Setting Tone for Playoffs : Prep football: The outcome of Bishop Amat and Loyola will probably determine the top seeding in Division I.

In what many consider a preview of the Southern Section’s Division I football championship game, No. 1-ranked La Puente Bishop Amat and No. 3 Loyola meet tonight in a battle of undefeated teams.

A standing-room-only crowd of 10,000 is expected for the game, which begins at 7:30 at Glendale High.

On the line will be two 8-0 records, the Del Rey League championship and the probable top seeding in the playoffs.

“At this point, I think it is more anxious anticipation rather than being nervous,” said Mark Paredes, Bishop Amat’s coach. “This is one of those classic Catholic school showdowns that comes along once in a while. I know we’re all very excited about it.”

Bishop Amat and Loyola are no strangers to success. Each team is consistently ranked at or near the top of the polls and is a fixture in the playoffs.

Loyola has fared a little better. It won the Division I title two years ago with a 24-14 victory over Quartz Hill. Steve Grady, Loyola’s coach, has won 77% of his games since he took over the program in 1976. His 10-3 mark in the playoffs the last four years is the best in the section.

But those numbers do not reflect the Cubs’ troubles with Bishop Amat. Grady is 1-7 against the Lancers, including last year’s 22-16 loss during the regular season.

“We’ve had success against Loyola, but that doesn’t have any effect on this game,” Paredes said. “I know it doesn’t ease my conscience. When a game is this big, the excitement takes care of those advantages. I think both teams will be sky-high.”

Bishop Amat, which lost to Antelope Valley in the first round of the playoffs last year, began the season ranked No. 2 by The Times. It moved into the top spot last week, after Anaheim Esperanza’s loss to Los Alamitos.

The Lancers struggled early in the season, opening with narrow victories over Carson, La Verne Damien and Long Beach Poly. But their young defense, anchored by senior inside linebacker Craig Nordman, has come together down the stretch, having held opponents to a total of 20 points in the last five games.

That defense will be tested by Loyola’s offense, which has blossomed in recent weeks under quarterback Clelio Boccato. Boccato, a senior, has thrown for 13 touchdowns and has had only two passes intercepted.

“I’ve been dreaming of making the big pass in the big game,” said Boccato, who also has rushed for 226 yards and seven touchdowns.

Loyola’s defense has played tough since giving up 25 points to Hawthorne in the season opener. Its main duty tonight will be stopping quarterback Mike Smith and running back Rodney Sermons. Smith has thrown for 792 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Sermons has rushed for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Their skilled people certainly give them an advantage,” Grady said. “To have a chance, we’ll have to contain the big play because we can’t match their speed. Our defense is young, but it has improved over the last few weeks.”