HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Sylmar Among Favored Teams as Play Begins

City and Southern Section officials are hoping for no injuries and good weather this weekend as the lucrative football playoffs begin.

A record 200 teams in 13 divisions begin first-round play tonight. The playoffs last four weeks, concluding with title games Dec. 10-11. The two sections share in the gate receipts, which account for about 30% of their respective budgets. About 150,000 fans will attend 100 games tonight and Saturday.

What to expect in each division:

CITY SECTION DIVISION 4-A

Woodland Hills Taft was the favorite until midway through its regular-season finale against San Fernando last week. Then quarterback Mike Ferguson suffered a broken collarbone. The Toreadors wound up losing for the first time and learned later that Ferguson will sit out the playoffs. That opens the door for several teams, among them defending champion Sylmar, Carson and Westchester. Taft and San Fernando could meet again in the quarterfinals.

Favorite: Sylmar.

Top challengers: Carson, Westchester and Taft.

CITY SECTION DIVISION 3-A

San Pedro is the overwhelming favorite to repeat as champion. The Pirates’ only loss was to Wilmington Banning and they beat 4-A powers Carson and Dorsey. If the Pirates were in the 4-A Division, they probably would have been seeded No. 1. The Pirates, should they get there, will probably meet Fremont in the final. The Pathfinders (8-2) are enjoying their best season.

Favorite: San Pedro.

Top challengers: Fremont and Washington.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I

Top-ranked La Puente Bishop Amat responded to heavy graduation losses by going 10-0 and extending its winning streak to 25. The Lancers are led by junior Daylon McCutcheon, a receiver-defensive back who is having a player-of-the-year season. Bishop Amat could face another undefeated team in the final, Rialto Eisenhower. Also, Golden League principals reinstated Antelope Valley into the playoffs, leaving Ridgecrest Burroughs out. Antelope Valley had been ruled out because of an ineligible player.

Favorite: Bishop Amat.

Top challengers: Eisenhower, Quartz Hill and Long Beach Poly.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION II

The four seeded teams--Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach, Paramount and Newhall Hart--have a combined 39-1 record. The only blemish is Hart’s 15-14 loss to undefeated Eisenhower. The competition holds up beyond the top four, however. Huntington Beach Edison, Pasadena Muir, Compton Dominguez and Crescenta Valley are all capable of winning the title. Los Alamitos will be hard-pressed to keep its unbeaten streak of 31 intact.

Favorite: Los Alamitos.

Top challengers: Huntington Beach and Hart.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III

Hawthorne won its first section title since 1954 last season with a victory over Bell Gardens. The Cougars begin the playoffs with a nine-game winning streak, but they are seeded second behind undefeated Newbury Park. Newbury Park has outscored its opponents by an average of 30 points. Quarterback Keith Smith has set several records along the way, passing for 3,040 yards and 31 touchdowns, with only eight interceptions. Also watch for Channel League entries Ventura and Ventura Buena, which have picked up momentum in the second half of the season.

Favorite: Newbury Park.

Top challengers: Hawthorne, Buena and West Covina.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION IV

Second-seeded Irvine is trying to become the first Orange County team to win three consecutive section titles since Brea-Olinda did it in 1961-63. The Vaqueros won the Division II title in 1991 and the Division IV championship last season. Their only loss was to Fountain Valley, and they won the title in the competitive Sea View League with a 7-0 record. Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, also 9-1, is the top-seeded team. The Ivy League champion opened the season by upsetting Fontana.

Favorite: Irvine.

Top challengers: Canyon Springs, Rancho Santa Margarita and Glendora.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION V

Defending champion Norco finished last season 14-0 and is expected to repeat that feat this year. The Cougars have outscored opponents, 368-35, with five shutouts. Steve Campbell, the coach’s son, is the most recruited quarterback in the Southland. The bottom bracket will be a battle between undefeated Temecula Valley, Fontana A.B. Miller and Rancho Cucamonga.

Favorite: Norco.

Top challengers: Temecula Valley and A.B. Miller.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VI

Placentia Valencia began the playoffs last season with a 7-3 record and a first-round game on the road. It ended up winning the title by beating Duarte, 23-15. The Tigers should have an easier time of it this season as the top-seeded team in the division. They have won nine consecutive games since dropping their opener to Villa Park. Valencia is led by running back Chris Draft, one of Orange County’s top players with 982 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. Pomona Ganesha, 2-7-1 last season, is 8-2 and seeded second.

Favorite: Valencia.

Top challengers: Ganesha, Arroyo and Los Altos.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VII

An already competitive division was made even stronger when undefeated Van Nuys Montclair Prep was given an at-large berth. The Mounties play a free-lance schedule and are at the mercy of the Southern Section football committee for divisional placement. Top-seeded Baldwin Park Sierra Vista is the only other undefeated team.

Favorite: Sierra Vista.

Top challengers: La Palma Kennedy, Fountain Valley Los Amigos, Lompoc and Montclair Prep.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VIII

Top-seeded La Mirada defeated San Marino in last year’s title game, 28-7. Although both teams are in the playoffs this season, a title rematch is not possible because they are in the same bracket. If La Mirada survives the semifinals, it can expect to face either Yucaipa or Temple City, which have 9-1 records.

Favorite: La Mirada.

Top challengers: Yucaipa, Riverside La Sierra and Temple City.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION IX

The Los Padres League has been dominant. Its top three teams--Santa Ynez, Paso Robles and Atascadero--start the playoffs with 9-1 records. The league’s fourth entry, Cabrillo, is 7-3. Fourth-seeded Moorpark, which won its first league title since 1943, should also be in the hunt.

Favorites: Paso Robles and Atascadero.

Top challengers: Santa Ynez, Moorpark and Beaumont.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION X

Bishop lost a heartbreaker to Big Bear in last year’s title game, 13-12. The Broncos should have an easy road back to the championship game, where they will probably face top-seeded Los Angeles Baptist or Big Bear again.

Favorite: Bishop.

Top challengers: Los Angeles Baptist, Big Bear and Cypress Brethren Christian.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION XI

Desert-Mountain League rivals Boron and Mammoth are seeded 1-2 in the division and could meet in the final. Boron beat the Huskies two weeks ago for the league title, 10-6.

Favorite: Boron.

Top challengers: Mammoth and Templeton.