Hart and Antelope Valley Might Play It Again

It is possible for Hart High and Antelope Valley, traditional powers in Southern Section Division II, to meet in the championship game for the third time in four years.

Possible, but unlikely.

Defending champion Dominguez (9-1) and runner-up Ayala (8-1) appear even stronger this year, and they’re seeded only second and third.

For the second consecutive season, Peninsula entered the postseason seeded first. The Panthers, who defeated Canyon in an opening-round game Thursday night, were ousted from the 1996 postseason by Saugus in the first round.

With Dominguez and Ayala in the lower bracket with Antelope Valley, Valencia and Littlerock, those in the upper bracket seem to have an easier path to the championship game.

That’s good news for Foothill League champion Hart and Golden League champion Palmdale, who could meet in the quarterfinals.

FIRST-ROUND GAMES

Tonight

ANTELOPE VALLEY (6-3) vs. VALENCIA (8-2)

At Canyon High, 7:30 p.m.

Antelope Valley, which finished second in the Golden League, has won three section titles and advanced at least to the semifinals each of the past three seasons. Valencia, second to Hart in the Foothill League, is making its first playoff appearance. Valencia’s Manuel White has rushed for 2,002 yards and 19 touchdowns. Brian Hamilton has passed for 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns, and rushed for 660 yards and six touchdowns. Antelope Valley, which won the division in 1994, lost to defending Nevada State champion Las Vegas Western, Dominguez and Palmdale. Defensive back-receiver Joe Manning is averaging 15.6 yards per catch and has returned three interceptions for touchdowns. Quarterback Justin Mobley leads Antelope Valley in rushing with 476 yards and nine touchdowns. Valencia lost its opener to Highland, 22-20. Two weeks ago, Antelope Valley beat Highland, 41-7.

TORRANCE (6-4) vs. HART (9-1)

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

The Indians haven’t lost a first-round game since 1988 and the streak doesn’t figure to end here. Torrance has not been in the playoffs since 1994, when Hart bounced the Tartars in the opener, 42-13. The Indians are averaging 49 points in their past five postseason openers. David Neill has overcome a slow start to rank third among the region’s quarterbacks with 2,341 yards passing and 22 touchdowns. Billy Brecht has quietly rushed for 844 yards and is averaging seven yards per carry. Receiver Jerry Owens (6 feet 3, 180 pounds) has 53 receptions for 1,101 yards and 15 touchdowns. Torrance plans to cover Owens with 6-4 strong safety-quarterback Sean Judd. Judd has rushed for 773 yards while running an inconsistent option offense. Tailback Mike Clancey, who has 362 yards, and fullback Joe Herrera, who has 409 yards, also are in the backfield. The Tartars were 1-5 before winning their last four games to claim third place in the Bay League. Torrance was awarded a forfeit victory over West Torrance.

DIAMOND BAR (6-4) vs. PALMDALE (8-2)

At Palmdale High, 7:30 p.m.

Palmdale was 0-10 and at the bottom of the Golden League in 1994, making its first outright league title since 1961 all the sweeter. Palmdale needs a victory to advance to a second-round matchup with Hart, which defeated the Falcons, 20-0, in the fourth week of the season. Jason Anderson has rushed for 846 yards in his past four games and has 1,217 for the season. Shaun Perez has added 633 yards, and each has eight touchdowns. Linemen Matt Leonard and Nick Carrillo and linebacker Mark Hendricks head a defense that is yielding only 12 points and 211 yards per game. Diamond Bar, third in the Sierra League, is making its fifth consecutive playoff appearance and was 14-0 when it captured the Division III title in 1995. Two players remain from that team, including senior linebacker-fullback Wes Greenwood. Sophomore Jason Wright is Diamond Bar’s top rushing threat. The Brahmas were eliminated in the first round last season by Antelope Valley.

LITTLEROCK (7-3) vs. AYALA (8-1)

At Walnut High, 7:30 p.m.

Littlerock’s first visit to the playoffs since 1992 might be a short one. Sierra League champion Ayala, which fell to Dominguez in the 1996 title game, has lost only to Bishop Amat, 36-29. Michael Woods of Littlerock has rushed for 1,142 yards and nine touchdowns, and David Newton has added 745 yards and three touchdowns for an offense that has gained 2,347 yards rushing. Ayala has rushed for more than 2,100 yards. Matt Johnson has 920 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Antoine Cameron has added 713 yards and 14 touchdowns. The difference is in the passing game. Mike Frost of Ayala has completed 86 of 164 passes for 1,668 yards, an average of 19.4 yards per completion. Myles Meeden of Littlerock has passed for only 505 yards.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Top Ten

Southern Section rankings

DIVISION II

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Rk Team League Rec. 1 Peninsula Bay 10-0 2 Dominguez San Gabriel Vly 9-1 3 Ayala Sierra 8-1 4 Hart Foothill 9-1 5 Hawthorne Bay 7-3 6 Valencia Foothill 8-2 7 Warren San Gabriel Vly 8-2 8 Palmdale Golden 8-2 9 Antelope Vly Golden 6-3 10 Diamond Bar Sierra 6-4

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Top Ten