Flag football playoffs begin with expanded field. McClatchy, Ponderosa, Colfax top seeds

The second CIF Sac-Joaquin Section girls flag football postseason begins Tuesday first-round contests at home sites after one out-of-bracket game on Monday.

With the robust growth of popularity and participation in the state’s newest sport from Year 1 to Year 2, the section expanded its playoff format from two divisions to four this year, each with a 16-team field. In its inaugural season last year, there were nearly 70 schools fielding flag football programs. That number nearly doubled in 2024 with close to 130 teams section-wide, stretching from Yuba City to Turlock.

Both of 2023’s champions are back in the mix in 2024.

Del Oro defeated Woodcreek in the 2023 finals to claim the Division I banner and drew the No. 2 seed in the D-I bracket this campaign. The Golden Eagles of Loomis finished the regular season with a 6-0 win over Rocklin to secure a share of the Sierra Foothill League championship with Oak Ridge, the No. 8 seed in Division I in its first year as a program in El Dorado Hills.

Del Oro’s two losses have come against SFL opponents Rocklin and Oak Ridge. But the Golden Eagles are ready to defend their blue banner.

“Our expectations are to come up and win again,” said Del Oro senior Payton Hyde, who recorded two key interceptions in the regular season finale against Rocklin. “I think we’re doing pretty well. I mean, losses are definitely hard, but it’s good for the growth of our team.”

At 26-1, first-year flag member McClatchy of the Sacramento City Unified School District is the No. 1 seed in the Division I bracket. The Lions’ only defeat came against Metro League opponent West Park of Roseville, which earned the No. 2 seed in Division II. McClatchy will face the winner of Monday’s out-bracket game between No. 16 Cosumnes Oaks and No. 17 Edison of Stockton.

Defending D-II champion Christian Brothers has the No. 4 seed in the D-II bracket, opening with a home game against No. 13 Ceres. Looming on the same side of the bracket is the Bee’s No. 1 ranked team Ponderosa of Shingle Springs, which at 21-0 earned the top seed in the division in its first year with a flag program.

Livingston earned the No. 1 seed in Division III with a 25-0 record out of the Western Athletic Conference in the southern part of the section. No. 16 Florin of Sacramento earned a chance to try and knock off the Wolves and make a Cinderella run. Foothill Valley League champion Del Campo (13-3) is the No. 2 seed in D-III.

Division IV top seed Colfax is one of four remaining unbeaten teams entering the playoffs and features reigning Bee Defensive Player of the Year Kaia Diederichs. The Falcons, who reached the D-II semifinals a year ago, host No. 16 Mesa Verde on Tuesday. On the opposite side of the bracket is second-seeded Dixon, which earned a share of the Golden Empire League title at 10-2.

The other remaining undefeated teams entering the postseason are Livingston (25-0), Ponderosa (21-0) and Tokay of Lodi (21-0).

Flag football playoffs

Start times are at 7 p.m. unless noted

DIVISION I

Monday

(17) Edison (12-8) at (16) Cosumnes Oaks (11-6)

Tuesday

Edison/Cosumnes Oaks at (1) McClatchy (26-1), 4 p.m.

(9) Pleasant Grove (15-3) at (8) Oak Ridge (15-4)

(12) Granite Bay (11-6) at (5) Pitman (18-2)

(13) Downey (13-7) at (4) Vacaville (22-2)

(14) Rodriguez (9-4) at (3) Tokay (21-0)

(11) Gregori (15-7) at (6) St. Mary’s (20-5)

(10) Turlock (16-7) at (7) Atwater (16-4)

(15) Franklin (11-7) at (2) Del Oro (18-2)

DIVISION II

Tuesday

(16) Johnson (9-5) at (1) Ponderosa (21-0)

(9) El Capitan (20-7) at (8) Kimball (13-8)

(12) Merced (14-7) at (5) Lodi (21-6)

(13) Ceres (13-8) at (4) Christian Brothers (16-4)

(14) Manteca (12-12) at (3) Woodcreek (15-3)

(11) Antelope (17-8) at (6) Tracy (11-5)

(10) Rocklin (14-10) at (7) Bear Creek (15-4)

(15) Vista del Lago (6-7) at (2) West Park (21-4)

DIVISION III

Tuesday

(16) Florin (12-11) at (1) Livingston (25-0)

(9) Placer (8-10) at (8) Vanden (12-10)

(12) El Camino (7-8) at (5) Fairfield (19-4)

(13) Wheatland (9-9) at (4) Lathrop (18-3)

(14) Weston Ranch (7-11) at (3) Sierra (18-5)

(11) Oakmont (8-9) at (6) Rio Linda (14-6)

(10) Buhach Colony (9-11) at (7) East Union (17-4)

(15) Valley (10-7) at (2) Del Campo (13-3)

DIVISION IV

Tuesday

(16) Mesa Verde (6-7) at (1) Colfax (12-0)

(9) Amador (9-3) at (8) Sutter (11-7)

(12) Foresthill (11-10) at (5) Escalon (12-10), 6 p.m.

(13) Sonora (4-8) at (4) Sac Adventist (16-2)

(14) Millennium (6-6) at (3) Orestimba (19-6)

(11) Destiny Christian (9-9) at (6) Liberty Ranch (14-3)

(10) Mariposa County (13-10) at (7) Hughson (13-6)

(15) Hilmar (8-13) at (2) Dixon (14-2)

THE BEE’S TOP 15

(Records entering Monday)

1. Ponderosa (21-0)

2. McClatchy (26-1)

3. West Park (21-4)

4. Woodcreek (15-3)

5. Vacaville (22-2)

6. Christian Brothers (16-4)

7. Del Oro (18-2)

8. Oak Ridge (15-4)

9. Colfax (12-0)

10. Del Campo (13-3)

11. Rocklin (14-10)

12. Pleasant Grove (15-3)

13. Rio Linda (14-6)

14. Dixon (14-2)

15. Granite Bay (11-6)

Bubble in alphabetical order: Antelope (17-8), Cosumnes Oaks (11-6), Destiny Christian (9-9), Florin (12-10), Franklin (11-7), Liberty Ranch (14-3), Placer (8-10), Sacramento Adventist (16-2), Sutter (11-7), Vista del Lago (6-7).

This story was originally published October 28, 2024 at 11:44 AM.