One Problem for Calabasas, St. Bonaventure

Siskel and Ebert would be proud of all the criticism.

The first-round playoff game between top-seeded St. Bonaventure and No. 16 Calabasas on Thursday is drawing two thumbs down from each coach.

“I’m shocked,” St. Bonaventure Coach Jon Mack said. “We’re playing a team that I think is capable of winning [the title]. This is basically a championship game in the first round.”

Calabasas (6-4) was undefeated and top-ranked in Southern Section Division X for the first five weeks of the season before being hit hard by injuries.

St. Bonaventure (9-1), which took over for Calabasas in the top spot, beat the undermanned Coyotes two weeks ago, 34-3, but the result should be closer this time.

Calabasas was missing 10 players for the game. Two-way starters Drew Coppola, Robby Coppola and Jon Ellinghouse will be back this time.

“I think [the seeding committee] took 20 seconds to figure this thing out,” Calabasas Coach Larry Edwards said. “The only two teams to be No. 1 this season are playing each other in the first round. I can’t believe it.”

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Nordhoff High quarterback Brandon Titus is out for the season after chipping a bone in his right shoulder.

Titus, a junior, injured his throwing shoulder in the first half of Friday’s game at Moorpark.

“It’s going to heal, but I’m just going to have to wait until next year,” Titus said.

John Hill likely will be Titus’ replacement for the playoff game against Bishop Diego on Friday.

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Fast fact: With 476 yards in 74 carries, Antelope Valley’s Justin Mobley is the only quarterback in the region to lead his team in rushing. Mobley also leads the Antelopes (6-3) with nine touchdowns.

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San Fernando set team records for points in one half and one quarter in a 52-24 victory over Cleveland Friday.

The Tigers scored 37 points in the fourth quarter and 43 in the second half.

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So much for strength of schedule coming in to play when it comes to playoff seedings.

Canyon’s 34-13 loss to Valencia on Friday night dropped the Cowboys into third place in the Foothill League and consequently set up a first-round matchup against top-seeded Peninsula in the Division II playoffs.

Canyon (6-4) lost twice to an eventual league champion and once to a runner-up. The combined records of the four teams that beat the Cowboys is 33-6.

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Pay attention opposing quarterbacks: free safety Shaun Avalos of Sylmar has seven of his eight interceptions in the past four games.

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Liz Nemeth of Monroe exchanged her helmet for a tiara during halftime at the game against Canoga Park last week.

Nemeth, who is 27 of 33 in extra-point kicks, was crowned princess of the junior class during halftime Homecoming ceremonies.

In the second half, Nemeth converted two conversions in the Vikings’ 19-14 loss to Canoga Park.