HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Fontana Advances for 22nd Year in a Row

Today marks the beginning of the second season for the 206 area high schools that have qualified for the City and Southern Section football playoffs.

There are plenty of traditional playoff teams still playing. Fontana, for instance, 10-0 and top-seeded in the Southern Section’s Division I, is in the playoffs for the 22nd consecutive year. But there are also several newcomers. In the City Section’s Division 3-A, Tujunga Verdugo Hills (6-4) is enjoying its first winning season since 1981.

The playoffs conclude with title games, Dec. 8-9.

A look at the fields:

CITY SECTION DIVISION 4-A

The power has shifted, what with top-seeded Sylmar going for its third title in the last four years and perennial power Carson having failed to make the field. Sylmar has won 24 consecutive games and features one of the area’s top players in running back Durell Price, who has rushed for 1,289 yards and 32 touchdowns. Dorsey, which last won a title in 1991, is a threat because of an explosive offense that averaged 30 points in Southern Pacific Conference play.

CITY SECTION DIVISION 3-A

Bell defeated Van Nuys Birmingham in last year’s title game, 25-3, and those teams meet again tonight at Bell. The Eagles are led by senior Vern Benard, who has rushed for 1,299 yards and 10 touchdowns and is a strong candidate for player of the year. Besides Verdugo Hills, another surprise qualifier is top-seeded Eagle Rock, where Coach Steve Wahl can’t remember the last time his school had a record better than 8-2.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I

This was supposed to be the season Los Alamitos ran away with it all, but the Griffins were tripped up by Sunset League rival Anaheim Esperanza last month. That loss put additional balance in a division that doesn’t have a clear-cut favorite. Top-seeded Fontana has given up only 33 points, and second-seeded Long Beach Poly survived one of the area’s toughest schedules. And don’t count out Santa Ana Mater Dei, which has played in the last two championship games, winning it all last year.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION II

It’s hard to imagine anyone challenging Lancaster Antelope Valley, the defending champion. The Antelopes are averaging 410 yards of offense and have scored 50 or more points on five occasions. Senior Jermaine Lewis has rushed for 1,734 yards and 22 touchdowns. Newhall Hart, which advanced to the title game last season, no longer relies solely on the pass. Ted Iacenda has gained 1,372 yards and scored 22 touchdowns on the ground.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Newbury Park and Diamond Bar begin the playoffs with 10-0 records. Throw in once-beaten Chino Hills Ayala, West Hills Chaminade and Santa Barbara, and the road to the final figures to be challenging. Notre Dame, which defeated Ayala in the championship game last season, hopes to make it two in a row before departing for Division I and the Del Rey League next year. Keep an eye on Newbury Park quarterback Chris Czernek, who has thrown for 3,213 yards and 34 touchdowns.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION IV

In his second season at Riverside North, Mark Paredes has turned a losing team into one that is undefeated and top-seeded. The Huskies, led by linebacker Chris Claiborne, went unchallenged until last week, when they pulled out a 10-7 victory over Riverside Poly. Second-seeded Norco, which outscored its opponents, 391-62, is 10-0 for the third time in the last four years.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION V

Defending champion Newport Harbor didn’t make the playoffs, opening the door for top-seeded Anaheim Servite, last season’s runner-up. The Friars’ only losses were to Division I playoff teams Mater Dei and Fountain Valley. A surprise contender is Anaheim Western, which qualified last year as an at-large entry and was eliminated in the first round. The Pioneers are 10-0 and their coach, Jim Howell, is retiring after 17 years at the school.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VI

Because there weren’t enough qualified teams to select an at-large entry, top-seeded Arroyo gets a rare first-round bye, then will play host to the winner of the Covina Charter Oak-Upland game in the quarterfinals. Arroyo, which has won or shared nine of the last 12 Mission Valley League titles, is hoping for better playoff results. Arroyo was eliminated in the first round last year by Rancho Cucamonga. Seeded second is Hacienda Heights Los Altos, which has won five divisional titles under Coach Dwayne DeSpain.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VII

Covina leads one of the section’s most balanced divisions. The Colts’ closest game was a 34-22 victory over Pomona Ganesha for the Valle Vista League title last week. Quarterback Michael Ulrich has thrown for 18 touchdowns and run for six more. Defending champion Arroyo Grande could meet Covina in the quarterfinals. Perennial power Lompoc is seeded second, having lost only to Atascadero in September.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VIII

Watch out for Bloomington, which set national scoring records last year on its way to the divisional title. The Bruins are 5-5 and barely qualified for the playoffs, but have won their last three games by a combined score of 116-19. Baldwin Park Sierra Vista, which lost to Bloomington in the first round last season, 70-0, is the top-seeded team with a 9-0-1 record. Divisional runner-up La Mirada is back and seeded second.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION IX

Top-seeded and undefeated Atascadero is going for its third consecutive divisional title and there’s no reason to believe the Greyhounds won’t get it. They have hardly been challenged, their closest game a 21-9 victory over Division VII power Lompoc. The wild-card team is Van Nuys Montclair Prep, a free-lance entry that won the Division X title last year and is 9-0 this season.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION X

Top-seeded Cerritos Valley Christian has its best team since it won a divisional title in 1986. The Crusaders defeated Orange Lutheran in the Olympic League title game last week, 36-31, and don’t be surprised if the teams meet again in the final. A surprise entry is third-seeded Pasadena La Salle, which only two years ago was 0-9.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION XI

Two-time defending champion Boron slipped into the playoffs with a 6-4 record. The favorite is top-seeded and undefeated Morro Bay, which lost to Boron, 20-16, in the championship game last season. The Pirates haven’t scored fewer than 21 points and have shut out two opponents. The division’s other undefeated entry, Redlands Arrowhead Christian, is seeded second.