The wait is over.
Sunday morning’s bracket releases from the CIF Southern Section and CIF Los Angeles City Section delivered a historic clean sweep for Westside football: all six local programs monitored by The Santa Monica Sun have qualified for the 2026 postseason.
First kickoffs on Friday, November 6. Here’s everything you need to know:
CIF LA City Section — Open Division (No. 8 Seed)
Carson High School, Carson, CA
Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 PM
Palisades makes its second consecutive appearance in the Open Division, drawing the ultimate test right out of the gate against top-seeded Carson. The reigning Western League champions will hit the road to clash with a dominant Colts squad that swept the Marine League.
- Key 2026 Win: A wild 56-50 quadruple-overtime thriller at home against Brentwood on Sept. 11.
- Key 2026 Loss: A heart-wrenching 29-23 overtime defeat at Harvard-Westlake in the Aug. 28 opener.
- Player to Watch: Senior dual-threat quarterback Robert Holohan III alongside explosive junior wide receiver Malachi Ross (8 receiving TDs).
- 2025 Postseason: Fell 42-21 to Garfield in the LA City Section Quarterfinals.
Complete Palisades Dolphins 2026 schedule & scores
CIF Southern Section — Division 7
Corsair Field at Santa Monica College
Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 PM
The Mariners host a Los Altos team that started 8-0 and finished 9-1, tied for the best record of any team facing our six schools. On the other hand, St. Monica averages 42 points a game, and Los Altos’ only loss came when Baldwin Park hung 35 on them.
- Key 2026 Win: A 49-20 road blowout of St. Bernard in the regular-season finale to lock up second place in league play.
- Key 2026 Loss: A 42-26 home defeat against league champion Mary Star of the Sea on Oct. 2.
- Player to Watch: Senior quarterback Bradley Cassier, who opened the season finale with four first-half touchdown passes.
- 2025 Postseason: Dropped a 41-28 heartbreak to Brea Olinda in the CIF-SS Division 8 opening round.
Complete St. Monica Prep 2026 schedule & scores
CIF Southern Section — Division 8
Santa Monica High School
Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 PM
Santa Monica opens the postseason on its home turf against an Irvine-based Portola squad that finished 7–3 (2nd in the Pacific Coast League). The Bulldogs enter Pico on a surge after clinching a 26-25 thriller over Esperanza in their regular-season finale.
- Key 2026 Win: A dominant 48-29 road victory over El Segundo on Oct. 16.
- Key 2026 Loss: A 31-21 road decision at Culver City in the Oct. 30 regular-season finale.
- Player to Watch: Senior dual-threat RB/LB Saul Buendia (101.9 rushing YPG, 11 total TDs).
- 2025 Postseason: Reached the CIF-SS Division 10 Quarterfinals, defeating Pasadena (42-16) and Brentwood (14-13) before a tight 41-35 loss to Tahquitz.
Complete Samohi Vikings 2026 schedule & scores
CIF Southern Section — Division 10
Brentwood School, Los Angeles, CA
Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 PM
Brentwood hosts a Dos Pueblos team busing down the 101 all the way from Goleta, just north of Santa Barbara. On the other hand, the Eagles are 5-0 at home this season, so the Chargers’ road trip ends where nobody has won all year.
- Key 2026 Win: A defensive masterpiece in a 3-0 shutout win at Viewpoint in the season finale.
- Key 2026 Loss: A 56-50 four-overtime epic at Palisades on Sept. 11.
- Player to Watch: Senior RB/ILB Brendan Bowman, the physical heart and soul of the Eagles’ offense and defense.
- 2025 Postseason: Reached the CIF-SS Division 10 First Round, falling 14-13 to Santa Monica.
Complete Brentwood Eagles 2026 schedule & scores
CIF LA City Section — Division 1 (No. 3 Seed)
Venice High School, Venice, CA
Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 PM
The Gondoliers host a Huntington Park team that hasn’t won a road game all year. On the other hand, the Spartans put up 25 points a game, so Venice’s defense, which has allowed only 177 points all season, will have to earn it. This is a repeat of the 2023 playoffs. Venice won that game 55-7..
- Key 2026 Win: A decisive 21-7 victory over University in the regular-season finale to secure high seeding.
- Key 2026 Loss: A painful 15-14 league stumble against Hamilton on Oct. 23.
- Player to Watch: Senior running back Justen Key (76.6 rushing yards per game, 12 total TDs).
- 2025 Postseason: Reached the LA City Section Semifinals, beating Bell (38-0) and Franklin (35-8) before losing to Marquez (16-7).
Complete Venice Gondoliers 2026 schedule & scores
CIF LA City Section — Division 1
Granada Hills High School, Los Angeles, CA
Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 PM
The wildcats will have an away game against a run-first team that puts up 300 rushing yards almost every week. On the other hand, Uni has allowed only 138 points all season.
- Key 2026 Win: A 42-22 offensive explosion over Fairfax on Oct. 16.
- Key 2026 Loss: A nail-biting 14-13 loss to rival Palisades on Oct. 9.
- Player to Watch: Star running back William Biddle, who powered the offense with 11 rushing touchdowns.
- 2025 Postseason: Defeated Washington Prep 16-12 in the City Section opening round before being eliminated in a 27-18 loss to Fairfax.
Complete University Wildcats 2026 schedule & scores
The Santa Monica Sun is your home for Westside high school football all season long. Stay up-to-date with scores and schedules on our varsity football main page and follow on @thesantamonicasun for real-time news updates.
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