HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : DESERT-MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE : Atascadero vs. Santa Maria St. Joseph

A rematch of Los Padres League rivals will determine the Desert-Mountain Conference championship as Atascadero meets St. Joseph of Santa Maria Friday night at 7:30 at Atascadero High.

The host Greyhounds, coached by Larry Welsh, are making their fourth title-game appearance, having won in 1982 and ’83 and finishing second in 1980. This is St. Joseph’s first time in the final.

Atascadero, seeded fourth with a 10-2-1 record, defeated St. Joseph, 32-16, for the league championship Oct. 25. In the playoffs, the Greyhounds have beaten Oxnard Santa Clara, Irvine Woodbridge and Calabasas.

Atascadero features a balanced attack with quarterback Darin Brebes and running back Mike Milbury. David Hurst is a standout on the line.

Santa Maria, 7-3 entering the playoffs, defeated Agoura in the opening round before upsetting third-seeded Riverside La Sierra and second-seeded North Hollywood Harvard. The Knights were No. 1 in the Desert-Mountain Conference preseason poll.

Mark Brunell, who threw for 1,845 yards in the regular season, and senior fullback Pat Huguenard, who caught 42 passes for 435 yards, lead the St. Joseph offense.