CIF NorCal Regional live Friday-Saturday update roundup: Backup Brody Rudnicki bails out Folsom over Riordan

After California Gatorade Player of the Year Ryder Lyons goes down with shoulder injury, the junior quarterback throws two late touchdowns to pull out wild Division 1-AA title comeback victory; The Smiths — Brandon and Mekei (no relation — led Central East, Balboa to Saturday wins

After starting quarterback Ryder Lyons got injured during the final drive of the third quarter against undefeated Archbishop Riordan on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, Folsom junior backup Brody Rudnicki guided a pair of second-half touchdown drives to help the Bulldogs pull out a stunning 42-38 come-from-behind victory in the CIF NorCal Division I-AA regional championship. / Dorie Anderson

The CIF Northern California Bowl Championships are underway. Seven games finished off Friday night with the winners all advancing the next week's CIF State Finals against Southern California champions. The top five divisions have traditionally all played at Saddleback College in Viejo with the other 10 games divided between Buena Park High School Stadium or Fullerton Union High School District Stadium.

Only two teams bypass the regional round and that's the Open Division game which pits the top two teams from each region, in this case De La Salle of Concord (North) against Santa Margarita from the South.

That game is already scheduled for 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL RESULTS

FRIDAY

Division 1–AA

Folsom 42, Riordan 38

Oregon State bound wide receiver Jameson Powell scored three touchdowns, the last with 5:02 left on a 20-yard pass from Brody Rudnicki to give the host Bulldogs their first lead since the middle of the second quarter, 42-38. / Photo by Dennis Lee

FOLSOM, Calif. — By most every account, Brody Rudnicki would fill the role of unlikely hero who bailed out the home team from a desperate hole.

But coach Kevin Doherty and his Folsom Bulldogs knew better, and even too did the team he thwarted, the Riordan Crusaders who seemed in control of Friday's NorCal Division 1-AA championship game on a cold, crisp night Folsom.

Yes, down 38-28, the Bulldogs' star quarterback Ryder Lyons, California's top 2026 recruit awarded this week with the Gatorade State Player of the Year award, went down late in the third quarter with a considerable left (non-throwing) shoulder injury after a big hit from sophomore linebacker Isaiah Grant.

And yes, the BYU star, grimacing in pain, would not return, putting the balance of the game's in the capable arms, legs and pysche of the confident junior backup Rudnicki, who is no average backup.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder already has nine college offers, including Arizona State, Minnesota, Cal and yes, even BYU the school Lyons has already signed to. He'd already proven himself earlier in the season when Lyons was injured, by completing 44 of 58 passes (76%) for 760 yards and nine touchdowns.

Riordan quarterback Michael Mitchell threw for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns but it wasn't enough. / Photo by Dennis Lee

So it was not a big surprise to any of the Bulldogs that Rudnicki rallied the Bulldogs to a thrilling 42-38 victory, first ripping off a 50-yard scramble, then throwing touchdown passes of 21 yards to Rob Larson on the last play of the third quarter, then a 20-yarder to Oregon State-bound Jameson Powell with 5:02 remaining to Folsom the final margin of victory and the team's eighth regional championship.

In his 15 minutes of action, Rudnicki was 8 of 9 for 95 yards and two touchdowns and rushed the ball nine times (including sacks) for 49 yards. That was after Lyons was 25-for-28 for 215 yards and two touchdowns, rushed 17 times for 68 yards and a score and added a two-point conversion run.

"(Rudnicki) practices every day like he's a starter," Doherty said. "He spits reps down the middle every day 50-50 with Ryder. He competes every day. in drills, in individual team periods, competitive periods, scout teams. ... He has a lot of confidence in himself. He's got a lot of confidence in where he wants to be. He thinks this is the best place for him to prepare to get there. And he's right."

Riordan (12-1), which finished off a historic season with West Catholic Athletic League and Central Coast Section Open titles, didn't let up a squeak once Lyons left, said coach Adhir Ravipati. "We'd seen (Rudnicki) on film and knew what a talent he is," Ravipati said. "We were prepared for him. We thought he might come in regardless of Ryder's health. Give him credit. He made some big plays."

The Crusaders made one after another in a nearly spotless first half, while taking a 38-20 lead late in the second quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by 6-foot, 220-pound junior load Adonyae Brown, his third TD of the half. He finished with 31 carries for 235 yards.

Riordan junior running back Adonyae Brown rushed for nearly 180 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, but was held to less than 50 and no scores in the second half. / Photo by Dennis Lee

But Folsom's Isaiah Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown to give the home team the life needed heading into halftime.

The defense then held Riordan scoreless the second half, making key stop after key stop, while the Crusaders hurt themselves with eight penalties, five on one drive.

The most costly came after Powell's final touchdown, a holding call wiping out a long completion from Stanford-bound quarterback Michael Mitchell, who threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns. Pushed back to the 35 first-and-18, runs of 7, 4 and 3 yards made it 4th-and-4 and Mitchell's scramble came up inches short.

Folsom, which now plays Cathedral Catholic in the state finals, needed just one first down to seal the win and Rudnicki provided it with a 9-yard scamper on third down. He finished with 144 yards of offense in just more than a quarter of play.

"I've always dreamed of my time to come but I've never dreamed of him getting hurt," Rudnicki said. "I never wanted my time to come because he got hurt. People think Ryder and me are competing - we do compete - but it's in a friendly, competitive healthy way. We're really good friends and spend a lot of time together outside of football."

Ryder Lyons wanted to go back in but after a series of tests - he couldn't lift his left arm - he was ruled out the fourth quarter. Coach Paul Doherty said he wouldn't rule Lyons out of the state finals next week at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo against Cathedral Catholic. / Photo by Dennis Lee

As far as getting out there, Rudnicki said he wasn't warmed up. "It was holy crap, it's my time and I'm excited for this. I'm not warmed up at all."

The 50-yard run "got my juices going," he said. "That definitely warmed me up."

At halftime, Rudnicki wasn't thinking about going in, he said. "I was thinking more how I can support the team. What would work best with Ryder and the rest of the team."

Lyons was superb in his nearly three-quarters of play with nearly 300 yards of offense and three total touchdowns, but with his arm in a sling by the end of the game, he had to leave early before celebrating much with the team.

Riordan took even less time, 80-yards six plays, keyed by one of four perfectly thrown bombs from Mitchell, this one to Nash for 51 yards, setting up a 12-yard TD slant pass to Cynai Thomas, tying the score at 7-7 with 7:37 left in the first. 

Back sprinted the Bulldogs, again Lyons to Powell for a 26-yard score. This time it was all Powell who took a short out and somehow evaded four would-be tacklers. The extra point was blocked, but Folsom led 13-7. 

Ryder Lyons have a 10-yard touchdown run cut Riordan's lead to 26-20. / Photo by Dennis Lee

Back came Riordan, this one was all Brown. He broke off a 25-yard burst to start the drive, then capped it with another 25-yard touchdown run. Like Folsom, Riordan had extra kick blocked, keeping at 13-13 with 3:15 left in the first. 

Brown was just getting warmed up. 

After a punt, Brown busted off a 70-yard touchdown run over the left side, making 20-13 early in the second quarter. A sack of Lyons by Zachary Kleppin led to a 3-and-out and a 7-yard punt led to a very short field. Folsom tackled Brown for a two-yard loss, but after a timeout, Mitchell found Israel Vaenuku all alone in the middle of the field for a 20-yard touchdown, making it 26-13 with 8:19 left in the second quarter.

When Folsom came back immediately with a 10-yard touchdown run by Lyons, capping a 60-yard drive it appeared this first team to 50 might win.

Especially after Mitchell followed a 14-yard scamper by Brown with a beautiful 38-yard touchdown bomb to Judge Nash. Once again, however, the Crusaders missed on a 2-point conversion try. As they did after Brown's third TD run, a 3-yard to make it 38-20.

Folsom, meanwhile converted its 2-point conversion after Williams kickoff return making it 38-28.

How were the Bulldogs able to keep Riordan off the scoreboard in the second half?

"We just tackled better," Doherty said. "We just played better."

Penalties flipped around the second half. Riordan was flagged 11 times in the second half for 96 yards. Folsom, after committing nine penalties for 75 in the first half, was penalized just once in the second half, but it was a big one, wiping out a 60-yard touchdown sprint by Lyons.

The biggest penalty against Riordan came on a long touchdown bomb from Mitchell to Thomas, who was called for offensive pass information in the middle of the third quarter. Thomas, the long 6-4 Oregon State-bound third-year starter, was jostling down the right sideline with 6-1 Stanford-bound Jason Hill Jr.,

Just as Hill looked back Thomas went up high and caught it up high just as Hill was falling over. The linesman, in perfect position, immediately threw the flag. Thomas, seemingly knowing the call was going to be against him, tossed the ball away in disgust.

Had the catch stood, that would have put Riordan up 16.

Wow. Tough call. Riordan’s Thomas called for offensive PI. What do you think? Instead of first and goal it’s 1st and 40! Big play. pic.twitter.com/B0FoBvlcUP

— Mitch Stephens (@MitchBookLive) December 6, 2025

“I have a lot to say, but I’m not gonna say it,” Ravipati said. “The refs, they’re human, and they give us the best they got.”

Which both coaches kept repeating after that their teams gave.

Ravipati was particularly hard on himself after for "not putting my guys in better spots to close the deal in the second half. ... I mean, I love this team, I love these seniors. ... My guys put absolutely everything they had out there. That's what makes this so difficult. I just told them this is my burden to bear. I couldn’t get it done for them. Give our credit to Folsom, but that’s a really tough pill to swallow.”

Dougherty had faith his defense would come to life after halftime. They'll now face a Cathedral Catholic program it has faced three times before, winning in 2014 (55-10) and 2018 (21-14) before losing in 2021 (33-21). The last two meetings were for state titles, so this will be a rubber match.

“You have to stick to your guns,” Doherty said. "This defense has gotten stops all year long, and this team was going to score points. We knew that. So we had to manage our drives, manage our possessions and put points on the board. …“And it was just enough at the end.”

Folsom junior quarterback Brody Rudnicki (10) came off the bench late in the third quarter to replace an injured Ryder Lyons, the Gatorade California Player of the Year and BYU commit. Rudnicki's two touchdown passes and a 50-yard scamper helped the Folsom pull off a wild 42-38 comeback win in the CIF Northern California Division 1-AA championship game at Folsom High School. / Photo by Dennis Lee

PREVIEW
Riordan-San Francisco (12-0) at Folsom (12-1) — First meeting ever between the programs features two of the top senior quarterbacks in the state and could decide State Player of the Year in Riordan’s rMichael Mitchell, a Stanford commit who has completed 189 of 279 (68%) for 3,471 yards, 46 touchdowns, four interceptions), against the state’s top 2026 recruit in Ryder Lyons, a BYU commit who is 242 of 318 (76%) with 34 TDs and nine interceptions along with 14 rushing TDs. Folsom has won five state titles, Riordan is making its first NorCal final appearances. Watch: NFHS Network  

• PLAYING FOR JP | Tommy Tofi's brother in hospital

Division 2–AA
Final: St. Mary's 31, Serra 24

The visiting Padres from Serra thought it had scored the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard touchdown run by Andrew Takapautolo, set up with a 62-yard catch and run by Charles Walsh after a pass from freshman William Orr (10 of 16, 179 yards) to go up 24-23 with less than three minutes to play. But a 67-yard pass from Jaden Galvan to Ivan Hereta set up the game-winning touchdown on a 3-yard run by Diego Hernandez with just 34.7 seconds remaining. A sack by Jack Lucatello on freshman quarterback Orr all but finished off the Padres, who overcame an 0-3 start to win a 10th section crown and finish 8-6 on the season. Jace Cannon had three catches for 110 yards and a TD for the Padres, and Malakai Taufoou and Takapautolo had TD runs. St. Mary's (12-2), which got a TD run from Moses Alexander and a scoring grab by Kenneth Moore now plays Bakersfield Christian, a 24-21 winner over La Habra.

St. Mary's Kenneth Moore III, seen here in a 2024 game, had a key scoring catch in Friday's 31-24 comeback win over Serra. / Photo: Dennis Lee

PREVIEW
Serra-San Mateo (8-5) at St. Mary’s-Stockton (11-2) — These teams met in three nonleague games in 2016, 2017 and 2019 with Serra winning the last game, 56-28, while the Rams took the first two, 63-35 and 41-13. The Padres went to their single-wing “Raider” offense in a 28-21 CCS title win over Los Gatos, throwing just one pass, while rushing for 348 yards on 58 carries led by junior Andrew Takapautolo (22 carries, 142 yards). Who knows what the Padres will do versus the Rams, who feature a host of threats, led by senior QB Jaden Galvan (2,508 passing yards, 28 TDs) and senior RB Diego Hernandez (1,223, 21). The teams have one common opponent — De La Sale — Serra losing 26-0 on Sept. 6 and St. Mary’s dropping a 36-7 game three weeks later. Watch: NFHS Network  

Check back for game results

Division 3–AA
St. Ignatius 17, Monte Vista 13

Caedon Afsharipour threw for 111 yards and a touchdown to Zui Shelton (five catches, 70 yards) and Steve Malone rushed 18 times for 75 yards and another TD, leading the host Wildcats (8-7) to their first state-title game with a tough win over a ever-improving Monte Vista team (8-6), which was almost bailed out by senior quarterback Ian Ondricek, who according to Justice Delos Santos of the Bay Area News Group, accounted for 240 yards and both Mustang touchdown on a chilly night in San Francisco. Ondricek connected with Chase Wuischpard on a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut St. Ignatius' lead to 14-13, but the extra point missed and the Mustangs' attempt to take a 16-13 lead on a Tyler Palmer field goal was blocked by Ty Hicks. Thomas McKeon, the hero in last week's CCS championship win over rival Sacred Heart Cathedral, added a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the final margin. St. Ignatius now plays Ventura, a 35-28 winner over Arroyo Grande in the SoCal final.

St. Ignatius quarterback Caedon Afsharipour threw for 111 yards and a touchdown against Monte Vista on Friday. / Photo by Paul Ghiglieri

PREVIEW
Monte Vista-Danville (8-5) at St. Ignatius-S.F. (7-6), 7 p.m. — Another first-time meeting, both teams overcame rough patches with first-year coaches. St. Ignatius's JaJuan Lawson watched his team start 1-5, with the last loss a 54-0 shellacking at Riordan. But the Wildcats have found their health and footing, behind special teams, senior QB Caedon Afsharipour, running tandem of Steve Malone and Luke Tribolet, and defense led by LB Charlie Ball and DB Ty Hicks. Monte Vista coach Joe Wingert started 3-1, but dropped four of five before catching fire in the NCS playoffs, thanks largely to a stingy defense that last week recorded four sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a 24-10 NCS D2 title win over Clayton Valley Charter. Senior LB-RB Torin Dunphy was the star with 129 yards rushing, two TDs, nine tackles and a sack.  Watch: NFHS Network  

Check back for game results

Division 4–AA
Sutter 21, Ferndale 7

Braden Scritchfield's second 4-yard touchdown run gave Sutter its first lead midway through the third quarter, 14-7, then Max Bringgold put on the finishing touches with a 12-yard run with eight minutes left, lifting Sutter (13-1) to the road win at Cal Poly Humboldt. Sutter shut down Ferndale's powerful offensive attack, which came in with a state-best 763 points. Sutter now plays Barstow, a 13-12 winner over Immanuel.

PREVIEW
Sutter (12-1) vs. Ferndale (13-0) at Cal Poly Humboldt — Remarkable twist here is that Sutter coach Ryan Reynolds is a Ferndale graduate. That might not help against a team that has given up just 53 points all season and didn't give up a point until Halloween. Prescott Langer and Tanner Podgeon have combined for 48 touchdown runs. Sutter, led by Max Bringgold and Losi Asiata, are 0-7 in NorCal finals. Watch: NFHS Network  

Check back for game results

Division 5–AA
Bishop O'Dowd 23, Chico 20

Lamar Ellis, coming off a five-touchdown performance in the section finals, added two more TD runs in a tough win at Chico (11-3). The Dragons (10-4), the 2016 state champion, blocked a field goal try and an extra point and had a key goal-line stand. Trevor Erickson scored on a 95-yard kickoff return for the Dragons to go up 16-14 just after Chico quarterback John Bernanrdez scored on a 10-yard touchdown to give Chico a 14-9 lead. Chico seemed destined to go up early in the fourth after a long drive but fumbled at the 1. O'Dowd recovered an Ellis ripped off a 48-yard touchdown run, making it 23-14. O'Dowd will now play Christian, a 27-13 winner over Valley Christian-Cerritos.

PREVIEW
Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (9-4) at Chico (11-2) — Another slow starter — sensing a pattern here — coach Hardy Nickerson watched the Dragons score a grand total of 22 points in three straight losses, before winning eight of their last nine, led by junior RB Lamar Ellis, who has 1,113 yards and 17 touchdowns in just seven games.  Another first-time meeting, the host Panthers started the season 6-0. They have a dynamic RB of their own in senior Zaiveon Patrick (185, 1,512, 19). Watch: NFHS Network   Watch: NFHS Network  

Division 6–AA
Lincoln 28, Gridley 20

A 64-yard touchdown pass from Luca Papoulias to Michael Whitelaw keyed Lincoln's first win in first NorCal appearance after winning its first CCS title. Prolific Kyan Phillips added a 17-yard touchdown run to pull out the tough win over Gridley (13-1), which got two touchdown runs by Jace Griggs (14 carries, 91 yards). Eli Punzo added a 43-yard touchdown to Canon Moore. Phillips had two touchdown runs, giving him 32 on the season, Lucas Martinez added one as did Whitelaw. Lincoln (11-3) now plays Valley Center, a 30-19 win over Valley View.

PREVIEW
Gridley-Butte County (13-0) at Lincoln-San Jose (10-3) — Known for its basketball program, this is Gridley’s first double-digit win season since 2006. Lincoln is led by one of Northern California’s top running backs, Kyan Phillips (1,615 yards, 30 TDs) who rushed for 267 yards and six TDs in the Lions’ CCS title win over Branham-San Jose. Watch: NFHS Network  

Check back for game results

Division 7–AA
Redding Christian 22, Middletown 18

Wyatt Shaw accounted for three touchdowns and Michaeh Skinner added a key interception and TD catch as visiting Redding Christian moved into next week's title game to face Woodbridge-Irvine, a 13-0 winner over San Fernando. Trenton Griffith and Tyler Galamay had TD runs for Middletown (11-3).

PREVIEW
Redding Christian-Palo Cedro (13-0) at Middletown (11-2) — The host squad is hoping for its first state appearance following a 37-23 section title win over Piedmont. The Mustangs have outscored opponents 477-170. The community survived a 2015 fire that nearly destroyed its town. A decade later the town is still rallying around the Mustangs, who have been a North Coast Section power for years. Redding Christian has faced little resistance while winning 13 straight games by a 583-86 count, including a 26-0 Northern Section title win over Maxwell. It was the Lions' sixth shutout of the season. The team's offense is led by junior QB Wyatt Shaw (188-242, 2,887 yards, 52 touchdowns) and RB Levi Putnam (157 carries, 1,344 yards, 16). Watch: NFHS Network

Check back for game results

 SATURDAY (6 p.m. unless noted)

Division 1–A

Central East 55, Pittsburg 36

Brandon Smith, who just signed his letter of intent Wednesday to the University of Arizona, rushed 38 times for 270 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Bengals (13-1) to a thorough and impressive win over the host Pirates (12-3), who fought back from a 48-14 lead by the middle of the third quarter but didn't have nearly enough to slow perhaps the state's top offense.

Central East piled up 563 total yards and eight touchdowns, four passing and one running by junior quarterback Jelani Dippel, who fired two more to Bayon Harris of 49 and 30 yards, giving him 25 TD receptions on the seasons. Speedy Xavior Jones also had a 52-yard touchdown run off a reverse and the Central East forced five turnovers to roll into next week's 1-A title game against Oxnard Pacifica, a wild 42-35 winner over Granite Hills-San Diego in the Southern California title game. Central East is trying to erase the memory of losing in last year's Division 1-A title game to Edison of Huntington Beach, which scored in the last 20 seconds on a 52-yard play.

Pittsburg, which lost 28-26 in last year's state title Division 1-AA title game, was also determined to finish the job and piled up 497 yards, behind quarterbacks Carlos Torres (13 of 23, 247 yards) and sophomore Javale Jones to wide receivers Kenneth Ward (five catches, 223 yards two touchdowns) and Arizona-bound RJ Mosley (7, 95, 2). But Pirates couldn't slow down the potent Central East offense, which came into the game averaging 49 points and 541 yards per game. GAME STORY. LIVE SCORING

Fresno Central Brandon Smith signed a letter of intent Wednesday to the University of Arizona. / Photo: Richard Posada

PREVIEW
Central East-Fresno (11-1) at Pittsburg (12-1), 6 p.m. — Another first meeting between perennial section powers. Both are defending NorCal champions, Central East won at home last season over St. Ignatius 33-23 in the 1-A title game, while host Pittsburg fought back from a 21-0 deficit to beat Folsom 28-27 in 1-AA. Both lost one-score state-final games and want to finish the job. Central East boasts one of the most prolific offenses in the state — it won its section final 70-35 over Clovis — averaging 49.1 points, 541 yards per game. The Bengals are  led by junior QB Jelani Dippel (223-343, 4,096, 52), Arizona-bound RB Brandon Smith (192 carries, 1,790 yards, 27 TDs, 22 catches, 371 yards, 5 TDs) and junior WR Bayon Harris (72 catches, 1,499 yards, 23 TDs). Pittsburg’s offense (430 yards per game) is directed by tandem QBs, JaVale Jones and Carlos Torres, who have thrown for more than 3,700 yards and 44 TDs combined, with main targets, 6-4 Arizona-bound WR RJ Mosley (75, 1,211, 12) and speedy sophomore Kennth Ward, who had eight catches for 134 yards and two TDs in a 42-17 NCS D1 title win.  Watch: NFHS Network

Division 2–A
Sonora 41, Woodcreek 14

Sonora (14-0) raced to a 21-0 lead and were never truly threatened getting first-quarter touchdowns from Cash Byington (17 yards) and Eli Ingalls (30 yards) before Brody Speer rushed for a 3-yard score. When Ingalls fired a 24-yard TD pass to Byington midway through the third quarter, this one was essentially over. Sonora now faces Rio Hondo Prep (15-0) in a battle of unbeatens. Rio Hondo Prep eeked out a 26-21 win over Santa Fe Christian.

PREVIEW
Woodcreek-Roseville (12-1) at Sonora (13-0) — The is the only lone SJS matchup of the week. Woodcreek has won five straight games since its only loss of the season en route to its first section crown. Senior QB Joey Melendez has accounted for 31 touchdowns. Sonora is riding a 20-game win streak over two seasons thanks in part to senior RB Cash Byington (24 touchdowns). Watch: NFHS Network

Division 3–A
McClymonds 42, Roseville 34

According to West Coast Preps, Berell Staples, a Cal Poly signee, accounted for four touchdowns, three rushing as the host Warriors (11-2) won their seventh regional title and now go for the fifth state title with a narrow win over the Tigers. Jessie King Jr. had a kickoff return for touchdown and Irshad Miles added a pick 6 for McClymonds before they even took a snap. Dominic Davis added 223 yards rushing. McClymonds now plays Kennedy (Delano), a 35-33 winner over Carson.

PREVIEW
Roseville (11-2) at McClymonds-Oakland (10-2) — McClymonds is looking for a fifth state title but first since 2021 and with Cal-Poly-bound QB Berell Stapes, two Division I WR/DB prospects Prince Staten and Rahsjon Duncan along with San Diego State-bound DL Koi Taiese, the Warriors appear up for the challenge. Roseville safety Justin Fischer has a CCS best eight interceptions. Watch: NFHS Network

McClymonds coach Michael Peters is after a fifth state title. / Photo: Eric Taylor

Division 4–A

El Cerrito 20, Menlo-Atherton 16

Per the Bay Area News Group, Cannon Jenkins scored the game-winning touchdown and added a key fourth-quarter interception lifted the visiting Gauchos, who last year were banned from the postseason and forfeited eight games due to using ineligible players. Joezon Broussard had a 4-yard TD run and a 65-yard touchdown catch from Dejuan Compton to give El Cerrito a 13-10 lead. Monte Turner scored on a 1-yard TD for Menlo-Atherton, which started the season 0-4, to go ahead 16-13 before Jenkins' game-winner. El Cerrito now faces Beckman, a 46-40 winner over Hillcrest in the state finals.

PREVIEW
El Cerrito (11-2) at Menlo-Atherton (7-6) — Two impressive coaching jobs largely explain these two unlikely opponents as El Cerrito’s Tim Johnson took over a program that was 1-8 last season with eight forfeit losses due to using ineligible players. The Gauchos started 1-2 but have won 10 straight led by defense that gives up 9.0 points per game. M-A coach Chris Saunders watched his team start 0-4, but have gone 9-2 since, including a 31-21 CCS D3 title win over San Mateo as QB Teddy Dacey threw for 202 yards, rushed for 68 and accounted for all four touchdowns. Watch: NFHS Network

Division 5–A
Calaveras 35, Miramonte 7

Per BANG, Enrique Hernandez, a 235-pount running back, rushed for three touchdowns and Owen Shahan added a five-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to salt away a home victory against the hard-luck Matadors, who lost their starting quarterback Lane Dalton 40 seconds into the game with a hamstring injury. Dalton, a JV quarterback most of the year, had stepped in when All-League QB Carson Blair was lost for the season with an injury and led the Matadors to three straight playoff wins. Calaveras plays Bishop Union, a 47-28 winner over South Gate.

PREVIEW
Miramonte-Orinda (8-5) at Calaveras-San Andreas (11-2) — Second-year head coach Nick Safir led Miramonte to its 11th NCS title the hard way, taking on a rugged schedule while enduring injuries, including starting QB Carson Blair who watched JV QB Lane Dalton lead his team to three playoff wins including 28-21 at top seed Hayward last week when he threw for 235 yards and rushed for two TDs. Calaveras, 0-10 in 2022, has turned it around with the hire of Manny Mossa. Led by a high-powered running attack (247 yards per game), the Red Hawks have outscored opponents 443-114.  Watch: NFHS Network

Division 6–A
Winters 26, Minarets 12

Under very foggy conditions, third-year starting quarterback Lane Brown had two 15-yard touchdown passes to Anthony Matamoros and Luke Felsen and EJ Cruz added a touchdown run leading the visiting Warriors to an 18-0 lead, per the Sacramento Bee. “Fog was crazy but made for such a cool environment,” Winters coach Daniel Ward told The Bee. “Could not see their sideline. Could not see their bleachers at all, but it was so incredibly loud. It was weird hearing so much but not being able to see anything.” Winters now plays Morse of San Diego, a 57-40 winner over Grace.

PREVIEW
Winters (12-1) at Minarets-O’Neal’s (12-1) — Winters won its section final with a 32-29 win over Hamilton thanks to senior QB Lane Brown (172 yards rushing, two TD passes). Minarets, coming off a first-ever section title win over Orosi (21-14), is led by QB Torin Wolf and two-way standout Caden Larsen. Watch: NFHS Network

Division 7–A
Final: Balboa 38, Piedmont Hills 10

Mekai Smith rushed 14 times for 195 yards and three more touchdown, giving him state-leading and Bay Area-record breaking total of 49 for the season, as the defending state 7-A champions (11-2) moved back in the state finals and will face the winner of Santee and South El Monte in Southern California.

Smith actually returrned the opening kickoff longer than 80 yards to the Piedmont Hills 3, but a penalty pushed it back to the 18 where quarterback Rylen Thien-Jones immedialey fired a touchdown pass to Joseph Smith (no relation to Mekai).

Mekei Smith had touchdown runs of 19, 34 and 80 yards, the latter midway through the final quarter to put this one away. Joseph Smith added a 28-yard TD run and cornerback Jasiah Jackson added a 15-yard Pick 6 as the Buccaneers go for their second straight and third state title overall.

Piedmont Hills, which won its second Central Coast Section title and first in 25 years last week, had a beautiful 61-yard touchdown pass from John Palomo to Diego Arias just before the half to cut Balboa's lead to 20-10. The Pirates (10-4) let a golden opportunity slip away on their first possesion when Alijah Torres broke off a 69-yard run on his team's first play from scrimmage, all the way to the Balboa 3.

But an Adami Hrizi sack — one of seven on the day for the Bucs — pushed the ball back before Cash Martinez booted a 30-yard field goal.

Mekei Smith put Balboa back in control midway through the third quarter with his 34-yard TD scamper, bullying his way over at least four would be tacklers. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder had a 78-yard touchdown nullified by penalty, while Joseph Smith had a 78-yard TD catch and an 80-yard pick 6 wiped out by penalties.

In all, Balboa was flagged (unofficially) 17 times for 190 yards after being penalized 35 times for 295 yards in the team's 54-42 win over Washington in the 101st San Francisco Section championship game on Thanksgiving.

David Lee had three of Balboa's eight sacks and the Buccaneers had four interceptions, one each by Joseph Smith, Jackson, Bobby Ray Wysinger and Syrus Siga.

Mekai Smith off to the races for one of his six touchdowns, leading Balboa to a 54-42 San Francisco Section championship win over Washington at legendary Kezar Stadium on Thanksgiving / Photo by Ernie Abrea

PREVIEW
Piedmont Hills-San Jose (10-3) at Balboa-S.F. (10-2), 12:30 p.m. — Defending state 7-A champion Balboa can make case for best AAA team this century with another state title. They feature the state leader in touchdowns Mekai Smith (46), a 6-2, 220-pound senior, who has 118 carries for 2,195 yards (18.6 per carry). Second game-breaker Joseph Smith was the Chronicle’s San Francisco Player of the Year last season as a sophomore. CCS D5 champion Piedmont Hills won a 31-30 overtime thriller to win its title thanks to four TD passes from John Palomo, two to Travis Linae. Watch: NFHS Network