California
California playoff live update scores, roundup: Nov. 28-29, 2025
Throughout the Golden State, previews turned to scores, highlights, notes of section finals everywhere from games Nov. 28-29.
Make sure to to go to all your local newspaper/online sites for more details. (We’ll link to as many as possible here).
Final: McClymonds 34, Oakland Tech 0
Berell Staples threw three touchdown passes, two to Prince Staten (24 and 55 yards), and Dominic Davis (70 yards) and Keian Davis-Jiminez (1 yard) added rushing touchdowns as McClymonds won its 16th straight Silver Bowl. Washington commit Rahsjon Duncan added a 10-yard receiving TD and a 70-yarder setting up another score.
Final: Balboa 54, Washington 42 GAME STORY
Final: De La Salle 24, Pittsburg 17
De La Salle-Concord was sternly tested but captured its 33rd consecutive section title, beating Pittsburg at Diablo Valley College on Friday. The Spartans got touchdown runs of 26 yards from Brady Smith, 50 from Jaden Jefferson and 57 yards by quarterback Brayden Knight. They then relied on a bend-but-don’t-break defense to knock off a Pittsburg squad that held advantages in total yards (396-338), first downs (24-10) and plays (76-39). Pittsburg (10-2) converted just two of seven tries in the red zone, missing two short field goals and getting TDs from Kenneth Ward (16-yard pass from JaVale Jones) and Siotame Finau (3-yard run). While De La Salle (12-0) will almost certainly be chosen as the Northern California representative in the CIF Open Division Bowl Game scheduled for Dec. 13, Pittsburg drops down to the Division I finals to face Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa, a 52-17 winner over Acalanes-Lafayette.
Final: Pittsburg 42, Cardinal Newman 17
Preview
No. 3 Cardinal Newman (11-1) vs. No. 2 Pittsburg (10-2) at Diablo Valley College, 7 p.m. Friday, — The first meeting between these longtime powers and both teams coming in with loads of confidence. Newman, without starting QB JT Retamoza (collarbone injury), rushed for 463 yards in a 52-17 win over previously unbeaten Acalanes-Lafayette. Pittsburg largely outplayed De La Salle-Concord in a 24-17 Open Division title defeat, dropping the Pirates to Division I. The Pirates, led by sophomore QB Javale Jones (31 of 45, 304 yards), goes after its fifth straight D1 crown and eighth overall. Newman has won 13.
Final: Monte Vista 24, Clayton Valley Charter 10
Preview
No. 2 Monte Vista-Danville (7-5) vs. No. 4 Clayton Valley Charter-Concord (7-5) at Dublin High School, 7 p.m. Friday — Monte Vista, under first-year coach Joe Wingert, have caught fire at the right time but will have to slow Fresno State-bound RB Jhadis Luckey, who has carried the ball 289 yards for 2,173 yards and 28 touchdowns, all section highs. CVC owns a 5-1 series lead since 2015, including a wild 39-35 barnburner the last time they faced in 2023. Monte Vista has won seven NCS titles, Clayton Valley four.
Final: El Cerrito 32, Ukiah 21
Preview
No. 3 El Cerrito (10-2) vs. No. 5 Ukiah (8-4) at American Canyon HS, 7 p.m. Friday — El Cerrito has won nine straight including last week’s 26-9 semifinal win at Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park. Ukiah, coached by former Newman head coach Paul Cronin, is led by senior QB Beau David (2,654 passing yards, 22 TDs) who last week threw a game-winning two-point conversion off the referee’s chest into the arms of Dareon Dorsey in a wild 21-20 win over Vintage-Napa. EC has four shutouts and allowed 96 points. Ukiah is after its second NCS title and first since 1999, while El Cerrito is after its fourth.
Preview
No. 3 Miramonte-Orinda (7-5) vs. No. 1 Hayward (9-3) at Moreau Catholic-Hayward HS, 7 p.m. Saturday — Miramonte looks to win its 10th NCS title and Hayward just its second and first since Jack Del Rio led the Farmers in 1979. Hayward relies on speedy RB Maurice Hall (1,096 yards rushing, 17 TDs in 11 games). Miramonte has 17 interceptions, five each by David Roman and Henry Hunt.
Preview
No. 2 Ferndale (12-0) vs. No. 1 St. Vincent de Paul-Petaluma (11-1) at Rancho Cotate, 7 p.m. Saturday — After its 15th NCS title, Ferndale has outscored opponents 736-39, relying heavily on the rush, especially QB Tanner Pidgeon and RB Prescott Langer who have combined for 57 touchdowns. Pigeon is also a ballhawk on defense with seven of his team’s 24 interceptions. St. Vincent, winner of two straight state titles, is an entirely different beast with fourth-year QB Gabe Casanovas (nearly 10,000 total career yards, 130 touchdowns) and third-year starting RB Mason Caturegli (4,307 total yards, 60 TDs). Ferndale won the only meeting between the teams since 2004, a 53-14 NCS title win in 2012. St. Vincent is after its 11th NCS title and fourth in five years.
Preview
No. 4 Fortuna (8-4) vs. No. 3 Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (8-4) at Moreau Catholic, 2 p.m. Saturday — O’Dowd has won five previous titles and Fortuna four. Both last won crowns in 2018. The teams have never met. Lamar Ellis leads O’Dowd with 1,080 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns in seven games.
Final: Middletown 37, Piedmont 23
Preview
No. 2 Piedmont (8-4) vs. Middletown (10-2) at Justin-Siena HS, 7 p.m. Friday — Since a 63-7 loss to Hayward, Piedmont has won six straight behind a balanced offensive attack that averages 170 yards through the air behind sophomore QB Jimmy Lagios and 157 on the ground behind Xavier Henderson (18 TDs, nine games). Piedmont is after its second NCS title and first since 1976. Middletown has won four crowns, the last in 2018.
Final: Serra 28, Los Gatos 21
Preview
No. 3 Los Gatos (9-3) vs. No. 2 Serra (7-5) at San Jose City College, 7 p.m. Friday — Serra lost its first CCS title game under Patrick Walsh — after eight titles — in a 33-13 setback to Riordan in the Open Division. The Padres go for their 10th overall hoping for big games from freshman QB William Orr, leading rusher Iziah Singletown and receiver Charlie Walsh. Los Gatos, led by 17 rushing TDs from Grayson Doslak and 24 scoring passes by Callum Schweitzer, has won a CCS record 16 titles, two under current coach Mark Krail who led the Wildcats to win over Serra the last two meetings, 14-7 last season and 28-0 in 2014.
Preview
No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral (6-6) vs. No. 1 St. Ignatius (6-6) at SJCC, 1 p.m. Saturday — For the second time in the 130-year history of this rivalry the teams will meet for a section crown, the last time in 2011 at (currently named) Oracle Park St. Ignatius prevailed 21-14 before 12,000 fans. Though both teams aren’t thrilled with traveling 50 miles south, “we could meet in a parking lot, it doesn’t matter,” said SHC senior QB Michael Sargent. Especially the Irish, who were beaten 23-14 three weeks ago at Kezar Stadium to help decide the Bruce-Mahoney trophy. Both teams are playing their best football of the season, St. Ignatius, under first-year head coach JaJuan Lawson, is after its fifth title and second straight (last year it won the Open title). SHC seeks a third crown.
Preview
No. 8 San Mateo (9-3) vs. No. 3 Menlo-Atherton (6-6) at MacDonald-San Jose HS, 7 p.m. Saturday — The upstart Bearscats, led by nearly 1,500 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns by Lukas Fitzgerald, are after their fourth CCS title but first since 2003. Menlo-Atherton, which started the season 0-4, seeks its fifth crown. M-A beat San Mateo 42-28 on Sept. 26.
Preview
No. 3 Lincoln-San Jose (9-3) vs. Branham-San Jose (7-5) at SJCC, 7 p.m. Saturday — Both teams are after a first CCS title. This is Lincoln’s first title game.
Preview
No. 2 Sobrato-Morgan Hill (8-4) vs. Piedmont Hills-San Jose (9-3) at MacDonald HS, 1 p.m. Saturday — Sobrato makes its first CCS championship, while Piedmont Hills is after its second crown and first since 2010.
Final: No. 1 Folsom 21, No. 2 Oak Ridge 14
No. 4 St. Mary’s (10-2) vs. No. 2 Granite Bay (9-3) 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Final: No. 1 Woodcreek 58, No. 2 Oakdale 52
No. 4 East Union (9-3) vs. No. 2 Roseville (10-2), 4 p.m. Saturday
Final: No. 3 Sutter 42, No. 1 Casa Roble 27
No. 1 Sonora (12-0) vs. No. 3 Ripon Christian (10-2), 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Final: No. 1 Calaveras 27, No. 7 Linden 12
No. 1 Mira Loma (11-0) vs. No. 2 Foresthill (10-1), 9 a.m. Saturday
No. 1 Central East 70, No. 2 Clovis 35
No. 1 Bakersfield Christian 38, No. 3 Liberty 16
No. 4 Arroyo Grande 23, No. 2 Bakersfield 20
No. 5 Kennedy 49, No. 6 Independence 13
No. 2 Immanuel 48, No. 1 Templeton 7
No. 4 Bishop Union 59, No. 2 Woodlake 21
No. 1 Minarets 21, No. 2 Orosi 14
No. 4 Foothill (7-5) vs. No. 3 Chico (10-2)
No. 1 Gridley (12-0) vs. No. 3 Orland (10-2)
No. 1 Winters 32, No. 2 Hamilton 29
No. 1 Redding Christian 26, No. 2 Maxwell 0
Final: Santa Margarita 42, Corona Centennial 7
Los Alamitos (11-2) at San Clemente (9-4)
Final: Oxnard Pacifica 20, Palos Verdes 10
La Habra (10-3) at San Jacinto (10-3)
Rio Hondo Prep (13-0) at Redondo Union (9-4)
Ventura (11-2) at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (7-6)
Barstow 10, Apple Valley 7
Beckman 30, Brea Olinda 24 (OT)
Ramona (11-2) at Cerritos Valley Christian (10-3)
Tahquitz (10-3) at Hillcrest (8-5)
Baldwin Park (8-5) at Valley View (8-5)
Grace 48, Santa Paula 16
Woodbridge 24, Montebello 23
South El Monte 14, Pioneer 6
Crenshaw (10-1) vs. Carson (8-3), 6 p.m.
Marquez (11-2) vs. South Gate (10-3), 2 p.m.
San Fernando 21, Cleveland 14
Santee 35, Hawkins 6
Final: Cathedral Catholic 20, Carlsbad 16
No. 1 Lincoln (10-2) vs. No. 2 Granite Hills (9-3)
No. 1 Santa Fe Christian 44, No. 2 Steele Canyon 41
No. 1 Central (10-2) vs. No. 6 Central (6-7)
No. 5 Eastlake (7-6) vs. No. 3 Valley Center (6-6)
No. 2 Morse 45, No. 9 Hoover 30
No. 1 Marantha Christian 24, No. 2 Palo Verde Valley 12
California
Is California home insurance cheap, considering the risks?
California property owners can expect the nation’s steepest insurance premium hikes this year.
Nevertheless, that surge will leave California property owners paying below U.S. norms, according to my trusty spreadsheet‘s peek at a report by policy tracker Insurify. Its numbers reflect what private insurers charge to cover properties across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
For Californians, that means an estimated 16% jump in premiums for 2026. It’s the biggest jump in the country, four times the 4% hike a typical American faces.
Years of rising property damage are largely behind this, with the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires as the latest example.
After California, Nebraska is seeing a 13% increase, followed by New Mexico at 11% and Georgia at 10%. Meanwhile, policies are actually getting cheaper in Hawaii and Massachusetts (down 2%) and Maine (down 1%).
Relative bargain
Please do not be mad at me for relaying this insurance math.
Even after the 2026 increase, California property insurance remains a relative bargain compared with the rest of the country.
Lower California rates are one reason why many property owners have trouble finding coverage. State insurance regulation has made it difficult for insurers to raise their rates, even as their costs and risks surge.
Owners who cannot obtain insurance coverage most often use the state’s FAIR Plan. Those premiums are expected to rise by 29% next year.
Note that Insurify projects the average annual premium in California for 2026 will be $2,843, ranking 21st-highest among all states.
Do you know of many housing-related expenses where you can say California prices are 7% below the national norm?
The most expensive premiums are found in Florida at $8,458 per year, followed by Oklahoma at $5,205, Louisiana at $5,035, Nebraska at $4,560 and Texas at $4,529. These states face high risks from hurricanes, tornadoes or hail.
The cheapest insurance is in Vermont at $1,094 annually, followed by Maine at $1,359 and Utah at $1,370.
Even cheaper?
Keep in mind, the average Californian is insuring a very expensive property.
California insurance policies commonly cover $488,000 in repairs, according to Insurify. This is the second-highest amount among the states and 43% above the national average of $342,000.
Only Hawaii is higher at $500,000. The lowest policy coverage is in Oklahoma at $292,000.
Stack up what homeowners pay against how much coverage they get, and California’s pricing looks even more reasonable.
This premium-to-coverage ratio indicates that the typical Californian pays 0.6% of the coverage offered. That ranks No. 30 among the states and is one-third below the nation’s 0.9% ratio.
The highest ratios are in Florida (2.6%), Oklahoma (1.8%), Louisiana (1.7%) and Texas (1.4%). The lows were in Vermont, Alaska, the District of Columbia, New Hampshire and New Jersey, all at 0.4% or less.
Loss likelihood
If you own property in California, you probably already know this, but here’s a reminder of a never-ending risk: natural disasters.
My trusty spreadsheet also reviewed data from various government and industry sources to see how often disasters strike – and how much those ugly events cost. The incidents tracked include wildfires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and hail.
To grade the 50 states and the District of Columbia on their relative natural disaster risks, five measures were developed that account for the frequency and damage of calamities, weighted against population and geographic size.
When you add it all up, California ranks third for the likelihood of expensive disasters.
Florida is the riskiest state, followed by Hawaii, California, Louisiana and Tennessee.
If you want a safer place, consider Alaska, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, or Wisconsin.
Of course, this is just a simple way to look at a complex problem that befuddles property owners, insurance companies and policymakers alike.
Clearly, these aren’t just California headaches. One-third of Americans live in 10 states with the highest risk.
How often
The history of disasters offers us clues as to where the next one may hit.
Look at the five measures used to create the risk rankings, starting with how often these disasters actually happen.
Using the number of federal disasters declared over the past decade and dividing that by each state’s square miles, California comes in at No. 9.
By this measure, the most disaster-prone are D.C., Rhode Island, Hawaii, Connecticut and Washington state. The least are Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Alaska and Michigan.
Next is the number of major storms per square mile.
California is much lower on this list, ranking 41st. The stormiest are D.C., New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii and Rhode Island. The calmest are Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Idaho.
The price tag
Think about what it costs to clean up after disasters. This is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
First, look at the dollar amount of damages divided by the number of people in each state. California ranks ninth-highest for disaster costs per person.
The biggest bills? Louisiana, Hawaii, Texas, Florida and Colorado. The smallest? Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey.
Next, check out the cost per storm. California’s disasters are the fifth most expensive.
The most expensive storms happen in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Oregon. The least expensive are in Delaware, Montana, Wyoming, Rhode Island and Kentucky.
Finally, if you look at insurance losses per person, California ranks fourth highest.
The largest insurance losses are in Colorado, Nebraska and Florida. After California, Wyoming is next. The lowest losses are in Utah, Hawaii, Nevada, Alaska and Oregon.
Clearly, the property-loss odds are stacked against Californians.
Skipping the costs
Some property owners take one look at their insurance bill and decide to go without.
LendingTree, using Census housing cost data, estimates 11% of California property owners have no homeowner’s insurance policy.
That’s the 11th-lowest level of no coverage among the states. The national rate is 14%.
West Virginia has the highest share of owners without coverage at 24%, followed by New Mexico at 23% and Louisiana at 21%. The fewest uninsured homes are in Colorado, Oregon and New Hampshire at 10%.
So why do so many Californians still pay for coverage?
Contemplate the estimated California premium against statewide household income to see that the cost is relatively affordable.
This 2.8% insurance-cost burden ranks No. 25 among the states. It’s also one-fifth of the nation’s 3.6%.
The highest burden? Florida at 11%, and Louisiana and Oklahoma at 8%. Lows? Vermont, New Hampshire, Utah and Maine, all 1%.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com
- Try Jonathan Lansner’s Substack collection of economic trends. CLICK HERE!
California
California man arrested for impersonating bank official, coercing money from Colorado victim
A 25-year-old California man is charged with three felonies after intercepting a package in Colorado containing $11,000 in cash he allegedly obtained via a computer scam.
Earlier this year, a Mesa County resident contacted authorities after receiving a message. The sender reportedly claimed to be an employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC is an independent agency created by the Congress that insures and oversees the banking industry.
The resident claimed the purported FDIC representative stated the resident’s bank account had been compromised and needed to be secured. The resident was instructed to send cash from the account to an address in southern California, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
The resident later chose to stop the shipment. But, according to the sheriff’s office, the box containing the cash was already in the process of being shipped.
A man later identified as Youbin Huang of El Monte, Calif., a Los Angeles suburb, came to the package’s location in Grand Junction and picked it up using documents which contained the Colorado resident’s personal information, per the sheriff’s office.
A nationwide warrant for Haung’s arrest was issued by the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 25. Huang was arrested by the California State Patrol on April 13, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. Huang was brought to Colorado and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on May 10.
Huang is charged with theft, identity theft, and computer fraud, all felonies, and all state charges. He was advised June 11 and posted an $11,000 cash bond to obtain his release from jail that day. He has another court hearing on July 9.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office stated in its press release that Huang was “intimately involved in the perpetration of the scam.” It did not specifically state that Huang acted alone, nor if he was the person who impersonated an FDIC employee and communicated with the Colorado resident online.
MCSO recommended Coloradans never give out their personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller, allow remote access to their phones or computers, send gift cards or crypto currency as a form of payment, or send cash in the mail. As well, if they are unsure about what they are being asked to do, call law enforcement, family members, or a trusted friend to get advice.
California
Smoke advisory issued Saturday as Boyle Heights fire continues
Massive fire erupts at Boyle Heights cold storage facility
The blaze began on the roof’s solar panels before an interior ammonia leak and explosions forced rare, defensive aerial water drops on the 491,000-square-foot warehouse.
Fox – LA
A smoke advisory remains in place across Boyle Heights after a flare-up at a cold-storage warehouse fire, with officials urging residents to limit outdoor exposure as smoky conditions spread.
Public health officials warned Saturday that smoke from the South Los Palos Street blaze had drifted into surrounding neighborhoods, advising people to stay indoors, close windows, and avoid breathing in the smoke.
The blaze began shortly after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at 1400 S. Los Palos St., and rapidly spread across the solar panels on the roof of the 491,000-square-foot warehouse, while an ammonia leak developed inside the building and thick smoke billowed into the air, prompting shelter-in-place orders for nearby residents and businesses.
LAFD officials said Saturday that crews spent the night working to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes and other units in the complex, including an adjacent cold storage facility.
“The good news is, all of our air monitoring that has been done by our department, Hazmat, LA County Hazmat, as well as AQMD, has shown that there are no additional toxic chemicals or hazards within that smoke other than normal structure fire smoke,” LAFD Capt. Branden Silverman said. “That said, no smoke is good smoke. We know that people are being affected by this in our city as well as LA County’s jurisdiction, and we do want you to take precautions to avoid that smoke whenever possible.”
This is a breaking news story. Check back later for more details.
Smoke advisory in effect; residents urged to limit exposure
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has extended a particle pollution advisory through at least midday Saturday as smoke from the fire continues to drift across Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and nearby communities.
While shelter-in-place orders issued earlier in the week have been lifted, officials emphasized that smoky air remains a concern.
Fire officials said visible smoke may increase at times as crews continue suppression efforts, though there is no additional hazard beyond the smoke itself.
- Health guidance remains consistent:
- Use air purifiers or air conditioning if available
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed
- Avoid outdoor activity, especially for sensitive groups
Fire reignites after wind shift; crews brace for ongoing flare-ups
The fire, which began Wednesday afternoon at a roughly 500,000-square-foot cold-storage facility, flared up again Friday evening after a shift in wind conditions, sending black and white smoke billowing into the sky.
Los Angeles Fire Department officials have described the incident as complex, warning the fire will likely “ebb and flow” due to deep-seated flames inside the structure and difficult access conditions.
Firefighters remain largely limited to exterior operations due to safety concerns inside the building, continuing to pour water onto the structure and targeting hotspots.
No injuries have been reported.
Shelters open as precaution; officials stress safety
Although there are no evacuation orders, officials have opened temporary shelters for residents seeking relief from smoke or uncomfortable conditions, according to a statement by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis.
Shelters include:
- City Terrace Park, 1126 N. Hazard Ave.
- Pecan Recreation Center, 145 S. Pecan St.
Los Angeles County leaders said the sites were opened “out of an abundance of caution” as firefighting operations continue.
Residents are also being urged to:
- Monitor air quality alerts
- Keep pets indoors
- Wear masks if going outside
What caused the Boyle Heights fire?
Officials and the facility operator, Lineage Logistics, say the blaze appears to be linked to rooftop solar panels on the warehouse, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
The blaze spread across rooftop solar panels before firefighters discovered flames burning deep inside the cold‑storage areas, complicating containment efforts.
Fire officials noted that the structure’s size and layout — along with hazards such as stored equipment and limited access — have required unusual tactics, including the use of water-dropping helicopters typically used on wildfires.
Where is Boyle Heights?
Boyle Heights is a densely populated neighborhood just east of downtown Los Angeles, bordered by major freeways including the 101 and 5. It sits near East Los Angeles and is home to residential communities, schools, and industrial sites, including the cold-storage warehouse where the fire is burning.
City News Service contributed to this report.
-
Wisconsin3 minutes ago
Who is Diane Hendricks, Wisconsin’s richest woman?
-
West Virginia10 minutes agoFlynn Planetarium showcases wonders of the universe
-
Wyoming13 minutes agoWhy A Shortfall Of More Than 20,000 Homes Isn’t Enough To Get Wyoming Building
-
Crypto18 minutes agoCommentary: Crypto bill is bad for small businesses
-
Finance19 minutes agoHong Kong to roll out measures boosting offshore yuan trading in July
-
Fitness25 minutes ago“Don’t be a lone wolf, that’s my number one life hack”—Peloton instructor and ultra runner Susie Chan shares her weekly fitness routine and tips to get started
-
Movie Reviews33 minutes agoFilm reviews: ‘Toy Story 5’ and ‘The Death of Robin Hood’
-
World43 minutes ago‘Criminal Minds’ Star Paget Brewster Tells TV Journalist to ‘Work at a Shelter’ After Mixed Review, Sparking Outrage From Other Critics