Santa Barbara Defense Poses a Stiff Test for Ventura : Prep football: Share of early lead in Channel League race at stake.

Santa Barbara and Ventura highs meet tonight at Larrabee Stadium in a game that likely will play an important role in determining the Channel League champion.

“If you’re thinking championship, Santa Barbara is definitely somebody you have to contend with,” Ventura Coach Harvey Kochel said.

When the teams meet at 7:30, two-time defending champion Santa Barbara (3-1, 1-0 in league play) will match its stingy defense against Ventura’s powerful offense. Santa Barbara has allowed 9.8 points a game while Ventura (3-1, 1-0), behind an enormous offensive line, has averaged 32 points and 386 yards a game.

Ventura quarterback Jeff Dietz, who has shared playing time with Trevor Rumsey, has completed 20 of 31 passes for 375 yards. Sophomore Derek Swafford has rushed for 333 yards in 52 carries and Jack Hammond has carried 43 times for 317 yards.

In a 35-10 win over Dos Pueblos last week, Hammond gained 133 yards and Swafford added 113 and three touchdowns. Senior Brian Righetti, one of the league’s best tight ends, returned to action last week after missing three games because of a groin injury. Kochel said Righetti is playing at 75-80% of normal strength.

Santa Barbara features all-purpose back Simon Banks, whom Super Prep magazine considers the seventh-best NCAA Division I prospect in the Far West.

“They have an awful lot of talent,” Kochel said.

Buena and San Marcos also are 1-0 in league play.

Among other games tonight:

El Camino Real and Cleveland will get a jump on the rest of the Northwest Valley Conference in a conference opener at Canoga Park High at 7.

In its first two games, El Camino Real (1-1) has received three-touchdown performances from running backs Ryan Marine and Chris Griggs, respectively. Each rushed for 98 yards in a 28-21 loss to Sylmar last week; Griggs scored on runs of one, 10 and 48 yards.

Cleveland (0-1-1) may have to play without quarterback Dave Erhardt, who suffered a bruised hip last week in a 14-14 tie with Monroe. The six other Northwest Valley teams begin conference play Friday night.