HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Division VI Is a Division of Power for Area Teams : Southern Section: Of the 16 teams that have earned berths in the division, 10 are from the San Gabriel Valley. Overall, 26 local squads are competing for titles.

As his team prepared for the first round of the Southern Section football playoffs, Duarte Coach Bob Rau spoke of the balance of power within Division VI.

Ten teams from the San Gabriel Valley are among the 16 competing for the Division VI championship.

Rau’s analysis, however, was pertinent for all 26 San Gabriel Valley-area teams that are competing for titles in eight divisions.

“It’s a question of endurance, mental toughness and consistency,” Rau said. “It’s almost a survival contest. It’s who comes out and plays well for four weeks in a row.”

Duarte ended a perfect regular season with a 48-13 victory over Arroyo that earned the Falcons the Mission Valley League championship and a first-round playoff game against Northview Friday night at Duarte.

Here is a look at the other Friday night playoff games involving San Gabriel Valley teams:

DIVISION I

Bishop Amat has not won a Southern Section championship since 1971, but that drought could end if the Lancers continue to improve as they have with each game.

The Lancers, under Coach Mark Paredes, concluded their regular season with a 30-13 victory over Alemany that gave them a 10-0 record and the Del Rey League championship.

Bishop Amat, led by running back Rodney Sermons and quarterback Mike Smith, plays Mission Viejo (5-5) at Bishop Amat.

DIVISION II

Muir Coach Jim Brownfield has returned the Mustangs to prominence. The Mustangs won the Pacific League and are a favorite to win the division title with a team that features running back Saladin McCullough, who has gained 1,732 yards and scored 29 touchdowns this season.

Muir plays host to Canyon County Canyon (7-3) at Pasadena City College in a game that features Brownfield against highly successful Cowboy Coach Harry Welch.

Arcadia (4-6), which finished third in the Pacific League, meets top-seeded Los Alamitos (10-0) at Gahr High in another first-round game.

DIVISION III

Baldwin Park’s reward for winning the Division IV championship last season was a move up to Division III. The Braves (9-0-1), who tied Rowland for the Sierra League championship, play host to Montebello (8-2).

“Last season, we were probably a little hungrier because we had so many returning players,” Baldwin Park Coach Tony Zane said. “But it looks like some of the players that were around last year have that playoff feeling.”

Rowland (7-2-1) plays host to Simi Valley (6-4). Nogales (8-2), the runner-up behind Baldwin Park last year, plays at Newbury Park (8-2).

DIVISION IV

Glendora (5-4-1), which earned the Baseline League’s No. 1 berth, plays Santa Margarita (8-2) at Citrus College.

Damien (7-3), which earned the No. 2 berth out of the Baseline League, plays host to Newport Harbor (8-2).

DIVISION VI

Chances are good that the division champion will be a San Gabriel Valley team.

Charter Oak (10-0), featuring all-purpose back Mike Harris, plays host to El Rancho (3-7); Duarte (9-0), led by quarterback Greg Ainsworth and fullback Johnnie Shelton, plays host to Northview (5-5).

Other games include Valencia (7-3) against Covina (4-5) at Covina District Field; Western (8-2) at Arroyo (9-1); Wilson (5-5) against Whittier (9-1) at Cal High; Rosemead (5-4) against Workman (9-1) at La Puente High; Santa Fe (8-2) at Los Altos (8-2); Walnut (8-2) against Anaheim (8-2) at Glover Field.

DIVISION VII

Azusa (7-3) plays host to Los Amigos (5-3-2), Sierra Vista (5-4-1) plays at San Luis Obispo (7-2), and Pomona (4-6) plays Sunny Hills (8-1-1) at Buena Park High.

DIVISION VIII

Blair running back Z Hodges, who has gained 1,332 yards and scored 15 touchdowns, leads the Vikings against La Mirada (6-4) at La Mirada.

Quarterback Scott Shaw, who has passed for 875 yards and six touchdowns, leads San Marino (7-2) against Verbum Dei (3-6-1) at Verbum Dei. South Pasadena (6-4) plays La Sierra (9-1) at Riverside City College, and Temple City (5-5) plays Century (5-4-1) at the Santa Ana Bowl.

DIVISION X

Western Christian (4-6) travels to Big Bear (10-0) for a first-round game on Saturday.