Merced, Hilmar, Stone Ridge lead county teams into SJS football playoffs
The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section has released its 2025 high school football playoff brackets, and Merced-area programs are well-represented in the first postseason under the section’s new format.
Approved by a 55-2 vote last month, the updated system keeps eight-team playoff brackets in each division but adds one-game bowl matchups for seeds 9–16. The goal: shorten the season by one week and cut down on early-round blowouts.
Championship games remain set for Nov. 28–29 at Sacramento City College’s Hughes Stadium.
Merced earns No. 3 seed in Division III
For the second-straight year, Merced High enters the postseason undefeated. The Bears (10-0) claimed the No. 3 seed in Division III and will host No. 6 Vanden in the opening round Nov. 14.
A win could line up a semifinal showdown with No. 2 Oakdale, while top-seeded Woodcreek sits on the other side of the bracket.
Hilmar, Lathrop headline Division V bracket
Hilmar (6-4) secured the No. 3 seed in Division V, following one of the section’s toughest small-school schedules in the Trans-Valley League. The Yellowjackets open at home against No. 6 Rosemont as legendary coach Frank Marques continues what could be his final postseason run.
Also in D-V, Lathrop (7-3) landed the No. 5 seed and travels to face No. 4 Lincoln-Lincoln.
Stone Ridge, Mariposa, Denair and Le Grand in Division VII
The Southern League will again be well-represented.
Stone Ridge Christian (9-1) is the No. 2 seed and hosts No. 7 Linden.
Mariposa County (7-3) drew the No. 4 seed and will welcome No. 5 Denair for a league-rival rematch.
Le Grand (5-5) grabbed the No. 8 seed and heads to top-seeded Calaveras.
Local bowl-game matchups
Programs that fell outside the top-eight seeds still earned postseason games under the new “bowl” format:
Golden Valley at Enochs
Grace Davis at Atwater
Los Banos at Patterson
Livingston at El Capitan
Gustine at Pacheco
Bret Harte at Delhi
All bowl games will be played Friday, Nov. 7, with winners receiving tan banners from the section.
Looking ahead
First-round playoff games kick off Nov. 14, semifinals follow on Nov. 21, and section champions will be crowned Thanksgiving weekend.
With Merced, Hilmar, and Stone Ridge Christian leading the charge — and several others close behind — Merced County football once again takes center stage in November.
Full brackets and bowl games
Listed by seeding. Games start Nov. 14.
Division I
No. 8 Downey at No. 1 Folsom
No. 5 Inderkum at No. 4 Monterey Trail
No. 6 Edison at No. 3 Grant
No. 7 Central Catholic at No. 2 Oak Ridge
Division II
No. 8 Tracy at No. 1 Manteca
No. 5 Jesuit at No. 4 St. Mary’s
No. 6 Rocklin at No. 3 Del Oro
No. 7 Chavez at No. 2 Granite Bay
Division III
No. 8 Destiny Christian at No. 1 Woodcreek
No. 5 Rio Americano at No. 4 Vacaville
No. 6 Vanden at No. 3 Merced
No. 7 Ponderosa at No. 2 Oakdale
Division IV
No. 8 Fairfield at No. 1 Twelve Bridges
No. 5 Placer at No. 4 East Union
No. 6 Pioneer at No. 3 Hughson
No. 7 Escalon at No. 2 Roseville
Division V
No. 8 Oakmont at No. 1 Casa Roble
No. 5 Lathrop at No. 4 Lincoln Zebras
No. 6 Rosemont at No. 3 Sutter
No. 7 Rio Linda at No. 2 Hilmar
Division VI
No. 8 Wheatland at No. 1 Sonora
No. 5 Bradshaw Christian at No. 4 Woodland Christian
No. 6 Amador at No. 3 Ripon Christian
No. 7 Ripon at No. 2 Liberty Ranch
Division VII
No. 8 Le Grand at No. 1 Calaveras
No. 5 Denair at No. 4 Mariposa
No. 6 Rio Vista at No. 3 Summerville
No. 7 Linden at No. 2 Stone Ridge
Division VIII (8-man)
No. 8 Valley at No. 1 Mira Loma
No. 5 Valley Christian at No. 4 Delta
No. 6 Encina at No. 3 Vacaville Christian
No. 7 Florin at No. 2 Foresthill
Section Bowl games
Nov. 7: Pleasant Grove at West Park; Franklin-Elk Grove at Whitney; Turlock at Lincoln-Stockton; Laguna Creek at Stagg; Pitmam at Kimball; Mountain Home at Tokay; Golden Valley at Enochs; Rodriguez at Christian Brothers; Gregori at Johansen; Vista del Lago at Elk Grove; Grace Davis at Atwater; Del Campo at Bella Vista; Sacramento at Nevada Union; Antelope at Yuba City; Los Banos at Patterson; Woodland at Wood; Livingston at El Capitan; Center at Dixon; Ceres at Argonaut; Gustine at Pacheco; Beyer at Orestimba; Union Mine at Highlands; Golden Sierra at El Dorado; Lindhurst at Bear River; Esparto at Marysville; Burbank at Colfax; Big Valley Christian at Waterford; Bret Harte at Delhi; West Campus at San Juan.
