Big Games : South Torrance vs. Redondo

Redondo (6-3 overall, 3-2 in Bay League) was riding high entering November but two straight league losses have the Sea Hawks fighting South High (6-2-1, 3-1-1) for the third playoff spot. West Torrance (4-0-1) figures to clinch the league while Santa Monica (4-1) can clinch second against winless Mira Costa. South’s grind-it-out attack and tough defense have been effective; no league opponent has scored more than 13 points. Redondo has given up 75 points in the last two weeks after winning four straight and junior quarterback Scott Yessner has been beleaguered lately. Running back Boots Coyoca remains among area scoring leaders with 11 touchdowns. Receiver Mike Jones has 8.

7:30 p.m. Friday at Redondo.

Serra vs. Mary Star

Serra is still hoping for a wild-card playoff berth and can improve its Camino Real League standing by beating its local rival. The Cavaliers, 4-5 overall and 3-3 in league, have an outside chance at tying St. Anthony for third though St. Anthony (4-2) would have to lose to winless Cantwell. Serra star Daryl Singleton has rushed for nearly 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns and quarterback Darryl Jackson has also scored 10 times. He passed for three last week against Salesian. Mary Star (3-5-1, 2-3-1) can move ahead of Serra with a victory. Quarterback Artie Lopez and tailback John Kunich lead the Stars.

7:30 p.m. Friday at Harbor College.

Banning vs. Gardena

Despite their slow start the Pilots are in good shape to finish second in the Pacific League. They are tied with Dorsey at 3-1 but Dorsey has to face league-leader Carson (4-0). The Pilots, 5-3 overall, have allowed only 19 points in league play but continue to be uninspiring on offense, though Earl Saunders has played well at fullback. Gardena, 4-4 and 2-2, has played everybody tough and has three losses by four points or less. The ground-oriented Mohicans have a fast team led by backs Brian Brown and Pee Wee Smith but will need to show more diversity against Banning’s tough defense.

8 p.m. Friday at Gardena.

Miraleste vs. Morningside

Surprising Morningside can clinch a tie for the Pioneer League title after upsetting Leuzinger last week. Miraleste is also looking for a playoff position, needing a victory plus a loss by Harvard or Leuzinger. Morningside is tied with Leuzinger and Harvard at 3-1, followed by Miraleste at 2-2. The Monarchs caught fire when Jason Carr was shifted from flanker to running back. He has nine touchdowns. Miraleste has one of the CIF’s best passing combinations in James Castle to Kelby Woodward but will have to cope with Morningside’s superior speed.

7:30 p.m. today at Sentinel Field.

Westchester vs. University

Two high-scoring offenses will be fighting for second place in the Pac-8 League. Both are coming off one-point games, Westchester a 14-13 victory over Sylmar, University a wild 28-27 loss to league-leader Venice. Westchester (7-1 overall, 5-1 in league) features a speedy ground attack that has scored more than 50 points three times this year. The Comets struggled last week but won as receiver David Brantly scored his 10th touchdown and running back Kevin Bowen his ninth. Quarterback Steve Kristy leads the dangerous offense. Venice, which is 6-0 in league, caught University (4-4, 4-2) last week in the last two minutes despite a 45-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jonn Moomaw to receiver Paul Richardson. Moomaw has thrown for about 1,000 yards while Richardson has more than 400 yards in receptions and is averaging more than 20 per catch. Running back William Harris leads the ground game.

2:30 p.m. Friday at University.