CIF-SS Football Playoffs: Long Beach Poly Lands in Division 3

The California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section released its football playoff brackets on Sunday, locking in the postseason paths for 13 schools from the Long Beach area. The release determines which opponents local teams will face in the first round and sets the stage for a postseason that begins this week. Long Beach Poly, currently 6-4, drew a No. 15 seed in Division 3, placing them two spots above the bottom of the bracket. They will travel to play Norco, the No. 2 seed, in the first round on Friday.

Poly head coach Travon Patterson, in his first year with the program, accepted the draw without complaint. "I like the draw," Patterson said. "Honestly, it wasn't in our control. So whatever bracket they placed us in we just had to be ready. Now that we're aware that we're in Division 3, we just approach this game like any other. One game at a time and play Poly football." The Jackrabbits are coming off a four-game winning streak in the Moore League, where they shut out all four opponents for a combined score of 199-0.

St. John Bosco, a 7-3 team, secured a No. 4 seed in Division 1 and earned a first-round bye. The Braves will host Orange Lutheran, the No. 5 seed, in the quarterfinals on Nov. 13. Bosco avenged a 20-19 loss to the Lancers last season by beating them 28-14 on Oct. 9 this year. They may face No. 1 Santa Margarita in the semifinals, as the Mustangs defeated Bosco 21-7 on Oct. 16.

In Division 4, Downey, 6-4, holds the No. 4 seed and will host Newbury Park in the first round. The Vikings are 4-1 in their last five games but fell to La Serna, 20-14, in the Gateway League championship game. Downey coach Jack Williams expressed optimism about the matchup. "We are excited for season 3," Williams said. "It's going to be great matchup versus a great program."

Other local teams are spread across the remaining divisions. Paramount, 9-1, plays at No. 1 San Dimas in Division 7. Bellflower, 7-3, hosts Valley Christian in Division 8 in the area's only all-local first-round game. Compton, 9-1, hosts Ramona in Division 9. Artesia, 8-1, hosts Heritage in Division 12. Dominguez, 6-4, hosts Pacific in Division 11. Gahr, 6-3-1, hosts Norte Vista in Division 10. La Mirada, 7-3, hosts Paloma Valley in Division 7. Millikan, 3-7, plays at La Cañada in Division 7. Centennial, 5-5, hosts Pioneer in Division 14.

First-round games are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, with most starting at 7 p.m. The quarterfinals for St. John Bosco are set for Friday, Nov. 13. Teams will now prepare for their respective opponents, knowing the bracket structure is fixed for the initial rounds of the postseason.