CIF state football: NorCal matchups are set. What are the top storylines?

De La Salle gets a new regional opponent, undefeated Pittsburg hitting the road, Los Gatos, El Cerrito set to meet.

DE LA SALLE: SPARTANS’ NEW REGIONAL COMPETITION

De La Salle anticipated a regional opponent in Clovis North or Folsom. Clovis North is undefeated and won the Central Section Division I title on Friday. Folsom has two losses, to Serra and De La Salle, but won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship on Friday.

Clovis North was chosen by the California Interscholastic Federation to host De La Salle, giving the Bay Area power a home game on Friday night after sending the Spartans to Folsom for a regional last season.

Instead of facing the Sacramento-area powerhouse and its spread offense for the fifth time since October 2021, De La Salle will face run-dominated Clovis North, which is undefeated for the first time since varsity football began in 2009.

“If they had chosen us to play Folsom, we would have been excited, don’t get me wrong,” DLS coach Justin Alumbaugh said. “However, new competition is always welcome. It’s not like we were expecting Clovis North or anything. They make an excellent team.”

Clovis North is ranked sixth in the state by Calpreps.com, higher than any other team in the North, including Open Division representative Serra, which is ranked eighth.

What is it about Clovis North that makes it so special?

Like De La Salle, it keeps the ball in play and the clock ticking.

• THIRD SWING: Serra coach discusses Open state championship game, and more

“Whoever is coming to our game, it should be a quick one,” Alumbaugh predicted. “They have three running backs who rotate, a really big offensive line, and an impressive defense.” They make an excellent team. You’re not 13-0 for nothing.”

PITTSBURG: THE UNDEFEATED PIRATES WILL NOT PLAY AT HOME.

Pittsburg coach Charlie Ramirez said after his team’s victory over San Ramon Valley in the North Coast Section Division I championship game Friday night that it would be nice to play the regional at home.

The Pirates aren’t at home this weekend, but they will face a familiar foe when they travel to Folsom on Saturday night.

Pittsburg will face Folsom for the third season in a row.

The Pirates are 0-2 in those games, having lost 38-17 at Folsom in September 2021 and 23-15 at home earlier in the season.

The teams had a verbal agreement to play this year, but that changed due to Folsom’s new section scheduling.

Ramirez didn’t need many words to describe Folsom’s power.

“Their quarterback,” he said, referring to Ryder Lyons, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore who has passed for over 3,000 yards and run for over 600 this season.

Ramirez compared himself to SRV senior Luke Baker, whose high school career ended against Pittsburg on Friday.

“It’s going to be a challenge for sure,” Ramirez said.

WARRIORS STAY LOCAL BUT HIT THE ROAD, SAY MCCLYMONDS

After winning the Silver Bowl on Saturday, McClymonds, the reigning 2-AA NorCal champion, is back in a regional title game for the ninth time.

However, unlike last season, the Warriors will travel to Marin Catholic, a perennial North Bay powerhouse. A win would give retiring Mack coach Michael Peters his sixth NorCal championship and a berth in the 3-A state championship game.

McClymonds is 3-0 against the Wildcats in the MaxPreps era (2004 to present), with the most recent matchup being a 33-21 victory at Mack in 2021.

Marin Catholic, which defeated Cardinal Newman 24-3 in the NCS D-III championship game, will be the first serious test for the Oakland school in months. McClymonds (8-2) has not allowed a point since a 21-0 loss to De La Salle on Sept. 29, blanking six Oakland Athletic League opponents 307-0.

Eight of its ten games have ended with the clock running. As a result, McClymonds’ small roster should be fresher than at any point since the season began.

EAST BAY VS. SOUTH BAY: EL CERRITO AND LOS GATOS

When El Cerrito travels south to Los Gatos on Saturday night for the 2-A title game, it will pit two of the Bay Area’s top teams against one another.

The winner advances to the first state championship game in either school’s history.

El Cerrito, the NCS Division II champion, welcomes the opportunity to play away from home after hosting eight of its thirteen games this season.

“We like to get out on the road because it keeps us focused and dialed in,” said coach Jacob Rincon.

Los Gatos coach Mark Krail, who is taking his team to its second regional game, hopes for better weather than the rain that greeted the Wildcats in their NorCal road loss to Cardinal Newman in 2019.

Rincon, who had only recently begun his studies at Los Gatos, was impressed by how the Wildcats consistently avoided making mistakes.

Los Gatos won the Division I championship and extended its season by defeating Archbishop Riordan, St. Ignatius, and Wilcox.

Krail said of El Cerrito, “They look big, fast, and physical.”

THE VERY BEST OF THE REST

Acalanes defeated San Marin to win its first North Coast Section championship on Friday. The Dons can add to their trophy cabinet on Friday when they host Escalon (12-1) for the 3-AA championship. Miramonte will compete in its first regional on Friday, when it travels to Pleasant Valley-Chico for the 5-AA championship. Pleasant Valley is 1-3 in regional play, with its lone victory coming in 2016 against Milpitas. … Palo Alto will play St. Vincent de Paul for the 6-AA championship on Friday at Casa Grande High, its second consecutive regional appearance. Last season, the Vikings were defeated 30-20 by Santa Teresa in the 6-AA regional. … South San Francisco, which recently won the CCS Division V championship, will play Colusa at home Saturday night for the Division 6-A championship. South City leads Colusa 12-0.