The North Coast Section flag football playoffs are officially HEATING UP, and listen, the top seeds are mostly holding serve. In only their third season with playoffs, the NCS is actually pretty dialed in on their seeding process. Division 1 and 2 saw all top four seeds cruise into Wednesday’s semifinals. Division 3 was almost perfect too, with just one mild upset when fifth seed Moreau Catholic-Hayward snagged a 31-25 win over No. 4 Hercules. The other top three seeds in D3 are still standing, no sweat.
Is Cardinal Newman Even Playing the Same Game?
Seriously, out of 16 teams to start in each division, that’s some solid accuracy from the NCS folks. They’re using the old-school enrollment model, not some fancy competitive equity ranking, and it’s working for the nation’s fastest growing high school sport. But let’s be real, there is ONE team that looks like they’re playing in a totally different league: Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa in Division 3. These guys are the defending Division 2 champs, and they’re a private school out of the North Bay.
Their quarterfinal opener? A ridiculous 52-0 BLOWOUT win over ninth seed Vallejo. A BYE last week and then they just drop a fifty-burger on their first playoff opponent. Last season, Newman went an UNBEATEN 24-0, outscoring opponents 951-95, including a 209-25 total against four NCS playoff teams. Coach Tino Retamoza wanted to play in the Division 1 tournament, saying, “but I understand we’re just getting started in the sport. All will work itself out.” Uh, yeah, it sure looks like it’s working out for them! Most of their key players are back, including Metro Player of the Year quarterback Nicole Hayeems, who threw for 6,000 yards and 77 touchdowns last season. Her twin sister and receiver, Naiomi, had 19 TD catches, and receiver-defensive back Molly Friedman is also back. This season, they’re 18-2, having outscored their 18 non-elite opponents 728-83. Their only losses were to top NCS D1 seed Amador Valley-Pleasanton (13-12) and defending D1 NCS champ San Ramon Valley-Danville (18-0). They’re definitely for real.
Hayeems is Putting Up Madden Numbers
In that 52-0 quarterfinal win over Vallejo, Nicole Hayeems was an absolute cheat code, going 16 of 26 for 237 yards and five touchdowns. Her sister Naiomi hauled in six catches for 95 yards and two scores, plus added two interceptions AND a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown. Zella Grigg even rushed for a 21-yard TD, Alina Kilstrom grabbed two interceptions (one for a pick-six!), and Molly Friedman snagged a 46-yard TD. It was a clinic! This season, Nicole Hayeems has completed 419 of 605 passes for 5,591 yards and a mind-blowing 88 touchdowns, with 24 to Naiomi, 22 to Friedman, and 17 to Colbie Piehl. Those are video game numbers, folks.
While Newman is set to host Moreau Catholic, who pulled that mild upset, it’s pretty unlikely Moreau will be much of a challenge. The real test might be lurking on the other side of the bracket, where another North Bay powerhouse, Sonoma Valley (17-4), travels to Alhambra-Martinez (15-6). Sonoma Valley has their own Player of the Year candidate in Capri Delorefice, who just picked off three more passes in a 26-13 quarterfinal win over Concord. That puts her at an NCS-best 31 interceptions on the season. Oh, and she’s also rushed for 2,399 yards and 32 touchdowns, plus grabbed 76 receptions for 813 yards and nine more scores. Talk about a do-it-all player!…