Prep Football Games to Watch : Canyon High Puts Its Win Streak on the Line

Canyon High of Canyon Country will attempt to run its winning streak to 29 games against Encino Crespi, one of the most--if not the most--improved football teams in Southern California Friday night at Birmingham High.

Quarterback John Watkins and running back Lance Cross lead Canyon’s offense. Linebacker Randy Austin, also a dependable tight end, and middle guard Joe Zacharia spearhead the defense.

Crespi, which went 0-9-1 last season, struggled past St. Genevieve last week before scoring in the closing minutes to make it 7-0 and remain unbeaten. Quarterback Randy Redell completed 11 of 19 passes for 97 yards, including the game-winning touchdown.

Last year, Canyon beat Crespi, 46-0.

Granada Hills (3-0) at Gardena (2-1), Friday night--After a 7-3 season-opening loss to Long Beach Poly, Gardena has scored victories over Huntington Beach Ocean View, 24-23, and Cleveland, 23-7, to climb to No. 2 in the Times’ City poll. Gardena has Brian Brown, considered one of the top running backs in the state, but the Mohicans’ top scorer has been Demiterious Smith. No. 3-ranked Granada Hills has rolled up 100 points in its three games. The Highlanders have a top-notch passing combination, Brent Spurlin to Greg Fowble. Spurlin has thrown for 581 yards and nine touchdowns. Fowble, an All-City wide receiver last season as a junior, has 14 catches for 380 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Roosevelt (2-1) vs. Garfield (1-2) at East Los Angeles College, Friday night--This will be the 51st annual meeting between the two East Los Angeles schools, and a crowd of 22,000 is expected. Roosevelt holds a 25-18 edge and there have been seven ties. Roosevelt also won last year, after Garfield had won the previous five. This season, Roosevelt, the defending City 2-A champions, is led by two three-year lettermen, safety-wide receiver Danny Hernandez and linebacker-fullback Richard Mosqueda. Vannie Prudhomme, a junior transfer from L.A. Wilson, usually starts at fullback in the Roughriders’ single-back offense, but he missed practice this week and is expected to play sparingly. Garfield, with a junior-oriented offense, has a strong passing game with Ricky Sigala and Rudy de La Hoya at wide receiver.

South Torrance (4-0) vs. Santa Monica (2-1) at Santa Monica City College, Friday night--South could be Santa Monica’s best test in the Bay League. Each is 1-0 in league games and rated in the Coastal Conference. South quarterback Ken Semko broke a toe last week, but Tom Mace replaced him and not only maintained the lead but made an interception at defensive back. Santa Monica’s quarterback, Pat O’Hara, is among the best in the Southern Section. He threw four touchdown passes last week. He has a variety of receivers to throw to, including Travis Clark, Cedric Burris and Antoine Holland.

San Fernando (2-1) at Carson (2-1), Friday afternoon--San Fernando has yet to locate its offense, but a tough defense has kept the Tigers in games. The loss was to San Pedro, 9-7. San Fernando probably will need to find some offense against Carson, which has an aggressive defense that has consistently given the Colts good field position. Carson found its offense last week against Bishop Montgomery, scoring three touchdowns in a four-minute span in the third quarter of a 30-10 victory. Running back Alvin Goree has broken three long runs in the last two games and has four touchdowns. Dwayne Calloway directs the San Fernando offense, which features several running backs and a new threat at wide receiver in former tailback David Richards.

Whittier Christian (2-2) at Cerritos Valley Christian (4-0), Friday night--Whittier Christian, the two-time defending Inland Conference champions, last lost an Olympic League game in 1983, to Valley Christian. But Coach Tom Caffrey said the only way his fourth-ranked Heralds will be able to stop top-ranked Valley Christian this year is to “call out the Marines.” Behind the passing of Mike Zoetewey, the running of Rodney Bowman and a tenacious defense, the Crusaders have averaged 45 points a game, while holding opponents scoreless. Zoetewey has completed 34 of 45 passes for 524 yards and 9 touchdowns. Bowman is averaging eight yards a carry and has scored nine touchdowns.

Lawndale Leuzinger (4-0) at Hawthorne (4-0), Friday night--Neighborhood rivals will put unbeaten records on the line in a match of contrasting styles--Leuzinger’s passing attack and balanced offense against Hawthorne’s blazing speed. Leuzinger features quarterback Mike Reddington, receiver Sean Smith, who has six touchdowns, and fullback Ron Phyfer, who scored three times last week while rushing for 160 yards against Culver City. Hawthorne quarterback Alonzo Young, a member of Hawthorne’s state track champions, orchestrates a fleet of runners, the fastest of whom is Andre Jackson, who has rushed for six touchdowns. Brian Church has scored twice as a tight end and leads a physical defense as a linebacker.

El Monte Arroyo (4-0) vs. City of Industry Workman (3-1) at La Puente High, Friday night--After graduating most of its starters from last year’s team that finished 11-2 and reached the Southeastern Conference semifinals, Arroyo was supposed to be in for a rebuilding year in 1985. But don’t tell that to the Knights’ opponents, who have been outscored, 63-21, in four games. Two of the wins were shutouts. The offense is led by running back Jeff Nolte, who has 282 yards in 56 carries. Workman is another surprise, having gotten off to one of its best starts in recent years. One of the key reasons for Workman’s success is its balanced offense, which features quarterback Eric Ripke, wide receiver Barton Tyler and running back Marty Palmer.