Football: The Inland Division winner could be bowl bound

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The elimination of Anaheim Servite from the Pac-5 Division playoffs has created a big opportunity for the Inland Division champion to be selected for a CIF state championship bowl game.

Yes, the Pac-5 champion is usually selected because the Pac-5 is considered the strongest division in the Southern Section, but two influential games during the regular season could leave the Pac-5 champion out and the Inland Division champion in.

Those games were Redlands East Valley defeating Mission Viejo and Corona Centennial knocking off Santa Ana Mater Dei.

The four remaining Pac-5 teams -- Mission Viejo, Santa Margarita, San Clemente and Tesoro -- are going to have a difficult time overcoming the effect of those losses when comparing the four remaining Inland teams -- Centennial, Upland, Vista Murrieta and Rancho Cucamonga.

If Mission Viejo wins, the Diablos lost to Redlands East Valley, which lost to Rancho Cucamonga, which may lose to Centennial. If Santa Margarita wins, the Eagles lost to Mater Dei, which lost to Centennial, which may win the Inland.

If San Clemente wins, the Tritons lost to Mission Viejo, which lost to Redlands East Valley, which lost to Rancho Cucamonga, which lost to Upland, which could win the Inland Division and be 14-0.

Tesoro, with four losses, would be an unlikely pick for a bowl game.

So that’s why from my calculations, all signs are pointing toward bowl bids for the Inland Division champion, coupled with the Northern Division champion for the Open Division and Division I bowls.

-- Eric Sondheimer