Featured Games : Brea-Olinda vs. La Habra

The records--Brea-Olinda (5-5), La Habra (8-2).

The site--La Habra Stadium.

The conference--Central.

Brea-Olinda update--Fred Camarena, who took over at quarterback when the Wildcats began Orange League play, had his best game passing last week, as he completed 12 of 19 attempts for 198 yards in a 29-26 loss to Western. Tight end Mike Knaus caught six passes for 105 yards. Brea had opened the league with three straight wins, but closed with losses to Valencia and Western. The Wildcats, who finished third in the Orange League, need more production from their running game, which netted only 88 yards last week.

La Habra update--The Freeway League-champion Highlanders don’t try to fool opponents on offense. They use a single-back formation and simply hand or pitch the ball to 5-foot 8-inch, 200-pound Chuck Weatherspoon. A punishing runner, Weatherspoon is Orange County’s third-leading rusher, having gained 1,478 yards in 149 carries and 14 touchdowns. Although he isn’t asked to carry much of the offensive load, sophomore quarterback Matt Shackelford has completed 52 of 133 attempts for 991 yards and 8 touchdowns. La Habra has shut out its last two opponents, Troy (19-0) and Sunny Hills (20-0).

Key to the game--For Brea to have any chance, the Wildcats must slow Weatherspoon. Good luck. Only two teams have held him to fewer than 100 yards, and he has rushed for 200 yards or more three times. The La Habra offensive line, which has the size advantage over Brea, must make sure Weatherspoon has a big night.

Consensus--The Wildcats have had trouble matching up against bigger, stronger teams, and it’s doubtful they’ll be able to stop Weatherspoon. Give La Habra the edge.

Norwalk vs. Valencia

The records--Norwalk (5-4-1), Valencia (8-2).

The site--Bradford Stadium.

The conference--Central.

Norwalk update--The Lancers, third-place representatives from the Suburban League, have relied on the running of Andy Nogale, who has rushed for 901 yards in 182 carries and scored 4 touchdowns, and the passing of quarterback Steve Locke, who has completed 74 of 174 attempts for 989 yards and 8 touchdowns. Norwalk’s leading receiver, Danny Cabrera (17 catches for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns), also has three interceptions. The Lancers have been eliminated from the Central Conference playoffs in the first round by an Orange County team in each of the past three seasons.

Valencia update--Running back Ray Pallares, who has amassed 5,098 yards in his three-year varsity career, is 116 yards away from breaking the CIF Southern Section career rushing record of 5,213 yards, held by Whittier Christian’s Craig Johnson (1973-75). Pallares finished the regular season with 1,786 yards in 246 carries and 20 touchdowns. He is joined in the backfield by Tony Goulet, who has gained 726 yards in 112 carries and scored 10 touchdowns. The Tigers, co-champions of the Orange League, have advanced to the Central Conference semifinals for two straight years.

Key to the game--The Tigers have not developed the kind of passing attack Coach Mike Marrujo was hoping for at the beginning of the season, but quarterback Jeff Martinez won’t need to throw very often against the Lancers. If they receive the kind of performance they’ve gotten all year from their outstanding offensive line and the dependable Pallares, the Tigers should be able defeat Norwalk.

Consensus--Valencia should extend Norwalk’s Orange County playoff losing streak to four.

Cerritos vs. Los Alamitos

The records--Cerritos (7-3), Los Alamitos (9-1).

The site--Hanford Rants Stadium, Gahr High.

The conference--Southern.

Cerritos update--The Dons’ record would be 9-1, but they had to forfeit two early-season wins because they used an ineligible player. Even seven victories makes this the most successful team in Cerritos’ history and the first to make the playoffs since 1977. The Dons lost by just three points to Lynwood last week, 11-8, in the game that decided the San Gabriel Valley League championship. A talented tailback, Andre Wooten, leads the Cerritos offense. Wooten has rushed for 1,415 yards and 16 touchdowns in 224 carries. The Dons don’t pass much, but quarterback Greg Pilioglas (53 completions in 109 pass attempts for 537 yards) has been effective when he has thrown.

Los Alamitos update--The Griffins are coming off a last-minute, 24-21 win over El Dorado that clinched a share of their first Empire League championship in nine years. The engineers of the comeback were quarterback J.T. Snow and receiver Robby Katzaroff. Snow has completed more passes, 113, than Cerritos’ Pilioglas has even attempted this season. He has completed 58.5% of his passes for 1,554 yards and 22 touchdowns. Katzaroff, who scored all 24 of last week’s points with his receiving and kicking, is the county’s leading scorer and receiver with 139 points and 72 catches for 1,152 yards. He currently is third on the all-time county single-season receiving list, two catches behind Costa Mesa’s Dan Bauer (1979) and 9 short of the record of 81 set by Fullerton’s David Sepulveda last season.

Key to the game--Snow and Katzaroff play well in pressure conditions. It is unlikely that combination will falter tonight, but they must have their usual outstanding games if Los Alamitos is to advance. Another key for Los Alamitos will be halting Wooten. John Barnes, Los Alamitos coach, said Wooten compares favorably with the Empire League’s best running back, Chris Wright of Loara. But, as Barnes has pointed out, Los Alamitos’ defense has been underrated.

Consensus--If the Griffin defense plays an aggressive game, and if the offense is able to establish any rushing game at all, Snow and Katzaroff should be able to lead Los Alamitos to a win.