UPDATE: Four football teams from Santa Cruz County are set to kick off their playoff journeys this weekend in the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs, all facing tough road games. The seeding meeting held on Sunday confirmed that these teams earned automatic berths, with fierce competition ahead.
Soquel, the Pacific Coast Athletic League (PCAL) Gabilan Division runner-up, heads into the quarterfinals as the No. 5 seed in Division I. They will clash with No. 4 Palma, the PCAL Gabilan champion, on Friday at 7 p.m. at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas. Soquel, with a record of 9-1, seeks revenge after suffering a 28-21 defeat to Palma on Halloween.
Despite battling injuries that have sidelined over five starters, Soquel is ready to face a formidable opponent. Palma’s junior running back, Eli Dukes, who rushed for 245 yards and three touchdowns in their previous matchup, poses a significant challenge. He has amassed 2,001 yards and 27 TDs this season.
“I feel like our confidence is the same as if we had our star quarterback and linebacker,” said Soquel running back Keyandre Bailey.
In another critical match, No. 6 Saint Francis (5-5) from Mountain View faces off against No. 3 Los Gatos (7-3) in another Division I quarterfinal.
Fans can expect intense action across the divisions this Friday at 7 p.m. The matchups include:
- D-I: No. 5 Soquel (9-1) at No. 4 Palma (10-0)
- D-IV: No. 6 Scotts Valley (8-2) at No. 3 Lincoln (7-3)
- D-IV: No. 7 San Lorenzo Valley (8-2) at No. 2 Willow Glen (8-2)
Scotts Valley, the No. 6 seed in Division IV, hopes to pull an upset against No. 3 Lincoln. The Lions lead with quarterback Luca Papoulias and running back Kyan Phillips, who has put up impressive stats this season.
Meanwhile, No. 7 San Lorenzo Valley is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2015 and will take on No. 2 Willow Glen in San Jose. The Rams’ quarterback Aiden Akery has been a key player this season, contributing both on the ground and through the air.
In Division V, Santa Cruz (7-3) enters the playoffs as the No. 7 seed, set to compete against No. 2 Ann Sobrato (6-4) in Morgan Hill on Saturday at 1 p.m. Coach Sergio Escobar believes his team has a solid chance, noting the competitive nature of their division.
“It’s not going to be a cake walk in D-V,” Escobar stated. “We’ve got a shot. People don’t want to see us get in the dance, because once we start boogieing, we clear the dance floor.”
The playoffs promise to deliver thrilling matchups and intense rivalries, with all four quarterfinals in Division IV occurring on Friday night. Stay tuned for updates as these teams battle for playoff glory.
For fans looking to catch the action, here are the essential details:
- D-I: No. 5 Soquel (9-1) at No. 4 Palma (10-0), Friday at 7 p.m.
- D-IV: No. 6 Scotts Valley (8-2) at No. 3 Lincoln (7-3), Friday at 7 p.m.
- D-IV: No. 7 San Lorenzo Valley (8-2) at No. 2 Willow Glen (8-2), Friday at 7 p.m.
- D-V: No. 7 Santa Cruz (7-3) at No. 2 Ann Sobrato (6-4), Saturday at 1 p.m.
