HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FRIDAY’S TOP GAMES

MUIR VS. FONTANA

Friday at Fontana High, 7:30 p.m.

The Muir High football team made a favorable impression in its 38-13 victory over Palmdale in its season opener last week, but so much for the easy portion of the team’s non-league schedule. The final four games--Fontana, L.A. Banning, Bishop Amat and Servite--are the most difficult by far. The Mustangs could face their biggest challenge against a Fontana squad that went 14-0 en route to the Southern Section Division I title last season. Fontana opened with a 27-13 victory over Montclair. The powerful Steelers have an imposing offensive line that includes prep All-American tackles Robert Loya (6-foot-3, 280 pounds) and Clay Hattabaugh (6-3, 265), who provide solid blocking for running backs Don Small and Hollerith Jones. The defense is led by All-Division I linebacker Bobby Sylvester. The Mustangs, with quarterback Sedrick Thomas, defensive backs Reggie Reser, Demetrice Martin and Hasan McCullough and more than adequate size on the line with guards Hank Curtis (6-1, 251) and Fred Sayegh (6-2, 263), might be the most talented team on Fontana’s schedule.

BISHOP AMAT VS. CARSON

Friday at Long Beach Veterans Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

When these teams met the past two seasons, the results were strikingly similar. Carson, a perennial L.A. City Section power, entered both games as one of the top-ranked teams in the nation, but lost 17-13 and 24-23. That should provide plenty of incentive for the Colts, who are once again ranked among the best in the nation in preseason polls. But Bishop Amat figures to be anything but a pushover. The Lancers opened the season by defeating Rubidoux, 37-7. Bishop Amat was led by running back Scott Fields, who rushed for 129 yards in only nine carries, and quarterback Zack Zertuche, who threw for three touchdowns. Lancer linebacker Jason Patterson, who also starts at fullback, helped hold Rubidoux to 80 total yards. This will be the season opener for Carson, which expects to have a solid defense that includes prep All-America defensive back Clayvand Thomas and linebackers Marcus Long (6-2, 218) and Tarriel Hopper (6-3, 212).

NOGALES VS. ARROYO

Friday at Arroyo High, 7:30 p.m.

It will be a matchup of similar offensive philosophies when these San Gabriel Valley teams meet in a non-league game. Both teams prefer to run the ball with their veer-option offenses. Nogales has dominated this series in recent seasons and won last year’s game, 28-14. The result could be similar this time. Nogales (1-0) unveiled an outstanding one-two combination at running back in its 19-12 victory over highly regarded Claremont last week. Junior Lawrence Lanham rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown in 14 carries and senior Tyrone Edwards, regarded as a major-college prospect, added 88 yards in 15 carries. The Nobles, who reached the Division IV semifinals for the first time last season, also have a big-play defense that includes linemen Shermaine Thompson and Tony Verran and linebacker Luis Cuevas. Arroyo (0-1) is led on offense by junior quarterback Keith MacLellan and lineman Chris Jacobson (6-4, 220).

GLENDORA VS. WEST COVINA

Friday at West Covina, 7:30 p.m.

Entering the season, this game might not have been the most intriguing matchup, but a week can make a big difference. Both teams shut out their opponents in season openers. Glendora, which tied Ramona for the Southern Section Division IV title last season, stopped South Hills, 12-0. West Covina, in its first game under new coach Jim Wright, rolled to a surprisingly easy 32-0 victory over Don Lugo. West Covina, which appeared considerably stronger than last year’s team that struggled to a 2-7-1 record, relied mostly on its defense that recorded two safeties and limited Don Lugo to 46 total yards. It was business as usual for Glendora, which had one of the top defenses in the valley last season and held South Hills to 114 total yards. Glendora is led on offense by running back Bill Zernickow and West Covina by quarterback Gary Nesbitt.