Monterey, PAL-Ocean, PAL-Lake, BVAL- Santa Teresa, and BVAL - West Valley) only have their league champion get an automatic spot. The last six spots will go to the at-large teams from these leagues based on total CCS points. Once the 16 team filed is set for these play-offs they will be split into two eight team divisions based on the schools Cbed enrollment levels.

I believe there is still a provision that only section winners can qualify for Northern California Regional play so the CCS will have 5 section winners at the end of the CCS play-offs that could be eligible. I do not know if the CCS will put forward the winners of the non-open divisions to be eligible for regional play.

Come back in midseason and I will begin to project what the field will look like and what division each team is likely to be in.

One change in CCS points for this season is that the WCAL will be an A league not an A+ league so teams that play a WCAL team will get 2 points - not 2.5 points, which will make it more difficult for the lower WCAL teams to qualify for at-large spots in the play-offs.

Forgive me for being out of state and, most certainly, out of mind the past couple seasons, but, do I correctly understand that Serra did something last season that got the team suspended, as in, no hsfootball games this year? In this year of all years, when the school's namesake, Father Junipero Serra, is about to be cannonized as a Saint, what did Serra, the school and/or football team, do that brings it such shame which, it seems, only a miracle can circumvent?

And, please, I hope Serra's "problem" had nothing to do with deflated footballs. Muds (former alterboy-in-training who, alas, harkening to the siren call of organized football, never made alterboy status)

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

Muds...Serra was suspended as a result of CCS ill conceived playoffs last season where there was an Open Division consolation playoff. Teams that lost in the first round of the CCS Open division moved into a consolation playoff. CCS tried to get CIF to approve for CCS to allow the winner of the colsolation playoff to be considered for a bowl play in. When CIF didn't approve it, the playoff was a mute point. Several teams decide to play the games as more of a scrimmage. When Palma and Serra lost in the first rounds, they decided to limit the game as far as special teams and took out starters after a series or two and played underclass. Both teams allowed seniors to move on to other sports if they chose. It worked for Palma and Serra. After Serra defeated Palma, they were to play Milpitas who at first wanted to play the game straight up. Milpitas eventually would have most likely played a limited format but wasn't clear and Serra ended up cancelling the game based on judging a game that really didn't mean anything was not worth the risk of injuries. So Serra canceled and CCS penalized Serra with a two year suspension of not being able to participate in playoffs plus reimbursing Milpiitas for any monetary loss of not playing the game. Serra appealed, but the section upheld the penalty. Interestingly, Serra should have only gotten a one year suspension max, and Nancy Blazer extended it to two years. Serra hasn't expressed any interest in pursuing reducing the suspension any further and expresses no interest in pursuing it in the courts, Serra is out of playoff contention for the next two years, but still can win league - just can'[t participate in the playoffs.

 

[Muddenguts]

Muds...Serra was suspended as a result of CCS ill conceived playoffs last season where there was an Open Division consolation playoff. Teams that lost in the first round of the CCS Open division moved into a consolation playoff. CCS tried to get CIF to approve for CCS to allow the winner of the colsolation playoff to be considered for a bowl play in. When CIF didn't approve it, the playoff was a mute point. Several teams decide to play the games as more of a scrimmage. When Palma and Serra lost in the first rounds, they decided to limit the game as far as special teams and took out starters after a series or two and played underclass. Both teams allowed seniors to move on to other sports if they chose. It worked for Palma and Serra. After Serra defeated Palma, they were to play Milpitas who at first wanted to play the game straight up. Milpitas eventually would have most likely played a limited format but wasn't clear and Serra ended up cancelling the game based on judging a game that really didn't mean anything was not worth the risk of injuries. So Serra canceled and CCS penalized Serra with a two year suspension of not being able to participate in playoffs plus reimbursing Milpiitas for any monetary loss of not playing the game. Serra appealed, but the section upheld the penalty. Interestingly, Serra should have only gotten a one year suspension max, and Nancy Blazer extended it to two years. Serra hasn't expressed any interest in pursuing reducing the suspension any further and expresses no interest in pursuing it in the courts, Serra is out of playoff contention for the next two years, but still can win league - just can'[t participate in the playoffs.

Thanks, for the background, NorCalSportsFan. Sounds to me that after a long season, one including tough pre-league games, equal or tougher league games, then a grinding round of playoffs, that the "consolation playoff" had no meaning, controlled the lives of some kids who were done, risked injury for them and others whose hearts may have not been in it (for what? the glory of winning a..."consolation" prize...one worth zip?) that Serra made a decision that was right for it and members of its intimate football community, albeit, not the right decision for the adults at CCS HQ who see the "consolation" game as nothing more than a cash niche and should know better that for some teams and organizations being #1 is the end-all and being "consoled" (or forced to endure that) is counter to that school and/or team's culture. I dunno. Sometimes, I see CCS HQ as that large fat snake pictured curving around and eating itself from its tail up. Talk about class, though. If Serra doesn't protest its suspension further, and plays its games through league, and lets pretend that Serra beats the crap outta everyone and is the best team in the league, what does that say for CCS HQ and the egg on its face when the WCAL's best team isn't in its playoffs? And isn't in the regional championship when it coulda, shoulda been? Just for that alone I think I shall be rooting for Serra to pull-off a season like that this year. Yeah. Go, Padres!

 

[rabbit5]

Sounds like a canned answer from a Serra Padre.

 

[FBAddict]

Sounds like a canned answer from a Serra Padre.

Might be a repeat of a canned answer but neither NorCalSportsFan or the mysterious, long-absent Muddenguts are Serra fans per se.

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

I am a Palma Chieftain fan. I am also a fan of the Serra program and Coach Walsh as well, but also CCS as a whole including Milpitas (even though I live in NCS territory and attend many games). I've attended many Milpitas games - even high profile league games in the past. I also attend a lot of WCAL games.

Got to hand it to Serra that they play among the toughest schedules in Northern CA consistently and coach gets a lot out of his players as far as commitment. No reason not to believe him about why they didn't play Milpitas. I also can see Milpitas side. In general, I think there also was a misunderstanding, lack of early willingness to agree to ground rules for the game, and late communication as far as any game ground rules. I am of the opinion that the consolation playoff would have made sense if the CIF had voted that the winner would be in consideration of a bowl play-in. The fact is CIF didn't and without approval, the whole concept of the consolation playoff didn't make sense. Should Serra have been penalized for not playing the game- I think they probably should have - at least reimburse Milpitas, but the game really made no sense other than having a format like ran at the Palma and Serra games. Both teams let many starters participate in other sports instead of playing the game. In any event, the games weren't full strength teams. The fact that Serra received double the penalty as far as being withheld from playoffs for two years versus one year was excessive.

 

[Hatchball]

Coach Walsh said that at least this year, Serra's season is done after their last regular season game. They're playing for a WCAL title three-peat.

 

[colhenrylives]

Serra continues to examine its options. The full two-year ban is not a done deal. Yet.

 

[Hatchball]

The Merc ran a synopsis of how the new playoff system will select who's eligible -

http://www.mercurynews.com/high-sch...chool-football-kickoff-new-ccs-playoff-format