NCS Football Playoff Schedule and Matchups for All Divisions

The North Coast Section (NCS) football playoffs kick off this Friday and Saturday, featuring a high-stakes first round across seven divisions. According to the schedule, the Open Division action begins with No. 1 De La Salle hosting No. 8 Liberty on Friday night.

In the Open Division, the stakes are immediate: winners from the top half of the bracket will compete for the Open Division championship in Week 2.

The tournament structure also includes a unique path for those who fall short in the final game. The loser of the Open Division championship will move on to play the winner of the bottom half of the bracket for the Division I championship in Week 3.

When do the games start?

Most first-round matchups are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., though several games are slated for Saturday to accommodate different divisions. Division IV and Division V feature multiple Saturday kickoff times, including a 1 p.m. game for Washington at No. 1 Redwood and a 7 p.m. slot for Analy vs. Napa at Napa Memorial Stadium.

The schedule varies by division, requiring fans to check specific kickoff times for their local teams. For example, Division VI games like San Rafael at No. 3 Del Norte are set for Friday evening, while Newark Memorial at No. 2 Archie Williams takes place on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Which teams are playing in the Open Division?

The Open Division features the following matchups in the North Coast Section playoffs:. The matchups include:

No. 8 Liberty (6-4) at No. 1 De La Salle (10-0)
No. 7 Marin Catholic (6-4) at No. 2 Cardinal Newman (8-2)
No. 6 Acalanes (9-1) at No. 3 Pittsburg (7-3)
No. 5 Monte Vista (8-2) at No. 4 San Ramon Valley (9-1)

The scheduling for these games is set for Friday at 7 p.m.

How are the lower divisions organized?

The playoffs extend through Division VII, ensuring representation across a wide range of school sizes and competitive tiers. Each division follows its own seeding and matchup logic. The following table outlines the primary matchups for the divisions scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.

Division	Matchup	Location/Notes
Division II	No. 6 Amador Valley (3-7) at No. 6 Northgate (10-0)	Friday, 7 p.m.
Division II	No. 7 Campolindo (6-4) at No. 2 Windsor (8-2)	Friday, 7 p.m.
Division II	No. 5 Antioch (8-2) vs. No. 4 Vintage (9-1)	Napa Memorial Stadium
Division III	No. 6 Heritage (6-4) at No. 3 Bishop O’Dowd (6-4)	Friday, 7 p.m.
Division III	No. 7 James Logan (4-6) at No. 2 Hayward (6-4)	Friday, 7 p.m.
Division III	No. 5 Benicia (6-4) at No. 4 Rancho Cotate (5-5)	Friday, 7 p.m.

In Division II, Northgate enters the postseason with a perfect 10-0 record, facing an Amador Valley team that sits at 3-7.

Where are the Division IV and V games located?

Several games are designated at specific venues rather than home fields. In Division IV, the matchup between No. 3 Analy (9-1) and No. 6 Napa (8-2) will take place at Napa Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. In Division III, the game between No. 8 Freedom (6-4) and No. 1 San Leandro (9-1) will be held at Burrell Field.

NCS Football Playoff Schedule and Matchups for All Divisions

Division V also features specific hosting duties. The matchup between No. 8 Montgomery (8-2) and No. 1 Ferndale (9-1) is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Montgomery, while the No. 7 Salesian (7-3) vs. No. 2 Fortuna (7-3) game will be held at Salesian on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Division VI and VII matchups feature Tennyson, Redwood Christian and Terra Linda

The lower divisions continue the Friday and Saturday schedule. Division VI features Tennyson (8-2) vs. Redwood Christian (8-2) at Foothill HS on Friday at 7 p.m. Division VII includes a high-profile matchup at Kezar Stadium, where No. 6 Terra Linda (6-4) faces No. 3 Stuart Hall (9-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Other Division VII games include:

No. 7 Justin-Siena (6-4) at No. 2 Alhambra (7-3)
No. 5 St. Helena (5-5) at No. 4 Cloverdale (7-3)
No. 8 Kelseyville (6-4) at No. 1 McKinleyville (7-3)

Fans can follow local score updates through official high school athletic association portals and local news outlets to track the progression of the bracket into Week 2 and Week 3.

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