Bay Area News Group High School Football Predictions: CIF State Finals

We’ve reached the finish line, the 16th and final weekend of the 2022 high school football season.

The outcome of this all-in-one fun Bay Area News Group selection contest has been decided.

Yours truly will finish first, Mike Lefkow second and The Kid – aka Joseph Dycus – will take third place.

But we’re not done with the choices. We predict the winners of seven California Interscholastic Federation state championship games this weekend that include teams from our coverage area.

The Bay Area filled all five Northern California slots in the top divisions. Those teams — Serra, De La Salle, Pittsburgh, McClymonds and San Ramon Valley — will play championship games at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

Two others – Bellarmine and Santa Teresa – will play title matches in San Jose on Saturday night.

In our video podcast, we covered all the talking points ahead of the final: Serra’s daunting task against St. John Bosco-Bellflower, De La Salle’s turnaround, Victor Galli’s last game as Pittsburg coach , McClymonds returning to Southern California, SRV quarterback Luke Baker’s Lucky Sandwich and more.

If you only want this week’s predictions, keep scrolling.

And, if you haven’t already, sign up here for digital access throughout the school year. Our high school coverage doesn’t stop when football season ends.

Enjoy the video.

WEEK 16 PICKS

Division 6-AA: Classic Academy-Escondido (11-3) at Santa Teresa (9-5), Saturday, 6 p.m.

Sabedra: Santa Teresa

Dycus: Saint Therese

Lefkow: Santa Teresa

Division 3-A: Laguna Hills (14-1) vs. Bellarmine (8-6) at San Jose City College, Saturday, 6 p.m.

Sabedra: Bellarmine

Dycus: Bellarmine

Lefkow: Bellarmine

Division 2-A: San Ramon Valley (12-2) against Granite Hills-El Cajon (12-2) at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Saturday, 12 p.m.

Sabedra: Valley of San Ramon

Dycus: San Ramon Valley

Lefkow: granite hills

Division 2-AA: McClymonds (12-1) against Mater Dei Catholic-Chula Vista (10-4) at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Friday, 4 p.m.

Sabedra: Catholic Mater Dei

Dycus: McClymonds

Lefkow: McClymonds

Division 1-A: Pittsburg (12-2) vs. Liberty-Bakersfield (12-2) at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Saturday, 4 p.m.

Sabedra: Pittsburgh

Dycus: Pittsburgh

Lefkow: Pittsburgh

Division 1-AA: De La Salle (10-3) vs. Lincoln-San Diego (12-1) at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Friday, 8 p.m.

Sabedra: De La Salle

Dycus: De La Salle

Lefkow: De La Salle

Open Division: Serra (13-0) vs. St. John Bosco-Bellflower (12-1) at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Saturday at 8 p.m.

Sabedra: Saint John Bosco

Dycus: Serra

Lefkow: Saint John Bosco

WEEK 15 PICKS

Division 7-AA State Championship: Pinole Valley 34, Mendota 21

Sabedra: Pinole Valley (W)

Dycus: Pinole Valley (W)

Lefkow: Pinole Valley (west)

Regional Division 6-AA: Santa Teresa 30, Palo Alto 20

Sabedra: Santa Teresa (F)

Dycus: Santa Teresa (F)

Lefkow: Palo Alto (L)

Regional Division 4-A: San Marino 29, Menlo School 21

Sabedra: School of Menlo (L)

Dycus: School of Menlo (L)

Lefkow: School of Menlo (L)

Regional Division 3-A: Bellarmine 35, Vanden-Fairfield 21

Sabedra: Bellarmine (F)

Dycus: Bellarmine (F)

Lefkow: Bellarmine (F)

Regional Division 3-AA: Grant-Sacramento 36, El Cerrito 7

Sabedra: El Cerrito (L)

Dycus: El Cerrito (L)

Lefkow: El Cerrito (L)