A look at the today’s key matchupsHIGH...

A look at the today’s key matchups

HIGH SCHOOL

* CANOGA PARK (6-3, 5-1) vs. SYLMAR (7-2, 6-0)

At Sylmar High, 7:30 p.m.

Only Canoga Park stands between Sylmar and a seventh consecutive undefeated conference season. Also at stake in this Valley Pac-8 matchup is the conference title and a City Section 4-A Division playoff berth. Pass-happy Canoga Park has the talent to pull off the upset against Sylmar and its suspect secondary. Hunter quarterback Brian Hickman is the conference’s most accurate passer, completing 91 of 161 passes (57%) for 1,292 yards and a conference-high 16 touchdowns. Receiver Kevin Carlsen has caught 43 passes for 622 yards and 13 touchdowns. Running back Junior Galvan, who has caught 24 passes, also has rushed for 892 yards and nine touchdowns. Sylmar quarterback Chris Cervantes is 61 of 119 for 987 yards and eight touchdowns and has one interception. Tailback Donald Carpenter, with 722 yards and 15 touchdowns, is vying to become Sylmar’s 11th 1,000-yard rusher in 10 years.

* THOUSAND OAKS (7-1-1, 5-1) vs. NEWBURY PARK (7-2, 4-2)

At Newbury Park High, 7:30 p.m.

Newbury Park quarterback Chris Czernek should eclipse the 3,000-yard passing mark. The Panther senior has 2,909 yards and 21 touchdowns but has thrown 12 interceptions. Patrick Reddick has rebounded from injuries and has 57 receptions for 916 yards. Chris Garty (46 catches) and Jake Farrel (38) give Newbury Park additional receiving threats. Garrett Hobba, a rugged runner and tough linebacker, leads the Marmonte League in touchdowns with 18 and Newbury Park in tackles with 94. Thousand Oaks counters with quarterback Scott McEwan, who has passed for 1,776 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions, and a running game led by Eleo Cuadra (698 yards, 16 touchdowns) and Byron Caballeros (239 yards). Receiver Barrett Grindle (35 catches, 733 yards) will play after suffering a slight neck injury last week.

* AGOURA (5-4, 3-3) vs. WESTLAKE (7-2, 4-2)

At Westlake High, 7:30 p.m.

Agoura boasts a balanced offense that rolls up 365 yards and 33 points a game. Jason Gordon leads the Marmonte League with 1,341 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns and Ryan McCann has passed for 1,708 yards and 19 touchdowns. Receiver Shayne Sobel has 46 catches for 908 yards and 10 touchdowns. Westlake has an even stronger offense, averaging 388 yards and 31.6 points. Casey Preston has passed for 2,460 yards and 24 touchdowns. Joey Cuppari is the Warriors’ best receiver, with 50 catches for 914 yards and 12 touchdowns. Jon Weems (919 yards) gives Westlake a running threat. Westlake most likely makes the playoffs with a victory and could qualify with a loss. Agoura needs to win to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.

* SAUGUS (5-4, 3-1) vs. HART (7-2, 4-0)

At College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m.

Saugus has come on strong and, after a 1-3 start, can finish with a co-championship and the Foothill League’s No. 1 playoff seeding with a victory tonight. But Hart will be the Centurions’ toughest test since Loyola handed them a 35-6 loss in the third week of the season. Hart has won six in a row, including a 24-10 victory over Loyola--then ranked No. 3 in the state--and outscored its league opponents, 160-30. Saugus is led by Mark Pecaro, who has rushed for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns behind a massive offensive line. Hart quarterback Travis Carroll has thrown for 2,049 yards and 23 touchdowns and has four interceptions.

* VENTURA (8-1, 6-0) vs. DOS PUEBLOS (8-1, 5-1)

At Dos Pueblos, 7:30 p.m.

With Oxnard forced to forfeit all of its league victories for using an ineligible player, this matchup will determine the Channel League championship. A victory by Ventura, and the Cougars win the league title outright. A victory by Dos Pueblos results in a co-championship, with the Chargers earning the league’s top playoff spot. Both teams have explosive offenses. Dos Pueblos relies heavily on multi-threat quarterback Anthony Ramos, a senior and two-year starter. Ventura’s Jeramie Jackson, the county’s second-leading rusher with 1,240 yards, returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown last week against Rio Mesa.

* CRESCENTA VALLEY (5-4, 3-1) vs. ARCADIA (4-5, 2-2)

At Arcadia High, 7:30 p.m.

Crescenta Valley can clinch second place with a win in this Pacific League finale. Expect the Falcons to stay low to the ground with Kenny Pritchett, who lines up at quarterback in the spread offense or tailback in the I formation. Arcadia, which needs a win to reach the playoffs, lost running back Andrew Policky to injury earlier this season but Blair Lewis has picked up the slack with 633 yards and seven touchdowns. Now that Policky (103 carries for 544 yards and three touchdowns) is healthy, both backs will see playing time.

Other games:

City Section: At 2:15 p.m., Northern League--Wilson at Verdugo Hills. At 7 p.m., Northwest Valley Conference--Taft at Chatsworth, Birmingham at Cleveland, El Camino Real at Granada Hills, Kennedy at San Fernando. Valley Pac-8--Van Nuys vs. Grant at Valley College, Poly at Monroe, Reseda at North Hollywood.

Southern Section: At 7:30 p.m., Alpha League--Kilpatrick vs. L.A. Baptist at Alemany High. Channel League--Hueneme vs. Buena at Ventura High, Oxnard at Santa Barbara, San Marcos at Rio Mesa. Del Rey League--Alemany vs. Crespi at Pierce College. Foothill League--Valencia at Canyon, Burbank at Burroughs. Frontier League--Moorpark at Nordhoff. Golden League--Quartz Hill at Antelope Valley, Littlerock at Palmdale. High Desert--Desert vs. Paraclete at Antelope Valley College. Marmonte League--Channel Islands at Camarillo, Simi Valley vs. Royal at Moorpark College. Mission League--St. Francis at Chaminade. Pacific League--Hoover at Glendale, 8 p.m. Rio Hondo--San Marino at La Canada. Tri-Valley League--St. Bonaventure at Oak Park. At 3 p.m., Prep League--Flintridge Prep at Pasadena Poly. Nonleague--Santa Paula at Fillmore.

8-Man playoffs: At 7:30 p.m., Large Division--Maricopa at Bethel Christian, L.A. Lutheran at Santa Maria Valley Christian Academy.