Helix is top D1 seed; East pairings loom

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
CIF SAN DIEGO SECTION PLAYOFF PAIRINGS

Sunday, Nov. 1

FULL CIF SAN DIEGO SECTION BRACKETS
View all divisions and updated results on MaxPreps

EastCountySports.com

Helix earned the No. 1 seed in Division I, Steele Canyon landed atop Division III, and two first-round games will match East County opponents following Sunday’s release of the CIF San Diego Section football playoff brackets.

Valhalla visits Christian in Division III, while Santana travels to El Capitan in Division IV when opening-round play begins Friday, Nov. 6.

Helix and Granite Hills begin their Division I postseason assignments Friday, Nov. 13. The Highlanders host Torrey Pines, while the Eagles welcome San Marcos. Victories would send the Grossmont Hills League rivals into a semifinal rematch at Helix.

The Open Division field includes Carlsbad, Cathedral Catholic, Mission Hills and unbeaten Santa Fe Christian. Santa Fe Christian claimed the fourth seed, with La Costa Canyon entering Division I as the No. 2 seed.

Unless otherwise noted, listed games are scheduled for 7 p.m. Numbers below indicate playoff seeds. Physical venues remain subject to confirmation, particularly for schools using off-campus home fields.

Division I: Helix, Granite Hills open at home

Helix (8-2) follows its outright Grossmont Hills League championship with the division’s top seed and a home quarterfinal against No. 8 Torrey Pines (6-4) on Nov. 13.

No. 4 Granite Hills (7-3) hosts No. 5 San Marcos (5-5) that evening. The Eagles and Highlanders occupy the same half of the bracket and could meet again Nov. 20.

The complete quarterfinal schedule for Friday, Nov. 13:

• No. 8 Torrey Pines (6-4) at No. 1 Helix (8-2)
• No. 5 San Marcos (5-5) at No. 4 Granite Hills (7-3)
• No. 6 Lincoln (4-6) at No. 3 Oceanside (6-4)
• No. 7 Rancho Bernardo (8-2) at No. 2 La Costa Canyon (6-4)

The semifinals are Nov. 20, followed by the championship Nov. 27.

Division II: Grossmont, Mount Miguel travel

Grossmont (7-3) received the No. 11 seed and will visit No. 6 El Camino (1-9) on Nov. 6. The winner advances to No. 3 St. Augustine on Nov. 13.

Mount Miguel (2-7) is the No. 12 seed and opens at No. 5 Mater Dei Catholic (4-6). That winner visits No. 4 Point Loma in the quarterfinals.

No. 9 Ramona (6-4), the undefeated Palomar League champion, travels to No. 8 Holtville (7-3). The winner advances to top-seeded Poway.

First round, Friday, Nov. 6:

• No. 9 Ramona (6-4) at No. 8 Holtville (7-3)
• No. 12 Mount Miguel (2-7) at No. 5 Mater Dei Catholic (4-6)
• No. 11 Grossmont (7-3) at No. 6 El Camino (1-9)
• No. 10 Patrick Henry (10-0) at No. 7 Imperial (8-2)

First-round byes: No. 1 Poway (4-6), No. 2 Del Norte (4-6), No. 3 St. Augustine (6-4) and No. 4 Point Loma (7-3).

The championship is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Escondido High School.

Division III: Patriots, Norsemen meet; Cougars await winner

Christian (6-4) earned the No. 8 seed and a first-round home assignment at Valley Stadium against No. 9 Valhalla (6-4) on Nov. 6.

The winner advances to No. 1 Steele Canyon (5-5) on Nov. 13, ensuring an East County matchup in the Cougars’ quarterfinal.

Christian enters after ending its four-game losing streak with a 48-46 victory at Scripps Ranch. Valhalla finished tied for second in the Grossmont Valley League after its 38-27 loss to champion El Capitan.

First round, Friday, Nov. 6:

• No. 9 Valhalla (6-4) at No. 8 Christian (6-4)
• No. 12 Central Union (6-4) at No. 5 La Jolla (3-7)
• No. 11 Scripps Ranch (1-9) at No. 6 Eastlake (9-1)
• No. 10 Mira Mesa (7-3) at No. 7 Madison (6-4)

First-round byes: No. 1 Steele Canyon (5-5), No. 2 San Diego (5-5), No. 3 San Pasqual (7-3) and No. 4 University City (5-5).

Christian’s game site will be announced separately; the Patriots have used both Granite Hills and El Cajon Valley for home games.

The championship is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28, at 3:30 p.m. at Southwestern College.

Division IV: Vaqueros host Sultans; Wolf Pack also home

El Capitan (6-4) completed a 5-0 Grossmont Valley League championship season and received the No. 8 seed. The Vaqueros host No. 9 Santana (7-3) on Nov. 6.

El Capitan won their regular-season meeting, 19-7. The playoff winner travels to No. 1 Valley Center (5-5) on Nov. 13.

West Hills (7-3) received the No. 7 seed and hosts No. 10 Rancho Buena Vista (5-5). The winner advances to No. 2 Maranatha Christian.

First round, Friday, Nov. 6:

• No. 9 Santana (7-3) at No. 8 El Capitan (6-4)
• No. 12 Army-Navy Academy (3-7) at No. 5 Mission Bay (4-6)
• No. 11 Brawley (4-6) at No. 6 Westview (7-3)
• No. 10 Rancho Buena Vista (5-5) at No. 7 West Hills (7-3)

First-round byes: No. 1 Valley Center (5-5), No. 2 Maranatha Christian (8-2), No. 3 Otay Ranch (5-5) and No. 4 Bishop’s (7-3).

The championship is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27, at 3 p.m. at Escondido High School.

Division V: Monte Vista makes field

Monte Vista (3-7) qualified as the No. 16 seed and will visit No. 1 Morse (5-5) on Nov. 6.

The Monarchs’ inclusion extends their season after a 28-14 loss to West Hills in the regular-season finale.

The bracket also produces an immediate Central League rematch, with No. 15 Canyon Hills visiting No. 2 Hoover, the league’s unbeaten champion.

First round, Friday, Nov. 6:

• No. 16 Monte Vista (3-7) at No. 1 Morse (5-5)
• No. 9 Southwest–San Diego (7-3) at No. 8 Coronado (2-8)
• No. 13 Classical Academy (2-8) at No. 4 La Jolla Country Day (5-5)
• No. 12 Olympian (3-7) at No. 5 Bonita Vista (6-4)
• No. 11 Hilltop (5-5) at No. 6 Mt. Carmel (2-8)
• No. 14 Mar Vista (6-4) at No. 3 Fallbrook (5-5)
• No. 10 Coastal Academy (3-6) at No. 7 Chula Vista (4-6)
• No. 15 Canyon Hills (3-7) at No. 2 Hoover (7-3)

Quarterfinals are Nov. 13 and semifinals Nov. 20. The championship is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 28, at noon at Escondido High School.

Division V-AA: RedHawks host; Knights visit top seed

Mountain Empire (5-4) earned the No. 4 seed and hosts No. 5 Clairemont (5-5) in a Nov. 6 quarterfinal.

Foothills Christian (5-4) qualified as the No. 8 seed and will visit No. 1 Escondido Charter (9-1). The Knights receive another opportunity against a Tigers team that defeated them, 48-0, in the season opener.

The winners of those two games meet in the Nov. 13 semifinals.

Quarterfinals, Friday, Nov. 6:

• No. 8 Foothills Christian (5-4) at No. 1 Escondido Charter (9-1)
• No. 5 Clairemont (5-5) at No. 4 Mountain Empire (5-4)
• No. 6 O’Farrell Charter (5-5) vs. No. 3 Vincent Memorial (8-2)
• No. 7 Calipatria (3-7) at No. 2 Palo Verde Valley (8-2)

The O’Farrell–Vincent Memorial game site requires confirmation; O’Farrell enters as the Sunset League champion, while Palo Verde Valley won the Desert League.

The championship is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. at Escondido High School.

Open Division: Santa Fe Christian joins field

The four-team Open Division begins with semifinals Friday, Nov. 13:

• No. 4 Santa Fe Christian (11-0) at No. 1 Carlsbad (9-1)
• No. 3 Mission Hills (8-2) at No. 2 Cathedral Catholic (7-3)

Santa Fe Christian enters unbeaten and as the Coastal League champion. Cathedral Catholic won the Western League, while Carlsbad and Mission Hills shared the Avocado West title.

The championship is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m., with the venue to be confirmed.

Division VI: Four-team eight-man bracket

The eight-person division begins with semifinals Friday, Nov. 13:

• No. 4 Julian (6-3) at No. 1 St. Joseph Academy (6-1)
• No. 3 Borrego Springs (5-3) at No. 2 Francis Parker (8-1)

The championship is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21, at 1 p.m. at Escondido High School.

Tickets are available through GoFan. Game sites and kickoff times should be checked against subsequent school and section announcements.

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