FOOTBALL: The Waiting Game

The Palo Alto High football program won't be in a holding pattern for much longer.

The landscape will be crystal clear on Sunday afternoon.

The 13-0 Vikings, who have been idle since winning the Central Coast Section Open Division title a week ago, are widely expected to land an invitation to play in a California Interscholastic Federation State Championship Bowl Game in Carson on Dec. 17-18.

The 10 CIF section commissioners meet to pick the field for the state's five title games on Sunday morning, and then their selections will be announced early that afternoon.

While awaiting its fate, Palo Alto practiced three times this week, including Wednesday in a driving rain. The players seemed loose and confident – despite not knowing exactly what the future holds.

"I think we can definitely qualify for a state bowl with an undefeated season," two-way lineman Michael Lyzwa said. "It doesn't mean that we will because it comes down to a vote behind closed doors, and you don't know what can happen."

Palo Alto coach Earl Hansen, who is scouting potential opponents in Southern California this weekend, said he has no doubt that his team will be one of Northern California's representatives at the Home Depot Center in a week.

"No," said Hansen, when asked whether he could forecast any scenario in which his Vikings would miss out on a state bid. "That's probably the only stable part."

The coach was referring to the uncertainty of his team's destination – the Vikings could play in the CIF Open Division championship or the Division I title game.

That outcome should start to come into focus on Saturday night following the North Coast Section's Division I championship. De La Salle of Concord (12-0) meets California-San Ramon (12-1) at 4 p.m. at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Should De La Salle win its 18th straight NCS crown, the Spartans would be a near-lock to play in the CIF Open Division game on Dec. 18. That would send Palo Alto to the CIF Division I game on Dec. 17.

But if California pulls an upset over De La Salle – and California was within six points of the Spartans with just over three minutes left in the teams' regular-season meeting and just missed recovering an onside kick – then the CIF picture becomes murky.

In that scenario, Palo Alto and a 13-1 California team that ended De La Salle's incredible Northern California run would both have a strong argument for playing in the CIF Open Division game – with the other then tabbed for the state's Division I championship.

"If De La Salle gets upset, then the Open Division north is open," said Hansen, whose team is the first team to beat three straight West Catholic Athletic League teams in the CCS playoffs and is the inaugural undefeated champion of the CCS Open Division. "We'll play (next) Friday night unless all kinds of hell breaks loose."

The entire Palo Alto coaching staff is scouting at tonight's CIF Southern Section Inland Division championship pitting Vista Murrieta (12-1) and Corona-Centennial in Riverside County. On Saturday night, the Viking coaches will head to the Southern Section Pac-Five Division title game between Servite-Anaheim and Mission Viejo at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

The Southern California entrant in the CIF Open Division game is likely to be the winner between Servite (13-0) and Mission Viejo (13-0). With a decisive win tonight, Centennial (13-0) could be in the Open picture, but analysts suggest a Division I berth is more probable for Centennial because of its less demanding schedule.

Should favored Centennial lose, the Southern California representative in the CIF Division I game could be the winner of tonight's Southern Section Northern Division game between two Westlake Village teams – Westlake (12-1) and Oaks Christian (11-2).

Winning a section championship is mandatory for gaining a berth in the CIF State Championship Bowl Games. From there, the CIF commissioners select teams based on won-loss record, strength of schedule, head-to-head competition and common opponents.

The chosen teams will be announced to the public first on the CIF Facebook page. You can become a fan of the CIF by going to http://www.facebook.com/CIFstate.

There is a pre-selection show that can be seen at 12 p.m. on Sunday on KBC Sports.com.

Meanwhile, all Palo Alto can do for now is to wait.

Amidst the euphoria following the Vikings' 21-14 win over Valley Christian last week, Palo Alto co-captain T.J. Braff said, "It would crush everyone's souls if they didn't choose us."

Following a mid-week practice, teammate Morris Gates-Mouton said: "We're thinking, 'OK, we're in.' We've got to keep that mentality."

"Every day we're getting closer," he added, "we're more and more hyped up."