Prep Football Games to Watch : Canyon Goes for 47th Straight Win

Canyon High School of Canyon Country has won 46 consecutive football games, dating back to 1983, and with a victory Friday night at Antelope Valley in Lancaster it can eclipse the Southern Section record first set by the Temple City teams of 1969-73.

Standing in the way is Antelope Valley (6-1-1), the best team the Cowboys have faced since their season opener against Hart (7-1) of Newhall. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Cardinal Newman of Santa Rosa won 47 in a row in 1972-77 for the state’s longest win streak. A victory next week would break that mark. But first things first.

A scoreless tie with Barstow in 45 m.p.h. winds and an 8-7 loss to Loyola, which scored in the final moments, are the only blemishes on Antelope Valley’s record. Canyon (8-0) is ranked No. 3 in The Times’ Southern Section poll.

Almost lost among the talk of records and streaks is that the game will yield the Golden League champion. Canyon beat Antelope Valley (9-7) in the Northwestern Conference championship game last season.

Cowboy quarterback Ken Sollom strikes a figure as imposing as the Canyon streak. He leads the Southern Section in passing with 1,854 yards and has thrown for 19 touchdowns.

Trevor Doyle, with 28 catches for 750 yards, and Paul Chadwell, with 28 for 355, are two of Sollom’s top receivers.

Bellflower St. John Bosco (8-0) at Encino Crespi (8-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m. The Del Rey League championship and a high seeding in the Big Five Conference playoffs are at stake. St. John Bosco is The Times’ No. 8 team. Crespi is rated fifth. Russell White, Crespi’s sensational sophomore tailback, has had the flu, but Coach Bill Redell said: “He should be OK for Friday.” Last week, Loyola frustrated White and almost pulled off an upset. White, with 1,313 yards, is averaging more than 13 yards a carry. St. John Bosco boasts a number of weapons, among them quarterback Jim Sterner. He doesn’t throw often, but when he does, good things usually happen.

Santa Monica (6-1) at Beverly Hills (7-1), Friday, 2:30 p.m. The winner will claim the Ocean League title. Last week, Beverly Hills easily beat Inglewood, but Santa Monica sputtered and scrambled in beating a Mira Costa team that has won just one game this season. Even so, Santa Monica moved into The Times’ No. 9 spot with the victory. Each team relies on the ground game. Beverly Hills’ Willie Crawford, who has rushed for 878 yards, has a chance to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Santa Monica tailback Mark Jackson has gained more than 700 yards.

Dorsey (5-2) vs. Carson (7-0), at Gardena, Tonight, 8 p.m. Carson couldn’t have picked a tougher opponent for its final tuneup before the traditional showdown with Banning. Carson is The Times’ second-rated City team. Fifth-ranked Dorsey pushed top-ranked Banning to the limit before a fourth-quarter field goal beat the Dons, 3-0, two weeks ago. Carson, with “The Calvin And Alvin Show,” has been an offensive machine. Calvin Holmes and Alvin Goree are a formidable pair of running backs, and the Colts have scored fewer than 30 points only once this season.

Santa Ana Saddleback (8-0) at Tustin (7-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saddleback is risking its unbeaten season in this battle for the Sea View League title. It has been 32 years since Tustin last qualified for the playoffs. Last week’s 35-6 win over Estancia of Costa Mesa ensured a berth, however. Tustin has already knocked off arch-rival Santa Ana Foothill, and beating Saddleback would make this a season to remember. Lani Machado, Tustin running back, has gained 859 yards this season. Saddleback counters with Nate Primous, who has rushed for 736 yards.

University (6-1) at Westchester (3-3-1), Friday, 8 p.m. University needs to win in order to stay even with Reseda in the race for the Pac-8 title. If the Warriors win, they will play Reseda next week for the championship. Last week, University pulled a bit of trickery in order to remain tied with Reseda. Trailing Venice, 31-27, with 47 seconds left, Paul Richardson took a reverse from Marc Rodgers and ran 99 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Westchester kept its hopes for a playoff berth alive with a win over Sylmar. Keith Bowen is Westchester’s leading running back with 551 yards. University running back Amani Davis has gained 518 yards.

Anaheim Servite (6-2) at Santa Fe Springs St. Paul (5-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m. “We don’t have to tell our kids about this one,” said Rick Ready, St. Paul coach. All-purpose rusher Mando Costello has 583 yards rushing and 223 yards receiving. Quarterback Jeff Willis of St. Paul has 1,379 yards passing. His favorite target is Jayson Pantages, who has 30 receptions for 451 yards. The Servite offense revolves around quarterback Jason Messersmith and receiver Nick-John Haiduc. Messersmith has thrown for 1,330 yards, but he has also thrown 12 interceptions. Haiduc has 38 receptions, 860 yards and 8 touchdowns.