El Camino Real on Rocky Road

The power of the Southern Pacific Conference was again felt in the San Fernando Valley, this time before the start of the City Section football playoffs.

Last year, teams representing the strongest circuit in the section eliminated all four Valley-area teams from the 4-A Division playoffs.

When this year’s playoff seedings were determined Saturday, the Southern Pacific placed six teams in the 16-team draw, creating scheduling headaches.

Since the seeding committee cannot pit teams from the same conference against each other in the first round, the final four teams in the draw had to be juggled.

El Camino Real High was the victim. The Conquistadores were chosen along with Dorsey (4-6, 3-4 in league), Carson (4-6, 3-4)--both Southern Pacific teams--and Garfield, to round out the field.

The committee ranked Garfield (6-3, 5-2) ahead of El Camino Real (7-3, 5-2), leaving the Conquistadores as the only possible opponent for top-seeded San Pedro (10-0, 7-0), Southern Pacific champion. All first-round games are Friday.

“I thought we would place a little higher,” El Camino Real Coach Bob Ganssle said. “We’ll just have to go out and try to win the first one.”

As expected, Taft (10-0, 7-0), the Northwest Valley Conference champion, earned the second seed and will play host to Carson.

Westchester, the third undefeated team in the City, is seeded third and plays host to defending 4-A champion Dorsey.

Sylmar (8-2, 7-0), which survived an overtime battle with Canoga Park to win the Valley Pac-8 title, is seeded fifth and will play host to Narbonne (6-4, 4-3).

The Gauchos eliminated the Spartans in the second round last season.

Kennedy (7-3, 6-1) received strong consideration for a first-round home game but lost out to Palisades (8-2, 6-1), which will play host to the ninth-seeded Golden Cougars.

One of the Southern Pacific teams, probably Carson, might have dropped down had Canoga Park (6-4, 5-2) asked to be placed in the 4-A Division.

But the Hunters preferred to remain in the lower division.

The committee granted the request, making Canoga Park the top-seeded team. The Hunters will play host to Belmont (3-7, 3-4).

“We wanted to win the conference with all our heart,” Canoga Park Coach Rudy Lugo said. “But we didn’t win it and we prefer the 3-A.”

Another team happy to be placed in the 3-A was Verdugo Hills (6-4, 5-2). The third-seeded Dons will play host to Roosevelt (5-5, 4-4). Coach Don Scott had a restless night following a win over Wilson.

“I was worried we would be in the 4-A,” Scott said. “I feel like a million bucks now.”

Sixth-seeded Van Nuys (6-4, 5-2) will play host to Birmingham (5-5, 3-4) in a first-round 3-A game. Eighth-seeded North Hollywood (5-5, 4-3) will play host to Eagle Rock (6-4, 4-3); 10th-seeded Monroe (6-4, 3-4) will play at Bell (6-4, 4-4) and 15th-seeded Chatsworth (5-5, 3-4) plays at University (5-5, 4-3).

For the second consecutive year, San Fernando (3-7, 2-5) missed the playoffs. The Tigers are the top alternate if any team is disqualified before the first round.