UPDATE: All four football teams from Santa Cruz County are set to launch their playoff campaigns in the Central Coast Section (CCS) this weekend, with each team traveling for quarterfinal matchups. This critical playoff action kicks off on Friday, November 24, 2023, at 7 p.m., and fans are eagerly anticipating these pivotal games.
In a thrilling showdown, No. 5 Soquel (9-1) is geared up to face No. 4 Palma (10-0) at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas. Soquel aims to avenge its only defeat of the season, a narrow 28-21 loss to Palma on Halloween. This rematch promises high stakes as Soquel battles through injuries that have sidelined several key players.
Soquel’s junior quarterback, Rowen Gonsiewski, has stepped up since taking over for injured senior Sam Whelan, and running back Keyandre Bailey emphasizes the team’s resilient mindset: “We gotta have the same mentality going in, otherwise it’s going to be a (bad) result.”
Meanwhile, Saint Francis (5-5) from Mountain View will challenge No. 3 Los Gatos (7-3) in another Division I quarterfinal. The winner will advance to face the Open Division runner-up for the D-I title on either November 28 or 29.
In Division IV, fierce rivals Scotts Valley (8-2) and San Lorenzo Valley (SLV) (8-2) are both in the mix, set to play their own quarterfinals on the same night. Scotts Valley, seeded No. 6, is up against No. 3 Lincoln (7-3), while SLV, seeded No. 7, faces No. 2 Willow Glen (8-2). Both games are critical as they face tough opponents who are equally determined to advance.
Scotts Valley’s running back Colin Murphy believes in their “X-factor” quarterback, Caden Kilpatrick, saying, “He’s got heart. He’s the reason we’ve been a good team this year.”
In Division V, Santa Cruz (7-3) kicks off its playoff journey on Saturday, November 25, at 1 p.m. against No. 2 Ann Sobrato (6-4) in Morgan Hill. Coach Sergio Escobar underscores the competitive nature of this division, stating, “It’s not going to be a cake walk in D-V.”
As the playoffs unfold, each game presents an opportunity for teams to showcase their determination and skill, making this weekend a must-watch for fans and players alike.
For those planning to catch the action, here’s a quick look at the CCS quarterfinal schedule:
CCS Quarterfinals: Friday, November 24
– D-I: No. 5 Soquel (9-1) at No. 4 Palma (10-0), Rabobank Stadium, 7 p.m.
– D-IV: No. 6 Scotts Valley (8-2) at No. 3 Lincoln (7-3), 7 p.m.
– D-IV: No. 7 SLV (8-2) at No. 2 Willow Glen (8-2), 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 25
– D-V: No. 7 Santa Cruz (7-3) at No. 2 Sobrato (6-4), 1 p.m.
Stay tuned for updates as these teams battle for playoff glory!
