NCS football playoffs begin this weekend
The North Coast Section high school football playoffs are set to kick off this Friday and Saturday, featuring a high-stakes slate of matchups across seven divisions.
The opening round will determine which teams advance toward championship glory in a bracket designed to reward both dominance and resilience.
The Open Division, the section’s highest tier, features immediate heavyweight clashes. The No. 1 ranked De La Salle, currently undefeated at 10-0, will host No. 8 Liberty (6-4) on Friday at 7 p.m. This matchup sets the tone for a bracket where the stakes escalate quickly; the winners from the top half of the Open Division bracket will compete for the championship in Week 2.
The path to the title in the Open Division is uniquely structured. While the top half plays for the championship in Week 2, the loser of that title game will drop down to face the winner of the bottom half of the bracket for the Division I championship in Week 3.
Open Division and Division I matchups affect seeding
Friday night's top division schedule features local rivalries that will affect seeding. The following matchups comprise the Open Division first round:
_boys_football_photo.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=90&width=1280 "Amador valley pittsburg (cif ncs quarterfinal) boys football")
- No. 8 Liberty (6-4) at No. 1 De La Salle (10-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
- No. 7 Marin Catholic (6-4) at No. 2 Cardinal Newman (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
- No. 6 Acalanes (9-1) at No. 3 Pittsburg (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
- No. 5 Monte Vista (8-2) at No. 4 San Ramon Valley (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
In Division II, the competition remains fierce with several teams holding strong winning records. No. 6 Northgate enters the postseason with a perfect 10-0 record, where they will host No. 6 Amador Valley (3-7) on Friday at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the matchup between No. 5 Antioch (8-2) and No. 4 Vintage (9-1) will take place at Napa Memorial Stadium.
Division III and IV schedules
The middle divisions feature a mix of high-performing leaders and teams fighting to maintain their momentum. Division III kicks off with No. 1 San Leandro (9-1) hosting No. 8 Freedom (6-4) at Burrell Field on Friday at 7 p.m. Other Division III contests include:
- No. 6 Heritage (6-4) at No. 3 Bishop O’Dowd (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
- No. 7 James Logan (4-6) at No. 2 Hayward (6-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
- No. 5 Benicia (6-4) at No. 4 Rancho Cotate (5-5), Friday, 7 p.m.
Division IV shifts some of its primary action to Saturday. While several games occur Friday night, two key matchups are scheduled for the following day. No. 3 Analy (9-1) will face No. 6 Napa (8-2) at Napa Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. Additionally, No. 8 Washington (8-2) travels to meet No. 1 Redwood (8-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Lower division playoff slate
The final tiers of the playoffs cover a wide geographic and competitive range. Division V action is concentrated on Saturday, with most games kicking off at 1 p.m. This includes No. 6 Concord (8-2) at No. 3 St. Bernard’s (8-2) and No. 5 Middletown (8-2) at No. 4 St. Vincent de Paul (4-6). However, Division V also features a Friday night game where No. 8 Montgomery (8-2) hosts No. 1 Ferndale (9-1) at 7 p.m.
Division VI and Division VII also provide a full schedule of postseason football. In Division VI, No. 1 Moreau Catholic (5-5) will play No. 8 Pinole Valley (4-6) on Friday, while Division VII sees No. 6 Terra Linda (6-4) face No. 3 Stuart Hall (9-1) at Kezar Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m.
| Division | Matchup | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Liberty at De La Salle | Friday | 7 p.m. |
| Division II | Amador Valley at Northgate | Friday | 7 p.m. |
| Division IV | Washington at Redwood | Saturday | 1 p.m. |
| Division V | Concord at St. Bernard’s | Saturday | 1 p.m. |
As the playoffs begin, the focus remains on the undefeated programs attempting to maintain their perfect streaks through the opening rounds. The road to the championship in every division starts this weekend.
