Photos: Top moments from Friday’s exciting high school football semifinals

Christian Lee #3 of Rio Hondo Prep catches a pass for a touchdown against La Serna in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5 football semifinal game at West Covina High School in West Covina on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Santa Margarita running back Jaion Smith, right, pushes away Orange Lutheran Anthony McClure on his way to the end zone for a touchdown in the CIF-SS Division 1 football semifinal playoff in Costa Mesa on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Ralph Vargas (69) of Saddleback sacks the Woodbridge quarterback Waylon Stone (9) in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 13 playoffs at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Leuzinger running back Journee Tonga leaps to catch the ball during the Olympians’ game against San Clemente on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)

Carson’s Kingston Sula sacks Garfield QB Javier Vargas in second quarter of LA City Open Division semifinal football game Friday November 21, 2025 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei tight end Mark Bowman (19) leaps over Centennial defensive back Jaden Walk-Green (6) after the first down catch in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

La Habra’s Kevika Mata’Utia- Martinez (4) carries the ball against Oaks Christian during their CIF-SS Div. 4 semifinal game at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Brady Beals (62) lifts David Bosley (5) of Woodbridge in the air as they celebrate after Bosley scored a touchdown in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 13 playoffs at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

of La Serna of Rio Hondo Prep in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5 football semifinal game at West Covina High School in West Covina on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Centennial wide receiver Ty Plinski (80) makes the as Mater Dei defensive back CJ Lavender Jr. (5) defends in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Orange Lutheran running back Sean Morris is pullled down from behind by a Santa Margarita defender for a loss in the CIF-SS Division 1 football semifinal playoff in Costa Mesa on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Crenshaw’s Zeven Davis (5) incepts a pass intended for Birmingham’s Jimmy Renteria (3) during first quarter action in the City Section Open Division football semifinals at Birmingham High on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Oaks Christian’s Deshonne Redeaux (4) tries to get by La Habra’s Bobby Brooks (5) during their CIF-SS Div. 4 semifinal game at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

San Clemente quarterback Preston Beck throws the ball during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei running back Kennie Leggett (28) celebrates his touch run with Mater Dei wide receiver Gavin Honore (6) against Centennial in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Quarterback Grady Long #1 of La Serna stopped at the goal line on 4th and 1 by the Rio Hondo Prep defense in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5 football semifinal game at West Covina High School in West Covina on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Santa Margarita cover their on-side kick as Santa Margarita defensive back Hunter McKinney, right, moves in to recover the ball against Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 1 football semifinal playoff in Costa Mesa on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Chris Romero (21) of Saddleback pushes Woodbridge quarterback Waylon Stone (9) out of bounds in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 13 playoffs at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Crenshaw’s Joshua Jones (6) is stopped near the goal line by Birmingham’s Jesse Mancilla (43) and Matthias Quin (13) during first quarter action in the City Section Open Division football semifinals at Birmingham High on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Centennial Boogie Williams (5) points for the first down after making the catch on 4th and 16 against Mater Dei in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Birmingham’s Dallas Jones (5) is brought down by a Crenshaw defender during first quarter action in the City Section Open Division football semifinals at Birmingham High on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Carson back Zach Brock shouts after TD run vs. Garfield in LA City Open Division semifinal football game Friday November 21, 2025 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

San Clemente wide receiver Jesse Torres runs with the ball after making a catch during the Tritons’ game against Leuzinger on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)

Running back Jordan Bonilla #2 of La Serna runs for a 56 yard touchdown against Rio Hondo Prep in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5 football semifinal game at West Covina High School in West Covina on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Los Alamito’s quarterback Colin Creason (3) runs for yardage during a CIIF Division 2 semifinal game against Murrieta Valley at Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Nick Koon, Contributing Photographer)

Crenshaw’s Joshua Jones (6) runs for yardage as Birmingham’s Matthew Barragan (32) defends on the play during first quarter action in the City Section Open Division football semifinals at Birmingham High on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Birmingham’s Braylen Morgan (26) runs for yardage as Crenshaw’s Zeven Davis (5) defends on the play during first quarter action in the City Section Open Division football semifinals at Birmingham High on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Carson QB Chris Fields throws deep pass vs. Garfield in LA City Open Division semifinal football game Friday November 21, 2025 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Carson back Eric Myers gets caught after big gain by Garfield’s Alex Castro in LA City Open Division semifinal football game Friday November 21, 2025 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Chris Romero (21) of Saddleback gets gang-tackled by the Woodbridge defense after a kickoff return in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 13 playoffs at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Noah Penunuri #31 of Rio Hondo Prep runs for a first down against La Serna in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5 football semifinal game at West Covina High School in West Covina on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Mater Dei tight end Mark Bowman (19) runs after the catch as Centennial defensive back Dean Gibson (13) tackles him in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Quarterback Grady Long #1 of La Serna passes against Rio Hondo Prep in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5 football semifinal game at West Covina High School in West Covina on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Los Alamito’s Kamden Tillis (8) runs the ball during a CIIF Division 2 semifinal game against Murrieta Valley at Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Nick Koon, Contributing Photographer)

Carson back Zach Brock runs into end zone for two-point conversion vs. Garfield in LA City Open Division semifinal football game Friday November 21, 2025 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Leuzinger running back Journee Tonga rushes with the ball during the Olympians’ game against San Clemente on November 21st, 2025. (Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)

Birmingham’s Dallas Jones (5) eludes Crenshaw’s Jayce Jones (13) for a gain during first quarter action in the City Section Open Division football semifinals at Birmingham High on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Santa Margarita running back Adrian Petero trots into the end zone for a touchdown against Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 1 football semifinal playoff in Costa Mesa on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Centennial wide receiver Gavin Lorge (17) makes the catch and Mater Dei defensive back Jaylen Grier (14) defends in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Jalen Webb (6) of Woodbridge catches a pass over the defense of Favian Soria (5) of Saddleback in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 13 playoffs at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Centennial defensive lineman Miles Schirmer (15) tackles Mater Dei quarterback Ryan Hopkins (10) on short run in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Crenshaw’s QB Danniel Flowers runs for a gain as Birmingham’s Chris Barrera (20) defends during first quarter action in the City Section Open Division football semifinals at Birmingham High on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Rio Hondo Prep fans cheer after a touchdown against La Serna in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5 football semifinal game at West Covina High School in West Covina on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

David Bosley (5) of Woodbridge scores a touchdown in the second quarter in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 13 playoffs against Saddleback at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Murrietq Valley’s Jacob Taddi (3)jumps to avoid the defense during a CIIF Division 2 semifinal game against Los Alamitos at Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Nick Koon, Contributing Photographer)

Quarterback Grady Long #1 of La Serna stopped at the goal line on 4th and 1 by the Rio Hondo Prep defense in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5 football semifinal game at West Covina High School in West Covina on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Orange Lutheran running back Sean Morris pulls in a pass against Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 1 football semifinal playoff in Costa Mesa on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Tyler Dang #2 of Rio Hondo Prep catches a pass for a first down against Ayden Contreras #20 of La Serna in the first half of a CIF-SS Division 5 football semifinal game at West Covina High School in West Covina on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Carson QB Chris Fields throws on the run as Garfield’s Jaciel Hernandez defends during LA City Open Division semifinal football game Friday November 21, 2025 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Murrieta Valley’s Juliann Treadwell (6) runs for yardage during a CIIF Division 2 semifinal game against Los Alamitos at Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Nick Koon, Contributing Photographer)

Garfield back Jastice Jauregui was stifled by Carson defense in LA City Open Division semifinal football game Friday November 21, 2025 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Centennial running back Malaki Davis (20) leaps for the end zone for a touchdown against Mater Dei in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinal game in Corona on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)