Western shakeup narrows the field

The playoffs have started out west and with some upsets on the scoreboard the race for the 2023 Dirty 30 national title has gotten tense. Two programs in the top-5 saw their dreams shattered last weekend, leaving only 6-8 teams with a real chance at capturing the title.

The Southern California playoffs were stunning. Ventura traveled to Fullerton and knocked off previously unbeaten Fullerton College in what was the biggest upset of the day. The Pirates ran for 250 yards on the ground against a Hornet defense that had been stout against the run all season. Lamonte James (pictured) ran for 195 yards and two scores as Ventura improved to 8-3 on the season. Fullerton dropped six spots to No. 9 in the rankings while Ventura rose 12 spots to No. 17.

The other game in Southern California was also a head-scratcher as Riverside City knocked off previously unbeaten Mt. San Antonio in a shootout, 51-48. The Tigers scored with 27 seconds remaining to earn a spot in the finals against Ventura and moved back up to No. 4 in the rankings as a result. Mt. SAC dropped five spots to No. 7 in the rankings, but has no chances remaining to win its third Dirty 30 title.

The Northern California title will come down to defending national champion San Mateo and American River this weekend after the two squads raced past their opponents. San Mateo has been rolling as of late and vaulted all the way to No. 2 in the rankings after a 41-19 beat-down on Modesto. American River trampled a wounded San Francisco squad, 41-6, in winning its seventh straight game and ascending to No. 6 in the rankings. The two programs played in week four, with San Mateo winning a cliffhanger (24-23). It’s also a rematch from last season’s Northern California title game.

The NJCAA final four is set and looks like an entertaining watch this weekend. Top-ranked Hutchinson will get a red hot (#8) East Mississippi program while No. 3 Iowa Western will host No. 5 Kilgore. The winners will meet on Wednesday, December 13, in Arkansas for the NJCAA title game.

#8 East Mississippi at #1 Hutchinson
#6 American River at #2 San Mateo
#5 Kilgore at #3 Iowa Western
#4 Riverside City at #17 Ventura
#10 Copiah-Lincoln at #22 Navarro (bowl)
#29 Reedley at #12 Butte (bowl)
#14 Snow at #18 Iowa Central (bowl, Sun)
#15 Dodge City at #35 New Mexico Military (bowl, Fri)
#37 Rochester at #21 DuPage (bowl, Sun)

The rest of the Dirty 30 Rankings follow. Just a reminder, the Dirty 30 Rankings do not include games against club teams, prep schools, non-CCCAA, non-NJCAA or non-HJCAC programs in its rankings.