The CIF-Southern Section Western Division football playoffs has a strong local flavor with six of the 18 participating teams hailing from the South Bay.
Redondo capitalized on big plays and a late defensive stand to beat host rival Mira Costa 13-9 last Friday in a critical game that determined second place in the Bay League.
The win earned Redondo (8-2) the fourth seed in the playoffs that begin Friday when the Sea Hawks host Pioneer League runner-up and former Bay League rival West Torrance (6-4). All playoff games begin at 7:30 p.m. unless mutually agreed upon.
Quarterback Jacob Silvera will lead a Redondo team that defeated West 14-3 on the road on Sept. 19.
In the first meeting between the teams, Redondo linemen Cedric Muzik and Cole LeBlanc pressured West quarterback Drake Peabody all night and Sea Hawk receiver Warren Jackson had eight receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown.
Sophomore running back Jermar Jefferson continues to improve finishing with 105 and two touchdowns on 18 carries in Redondo’s win at Mira Costa.
Redondo has outscored opponents 245-141 this season while West has tallied 323 points compared to 186 by its foes.
Mira Costa (8-2), which entered the Redondo game ranked No. 4 in the division, travels to face Channel champion and 2014 Western Division runner-up Ventura (6-4). Both of Mira Costa’s losses have been by a combined six points and the Mustangs defense has allowed an average of only 13 points per game this season.
Quarterback David Arredondo will lead a balanced offensive attack. The junior went 13 of 27 for 110 yards against Redondo and was the Mustang’s leading rusher with 42 yards.
Mira Costa has outscored its opponents 346-131 this season while Ventura holds a close 240-232 edge over its adversaries.
Defending Western Division and five-time Bay League champion Palos Verdes (7-3) is seeded second and will host Simi Valley (3-7).
The Sea Kings are riding a seven-game winning streak into the postseason and relies heavily on its physical defense. Tre Gonzales leads the team with 62 tackles and Shane Irwin has recorded 11.5 sacks this season.
Quarterback Jake Nolls runs the offense that features running back Adison Umrarong who is averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
Pioneer champion North Torrance (8-2) earned the second seed and hosts Agoura (1-9). The Saxons are led by multi-talented Mique Juarez.
One of the nation’s top recruits as an outside linebacker, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Juarez has engineered North’s offense as its quarterback while scoring 48 touchdowns this season.
Agoura’s record can be misleading as the Chargers have played a demanding schedule. The team’s lone win came with a 33-14 victory over Simi Valley.
Ocean runner-up Lawndale (5-5), who forfeited four games because of an ineligible player, travels to face Buena (7-3).
Missing from the playoffs is El Segundo who finished with an 8-2 record. The Eagles were ranked No. 5 in the Western Division in the Oct. 19 poll but a late-season collapse of back-to-back losses – including a 41-0 drubbing at Lawndale – prevented the team from reaching the postseason.
Brackets and results are available at cifss.org.
