Mitch Stephens

Joined: Jun 19, 2024

Mitch Stephens is a senior editor at SBLive Sports for California, a state he's covered high school sports since 1984. He won multiple CNPA and CPSWA writing awards with the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle and MaxPreps.com before joining the SBLive staff in 2022. He's covered the beat nationally since 2007, profiling such athletes as Derrick Henry, Paige Bueckers, Patrick Mahomes, Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin and Najee Harris as preps. You can reach him at mitch@scorebooklive.com.

Santa Margarita defeats Corona Centennial 42-7 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship at the Rose Bowl on Friday, November 28, 2025.

California

California touchdown leader Mekai Smith adds six more touchdown in game that features 15 touchdowns, 45 penalties, eight turnovers in a 210-minute championship game

Corona Centennial is back in the CIF Southern Section's top division final for the first time since 2015 after beating Mater Dei in the semifinal.

California

Remaining section champions will be crowned this week after another wild week of playoff action

Corona Centennial's line was exceptional on Friday in a 28-27 stunning win over Mater Dei.

California

HOW CALIFORNIA TOP 25 FARED (11-21-2025) (Records up to date) No. 1 Mater Dei (8-3) Final: Centennial 28, Mater Dei 27 LIVE SCORING No. 2 Santa Margarita (9-3)

Duece Jones-Drew (21) goes in for winning touchdown with 2:40 remaining in De La Salle's gritty 10-6 home win over Lakeland (Fla.) Aug. 29 in Concord (Calif.). Spartans win 12th straight game and 33rd straight NCS title with 24-17 victory over Pittsburg on Nov. 21.

California

California's No. 4 ranked team hasn't lost to a NCS team since 1991, but that squad was the Pirates, ranked No. 17

Former Laney coach John Beam, star of the last season of Last Chance U, was pronounced dead Nov. 14 a day after suffering a gunshot wound to the head at the college.

California

A week after Last Chance U coach's Last Rites, senseless killing can't overshadow powerful life, but leaves many hearts empty

Orange Lutheran's Nico Bland put Orange Lutheran on the board first with a long touchdown catch, setting the stage for the Lancers huge playoff upset.

California

Orange Lutheran's shocking win over St. John Bosco sets the tone for one of the oddest weeks in recent California high school history

Tommy Tofi (77) is a standout even on Riordan's massive offensive line. The Bay Area's top recruit has committed to Oregon. He leads the Crusaders into a rematch with Serra in next week's Central Coast Section Open Division final after both teams won decisive semifinal games on Saturday.

California

Possible Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Ignatius rematch still possible after decisive first-round CCS D2 wins; Palma, Los Gatos, Santa Teresa and Menlo School are other first-round winners

Santa Margarita stunned its third Top 5 team this season with a 21-9 victory over Sierra Canyon, a team wich had given up 43 points all season

California

Southern Section Division 1 upsets set the tone for a wild week for playoffs up and down the state; Eight ranked teams have seasons end with playoff defeats

De La Salle junior speedster Jaden Jefferson if off to the races on his way on a 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of the Spartans 39-10 win over Serra in Week 2 of the 2024 season. On Friday, Jefferson had three touchdown runs and 108 yards rushing on seven carries in the Spartans' 42-0 win over San Ramon Valley.

Mitch Stephens

Joined: Jun 19, 2024

California High School Football Top 25 State Rankings - Dec. 2

CIF State Football Bowl Game pairings announced: De La Salle vs. Santa Margarita tops the list

California playoff live update scores, roundup: Nov. 28-29, 2025

California thriller: St. Ignatius beats Sacred Heart Cathedral on game's final play

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Thanksgiving Game at Kezar Stadium; Balboa survives 35 penalties, upstart Washington to win Turkey Day Classic

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California High School Football Top 25 State Rankings - Nov. 25

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California High School Football How Top 25 State Football Teams Fared - Nov. 21, 2025

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Live update summary: De La Salle wins 33rd straight North Coast Section title (Nov. 21, 2025)

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MitchMash: News cycle may move, but pain, suffering from John Beam's murder still lingers

California

California High School Football Top 25 State Rankings - Nov. 18

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Riordan, Serra on collision course for second meeting over two weeks after impressive CCS wins

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California High School Football How Top 25 State Football Teams Fared - Nov. 14, 2025

North Carolina-bound Jaden Jefferson rushes for 3 TDs, leads De La Salle to NCS first-round shutout win

California Player of the Year Watchlist, playoff matchup previews (11-14-2025)

Famous California rivalry that honors fallen veterans adds a purple shade of valor

California (CIF) Central Coast Section football high school playoff brackets (11/9/2025)