Sometimes you have to be smart enough to look at the big picture and say, maybe we don't belong in the Open Division.
Take a closer look at Palma's schedule.
Of the 10 teams it faced this fall, only three have winning records. Only four made the playoffs.
St. Joseph of Santa Maria stumbled to a 3-7 record. St. Francis is just 5-5.
However, Cardinal Newman is 9-0-1. Palma (8-1-1) played them to a 10-10 tie.
Cardinal Newman has the inside track to the State Division III bowl game if it wins the North Coast Section D-IV title. Playing Palma to a tie is a big reason it's ranked No. 1 right now in Division III.
If you're Palma, you have to be thinking that could be us next year if we are fortunate to win a CCS Division IV title, particularly when a Northern California regional game will follow after the CCS finals in 2012.
John Devine has been writing about high school sports in Monterey County since, well, practically since he was an athlete at King City in the days just after leather helmets. In PrepNation, John has even more in-depth analysis of the latest results and news he's brought to you in The Herald and in his weekly videos.
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4 comments:
St Josephs is better than Salinas. Their record doesn't indicate who good they are...the Pac 7 in southern CA was one tough league.
As for Palma chances to get into SBG...no shot. Crdinal Newman in many polls is favorite, but actually Marin catholic should be ranked higher. Winner of NCS D3 will have one of the inside tracks...Not a given cardinal newman will win and if Marin catholic or Campolino win or Encinal- they ould have insid tract over palma. Cardinal newman would probably die to playoff strength higher than Palma's in D4. Now interestingly, if Carmel defeats Palma in championship and newman wins- Carmel could get bid. However, Encinal, last years, bowl winner could also get picked if it wins even if SOS not as difficult. I could see their two year winning streak and being undefeated as possibly getting bowl committee to again choose them to defend their title. Palma will come out short this year. I'm an alum and wouldn't be too upset if Carmel wins beacues they would be the best shot to represent CCS.I don't think Carmel can defeat Palma though.
John, can you explain the play-in system for next year?
If you're a speaking of the Nor Cal regional game, two teams from the six sectional champions in each division will be selected to play for the right to represent the north in the state title game. So a section title does not insure a spot in the Nor Cal game.
Above comment on Encinal I meant Escalon (last years D3 state bowl winner)
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