Good Sports: High School Football State Championships

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- California's newly expanded high school football playoff format has given more schools an opportunity to play for a state title. Three Central Section schools - Hanford, Chowchilla and Immaneul - will play on Saturday night with a chance to win state.

The Hanford Bullpups host Bonita Vista of Chula Vista in the Division IV-AA championship.

"We obviously wanted to get back in the playoffs and defend the (CIF Central Section Division III) title. We knew with that we would get a state berth, once that happened it was all about who we played, how we were going to prepare for them and try and make it out of the first round and on to the state game and we've done that," said Hanford football head coach Josh Young.

Joining Hanford with a chance to play home is Chowchilla. The Redskins will host Sierra High out of Manteca for the Division IV-A title.

"We knew that we were going to have a pretty good team. These are things that you dream of. When you get to this point like were in, you want to seize it," said Chowchilla football head coach Alex Pittz.

Immanuel will travel down to Chula Vista to take on Mater Dei Catholic in the Division V-AA championship game.

"Our focus all year has been section title. This is just kind of icing on the cake but we are trying to treat this as a big time opportunity and we want to go out and win," said Immanuel football head coach Matt Armstrong.

All three games involving the Central Section schools are scheduled to kickoff at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.