The North Coast Section playoffs begin tomorrow night with a slate of games North Bay football fans should be excited about. Let’s take a look at the matchups.
Projections are according to calpreps.com
DIVISION 2
Friday-#10 Montgomery @ #7 Casa Grande [projection: Casa Grande (Petaluma, CA) 28-27]
These two teams get to make up a game that got cancelled due to the wildfires, but this time, it’s in the NCS playoffs. The Vikings come off a loss to Maria Carrillo 37-30 last week, while Casa Grande won late at Santa Rosa, 38-36. Another interesting storyline is that former Casa Grande head coach Trent Herzog returns to Casa to play his former team in a playoff game. Last time the Vikings were at Casa, they took a 55-42 loss at the hands of the Petaluma Trojans in Week 0.
Saturday-#8 Maria Carrillo @ #9 Santa Rosa [projection: Carrillo [Maria] (Santa Rosa, CA) 35-26]
Maria Carrillo beat Santa Rosa earlier in the year, 51-22. Carrillo comes off the win vs Montgomery, while the Panthers are off a loss at home vs Casa Grande.
DIVISION 3
This is by far the toughest division in the NCS, and one of the toughest in the state in my opinion.

Friday
#15 Kennedy (Fremont) @ #2 Cardinal Newman projection: Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, CA) 58-6]
Cardinal Newman is coming off of their big win in the NBL Championship game vs Rancho Cotate. The Cardinals will look to make a deep run, and a possible trilogy between them and the Cougars could occur in round 3.
#12 Petaluma @ #5 Acalanes [projection: Acalanes (Lafayette, CA) 48-24]
Expect this game to be a little closer than what CalPreps tells you. Petaluma is 8-1 and has rushed for 2919 yards on the season, good for an average of 324 YPG. Expect a shootout tomorrow night in this game.
#14 Las Lomas @ #3 Rancho Cotate [projection: Rancho Cotate (Rohnert Park, CA) 52-7]
Rancho is off that loss to Cardinal Newman in the NBL title game, but the Cougars are still 8-1 on the year. Last year, Rancho got off to slow starts in their first two NCS playoff games, and eventually won closer than expected.
Saturday
#10 Analy @ #7 Encinal [projection: Encinal (Alameda, CA) 31-30]
Analy finished off their 6th straight undefeated SCL title run last week with a 56-6 win at Elsie Allen. They’ll have a tough test against an undefeated Encinal team in Alameda.
DIVISION 4
Sonoma Valley (Sonoma, CA) at Harker (San Jose, CA)
Saturday, November 11th, 7:00pm
[projection: Harker (San Jose, CA) 35-3]
El Molino (Forestville, CA) at Kennedy [John F.] (Richmond, CA)
Saturday, November 11th, 1:00pm
[projection: Kennedy [John F.] (Richmond, CA) 38-10]
Lower Lake (CA) at Piedmont (CA)
Friday, November 10th, 7:00pm
[projection: Piedmont (CA) 35-14]
DIVISION 5
Stellar Prep (Oakland, CA) at Cloverdale (CA)
Friday, November 10th, 7:00pm
[projection: Stellar Prep (Oakland, CA) 21-12]
Elsie Allen (Santa Rosa, CA) vs Arcata (CA) at McKinleyville HS
Friday, November 10th, 7:00pm
[projection: Arcata (CA) 40-17]
Willits at Fort Bragg (CA)
Friday, November 10th, 7:00pm
[projection: Fort Bragg (CA) 31-17]