Game Day / A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

CITY CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS

* GRANADA HILLS (12-0) vs. BANNING (9-3)

At Gardena High, 7 p.m.

The dream season for Granada Hills continues, thanks to Westchester having to forfeit its victory over the Highlanders last week. With only two days to practice before facing Banning, considered by many the best team in the City Section, co-coaches Darryl Stroh and Tom Harp must come up with a game plan that contains tailback Chris Howard and big-play receiver Mike Cockrell. In a 29-0 victory over Sylmar last week, the Pilots outgained the Spartans, 409-160. No team has scored on the Pilots in two playoff games, but Granada Hills has a much better passing attack than Sylmar. Jason Winn has passed for 2,473 yards and 25 touchdowns. His major challenge will be guessing correctly when Banning blitzes seven players and finding the open receiver--fast. Receiver Peter Gunny, more than any Granada Hills player, was most pleased at the Highlanders’ reprieve. He has caught 11 touchdown passes and plays his best in big games. Westchester exposed a weakness in Granada Hills’ defense last week by wearing down the Highlanders with a punishing ground attack. Banning has an offensive line perhaps bigger than the Comets, which will put pressure on linebacker Adrian Padilla and lineman Roberto Garcia to overcome their size disadvantage. Banning is seeking its 11th City championship in football. Granada Hills won titles in 1970 and 1987. Only a year ago, the Highlanders went 1-9. Now they’re one win away from playing in the championship game at the Coliseum.

* TAFT (10-2) vs. DORSEY (9-2-1)

At Fremont High, 7 p.m.

Ten weeks after Taft defeated the Dons, 21-0, in a nonconference game, they meet again with much more at stake. In the first game, Lawrence Wallace of Taft caught a career-high 12 passes for 112 yards and scored two touchdowns. Dorsey was able to move the ball on the ground against the Toreadors, gaining 234 yards and entering Taft territory on every possession but one. Marquis Brignac rushed for 209 yards and scored two touchdowns for the seventh-seeded Toreadors in a 35-28 victory over undefeated Venice in the quarterfinals. The third-seeded Dons gained 352 yards rushing in a 28-20 victory over Franklin last week, 202 by senior tailback Major Cobb. This is the first playoff meeting between the teams since Taft lost consecutive quarterfinal heartbreakers to the Dons in 1993 and ’94.

CITY DIVISION SEMIFINALS

* CHATSWORTH (7-5) vs. VAN NUYS (9-3)

At Birmingham High, 7 p.m.

A year ago, Chatsworth was beaten by Carson in a semifinal game in a driving rainstorm. Barring inclement weather, the Chancellors are favored to reach the final next Friday at the Coliseum because of a balanced offense. Running backs Jason Holmes and Rafael Casino combine with quarterback Matt Cassel and receiver Reggie Lee to give Chatsworth one of the City’s most dangerous offenses. Cassel has passed for 2,550 yards and 21 touchdowns. Chatsworth is 3-0 against Valley Pac-8 teams and has never been healthier. Van Nuys’ hopes rest with quarterback Bobby Hernandez, who had zero touchdown passes a year ago but has thrown 18 this season. The Wolves have an excellent secondary ready to challenge Chatsworth’s receivers. Defensive backs Jermaine Lucious, Joe Ordonez and Ramon Palomo are capable of slowing down the Chancellors’ passing attack.

* RESEDA (8-4) vs. MANUAL ARTS (6-6)

At Jackie Robinson Stadium, 7 p.m.

The upstart Regents and Toilers have knocked off the two most-talented teams in the Division tournament. In the first round, Reseda defeated fifth-seeded Narbonne--a competitive team in the powerful Southern Pacific Conference. Eighth-seeded Manual Arts had little trouble beating top-seeded Palisades last week. Marco Acietuno completed 11 passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns in a 40-16 victory over the Dolphins. Quarterback Skyler McKnight, running back Joseph Looney--who broke the 1,000 yard barrier last week--and wide receiver Eric Ceja are the Regents’ best offensive players and also excel on defense. Ceja leads City Section players from the region with nine interceptions and averages more than 20 yards a reception.

SOUTHERN SECTION SEMIFINALS

* VALENCIA (9-3) vs. ST. PAUL (11-1)

At St. Paul High, 7:30 p.m.

The Swordsmen appear to be angry as they head into a Division III semifinal. After a surprising 26-17 loss to Alemany that cost them a shot at the Mission League championship, they have been on a rampage, outscoring their last four opponents, 179-38. Receiver Marcell Allmond, who is being pursued by UCLA, USC, Oregon, Wisconsin and Purdue, has 31 catches for 788 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has scored three touchdowns on punt returns. Valencia has turned up the heat offensively as well, outscoring its last three opponents, 138-53. Manuel White has rushed for 1,838 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, though fullback Ray Cassaday has been very effective lately for Valencia, gaining 186 yards in 10 carries and scoring four touchdowns in a 49-7 victory over Crespi last week. The Vikings boast one of the best run defenses in the region, allowing only 93.6 yards per game on the ground, which will be tested by the power-I running attack of the Swordsmen.

* CALABASAS (9-2-1) vs. ST. MONICA (7-3-1)

At St. Bernard High, 7:30 p.m.

This Division XI game matches teams that have developed something of a rivalry even though St. Monica has advanced to the semifinals each of the last three years and Calabasas is making its first semifinal appearance since 1986. Calabasas came from behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Mariners, 21-14, in a nonleague game the fifth week of the season. The Coyotes had a regular-season victory over St. Monica last season, but lost to the Mariners in the quarterfinals. Calabasas has won three games and tied another with second-half rallies. The Coyotes rely on 6-4 Dallas Enoch, who has completed 112 of 239 passes for 1,769 yards with 15 touchdown and 12 interceptions. Enoch’s top targets are Matt Lowenstein, who has 33 catches for 621 yards and seven touchdowns, and Evan Rosenblum, who has 31 catches for 484 yards and five scores. Drew Coppola leads the Coyotes with 483 yards rushing and three touchdowns He runs behind left tackle Jason Nemit (6-4, 240), left guard Richard Klein (6-2, 220), center Jon Opas (6-0, 215), right guard Kent Sherman (6-6, 250) and right tackle Eric Allen (6-1, 250). Davion Doby of St. Monica had rushed for 832 yards and 14 touchdowns, and James Dunn has 86 catches for 1,329 yards and nine touchdowns. Chris Griffin has completed 142 of 274 passes for 2,359 yards, with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions.

* BEAUMONT (6-6) vs. KILPATRICK (7-5)

At Newbury Park High, 7:30 p.m.

While both teams feature ground-oriented offenses, Beaumont boasts an effective passing game in this Division XII matchup. The Cougars’ modified double-wing is run by quarterbacks Sergio Olvera, a junior right-hander, and Josh Law, a senior left-hander. They have combined for 1,298 yards passing and 13 touchdowns. Ryan Turley, who has 18 catches for 440 yards and five touchdowns, is the primary target. Curlee Mitchell has rushed for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns, Law has 155 yards rushing and one touchdown in 43 carries. Kilpatrick, past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 1994 when it made its last semifinal appearance, has Albert Youngblood, who has rushed for 1,416 yards and 14 touchdowns, and Kevin White, who has rushed for 1,087 yards and 12 scores. White has gained 500 yards and scored five touchdowns in the playoffs. Kilpatrick has won three in a row and six of seven games, and Beaumont has won four of six after losing four of six.