HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Second Season Begins Tonight

The high school football playoffs begin tonight with a record 203 teams battling for 13 divisional titles. The extravaganza concludes with title games Dec. 9-10.

About 200,000 fans will attend tonight’s first-round action. What they can expect in each division:

CITY SECTION DIVISION 4-A

Carson is the defending champion, but the Colts (2-8) barely qualified for the playoffs after forfeiting three games for using an academically ineligible player. Their reward is an opening-round game against Franklin, which is 9-1, thanks to record-setting quarterback Jeff Deno, who has passed for 2,485 yards and 32 touchdowns. In what has been another down year for the City, top-seeded Sylmar (10-0) has been a bright spot, outscoring its opponents 436-57.

Favored championship matchup: Sylmar vs. Dorsey

Top challengers: Woodland Hills Taft and Franklin.

CITY SECTION DIVISION 3-A

The City’s new playoff format reduces the importance of winning the 3-A title. Of the section’s 49 teams, the top 16 are put in 4-A and the next-best 16 in the 3-A. But a championship here does provide building teams with a strong base for next season. Such is the case for Wilson, which finished 2-9 last year but has turned things around with an 8-2 record this season.

Favored matchup: Wilson vs. Manual Arts.

Top challengers: Reseda and Bell.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I

La Puente Bishop Amat has been the top-ranked team in the Southland and state all season, but the Lancers are banged up and have recently struggled on offense. A favorable placement in the bracket should get them to the final, but their opponent there, probably Los Alamitos or Santa Ana Mater Dei, could present problems. Los Alamitos, with its 45-game unbeaten streak, could be the team to beat. The Griffins’ junior quarterback, Kevin Feterik, has passed for 2,044 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Favored matchup: Bishop Amat vs. Los Alamitos.

Top challengers: Anaheim Esperanza and Mater Dei.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION II

The absence of Los Alamitos and Esperanza this season should give perennial challenger Newhall Hart an easier shot at the title. The undefeated Indians have rarely been challenged, relying on an offense that averages 390 yards a game. There are plenty of challengers, however, including Pasadena Muir, which has won six in a row since Mike Harrison took over coaching duties for Jack Allen.

Favored matchup: Hart vs. Antelope Valley.

Top challengers: Muir and Palos Verdes Peninsula.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III

This balanced division features six teams with 9-1 records, including top-seeded Westlake. The Warriors have been a scoring machine since Scott Spruill won a preseason quarterback battle with two other candidates. Montebello became a serious contender after beating previously undefeated Alhambra last week, 42-0, and Rowland’s 7-6 victory over Chino Hills Ayala two weeks ago vaulted it into contention.

Favored matchup: Westlake vs. Rowland.

Top challengers: Ayala and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION IV

Moreno Valley Canyon Springs was considered a runaway favorite before the season started, since the Cougars had 15 starters back from a team that lost to Irvine in the title game last year. They started off with a loss to Fontana but have won nine in a row and are top seeded. Watch out for traditional power Temecula Valley, however, which won the Division V championship last season.

Favored matchup: Canyon Springs vs. Barstow.

Top challengers: Cathedral City and Temecula Valley.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION V

This all-Orange County division figures to be a battle between teams of the Sea View League, one of the strongest in the section. Top-seeded Newport Harbor is a surprising 10-0 and is within one victory of a school record. Watch out for Placentia Valencia, which rebounded in the second half of the season after forfeiting its first three games for using an ineligible player.

Favored matchup: Newport Harbor vs. Anaheim Servite.

Top challengers: Valencia and Villa Park.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VI

Covina Charter Oak was seeded second, but that may have been a mistake, considering the way the undefeated Chargers have been playing lately. They have averaged 45 points a game in the last six weeks, thanks largely to junior running back Michael Graham, who gained 329 yards and scored four touchdowns against Walnut in the Miramonte League championship last week. Top-seeded Claremont’s only loss was to Ayala, a Division III power.

Favored matchup: Charter Oak vs. Rancho Cucamonga.

Top challengers: Claremont and Alta Loma.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VII

Seven of the division’s 16 teams have only one loss, including traditional Northern League powers Lompoc and Arroyo Grande. Surprising Culver City is top-seeded and defending champion Manhattan Beach Mira Costa is seeded second. But Covina, Fountain Valley Los Amigos and West Covina South Hills make this one of the most competitive divisions.

Favored matchup: Lompoc vs. Arroyo Grande.

Top challengers: Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos and South Hills.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VIII

The story here is Bloomington, a team that struggled to a 1-9 record last year. The Bruins, under new coach Don Markham, are 10-0 and have outscored their opponents by a whopping 646-118.

Favored matchup: Costa Mesa vs. Bloomington.

Top challengers: La Mirada and Laguna Hills.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION IX

Top-seeded Santa Ynez’s only loss is to Ojai Nordhoff during the second week of the season. The teams could meet again in the semifinals. The bottom half of the bracket figures to be a battle between Agoura Oak Park, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake and Moorpark.

Favored matchup: Santa Ynez vs. Moorpark.

Top challengers: Harvard-Westlake and Nordhoff.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION X

Grumbles were heard when the Southern Section awarded free-lance entry Van Nuys Montclair Prep an at-large berth. The 7-1 Mounties were kicked out of their league a few years ago and have been floating between divisions during the playoffs ever since. They lost in the Division VII quarterfinals last year, so they figure to be a factor in a lower division.

Favored matchup: Cerritos Valley Christian vs. Orange Lutheran.

Top challengers: Montclair Prep and Ontario Christian.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION XI

Perhaps the Southern Section should think about doing away with this division or shrink the bracket to eight teams. Because of a shortage of quality teams, five schools have first-round byes. Defending champion Boron returns and hopes to avenge its only loss in two years to Trona.

Favored matchup: Morro Bay vs. Boron.

Top challengers: Trona and Linfield.