Classical (10-3) makes a first-ever appearance in the Southern California playoffs, host at neutral Del Norte to Lancaster (9-5) in Division VI-AA.
Despite finishing with a 1-2 record and in third place in the Pacific League, the Caimans rolled in the playoffs, upsetting Crawford, 33-14, in the D-V championship.
OPPONENT DOWN AND UP
Lancaster won eight of its last nine games, a streak interrupted only by a 63-0 loss to Palmdale Highland. The Eagles defeated Cerritos Valley, 44-42 for the Southern Section D-XII title.
Calpreps.com declared the Caimans are holding a 65 percent chance of defeating the team from North Los Angeles County.
GRANITE GOES SATURDAY
Granite Hills (11-2) takes on Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda (9-5) in the Division II-A playoffs.
Other San Diego teams’ games are Friday, but the Eagles-Eagles contest is Saturday night at Granite Hills.
The computer calpreps.com gives Granite Hills a 62 percent chance of winning.
Coach Kellan Cobbs Eagles won their first San Diego Section championship, a D-II rout of 48-12 over Ramona after losses in 1975 and ’79.
The Eagles lost only to teams ranked in the Union-Tribune Top 10 this season, Poway (10-1), 31-19, in the opening game, and Madison (9-2), 15-12.
THE OTHER BIRDS OF PREY
Etiwanda’s Eagles overcame a 4-5 start and caught fire in a wild run to the Southern Section D-5 title.
Following a 38-7, opening-round victory over Yucaipa (a 21-14 winner in the regular season over University City),  the Eagles topped Anaheim Canyon, 69-49, Lawndale Leuzinger, 22-21, and La Canada St. Francis, 45-42.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PLAYOFF BRACKETS
| DIVISION | TEAM | OPPONENT | CAL-PREPS | MAX PREPS | CAL-HI SPORTS |
| I-AA | Lincoln (11-1) | @Chatsworth Sierra Canyon (10-4) | 60/62.4 | 7/9 | 12/10 |
| II-AA | Mater Dei (9-4) | @Downey (12-2) | 43.6/44 | 34/33 | 33/43 |
| II-A | Granite Hills (11-2) | Rancho Cucamonga Etiwanda (9-5) | 39.4/37.6 | 45/57 | 48/On the bubble |
| III-AA | University City (11-2) | @San Jacinto (12-2) | 27.6/34.8 | 106/68 | NR/NR |
| V-AA | Blythe Palo Verde Valley (13-1) | Pasadena Muir (8-6) | 12.6/9.3 | 218/244 | NR/NR |
| VI-AA | Classical (10-3) | Lancaster (9-5) @Del Norte | 0/–3.4 | 348/394 | NR/NR |
