Here are the North Coast Section football playoffs games featuring East Bay schools and what the matchup looks like:
DIVISION 1
- No. 1 De La Salle vs. No. 8 California (7 p.m. Friday): The Spartans (9-1) won a previous matchup 56-0 behind their usual unstoppable offense and strong defense, so the Grizzlies (7-4) will have to ride their first-round win and roll on offense to upset the 25-time champs.
- No. 2 Antioch vs. No. 7 Amador Valley (7 p.m. Friday): The Panthers (10-0) have sat a week after their epic comeback win over rival Pittsburg while the Dons (8-3) got back on track after falling to Foothill by beating San Leandro handily in the first round. Antioch’s Najee Harris has the speed of Amador Valley’s Ledre McCollough, but with more power, so the Dons must slow the Alabama commit and score in bunches.
- No. 3 Foothill vs. No. 6 Freedom (7 p.m. Saturday): The first matchup between these two Falcons squads, back in September, went Foothill’s way early but Freedom rallied in the second half to get within two scores. Foothill (10-0) needs to rely on Isaiah Floyd and Freedom (7-4) must stop him.
- No. 4 Monte Vista vs. No. 5 Pittsburg (7 p.m. Saturday): Their first matchup was a barnburner that the Mustangs (7-3) won with a late touchdown drive and a stop on defense, but that surely motivates the Pirates (9-2). Monte Vista will have to hold off Pittsburg early, when that fire fuels it most, and hope QB Jake Haener can come up big late again.
DIVISION 2
- No. 1 Clayton Valley Charter vs. No. 9 Windsor (7 p.m. Friday): The Ugly Eagles (9-1) are rested after a first-round bye, which bodes well, especially against the Jaguars (7-4), who lost 31-13 to a Cardinal Newman team the Ugly Eagles beat 28-0 in September. Expect big numbers from CVC running back Ray Jackson III and the Ugly Eagles defense.
- No. 2 Miramonte vs. No. 7 Casa Grande-Petaluma (7 p.m. Friday): Beside being stymied by rival Campolindo, the Mustangs (10-1) have been an offensive juggernaut this season behind QB Tim Tague, though top receiver Sutter Lindberg is out with a knee injury. Among Monte Vista blowouts this year was a 40-3 rout of Windsor, which the Gauchos (7-4) edged only because of a late two-point conversion attempt that failed.
- No. 3 Concord vs. No. 6 Maria Carrillo-Santa Rosa (7 p.m. Saturday): The Minutemen (7-4) are rolling on offense after a loss to Clayotn Valley Charter, scoring 162 points in three blowout wins. Concord opened the season with a 14-13 win over Benicia, which the Pumas (7-4) lost to 51-28 two weeks later. Watch for Minutemen running back Harold Tidwell to have a huge game.
- No. 4 Granada vs. No. 5 Tennyson (7 p.m. Saturday): With both teams coming off easy wins in the first round, the Matadors (5-6) must find an answer for dual-threat quarterback Christian Silva while the Lancers (9-2) are playing with house money after registering the program’s first playoff victory.
DIVISION 3
- No. 1 Campolindo vs. No. 8 Acalanes (7 p.m. Friday): Not only did the Cougars (10-1) blow past their first-round opponent, they beat the Dons (4-7) in their previous game by a 49-19 margin. Acalanes must change the script while Campolindo cannot rest on its laurels as it tries to repeat as state champs.
- No. 4 Bishop O’Dowd vs. No. 5 Alhambra (1 p.m. Saturday): Since starting 2-4, the Dragons (6-5) has only lost by a one-point margin and currently is on a three-game win streak, thanks to the development of freshman running back Austin Jones. The Bulldogs (7-4) also bounced back from three straight losses to win four straight with a senior-laden roster.
DIVISION 4
- No. 3 Fortuna vs. No. 6 Piedmont (7 p.m. Saturday): The Highlands (9-2) hope to reach the semifinals for the second straight year, this time facing an undefeated Fortuna team that has only been challenged twice this season. Watch out for quarterback Miles Kim and Co. to test the host Huskies.
- No. 4 Moreau Catholic vs. No. 5 Saint Mary’s (7 p.m Friday): In what may well be the game of the weekend, especially outside of Division 1, the two Catholic schools go at it in a rematch of the season opener that the Mariners (10-1) won handily. But the Panthers (8-3) are hot behind running back Tamarick Pierce and have been to the last two title games, while Moreau Catholic and standout running back Jullen Ison are in uncharted territory.
DIVISION 5
- No. 1 Berean Christian vs. No. 9 Stellar Prep (1 p.m. Saturday): Expect offensive fireworks between the Eagles (9-1), who scored the second most points in Division 5 this season, and Thunder (7-3), who are averaging 40 points a game in six wins since starting 1-3. Berean Christian is led by junior standout Isaiah Hodgins while Stellar Prep has just 11 players on its roster.
- No. 3 John Swett vs. No. 6 Ferndale (7 p.m. Saturday): The connection between quarterback Matt Thompkins and wide receiver Derrick Quesada has helped John Swett (9-1) win every game but an overtime shootout with Berean Christian. Among its victories is a 23-13 win over Victory Christian, which downed the Wildcats (7-4) by a 35-14 margin this year.
- No. 4 Valley Christian vs. No. 5 Salesian (7 p.m. Saturday at Dougherty Valley): The senior duo of quarterback Chris Jackson and running back Kyle Hanks will be a lot to handle for the Pride (4-6), who have had a bumpy season after back-to-back championships.