Cardinal Newman to play Valley Christian in state CIF semifinal

Cardinal Newman will play Valley Christian of San Jose in the CIF state championship bowl game brackets. They will play Friday at San Jose in the Northern California Division II-A regional bowl game with the winner advancing to the state championship bowl game the following Friday, Dec.16, at Sacramento State’s Hornet Stadium.

Friday’s game, with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, matches two once-beaten teams. Cardinal Newman ran its record to 12-1 with its 44-21 victory against St. Bernard on Friday at Rancho Cotate High School in the North Coast Section final. The Cardinals are riding an 11-game winning streak after losing their second game of the season at St. Mary’s in Stockton.

Valley Christian, with its 14-10 victory against Palma on Nov. 25 in the Central Coast Section championship game, enters Friday’s regional bowl game with a 12-1 record. The Warriors finished tied for first in the West Catholic League along with Saint Francis and Serra.

Cardinal Newman’s balanced offensive attack, led by pass-run threat quarterback Jordon Brookshire, outscored its opponents 585-210. Valley Christian outscored its opponents 374-146 and comes to the regional bowl game on a four-game winning streak.

Friday’s winner will be matched in the state final at Sacramento against the winner of Friday’s Southern California regional bowl game between Madison and Calabasas. The state Division 2-A final will kick off at 4 p.m.