Canyon to Face Rugged Loyola in Semifinals

Loyola High will meet Canyon at 7:30 tonight at College of the Canyons in a Southern Section Division I semifinal game between upset playoff winners with rich football traditions.

Both teams stunned higher-rated opponents in the quarterfinals. Canyon (11-1) blocked a field-goal attempt with less than a minute to play and beat second-seeded Bishop Amat, 21-20; Loyola (10-2) edged No. 3 Fontana, 10-7.

Loyola is making its third consecutive semifinal appearance in Division I. The Cubs were defeated by Bishop Amat in 1988 and San Gorgonio last year.

Coach Harry Welch, in his first year at the Division I level, is taking a Canyon team to the Southern Section semifinals for the eighth consecutive season. Canyon won section titles in 1983, 1984 and 1985.

Canyon has allowed only 90 points in 12 games this year for an area-low average of 7.5 points a game. Linebacker Scott Blade (6 foot, 189 pounds), who will play tonight despite a separated shoulder, anchors the defense.

Wide receiver Jim Zopelis will play with a fractured finger on his right hand, and guard Steve Conley, who had started 24 consecutive games, is out because of mononucleosis.

Loyola counters with an aggressive defense led by linebacker Drew Casani (84 unassisted tackles), the Angelus League defensive player of the year. Loyola has allowed only 88 yards a game on the ground and 104 yards a game passing.

Offensively, Loyola is led by quarterback Corby Smith (1,026 yards, five touchdowns), the son of USC Coach Larry Smith, and Matt Vanis, a junior who has rushed for 1,167 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Canyon senior tailback David McDivitt has scored 16 touchdowns in seven games and has gained 824 yards in 123 carries. Quarterback Kevin Bialas has thrown for 1,529 yards and 13 touchdowns.

In a Division X semifinal game, Camp Kilpatrick (8-3-1) will play Mammoth (10-2) at Newbury Park High at 7:30 tonight.

Mammoth is led by quarterback Daron Dondero, who has passed for 1,282 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 382 yards and 12 touchdowns.