Justin-Siena has life in chase for state bowl berth

By Ted Sillanpaa
Register Sports Writer

Justin-Siena High’s win in the North Coast Section Div. IV football championship game doesn’t necessarily end the Braves’ season.

While the Braves finished 9-4 overall and haven’t been ranked all season in the CalHi Sports Division III North bowl game rankings, the fact they won the required section championship at least warrants them consideration for a state bowl game berth.

Justin’s a longshot, though, to earn an invitation to represent North schools with an enrollment of 1,000 students or fewer.

Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa is 12-0 as it prepares to take on 12-0 Clayton Valley next weekend in the North Coast Section Div. III title game. Cardinal Newman has been No. 1 in the bowl game Div. III rankings all season.

Clayton Valley has is considered a Div. II team for state bowl game purposes, so a CV win would mean Newman wouldn’t have the necessary section title to advance to a bowl game.

Central Catholic of Modesto already fell victim to an upset and is out of the running for the Div. III North state bowl berth. Hilmar (12-1) beat Central Catholic 17-6 in Stockton on Saturday to win the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. V title. Central Catholic was rated just behind Cardinal Newman, but can’t get to the bowl game without the section title.

Hilmar, however, was rated No. 7 in last week’s bowl game rankings and remains in the running for the north state Div. III berth.

Justin-Siena athletic director Michael Fisher did say that he had submitted necessary paperwork to prepare for the possibility that the Braves could earn an invitation to the bowl game at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

The bowl game selections will be held Dec. 14.

There are other teams whose records figure to give them an edge on Justin, despite the Braves winning their fourth section title of this decade and finishing the season with a five-game winning streak.

Sutter is 11-1 and won the Northern Section Div. II title by beating West Valley 43-13. Sutter was No. 3 in last week’s Northern Section Div. III state bowl game rankings.

Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton is No. 6 in the current Div. III bowl rankings and played for the Central Coast Section title late Saturday night against Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Justin-Siena should jump in the MaxPreps.com North Coast Section rankings after winning the Div. IV title. The Braves were rated No. 25. The NCS title should result in the Braves’ stock rising in Northern California polls, too.

Justin ended Ferndale’s hope of a state small game bowl bid by beating the Wildcats 22-15 in the NCS semifinals.

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