Defending champion Carson draws No. 1 seed in City Section Open Division playoffs

Carson High, the defending City Section football champion, received the No. 1 seed for the Open Division when the playoff pairings were announced on Saturday.

The Colts are 9-1 with no City Section team coming close to challenging a team that’s led by the reigning City player of the year, quarterback Chris Fields III. Carson hosts No. 8 Palisades in its opener on Nov. 13.

As an indication of where the Open Division stands, San Pedro (7-2) received the No. 2 seed and lost to Carson 35-0 on Oct. 23. San Pedro hosts No. 7 Dorsey.

High School Sports

High school football: City Section playoff pairings

Division-by-division list of the CIF City Section high school football playoffs that begin Friday, except for Open Division, which begins Nov. 13.

Oct. 31, 2026

The big surprise this season has been the rise of Cleveland (10-0), which won the West Valley League title and had its first perfect regular season. The Cavaliers are seeded No. 3 but must overcome the loss to injury of star running back Moyo Odebunmi. Cleveland hosts Crenshaw in a rematch of a nonleague game won by the Cavaliers.

There was a late-season upset with King/Drew losing to Dorsey 22-6 on Friday night, creating a three-way tie for first place in the Coliseum League with Crenshaw and Dorsey. All three teams were placed in the Open Division, where teams have a bye next week. No. 5 King/Drew plays at No. 4 Birmingham.

Unbeaten Granada Hills Kennedy (10-0) is seeded No. 1 in Division I and hosts Fairfax and star running back Tru Warrior Casas on Friday.

In flag football, Carson is seeded No. 1 for the Open Division with Eagle Rock No. 2.