As the top-seeded teams in their respective...

As the top-seeded teams in their respective playoff brackets, Mater Dei and Sonora earned opening-round byes Tuesday night. But only Sonora, heading up Division III-AA, welcomed the time off.

“It is easier to stay in the groove you’re in from playing every Wednesday and Friday,” Sonora Coach Mike Murphy said. “It might affect our timing. But we could use a couple of extra days to get starters Chad Fister and Josh Lien healthy. Both have some nagging hurts.

“And it doesn’t matter when we play, because we feel being the No. 1 seed is an honor.”

Still, Gary McKnight, whose Monarchs are top seeded in Division I-A, is eager to get his team playing as soon as possible.

“I hate byes,” McKnight said. “Sometimes it can be hard to get the flow going again. But I’m happy with the way they have performed in the preseason and in league.

“Having to play without Schea Cotton in some games, we got other people to step up. With Schea back, we’re even better. But we do have our work cut out for us in group I-A.”