CIF football playoff schedule set

It’s win or turn-in-your-uniform time. Get ready for big-time players to perform well in big-time games. Watch out for third-place teams in strong leagues to pull off upsets. And be ready for lots of tears and emotional postgame handshakes as the Southern Section-Ford football playoffs begin on Friday.

Pairings were released on Sunday for the 13 divisions:

Pac-5

Top seeds: 1. Mission Viejo (10-0), 2. Anaheim Servite (10-0), 3. Mission Hills Alemany (10-0), 4. La Puente Bishop Amat (9-1).

The scoop: In an era where passing the ball has become a must to win a championship, Servite has come up with the best defense in the form of turning loose its two outstanding cornerbacks, Karlton Dennis and Jordan Jones. Long Beach Poly is playing like the Poly of old, so beware of the unseeded Jackrabbits. Mission Viejo has passed every test, and now that linebacker Tre Madden is healthy, the Diablos might not lose.

The pick: Mission Viejo.

Inland

Top seeds: 1. Corona Centennial (10-0), 2. Vista Murrieta (9-1), 3. Rancho Cucamonga (9-1), 4. Chino Hills (8-2).

The scoop: In politics, the saying was, “It’s the economy, stupid.” In regards to Centennial, “It’s the line, stupid.” The Huskies’ offensive line is the reason no opponent has been able to handle Centennial’s quick-strike, no-huddle offense during the regular season, and it won’t get any easier in the playoffs. Quarterback Michael Eubank is having an MVP season. The only question in this division is which team finishes second to the Huskies.

The pick: Centennial.

Northern

Top seeds: 1. Westlake Village Oaks Christian (8-2), 2. Ventura St. Bonaventure (9-1), 3. Westlake Village Westlake (9-1), 4. Valencia (9-1).

The scoop: The Marmonte League, with five representatives, will dominate this division. Oaks Christian, thanks to a coin toss, got the No. 1 seed and won’t have any trouble getting to the final. The semifinal winner between St. Bonaventure and Westlake should win it all. St. Bonaventure has been the best team since October, but I don’t think the Seraphs can beat Westlake twice in a season.

The pick: Westlake.

Western

Top seeds: 1. Gardena Serra (10-0), 2. Compton Dominguez (9-1), 3. West Hills Chaminade (9-1), 4. Paso Robles (8-2).

The scoop: No team is going to knock off Serra unless it figures out how to neutralize receiver-defensive backs George Farmer and Marqise Lee. Both could end up at USC. Dominguez, with victories over Encino Crespi and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, should be Serra’s main challenger.

The pick: Serra.

Central

Top seeds: 1. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (10-0), 2. Palm Springs (9-1), 3. Riverside Arlington (8-2), 4. La Quinta (8-2).

The scoop: It has been six years since Boston native Pete Duffy left Los Angeles Fremont to coach at Rancho Verde. “I’m blaming my wife because we had to buy a house,” Duffy said. “I did love it there.” He has built the Mustangs into a powerhouse, led by tight end Junior Pomee, who has scholarship offers from Florida and UCLA.

The pick: Rancho Verde.

Southwest

Top seeds: 1. Tustin (9-1), 2. Laguna Hills (9-0), 3. La Habra (7-3), 4. Villa Park (7-3).

The scoop: Tustin has attempted only 40 passes all season. Run, run, run is the motto, and Tyler Siudzinski has contributed 1,508 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. Quarterback Cody Clements is healthy for La Habra, and that means watch out for the Highlanders.

The pick: La Habra.

Southeast

Top seeds: 1. West Covina 9-1, 2. Whittier La Serna 9-1, 3. La Mirada 7-3, 4. Burbank Burroughs (6-4).

The scoop: West Covina runs the wing T and hasn’t lost since the season opener to Covina. Junior running back Chris Solomon has produced more than 1,200 yards rushing. Track standout B.J. Lee is also a big-play weapon with his speed, and quarterback George Johnson is a three-year starter. If there’s an upset threat, it might be Lakewood Mayfair.

The pick: West Covina.

Eastern

Top seeds: 1. Fontana Kaiser (10-0), 2. Phelan Serrano (9-1), 3. Romoland Heritage (10-0), 4. Elsinore (8-2).

The scoop: Kaiser rotates five backs behind an outstanding offensive line that features a promising college prospect for next season in junior center Aiseah Hansen, who’s 6-3, 295 pounds.

The pick: Kaiser.

Southern

Top seeds: 1. Garden Grove (9-1), 2. Corona del Mar (8-1-1), 3. Anaheim Loara (9-1), 4. Irvine Northwood (6-3-1).

The scoop: The versatile Josh Webb of Garden Grove is one of the division’s most dangerous players. He has scored 25 touchdowns and plays quarterback, receiver and running back.

The pick: Garden Grove.

Northwest

Top seeds: 1. Ojai Nordhoff (10-0), 2. South Torrance (9-1), 3. Torrance Bishop Montgomery (9-1), 4. Montebello Cantwell-Sacred Heart (9-1).

The scoop: This is the division that no longer includes Oaks Christian and Gardena Serra. Nordhoff has taken advantage, romping to the Tri-Valley League title behind two offensive standouts, quarterback Jake Logsdon, who has passed for 1,680 yards, and running back Isaac Seymour, who has rushed for 1,303 yards.

The pick: Nordhoff.

Mid-Valley

Top seeds: 1. Azusa (10-0), 2. Monrovia (8-2), 3. El Monte Arroyo (9-1), 10. Covina (9-1).

The scoop: Azusa’s Edwin Garcia is 5-10, 185 pounds and dominates on the offensive and defensive lines. He has 13 1/2 sacks. Covina is loaded with speed. Monrovia has the most valuable player in Nick Bueno, who has passed for 1,258 yards and rushed for 1,226 yards.

The pick: Monrovia.

East Valley

Top seeds: 1. Lancaster Paraclete (9-1), 2. San Bernardino Aquinas (9-1), 3. Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (9-1), 4. San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s (7-3).

The scoop: The fastest player in the Antelope Valley is Paraclete junior Braydon Marsh, who has touched the ball eight times and scored seven touchdowns. He also has seven interceptions and runs a 10.8 100 meters.

The pick: Paraclete.

Northeast

Top seeds: 1. Bishop (9-1), 2. Arcadia Rio Hondo (8-1), 3. Acton Vasquez (8-1), 4. Lancaster Desert Christian (8-2).

The scoop: Bishop’s Aaron Puls, the son of a pastor, is a standout 6-3, 210-pound safety-running back with straight As. Bishop’s coach, Bill Egan, coached the U.S. Olympic ski team in 1988. St. Monica, making its first playoff appearance since 2002, lost 37 consecutive games until Coach Larry Muno, who used to coach flag football, took over last season. Now the Mariners are Santa Fe League champs.

The pick: Bishop.

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