The lights at Saddleback College and various regional sites across California weren't just bright this past December; they were blinding. If you followed the CIF state football championships 2024, you know it wasn't just about the trophies. It was about the sheer, unadulterated chaos of California high school football. Everyone expected Mater Dei to dominate. Most people figured the Open Division would be a formality. But the beauty of the 2024 season was in the dirt, the missed tackles, and the late-game heroics that didn't always make the highlight reels on social media.
California is a massive state. That’s an understatement. When you have teams traveling from the Oregon border down to San Diego, logistics become a nightmare, and the play on the field reflects that exhaustion. The 2024 cycle felt different, though. There was a grit to the lower divisions that overshadowed the "All-Star" feel of the Trinity League powerhouses. Honestly, if you only watched the Open Division, you missed the real story of the season.
The Open Division Juggernaut and the Mater Dei Standard
It’s almost boring to talk about Mater Dei at this point, isn't it? Almost. They entered the CIF state football championships 2024 with a target on their backs so large it could be seen from space. Facing off against De La Salle—a program that is basically the godfather of California high school football—the Monarchs showed why they are a literal factory for Division 1 talent.
The game ended 24-14. It wasn't the blowout some predicted. De La Salle’s veer offense actually gave the Monarchs some fits early on. It’s funny because everyone thinks these private school powerhouses are invincible. They aren't. They’re just deeper. While De La Salle played with heart and precision, the sheer mass of the Mater Dei line eventually wore them down. Dash Beierly, the Monarchs' quarterback, didn't need to be a superhero; he just needed to be efficient. And he was.
What most people get wrong about the Open Division is the idea that it’s just about "buying" talent. Sure, the recruitment talk is everywhere. But watching the defensive schemes deployed by Mater Dei's coaching staff? That’s high-level chess. They took away the perimeter, forced De La Salle to grind out four-yard gains, and waited for the clock to bleed out. It was clinical. It was a bit cold. But it was undeniably the highest level of football played in the country that weekend.
The Northern California Surge: More Than Just a Supporting Act
For years, the narrative has been that SoCal football is just better. Faster. Stronger. More expensive. But the 2024 regional and state matchups flipped the script in several brackets. Take a look at Division 1-AA. Folsom High School has been a staple of NorCal excellence for a decade, but their 2024 run felt like a redemption arc.
- They survived a brutal SJS playoff gauntlet.
- They traveled south and didn't blink.
- They relied on a sophisticated passing game that rivaled anything in the Southland.
The 20-14 victory over St. Bonaventure was a masterclass in resilience. The Seraphs from Ventura were tough, physical, and had that "team of destiny" vibe. But Folsom’s Ryder Lyons is the real deal. People call him a "dual-threat," but that’s a lazy scout's term. He’s a playmaker who understands leverage. Watching him navigate a collapsing pocket in the fourth quarter was probably the highlight of the entire tournament for me.
✨ Don't miss: Nebraska Cornhuskers Women's Basketball: What Really Happened This Season
Why the 1-A Final Was Actually the Best Game
If you wanted drama, you went to the 1-A championship. Pittsburg versus Mission Viejo. This was a clash of cultures. The Diablos of Mission Viejo are a well-oiled machine, almost collegiate in their preparation. Pittsburg brings a level of raw, North Bay intensity that is hard to simulate in practice.
The score stayed tight. 27-24. Mission Viejo pulled it out, but Pittsburg had a chance in the final two minutes. This is where the CIF state football championships 2024 really showed its teeth. It wasn't about FBS offers in that moment. It was about a group of kids from the East Bay trying to prove that they belonged on the same turf as the Orange County elites. They proved it, even if they didn't get the ring.
The Logistics Nightmare Nobody Talks About
We need to talk about the travel. It’s easy to look at a scoreboard and judge a team. It’s harder to realize that a school like Grant (Sacramento) or Central (Fresno) might have spent eight hours on a bus before playing the biggest game of their lives.
The CIF tries to balance this by rotating host sites, but the "State" experience is heavily weighted toward the south lately. Saddleback College is a beautiful venue—don't get me wrong. The facilities are top-tier. But there’s an inherent disadvantage for the NorCal squads who have to adjust to the heat and the travel fatigue. In 2024, we saw at least three games where the Northern representative looked "heavy-legged" in the first half. By the time they found their rhythm in the third quarter, they were already down two scores. It’s a factor that the committee needs to look at more closely for 2025.
Small School Heroes: The Division 7-AA Heartbreak
Let’s get away from the big names for a second. Division 7-AA. This is where you find the schools with 400 students. The schools where the star linebacker also plays tuba in the band and starts at point guard in the winter.
The matchup between Portola and Mayfield (illustrative of the small-school grit) showcased what high school sports are actually supposed to be about. There were no NIL deals discussed on the sidelines. Just community. The stands were packed with people who had known these kids since they were in diapers. These games often have more "soul" than the Open Division because the stakes feel more personal. When a small town wins a state title, the entire town shuts down for a week. That’s the magic of the CIF state football championships 2024.
🔗 Read more: Nebraska Basketball Women's Schedule: What Actually Matters This Season
Misconceptions About the Transfer Portal at the High School Level
There’s this nagging rumor that the 2024 championships were "tainted" by the high school transfer portal. Look, kids move. Families relocate. Sometimes it’s for football, sometimes it’s not.
But the idea that every winning team in 2024 was a "built" roster is total nonsense. Look at a team like La Costa Canyon or even some of the San Diego Section winners. Those are largely homegrown rosters. They grew up playing Pop Warner together. They went to the same middle schools. The 2024 season actually saw a slight dip in the "super-team" dominance in the middle divisions. Parity is slowly creeping back in, mostly because coaching in the public school sector is catching up to the private schools in terms of film study and off-season conditioning.
Standout Players Who Shook Up the Rankings
I’m not a scout, but I have eyes. A few names from the CIF state football championships 2024 are going to be playing on Sundays eventually.
- Dash Beierly (Mater Dei): The poise is what kills you. He doesn't panic.
- Ryder Lyons (Folsom): Already mentioned him, but he’s the most "exciting" player in the state.
- Hinesward Lilomaiava (Mission Viejo): A bowling ball of a runner who punishes defenders for even trying to tackle him.
- The entire defensive front of St. John Bosco: Even though they didn't make the state final this year (losing in the regional), their presence loomed over the entire tournament.
The level of athleticism in the 2024 cycle was noticeably higher than 2023. Speed training has become a year-round obsession in California, and it showed on the turf at Saddleback. Even the "big" guys are running sub-5.0 40s now. It’s a different game.
What's Next for the CIF State Format?
There is some grumbling in the coaching circles. Some guys want a return to a more localized state championship format to save on costs. Others love the "bowl game" atmosphere of a single-site championship.
Honestly, the 2024 season proved that the current format works for TV, but it’s hard on the families. If you’re a parent from Eureka and your kid is playing in Mission Viejo, you’re looking at a $2,000 weekend just for gas, hotel, and food. That’s a lot to ask. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a move toward more regionalized "State" finals in the lower divisions by 2026 or 2027.
💡 You might also like: Missouri vs Alabama Football: What Really Happened at Faurot Field
Actionable Steps for Players and Fans Heading into 2025
The 2024 season is in the books, but the cycle never truly stops. If you're a player who watched from the stands or a fan looking to get more involved, here’s what you actually do next.
For the Athletes:
Don't just watch the highlights of the CIF state football championships 2024. Go find the full-game film of the team that won your division. Watch their offensive line. In 2024, the difference between the winners and losers wasn't the "stars"—it was the guard who didn't miss his pull block and the safety who took the correct angle on a 50-yard sprint. Footwork over flash. Always.
For the Recruiters and Scouts:
Stop ignoring the Central Section. Some of the most physical play in the 2024 tournament came out of the valley. These kids are tough, they play in 100-degree heat, and they don't have the same "polish" as the OC kids, which means they have a higher ceiling once they get into a college weight program.
For the Fans:
Check the CIF website for the 2025 schedule early. The move to Saddleback was a hit, but ticket sales were chaotic for some of the Friday night games. Buy your digital passes the moment they go on sale. And for the love of the game, go watch a Division 5 or 6 game. The atmosphere is more "Friday Night Lights" than the corporate feel of the Open Division.
The CIF state football championships 2024 gave us a clear picture of where California football is heading: more speed, more complex passing schemes, but still rooted in that old-school physical dominance. It wasn't perfect, but it was ours. And now, the off-season grind begins all over again.
Practical Takeaways from the 2024 Season
- Film Study: The 2024 winners used HUDL and AI-driven scouting more than any previous year. If your program isn't using advanced analytics to track player tendencies, you’re already behind.
- Conditioning: The "Saddleback Cramp" became a real thing. Teams from cooler climates struggled with the Southern California humidity in December. Hydration protocols need to start 48 hours before kickoff.
- Special Teams: At least three state games were decided by botched snaps or missed field goals. It’s the most neglected part of high school practice, yet it was the ultimate decider in the 1-AA and 2-A brackets.