The Cardinals, currently ranked No. 5 in the CIF-Southern Section Division I 8-Man Football, will kick off the first round of playoffs hosting West Shores of Salton City Saturday at a time to be determined.

SCCS finished second in the Heritage League behind perennial powerhouse Faith Baptist.

Faith Baptist tops the Division I polls and poses the biggest threat for the Cardinals in their trek through playoffs.

But first SCCS (7-2) will have to get past the 4-4 Wildcats, who finished No. 2 in the Warrior League.

"We're confident and it's going to be a good first-round matchup. We don't want to overlook it," said SCCS head coach Garrick Moss.

Moss is well aware of the competition that awaits the Cardinals should they get past West Shores on Saturday.

Avalon will be favored in its game against Montclair Prep.

Should SCCS win, it would likely play Avalon.

SCCS defeated Avalon 36-35 Nov. 17, 2007 in the second round of the playoffs.

"We're excited for the challenge," Moss said of the playoffs. "It's going to be a tough road and we just have to take it one week at a time."

In Moss' tenure, the Cardinals have never won a CIF title. The closest the team got was in 2003 when it lost to Riverside Christian in the Division I title game.

Last season, the Cardinals lost in a semifinal contest against Joshua Springs.

This season, it could be a more challenging postseason road, should SCCS surpass the first round.

"We're still physically the underdog," he said. "It's going to take a lot of heart and dedication to get us through,"

wmcneal@the-signal.com