Football: Six Catholic schools gain CIF-SS semifinals

Mater Dei and St. John Bosco continued on their collision course to a potential Division 1 finals rematch, after winning their quarterfinal games Nov. 17 in the CIF-Southern Section football playoffs.

Other Catholic schools advancing to the Nov. 24 semifinals include St. Francis (Division 3), Paraclete (D-5), Bishop Diego (D-6) and Santa Clara (D-13).

Last Friday, Mater Dei overwhelmed Long Beach Poly, 55-13, while St. John Bosco handled Rancho Cucamonga in similar fashion, 55-28. Mater Dei (12-0) now takes on South Coast League champion Mission Viejo (12-0), which previously ousted Servite, and St. John Bosco (10-2) plays Centennial of Corona (10-1), conqueror of Serra/Gardena in Round 1.

Elsewhere in the quarterfinals:

D-2: Cathedral (10-2) saw its season end with a 59-20 loss to Baseline League winner Upland (12-0).

D-3, St. Francis (10-1) got past Citrus Hill, 30-20, to gain the semifinals against El Toro (8-4), Sea View League runner-up.

D-4: Damien (7-5) lost to Sea View champion Capistrano Valley (12-0), 34-7.

D-5: In the lone all-Catholic school matchup, Paraclete (11-1) outscored St. Joseph of Santa Maria (7-5), 55-30. The Spirits, No. 1 most of the year in D-5, play Paloma Valley (8-2), Sunbelt League runnerup, in the semis.

D-6: Another No. 1, Bishop Diego (11-1), rolled over San Marino, 59-21, and next plays Saugus (6-6, Foothill League No. 3), which edged St. Paul, 28-27.

D-9: St. Anthony, last year’s D-10 champion, ended its season at 8-3 with a 32-7 loss to Burroughs/Ridgecrest.

D-13: Santa Clara (9-2) handed Santa Clarita Christian, the San Joaquin League champion, its first loss of the year, 35-14, to advance to the semis against Orange (10-2), Golden West League No. 3, which previously edged Cantwell-Sacred Heart.

Eight-Man Division 1: Villanova (11-1) lost for the first time this year, 86-44, to Mojave in the semifinals.