Proposal for new playoff divisions in Southern Section is released

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The Marmonte League is moving to the Pac-5 Division in football while the Sunset League is leaving the Pac-5 for the Southwest Division under the new playoff division proposal released Friday by the Southern Section office.

Here’s the link.

“Sweet,” was the reaction of St. Bonaventure Coach Todd Therrien.

The addition of St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian to the Marmonte League has helped elevate the league into elite status, but not all the schools in the 10-team league are pleased.

Moorpark Athletic Director Rob Dearborn said the decision will only motivate his school and others to work even harder to leave the league when the next formation of new leagues takes place in 2014.

“We can’t wait to get out,” Dearborn said. “We want to be in a league with five schools that play with neighborhood kids.”

Oaks Christian Coach Bill Redell, who won a Pac-5 Division title when he coached at Encino Crespi in 1986 (it was called the Big Five Conference), said, “We’re looking forward to it.”

Huntington Beach Edison, a member of the Sunset League, has been to the Pac-5 final three times under Coach Dave White and could become an immediate title contender in the Southwest Division.

‘Part of me is bummed,’ White said.

There would be two at-large berths in the Pac-5. The Marmonte would get four guaranteed playoff spots, the Trinity three, the Moore three, the Serra two and the South Coast two unless it adds another team, which is likely. Then the South Coast would get three berths and there would be only one at-large berth.

In the proposed baseball divisions, the Mission League would move from Division II to Division I.

-- Eric Sondheimer