North County flag football upsets shake brackets ahead of semifinals

Carlsbad and Classical Academy have eliminated the top two seeds from the Open Division bracket, positioning both schools for a potential championship game on Nov. 7.

The eighth-seeded Carlsbad Lancers defeated top-seeded San Marcos 34-7 on Oct. 28. The team now travels to fourth-seeded Torrey Pines for a 7 p.m. semifinal match on Nov. 3. Torrey Pines earned its spot by defeating fifth-seeded Mira Mesa 19-7 earlier this week.

Classical Academy, the seventh seed, beat second-seeded Bonita Vista 25-20. The Caimans will face third-seeded Helix at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Helix advanced after a 12-6 victory over sixth-seeded Mission Hills. Both teams sit on opposite sides of the bracket, leaving open the possibility that the Nov. 7 final at Olympian High School will feature only local North County teams.

In Division I, third-seeded La Costa Canyon advanced by defeating sixth-seeded Mater Dei Catholic 26-21 on Oct. 29. The Mavericks will travel to second-seeded Scripps Ranch at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3. Scripps Ranch won its quarterfinal match against Mt. Carmel 20-7.

Oceanside has secured a place in the Division IV semifinals after winning three consecutive games in four days. The Pirates beat Orange Glen 12-7 on Oct. 26, then defeated fifth-seeded El Cajon Valley 26-7 on Oct. 27. They completed their run to the semifinals with a 20-0 shutout of fourth-seeded Liberty Charter on Oct. 29. Oceanside will play at eighth-seeded Santana at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Other local teams advanced in lower divisions. Escondido Charter defeated Valley Center 38-8 on Oct. 29 and will host Poway at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3. San Pasqual ended its season with a 20-19 loss to O’Farrell Charter. The Division III semifinal games are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 3, with O’Farrell Charter visiting Patrick Henry.

All divisional finals are scheduled for Nov. 7 at Olympian High School. The Division IV championship begins the day at 10 a.m., followed by Division II at 2 p.m., Division I at 4 p.m., and the Open Division at 6 p.m.