A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

SOUTHERN SECTION

* CANYON (3-2) vs. HART (4-1)

At College of the Canyons, 7 p.m.

This fierce rivalry hasn’t been much of a contest recently. Hart has won the past six meetings and nine of 10. In the five games since Canyon joined the Foothill League in 1992, Hart has outscored the Cowboys, 182-47. Canyon’s gritty, swarming defense, coupled with Hart’s young, inexperienced offensive line could make for one of the best Hart-Canyon matchups in recent years. Canyon’s offensive line, anchored by Scott Arnold and Scott Winchester, has paved the way for Matt Gregory to rush for 607 yards. The Cowboy defense also has been impressive, with linebackers Josh Miramontez and Dave Johnson leading the charge. Hart, with linebacker Scott Hunt and defensive end John Harrison, has played some pretty good defense of its own. Opponents have scored just 52 points in five games. Hart’s Jerry Owens caught nine passes for 275 yards and two 79-yard touchdowns last week against Loyola. David Neill has had 11 passes intercepted but has thrown for 1,024 yards and six touchdowns.

* ST. FRANCIS (3-2) vs. NOTRE DAME (4-1)

At Notre Dame High, 7:30 p.m.

Tailbacks Darius Brown of St. Francis and Justin Fargas of Notre Dame are fighting injuries in a Mission League opener many expect will determine the league champion. Notre Dame has won four consecutive league titles. Fargas, who suffered a bruised rotator cuff in last week’s loss to St. Paul, leads the region with 1,135 yards rushing and 100 points. Brown, who missed last week’s St. Francis loss to Bellflower because of a sprained ankle, has rushed for 601 yards and six touchdowns. Fargas averages 9.7 yards per carry and Brown 7.2. Notre Dame holds a clear advantage at quarterback, where Dave DeMartinis has completed 65% of his passes for 812 touchdowns and six touchdowns. Kjell Nesen has passed for 317 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions while completing 48% of his passes. Notre Dame is No. 4 in the Southern Section Division III poll and St. Francis is No. 10.

* BISHOP AMAT (5-0) vs. CRESPI (4-1)

At Pierce College, 7:30 p.m.

In their next four games, the Celts play three teams ranked in the Southern Section Division I poll, beginning with the No. 4 Lancers in a Del Rey League opener. Crespi middle linebacker Joel Garcia, a junior transfer from Poly, anchors a solid defense that must contain Bishop Amat’s running attack. Junior Mike Wagner has rushed for 930 yards and 16 touchdowns, and returned a punt for a touchdown for the Lancers. Sean Koelle has completed 57% of his passes for 503 yards, two touchdowns and had three passes intercepted. Dennis Wyrick has caught 14 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown, and has returned a kickoff for a touchdown. The Celts’ wing-T attack features Blake Tibbetts, who has rushed for 549 yards and two touchdowns, and averages 5.3 yards per carry. Crespi’s Kevin Cork has completed only 36% of his passes for 179 yards, with three interceptions.

* MOORPARK (4-1) vs. CALABASAS (5-0)

At Calabasas, 7:30 p.m.

The winner of this Frontier League opener takes the first step toward a league title. Calabasas averages 423.6 yards per game and has the area’s top-ranked offense, while Moorpark yields only 160.8 yards per game, has shut out its last two opponents and is the area’s second-ranked defense. Calabasas will be without fullback Drew Coppola, who suffered a pinched nerve last week. His brother, Robby Coppola, has rushed for 840 yards and 14 touchdowns. Moorpark’s team speed may be the key. Erris Green has 18 receptions for 276 yards and four touchdowns for the Musketeers.

CITY SECTION

* SAN FERNANDO (3-2, 1-1) vs. TAFT (4-0, 2-0)

At Taft High, 7 p.m.

The Toreadors get into the heart of their schedule, beginning with the Tigers, who have beaten Taft on the field three of the past five seasons but had to forfeit their victory in 1995 because of an ineligible player. Junior tailback Marquis Brignac can be explosive at times--he gained 300 yards against Granada Hills--but has gained only 258 yards in Taft’s other three games. Junior Dionte Hall is playing to the level of Tyler Brennan and David Melo, giving Taft one of the best linebacking corps in the Valley. After opening with two victories, San Fernando appeared headed for a tailspin after giving up 91 points in losses to Grant and Birmingham, but may have turned its season around with a 27-22 victory over undefeated El Camino Real last week. The Tigers had under 100 yards of offense but returned two fumbles for touchdowns.

* KENNEDY (4-1, 2-0) vs. EL CAMINO REAL (4-1, 1-1)

At El Camino Real High, 3 p.m.

After an embarrassing loss to Marshall in the second week of the season, the Golden Cougars have slowly gotten better and are still in the Northwest Valley Conference race. Ray Rodriguez has improved dramatically since the summer, leading conference passers with 744 yards. Junior Jason Jones has 360 yards and three touchdowns while filling in for tailback Paul Jones, who left the team two weeks ago because of a personal matter. The Conquistadores will try to rebound from an upset loss to San Fernando. Quincy Wright, who has rushed for 582 yards and nine touchdowns, has battled injuries all season and isn’t completely healthy, but receivers Adebola Jimoh and Demond Daniels should be at full strength. Jimoh didn’t play and Daniels was sluggish against San Fernando because of the flu.

Other games:

City Section--Northwest Valley Conference: At 7 p.m., Chatsworth at Birmingham. At 7:15 p.m., Cleveland at Granada Hills. Valley Pac-8 Conference: At 7:30 p.m., Monroe at Van Nuys, Grant at Reseda, Poly at Canoga Park, Sylmar at North Hollywood.

Southern Section--Channel League: At 7:30 p.m., San Marcos vs. Buena at Ventura High, Hueneme vs. Dos Pueblos at San Marcos High, Rio Mesa at Santa Barbara, Ventura at Oxnard. Del Rey League: At 7:30 p.m., Alemany at St. John Bosco. Foothill League: At 7:30 p.m., Valencia vs. Burbank at Burroughs High, Burroughs vs. Saugus at Canyon High. Frontier League: At 7:30 p.m., Santa Paula at Nordhoff. Golden League: At 7:30 p.m., Lancaster at Palmdale, Littlerock at Highland. High Desert League: At 7:30 p.m., Paraclete at Desert. Marmonte League: At 7 p.m., Agoura at Camarillo, Westlake at Channel Islands, Newbury Park at Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks at Royal. Mission League: At 7:30 p.m., Bishop Montgomery at Chaminade, Harvard-Westlake at Serra. Pacific League: At 7:30 p.m., Crescenta Valley vs. Hoover at Glendale High. Santa Fe League: At 7:30 p.m., Bell-Jeff vs. Salesian at Pius X High. Rio Hondo League: At 7:30 p.m., La Canada at San Marino. Tri-Valley League: At 7:30 p.m., Fillmore at Carpinteria, St. Bonaventure vs. Bishop Diego at Santa Barbara City College. Victory League: At 7:30 p.m., Vasquez at Boron.

8-man--Delphic League: At 3 p.m., Masada at Faith Baptist.