PREP FOOTBALL : Franklin, Garfield in 3-A Final

Northern League champion Franklin High will play Eastern League champion Garfield for the City Section’s 3-A Division title tonight at 7:30 in what promises to be a classic confrontation of the pass vs. the run at East LA College stadium.

“This is what high school football is all about, “ Garfield Coach Steve Robinson said. “The leading rusher in the City against the No. 1 passer in the City.”

Franklin’s offense will be led by quarterback Santiago Alvarez, who threw a state-record 45 touchdown passes during the regular season and has added four more in the playoffs.

Alvarez, who has passed for more than 3,000 yards this season, will be looking for favorite receiver Lamar Lovett, who leads the Panthers with 88 receptions for 1,189 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The Panthers’ defense has allowed an average of four points a game and held defending 3-A champion South Gate to 63 yards rushing in last week’s semifinal victory.

Hilario Espinosa, Garfield’s tailback, has rushed for 24 touchdowns and 2,062 yards this season, including three touchdowns and 157 yards against Locke last week, and will need to be in top form tonight if the Bulldogs hope to bring home a City championship.

“Espinosa is a great tailback,” Franklin Coach Armando Gonzalez said. “He’s the key for the game.”

Although listed as the visitors, the Bulldogs may wind up with a home-field advantage at East LA College, where they knocked off San Pedro in the quarterfinals and squeaked past Roosevelt earlier this season in the East LA Classic, 28-27.