4 Area Teams Make Semifinal Playoffs

Four Southeast/Long Beach area high school teams are still alive in the CIF Southern Section football playoffs, including Whittier Christian and Valley Christian, which face each other in a Division IX semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Whittier College.

Undefeated Whittier Christian (11-0) won its first two playoff games, 52-6 against San Jacinto and 61-28 over Desert, after averaging 37 points a game during the regular season.

But it is doubtful if the Heralds, coached by Phil Bravo, will be overconfident--they had to come from a 28-7 halftime deficit to beat Valley Christian, 33-28, in October.

Mike Wunderley’s Valley Christian Crusaders of Cerritos are 6-5 and coming off a 24-6 victory over Bishop last week.

In Division I, Paramount (12-0) will play El Toro (11-1) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Mission Viejo High School. The game will be a rematch of last year’s Division III title game, which was won by Paramount, 26-20.

Besides the running of Leon Neal, the Paramount Pirates have a potent passing attack, led by quarterback Steve Lopez, who has thrown for 1,492 yards and 22 touchdowns.

The Pirates, who beat Muir, 35-13, last week, have won 20 consecutive games.

In Division III, St. Paul (7-3-2) plays 10-2 Hawthorne at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Cerritos College.

St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs, coached by Miguel Olmedo, has won six games in a row, including a 42-7 victory over Beverly Hills in the second round last week.

The Swordsmen are led by defensive lineman Tim Norton, the lineman of the year in the Mission League, and tight end Ryan Granillo, who is averaging 13 yards a pass reception and is also a good blocker.