SJS Playoff History (2015-2019)

[Streak One]

Wanted to put together a list of teams that have made the final fours in all seven divisions the past five years. Some divisions are pretty predicatble, others not so much. Also interesting to see teams go on a run and then move divisions

Division I

2019: Oak Ridge over Monterey Trail/Folsom and Inderkum lost in the Semis
2018: Folsom over Monterey Trail/Oak Ridge and St. Mary’s-Stockton lost in the Semis
2017: Folsom over St. Mary’s-Stockton/Jesuit and Oak Ridge lost in the Semis
2016: St. Mary’s-Stockton over Folsom/Elk Grove and Oak Ridge lost in the Semis
2015: Folsom over Elk Grove/Oak Ridge and St. Mary’s-Stockton lost in the Semis

Division II

2019: Elk Grove over Whitney/Cosumnes Oaks and Jesuit lost in the Semis
*2018: Del Oro over Central Catholic/Jesuit and Inderkum lost in the Semis
2017: Granite Bay over Del Oro/Central Catholic and Del Campo lost in the Semis
2016: Del Oro over Inderkum/Antelope and Jesuit lost in the Semis
2015: Del Oro over Rocklin/Antelope and Granite Bay lost in the Semis

*Del Oro forfeited their section title

Division III

2019: Manteca over Placer/Buhach Colony and Capital Christian lost in the Semis
2018: Capital Christian over Placer/Antelope and River Valley lost in the Semis
2017: Manteca over Oakdale/Christian Brothers and Patterson lost in the Semis
2016: Oakdale over Christian Brothers/American Canyon and Merced lost in the Semis
2015: Central Catholic over Oakdale/Inderkum and Placer lost in the Semis

Division IV

2019: Sierra over Oakdale/Merced and Rio Linda lost in the Semis
2018: Rio Linda over Casa Roble/Oakdale and Vanden lost in the Semis
2017: Placer over Center/Casa Roble and Woodland lost in the Semis
2016: Manteca over Placer/Center and Los Banos lost in the Semis
2015: Sierra beat Liberty Ranch/Calaveras and Los Banos lost in the Semis

Division V

2019: Ripon over Center/Amador and Bradshaw Chritian lost in the Semis
2018: Colfax over Bear River/Ripon and Sonora lost in the Semis
2017: Bear River over Colfax/Ripon and Sonora lost in the Semis
2016: Capital Christian over Colfax/Marysville and Sonora lost in the Semis
2015: Sonora over Bear River/Capital Christian and Orestimba lost in the Semis

Division VI

2019: Escalon over Hilmar/Ripon Christian and Sonora lost in the Semis
2018: Hilmar over Ripon Christian/Escalon and Modesto Christian lost in the Semis
2017: Hilmar over Modesto Christian/Bradshaw Christian and Escalon lost in the Semis
2016: Amador over Bradshaw Christian/Argonaut and Orestimba lost in the Semis
2015: Bradshaw Christian over Hilmar/Gustine and Ripon Christian lost in the Semis

Division VII

2019: Mariposa over Denair/Le Grand and Vacaville Christian lost in the Semis
2018: Denair over Golden Sierra/Big Valley Christian and Gustine lost in the Semis
2017: Rio Vista and Ripon Christian/Stone Ridge Christian and Woodland Christian lost in the Semis
2016: Brookside Christian over Stone Ridge Christian/Delta and Woodland Christian lost in the Semis
2015: Stone Ridge Christian over Big Valley Christian/Delta and Millennium lost in the Semis

 

[MTsince2004]

Interesting compilation. Thanks.

Division 1 really puts a few things in perspective. If you look at the seven teams that made the final four in your list (Fols, St, M., OR, EG, Jes, MT, Ind) and take it all the way back to the start of the current playoff format (2009 season), you'll see that all of them have made the final four in D1 -D3 at least four times in 11 seasons.

What does that suggest?
#1) Program building matters. These are consistent programs and there are no "Cinderellas" in Division 1 now that there are at-large bids. Looking back further in D1 to the 2009 through 2014 seasons, you see names like Pleasant Grove, Granite Bay, and Nevada Union dominating final fours. All of those were or are consistent programs having their post-season runs.
#2) Offensive scheme is not an indicator of success. Seriously. Run first? Pass first? Who cares? Success comes from the consistent program with high expectations and high levels of execution.
#3) It helps to be from the North end of the section. St. Mary's is the only Southern team (south of Elk Grove) to consistently compete in D1. They have more final four appearances than all of the other Southern teams combined over those 11 seasons.

 

[Streak One]

Completely agree on program building. If it is built right, even the down years aren't that down and the good years have you playing deep into the year. One of the big reasons for that is everyone is learning the system/expectations as they come up through the program so it isn't a surprise come varsity.

I also liked looking at the 2-3 year runs. Ripon losing in back-to-back semis before winning in 2019. Escalon breaking through after Hilmar's back-to-back titles, The runs in this time frame for Antelope and Rio Linda.