Playoff Format Needs Work

The CIF Southern Section needs to change its current football playoff format because too many teams qualify.

Under the current system, 16 teams in each division, I through IX, make the playoffs. The top three teams in every league gain berths, except in Division VII, in which only the top two teams are guaranteed berths. At-large teams are then used to fill out the rest of the divisional brackets.

In all, 158 teams--counting 14 from Division X--will begin postseason play this weekend with hopes of winning a divisional championship. But only about half have a realistic chance of reaching the finals.

In the Southern Section playoff handbook, Tom Jacobson, president of the Southern Section Council, writes: “Participation in the CIF Southern Section playoffs is a very special occasion for athletes and their coaches. . . . Competition in the playoffs exemplifies the finest in high school sports.”

Jacobson’s words seem out of place when one takes a closer look at the playoffs. With so many teams in the playoffs, the theory of “more is less” comes into play. For example, in Division I, Palmdale, which finished third in the Golden League with a 4-6 overall record, will play defending divisional champion Fontana in the first round. Considering its sub-.500 record, Palmdale’s season should be over. The Falcons should not be playing the Steelers, who have a 23-1 record over the last two seasons.

Another example of postseason play at its worst is in Division X, in which Capistrano Valley Christian roared into the playoffs with a 3-6-1 record. The Eagles will play Covina Western Christian (5-5) in an opening-round matchup.

Overall, there are 18 teams with .500 or below overall records playing this weekend. Some might argue that maybe one of these teams will rise and reach the finals. However, they should not be given the opportunity because the playoffs should be a reward for having a good regular season.

Another reason the Southern Section should cut down the number of teams in the playoffs is that student-athletes are still the ones participating in the games. These athletes know when they are overmatched and with a 10-week season already under their belts, there is no need for them to add another loss to their sub-par record. Let them concentrate on school work and upcoming sports.

In professional and college sports, money is the main reason for so many team playoff teams. More playoff games mean more revenue.

This also holds true in high school sports, but that does not mean it is right. With the net profit of all playoff games being split one-fourth to each school and one-half going to the Southern Section, it is obvious who benefits the most from the extra games.

A solution to this problem would be to cut down on the number of divisions and only take the top two teams in each league. With 50 leagues in the Southern Section, the current playoff format has 10 divisions with five leagues each, which lessens the competition. A change should be made to have five divisions of eight leagues and one division with 10.

With this revised playoff format, each division would be filled with more quality teams. Divisions I and II would be combined, which would eliminate teams such as Palmdale. Who wouldn’t like to see a first-round matchup between Paramount, the two-time defending Division II champion and San Gabriel Valley League champion, and Fontana, which finished second in the Citrus Belt League?

Whereas the Southern Section playoffs begin Friday, the City has one week remaining in its regular season. However, the City’s playoff format is even worse.

There are 49 City teams within 12 divisions, with 37 teams in nine leagues in the 3-A Division. Only 16 of the 37 teams will make the playoffs, with nine first-place league teams automatically qualified. The City will have to decide on seven at-large teams out of the nine second-place league finishers. Pairings will be announced tonight.

In the 4-A Division, things are more confusing. After a nine-week regular season, all 12 4-A teams will qualify for the playoffs.

A solution for the City would be two better-balanced divisions. Currently, there are 12 leagues within six conferences. It should be changed into seven leagues with seven teams, with three leagues in 4-A and four in 3-A. The top two teams in each league would make the playoffs in both divisions, with two at-large teams being selected in 4-A.

The Fontana-Rialto Eisenhower battle last Friday had plenty of hoopla surrounding it. Fans started lining up for tickets at Fontana at 10 a.m. By 3 that afternoon, the parking lot was jammed. School officials estimated 12,000 tickets were sold, making it the biggest crowd in Fontana’s history. Ticket windows were closed two hours before the game, sending thousands of fans away.

After Eisenhower’s 16-7 upset victory, it’s first over the Steelers in 12 years, jubilant fans tore down one goal post and bent the other.

Prep Notes

Junior running back David Dotson of Valley View in Moreno Valley won’t have a chance to break the Southern Section single-season rushing record this season. Dotson, who has 2,498 yards, needed 216 yards to break the record of 2,713 set by Glyn Milburn of Santa Monica in 1987. Valley View (6-3) finished fourth in the Division VIII Sunkist League, but Rolling Hills (6-4) was given the at-large berth. . . . Three former Wilmington Banning players have been nominated for the Outland Trophy for outstanding interior lineman: Mark Tucker (USC), Bob Whitfield (Stanford) and Tyrone Rodgers (Washington). Banning alumnus Marlon Primous of Illinois has been nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back. . . . Pius X’s 20-15 victory over Miraleste last Friday snapped its 28-game losing streak.

Times prep sports editor Eric Shepard contributed to this story.

TIMES’ TOP TEAMS

Southern Section (Final)

No. School, League / Division Record 1. Eisenhower, Citrus Belt / Div. I 10-0-0 2. Bishop Amat, Angelus / Div. I 8-1-0 3. Fontana, Citrus Belt / Div. I 9-1-0 4. Paramount, San Gab. Val. / Div. II 10-0-0 5. Mission Viejo, South Coast / Div. II 9-1-0 6. Canyon Springs, Ivy / Div. IV 10-0-0 7. CC Canyon, Golden / Div. I 9-1-0 8. El Toro, South Coast / Div. II 9-1-0 9. Tustin, Sea View / Div. VI 10-0-0 10. Royal, Marmonte / Div. II 8-1-1 11. Loyola, Angelus / Div. I 8-2-0 12. Edison, Sunset / Div. I 9-1-0 13. Esperanza, Empire / Div. III 10-0-0 14. Thousand Oaks, Marmonte / Div. II 7-1-2 15. Serra, Camino Real / Div. VII 8-0-0

City

No. School, League / Division Record 1. Carson, Pacific / 4-A 8-1-0 2. Banning, Pacific / 4-A 6-3-0 3. Dorsey, Pacific / 4-A 7-2-0 4. Granada Hills, West Valley / 4-A 8-1-0 5. Fairfax, Metro / 3-A 8-0-0 6. Sylmar, Valley East / 3-A 8-0-0 7. Belmont, Northwestern / 3-A 7-1-0 8. Garfield, Eastern / 3-A 7-1-0 9. Bell, Eastern / 3-A 5-2-1 10. El Camino Real, West Valley / 4-A 6-2-0