L.A. GAMES PREVIEW : Hart and Canyon to Renew Rivalry

Hart and Canyon highs, which have formed one of the area’s most prestigious football rivalries through the past seven falls, reluctantly will meet in the semifinals of the L.A. Games’ passing tournament Sunday.

Although the offense is limited to a passing attack under the L.A. Games’ format, the contest likely won’t pass without its share of emotion.

The schools meet in a traditional nonleague game that attracts 8,000 to 10,000 spectators, and one meeting a year is enough as far as Hart Coach Mike Herrington is concerned.

“We really don’t like to play (Canyon) during the summer,” Herrington said. “It’s a pretty emotional game. We’re big rivals and people make a pretty big deal over it.”

The winner of the 8:30 a.m. game at El Camino College will meet the winner of the Morningside-Westchester game in the final at noon.

Hart, which must replace all of its starting skill-position players from last year’s 9-1 team, has not reached the L.A. Games semifinals since 1986. This year Hart has beaten Fremont, 13-0; San Marino, 7-6; and Granada Hills, 14-13.

Junior quarterback Ryan Connors has played well in place of Rob Westervelt, who will play at Weber State in the fall. Connors, 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, led the sophomore team to the Foothill League championship last season.

Canyon Coach Harry Welch has been impressed with the Cowboys’ stingy defense and explosive offense. Canyon outscored Notre Dame, North Torrance and Kennedy, 88-26, in reaching the semifinals.

“Our defense has been aggressive and we’ve had good intensity,” Welch said.

Numerous area schools will compete in other sports today.

In baseball, City Section 4-A Division champion Chatsworth will play Tustin in a noon quarterfinal at Redondo High. The winner will play in the semifinals at 3 p.m at El Camino College.

Royal will play North Torrance in a quarterfinal boys’ soccer match at 9:30 a.m. at El Camino. In girls’ soccer, Chaminade faces Torrance for the championship at 10 a.m., also at El Camino.

In the fourth round of the boys’ basketball tournament, Cleveland will play Locke at 10 a.m. and Crescenta Valley will meet Manual Arts at noon in El Camino’s south gymnasium. In the north gym, Pasadena will play Carson at 11 a.m. and La Canada will meet Morningside at noon.

Three area schools are among the final eight competing in the girls’ basketball championships at Locke High. Channel Islands will play Cerritos at 10 a.m. and Buena will meet Simi Valley at 11 a.m.

In water polo, Harvard and Pasadena are among the final eight teams that will play at Harvard High today. The host school will meet Muir at 8 a.m. and Pasadena faces San Gorgonio at 11:30 a.m.