Temecula Valley football opens its CIF Southern Section playoff run Friday, Nov. 6, hosting Oaks Christian at 7 p.m. in a Division 5 first-round game.

The Golden Bears enter at 9-1 after closing the regular season with back-to-back wins. Head coach J. Nichols' squad beat Corona 41-27 on Oct. 23 and Roosevelt 20-13 on Oct. 29, according to MaxPreps. Temecula Valley finished 4-1 in league play, good for second place.

The lone blemish was a 10-33 loss to Great Oak on Oct. 16 that ended a seven-game winning streak to start the season.

Golden Bears by the numbers

Junior quarterback Caden Chrisman has completed 64.7% of his passes with six touchdown throws and a 95.3 QB rating. He also averages 48.2 rushing yards per game.

Junior running back Deven Krause leads the offense with 85.1 rushing yards per game and nine total touchdowns. Junior wideout Evan Estrada paces the receiving corps at 38.5 yards per game, while junior Graham Allen has hauled in four touchdown catches.

Senior kicker Colin Elia has made 11 field goals this season. He and senior cornerback Cade Cunningham were named players of the game after the Corona win, according to MaxPreps. Cunningham leads the secondary with four interceptions.

On defense, sophomore linebacker Keaton Cadrez averages 8.1 tackles per game. Sophomore Chadd Mitchell adds 7.5 tackles per game and 1.5 sacks this season.

Scouting Oaks Christian

The Lions arrive from Westlake Village with a 3-7 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the Marmonte League under head coach Rudy Carlton, according to MaxPreps.

Oaks Christian has won three of its last four games, including a 51-7 rout of Bishop Diego on Oct. 30 and a 14-6 defensive grind against Newbury Park on Oct. 23. The Lions scored 188 points this season and allowed 290, but they carry a two-game winning streak into the bracket.

That Newbury Park win showcased a fierce defensive front. The Ventura County Star reported that Oaks Christian piled up five sacks and 11 quarterback hurries in the victory. Newbury Park head coach Joe Smigiel said, "That was one of best (defensive) lines I have ever coached against in high school."

What's next

The Los Angeles Times published the full CIF Southern Section bracket on Nov. 1, listing Oaks Christian at Temecula Valley in Division 5. The winner advances to the quarterfinals Nov. 13, with semifinals Nov. 20 and finals Nov. 27.

The game is at Temecula Valley High School, 31555 Rancho Vista Rd.