New CIF-SS playoff divisions shake up Long Beach football scene

LOS ALAMITOS >> The competitive equity era is officially underway for the CIF Southe Section, which released the new playoff divisions for fall sports on Friday afteoon.

This year the CIF-SS will be shuffling divisions for almost all of its team sports based on their new model, which measures performance over the prior two seasons rather than using enrollment size or league placement.

The impact was felt deeply by Long Beach football teams. The Moore League, which had previously been part of the top division, was spread out from Division 1 down to Division 12.

St. John Bosco and Long Beach Poly are now the only two area schools in Division 1. Only 18 teams are in the division, which will fill out a 16-team playoff bracket. All of Bosco’s Trinity League opponents are also D1.

“I think they did a great thing by condensing the division the way they did it,” said Braves head coach Jason Negro. “We embrace more competition, for us it’s a blessing.”

Negro is in favor of a true Open Division where a committee would select the 16 best teams at the end of every season.

“This is as close as you could get to that without actually doing it,” he said.

For Poly, it’s proof that the Jackrabbits are the last of the Moore League powerhouses, something that left many feeling wistful but more optimistic about playoff chances.

“I think this is a reflection of a school district that’s not supporting football programs and athletics in general,” said Poly coach Antonio Pierce.

Every other team in the league dropped at least three divisions: Lakewood to Division 4, Wilson to Division 6, Cabrillo and Millikan to Division 7, Jordan to Division 8, and Compton to Division 12.

“It is what it is,” said Bruins coach Mark Ziegenhagen. “It’ll be nicer for us obviously because we’ll have a chance to win some playoff games. Maybe one day the Moore League can be back up there, but we’ve got to prove we can win in our division first.”

“This gives us a chance to compete,” said Compton coach Calvin Bryant, whose team dropped 11 divisions with the move. “We still have to make the playoffs, though.”

There are no Division 2 teams in the area, while Los Alamitos and defending Division 3 state champions La Mirada are both in Division 3.

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The Matadores will have a tougher road to a CIF-SS title this year, which head coach Mike Moschetti was excited about.

“I love that CIF is doing this,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to get your program into the Division 1 playoffs and compete for a Division 1 championship.”

Other area schools (in order of CIF-SS power rankings):

Division 4: Downey, Lakewood, Dominguez

Division 6: Paramount, Wilson

Division 7: Cabrillo, Warren, Millikan

Division 8: Jordan

Division 9: Mayfair, Norwalk, Lynwood

For the complete list, visit PressTelegram.com/sports