Playoff Football Previews: Crescenta Valley vs. Eisenhower; Flintridge Prep vs. Cate
CRESCENTA VALLEY VS. EISENHOWER
•WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
•WHERE: Eisenhower High
•RECORDS: The Falcons are 11-0; the Eagles are 7-4
•LAST WEEK: Crescenta Valley defeated Peninsula, 20-11; Eisenhower defeated Big Bear, 48-17
•OUTLOOK: Crescenta Valley, the top seed in the CIF Southern Section Division X playoffs, passed its first postseason test with a home win against Peninsula on Friday. The victory snapped a four-game playoff losing streak. The Falcons, who won the Pacific League championship, excelled on both sides of the ball. Reserve quarterback Brendon Pehar completed 13 of 22 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in place of injured starting signal-caller Chase Center. Maximus Grant, Chuck Meyer and Vincent Parrot each scored a touchdown for Crescenta Valley, which forced three turnovers. Crescenta Valley got one interception each from Angel Ochoa and David Baek and a fumble recovery from Aaron Garcia. Eisenhower, which finished second in the San Andreas League behind Jurupa Hills, rolled to an opening-round win against visiting Big Bear on Friday. The Eagles led, 13-3, at halftime, before pulling away. Running back Anthony Smith scored two touchdowns in the second half for Eisenhower. Eisenhower Quarterback Ceasar Ayala has passed for more than 2,500 yards and receiver Dayvon Benton has caught more than 10 touchdown passes.
•SOMETHING INTERESTING: The winner of the Crescenta Valley-Eisenhower game will meet No. 4 Segerstrom or Katella in a semifinal game Nov. 22.
FLINTRIDGE PREP VS. CATE
•WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday
•WHERE: Flintridge Prep
•RECORDS: The Rebels are 8-2; the Rams are 6-3
•LAST WEEK: Flintridge Prep defeated PAL Charter Academy, 56-6; Cate defeated Downey Calvary Chapel, 63-40
•OUTLOOK: In CIF Southern Section Division I eight-man action, No. 4 seed Flintridge Prep coasted to a first-round home win Friday. Rebels quarterback Max Gitlin completed 15 of 19 passes for 236 yards and six touchdowns. Flintridge Prep forced three first-half turnovers to build a 42-6 halftime advantage. Christian Baydaline, Ben Grable and Kevin Ashworth each had touchdown receptions in the first half for the Rebels, who finished third in the Prep League for a second consecutive season. Flintridge Prep, which earned an at-large berth for the playoffs, will meet Cate for the second time this season. Flintridge Prep posted a 48-26 road win Sept. 28. Cate, which tied for first in the Mt. Pinos League with Faith Baptist, cruised to a first-round home win Saturday. Cate built a 42-16 halftime lead. The Rams improved to 5-1 in their last five games.
•SOMETHING INTERESTING: The winner of the Flintridge Prep-Cate contest will face No. 1 Windward, the Prep League champion, or Riverside County Educational Academy in a semifinal game Nov. 22.