For a Change, Many Teams Have Chance

It’s usually pretty easy to figure out who will advance to the City Section 4-A Division title game. Since the creation of the 4-A in 1975, teams from the current Southern Pacific Conference secured all but eight spots in the finals. The remainder went to teams from the San Fernando Valley.

This year might be a bit different.

In a wide-open field, eight teams have a legitimate chance to win the title. The Southern Pacific has just two teams, San Pedro High and Banning, with winning records on the field and the Pilots had to forfeit three victories, dropping their record to 4-6.

The Pirates are the defending champions, but were seeded sixth because the other five conference champions were all undefeated in conference play. As a result, San Pedro got the toughest first-round draw by playing rival Narbonne. The teams met last week.

Benefiting the most were fourth-seeded Sylmar and fifth-seeded Franklin. The Spartans will play conference rival Canoga Park, which will be without its best player, Junior Galvan.

Fifth-seeded Franklin features a high-powered passing offense but has had no success in the 4-A. The Panthers play Bell, perhaps the weakest team in the 4-A field. The Eagles appeared headed for the 3-A until upsetting Jefferson the last week of the season.

Taft is top-seeded in the 4-A for the first time in school history but must get past San Fernando, which always plays the Toreadors close. The winner will play either eighth-seeded Palisades, which features tailback Larry Williams, or Dorsey. Taft beat the Dons, 18-6, early in the season.

FIRST-ROUND GAMES

Tonight

SAN FERNANDO (6-4) vs. TAFT (9-0)

At Taft High, 7 p.m.

Despite having a poorer record nearly every time they’ve met recently, the Tigers have beaten Taft three of the past six years and played the Toreadors close the other three times. Taft’s 20-6 victory over San Fernando last month began the maturation process of quarterback Steve Alvarado. He connected with Ronald Andrews on a 53-yard touchdown to seal the victory in the fourth quarter. Airabin Justin and Eric Griffin had fumble recoveries that helped set up touchdowns. Taft must find a way to stop quarterback Sean Atkins, who passed for 85 yards and ran for 81 against Taft.

CANOGA PARK (7-3) vs. SYLMAR (9-1)

At Sylmar High, 7 p.m.

No one is more upset about the playoff selection process than Hunter Coach Rudy Lugo. Lugo expected Canoga Park to be placed in the 3-A. Not only are the Hunters in the 4-A, they play a conference rival and must do it without their best player. Junior Galvan gained 1,170 yards rushing in nine games but is academically ineligible. He will be replaced by Oscar Carpio and Ramon Torres. Errol Bowen gained 155 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 26-18 victory over Canoga Park two weeks ago.

BANNING (4-6) vs. BIRMINGHAM (8-2)

At Birmingham High, 7 p.m.

The Braves haven’t won a first-round game in the 3-A since advancing to the 1994 final, but Birmingham set a school record for regular-season victories, earning a first-round home game. The Braves’ hopes rest on running back Emmanuel Evans. The City Section’s leading rusher from the region, Evans gained 1,847 yards and scored 23 touchdowns. Quarterback Scott Doherty balances out the offense with 20 touchdown passes. The Pilots, 0-10 last year, brought up their undefeated freshman-sophomore team and coach from 1996 and made significant progress. Banning was 7-3 in the field but had to forfeit three victories for using an ineligible player.

KENNEDY (6-4) vs. WESTCHESTER (10-0)

At Westchester High, 7 p.m.

The Golden Cougars, who exceeded expectations by reaching the 4-A, face the toughest assignment of any Valley team. Kennedy features a balanced offense behind quarterback Ray Rodriguez, who completed 105 of 184 passes for 1,265 yards and eight touchdowns. His favorite target is Matt Garnas, who has 51 receptions for 647 yards but has scored only one touchdown. Junior tailback Jason Jones (932 yards, 12 touchdowns) isn’t a breakaway threat but is effective at getting four or five yards a carry. The Comets are on a roll behind running back Charles Drake, who gained 1,100 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in nine games.

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City Champions

A look at the past five City Section 4-A Division championship games

* 1996--San Pedro 22, Taft 20

* 1995--Dorsey 10, San Pedro 8

* 1994--Sylmar 38, Crenshaw 6

* 1993--Carson 26, Dorsey 0

* 1992--Sylmar 17, Carson 0