Same Teams, Different Faces : Prep football: Torrance defeated Morningside, 13-12, on Sept. 14, but both teams have made several changes in their lineups as they prepare to meet in Friday’s playoff game.

Morningside High’s Ron Tatum, like all football coaches, prides himself on preparing the Monarchs for their opponents.

And this week, as the Monarchs (9-2) prepare to play at Torrance (8-3) in the CIF-Southern Section Division VIII quarterfinals on Friday at 7:30 p.m., it would appear that Tatum’s job is fairly easy. After all, Morningside played at Torrance during the regular season and Tatum has vivid memories of the contest (not to mention game film).

But that contest, won by the Tartars, 13-12, was played 10 weeks ago on Sept. 14. Tatum barely recognizes either squad today.

“We were so different when we played them,” Tatum said, adding that he was still experimenting with various lineups and strategies. “We had our big people playing then and now we we are running with our smaller group.”

Moreover, Morningside had yet to utilize the full talents of sophomore Stais Boseman. A quarterback-flanker, Boseman has made a habit of performing a statistical oddity: throwing for a touchdown pass and catching a touchdown pass in the same game.

Boseman accomplished the trick most recently last week, in Morningside’s 20-13 opening-round victory over Atascadero. Boseman, like many young players, has improved as the season has progressed.

But Tatum also believes Torrance has made great strides since the second week of the season, even if the Tartars are without running back Carlos Hilliard (broken leg), who scored both of Torrance’s touchdowns and rushed for 90 yards in the first meeting with Morningside.

“They have a big offensive line and their backs have been running hard behind it,” said Tatum, whose team is seeded second in the division and riding a seven-game winning streak. “(Jason) Kendall is one of the best quarterbacks in the South Bay area, and he has done nothing but improve.

“Last time, their line really moved us around, and that was with our big people in there. As a team, they’ve come a long way--like we have.”

Kendall, a junior, earned his first varsity victory as starting quarterback in the Morningside game. He has since emerged as a polished offensive leader.

And Coach Rich Busia’s running game, which disappeared after the loss of Hilliard, has reappeared in the past two weeks in better shape than ever behind the one-two punch of Tony Lomeli and Scott Hagerman.

Hagerman, who had 140 yards last week, provided the decisive margin in Torrance’s earlier victory over Morningside with an extra-point kick.

Other Southern Section quarterfinals involving area teams:

DIVISION III

Esperanza of Anaheim (11-0) at Leuzinger (8-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday--Two second-half touchdowns gave Leuzinger a 20-16 road victory over Crespi in the first round, with Marvin Johnson’s 10-yard run providing the winning points. Top-seeded Esperanza beat Alhambra, 47-0, at home last week, scoring 38 points in the first half. Running back Jarod Smith carried only eight times in Esperanza’s Delaware wing-T offense, but made the most of his opportunities with 174 yards and three touchdowns. Smith has eight touchdowns in the past three games and is a 1,000-yard rusher.

Hawthorne (9-2) vs. Loara of Anaheim (7-4) at Glover Stadium (Anaheim), 7:30 p.m. Friday--Running back Morrell Ollis (136 yards) had a typically productive game as Hawthorne beat Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 28-21, in the opening round. Coach Goy Casillas is hoping the victory will provide some momentum for his team, which entered the playoffs off a loss. Loara beat Villa Park, 26-14, last week while piling up 298 rushing yards. Shawn Easter led the way with 106 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

DIVISION VII

Serra (9-0) at La Mirada (9-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday--Serra, rated No. 1 in the South Bay by The Times and the top-seeded team in the division, survived a scare last week. Trabuco Hills led, 21-20, going into the fourth quarter. But Jerald Henry led the way for Serra, coming up with a key interception and a 78-yard scoring run in the final quarter as the Cavaliers won, 34-21. Actually, the biggest scare Serra got was a knee injury suffered by Henry in the third quarter that kept him out of a few defensive plays. But the injury proved to be minor, and he is expected to be at full strength this week. La Mirada is going for its second upset in a row. The Matadors knocked off San Fernando Valley League champion Harvard, 21-14, on the road. The come-from-behind victory was keyed by quarterback Carlos Jimenez, who threw touchdown passes to Mike Moschetti and Scott Keawekane. La Mirada was a CIF semifinalist last year.

DIVISION VIII

Cabrillo of Lompoc (9-2) at Mira Costa (6-4-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday--Mira Costa has won five of six games. Running back James Franks has keyed the resurgence, rushing for 162 yards in a 28-6 first-round victory at Yucaipa. The Mustangs have scored in double digits every week following a scoreless tie with El Segundo on opening night. Top-seeded Cabrillo beat visiting Santa Clara of Oxnard, 38-10, in the first round.

Bloomington (9-2) vs. Palos Verdes (6-5) at North Torrance High, 7:30 p.m. Friday--This game features a hot offense against a hot defense: Palos Verdes has scored 90 points in its past two games, while Bloomington shut out South Torrance, 17-0, in the first round. Running back George Felactu (12 touchdowns) has set the pace for Palos Verdes all season. He appears to have regained the early-season form that drove the Sea Kings to a 3-0 mark. Felactu had 116 yards in a 45-18 first-round victory over Paso Robles, and quarterback Tim King enjoyed his best game with 195 yards and four touchdowns passing.

Temecula Valley (8-3) at West Torrance (9-2), Friday 7:30 p.m.--West has been living on the edge. The Warriors’ past four games have been decided by three points or less and they have gone 3-1. For the season, West is 5-2 games decided by five points or less. Furthermore, the Warriors are only seven points away from a perfect season. West is led by Pioneer League MVP Alex Schultz, a senior fullback and linebacker. Temecula Valley is going after its second consecutive victory over a South Bay team, having defeated Rolling Hills, 39-28, last week.