What’s on tap in the NCS soccer and football playoffs this week

By barstoolfanatics on November 12, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — This week will be one of the busiest of the year for local high school teams in the North Coast Section playoffs.

The football playoffs get under way at the weekend with five H-DNL teams involved including a remarkable four in the Division-7 bracket.

In NCS soccer, meanwhile, six local teams will be in action on Wednesday and at least two more this weekend.

One of the highlights of the week will take place at Fort Bragg High School on Wednesday night, when the St. Bernard’s girls will play in an NCS championship game for the sixth straight time.

The Crusaders are seeded No. 3 in the Division-3 bracket and will take on No., 1 Mendocino at 7 p.m.

Five more H-DNL teams will play in the Division-1 semifinals on the same day, including the McKinleyville Panthers, who are the last remaining local boys team still in action.

After back-to-back shutout playoff victories last week, including a 3-0 win at Fortuna on Saturday night, the No. 7 seeded Mack boys will travel to play No. 3 Making Waves Academy in Richmond, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.

In girls soccer playoff action, the Division-1 semifinals will feature a pair of all-local matchups with games at Eureka and Fortuna.

The Loggers are seeded No. 1 in the bracket and will play No. 4 Arcata at Washington Elementary School at 2:30 p.m.

No. 2 Fortuna will host No. 6 Del Norte under the lights at Husky Field later in the day at 7 p.m.

The NCS football playoffs, meanwhile, will kick off this weekend, including four games featuring H-DNL teams on Friday night.

In Division 6, No. 1 Arcata will host Bethel at McKinleyville.

In Division 7, No. 4 Del Norte will play No. 5 Kelseyville in Crescent City, while No. 6 Fortuna will play at No. 3 Piedmont and No. 8 St. Bernard’s will play at No. 1 Moreau Catholic.

All of Friday’s games are set for 7 p.m.

And rounding out a busy weekend of action for the H-DNL schools, on Saturday afternoon No. 2 Ferndale will host No. 7 Vallejo at Coach Carlson Wildcat Field at 1 p.m.