Football: CIF state bowl games continue in Carson

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Kentfield Marin Catholic will try to make it three in a row for Northern California when the CIF state championship bowl games resume today at Home Depot Center in Carson.

The North Coast Section champion Wildcats (14-1) take on San Diego Section champion Madison (13-1) in the Division III game at noon and it is expected to be one of the closest games this weekend. Both teams are making their second appearance in a Division III state bowl, each is seeking its first win and each is riding a 12-game winning streak.

Marin Catholic lost to Gardena Serra 24-20 in 2009 and Madison fell to Escalon 30-14 in 2010. Marin Catholic has one of the top quarterbacks in Northern California in Cal-bound Jared Goff (3,430 yards, 36 TDs), son of former Major League catcher Gerry Goff. The Warhawks are paced by senior running back Pierre Cormier (1,926 yards, 26 TDs in 200 carries).

At 4 p.m., Southern Section Western Division champion Serra (13-2) will be the heavy favorite in the Division II game against Sac-Joaquin Section champion Oakdale (14-1). The final game, which kicks off at 8 p.m., is the Open Division showdown featuring two of the state’s premiere programs in Concord De La Salle (14-0) and Corona Centennial (14-1).

Northern California teams won both games Friday as Central Catholic routed Santa Fe Christian 66-7 in Division IV and Granite Bay rallied past Long Beach Poly 21-20 in Division I. Southern California schools are now 17-11 since the state bowl games were implemented in 2006.

Varsity Times Insider will provide scoring updates for all three of today’s games.

-- Steve Galluzzo