State football championships staying in L.A.

The Home Depot Center in Carson will remain the host site for the 2008 and 2009 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Games, CIF Executive Director Marie M. Ishida has announced.

All five games will be played over two days, Fri. and Sat., Dec. 19 and 20. Selection of this year's participating teams will be made Sun., Dec. 14.

The CIF Federated Council agreed in January to increase the championships from three divisions to five beginning this year, increasing to 10 the number of teams that will compete for a state football championship.

The exact format of the five games is likely to be determined later this month, though it has been recommended that one contest feature an "Open Division" pitting the top team from Northern California against the top team from Southern California, as selected by the Section Commissioners, regardless of school enrollment.

In addition, the UCA/Macy's California State Cheerleading Championships and a Coaches Clinic will continue as ancillary events to the state football games.