Pigskin Prophecies

Championship weekend will also decide the season-long series between The Prophet and his guests. With these games to go, The Prophet is two points ahead and two picks behind. To all but assure there won’t be a tie, the Almost-All-Knowing One has gone entirely against the odds--and what most people would consider sanity--and tabbed Taft to end its two-game losing streak in City Championship games. Picking against The Prophet is Dan Loumena, sports copy chief for The Times’ Valley and Ventura editions. I won’t bother to rip Loumena’s credentials because he’d edit it out anyway.

GAMES OF THE WEEK (4 points each)

Today

City Championship

Taft vs. Banning

THE PROPHET SAYS: The safe pick is Banning, which has a 41-13 victory over Taft this season. But why be safe when you can be right instead? If quarterback Brandon Hance keeps his composure, this is an upset waiting to happen. If not, well, at least the Toreadors know the drill. They’ve lost the last two City title games. Taft, 28-27.

City Division Championship

Chatsworth vs. Reseda

THE PROPHET SAYS: Reseda would never forgive me if I picked it to win. It seems like every time I pick against the Regents, they come out on top. Sorry Chatsworth, I can’t help myself. Coach Joel Schaeffer says I have to try it one more time. Chatsworth, 28-20.

Saturday

Southern Section

Division III

Hart vs. St. Paul

THE PROPHET SAYS: Way back when I was playing football--after leather helmets but before Nike had a swoosh--Coach Marijon Ancich was a legend at St. Paul. He’s still there, and I still don’t trust him. St. Paul will be up for the challenge, but the Swordsmen are in for a Hartbreak. Hart, 35-21.

Division VII

Harvard-Westlake vs. Charter Oak

THE PROPHET SAYS: We know Charter Oak has a huge line and a Division I athlete, Steve Stevenson. But Harvard-Westlake has something the Chargers don’t: A fast, agile, 300-pound tight end. Hmmm. I’ll go with Stevenson and the big line. Charter Oak, 38-22.

Division XII

Paraclete vs. Kilpatrick

THE PROPHET SAYS: Kilpatrick lost to Paraclete, 40-14, five weeks ago. But since then, with Kevin White and Albert Youngblood gobbling up huge chunks of yardage, the Mustangs have hit full gallop. Their run ends Saturday. Paraclete, 28-14.

Division I

Mater Dei vs. Long Beach Poly

THE PROPHET SAYS: Mater Dei took a 27-game winning streak into the final last year and lost--to Poly. Now Poly has a 27-game winning streak and a chance to become the first team to repeat as major division champion since Servite in 1982 and ’83. Poly, 21-17.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES (4 points each)

Taft vs. Banning

LOUMENA SAYS: The Prophet knows I’ve never seen any of these teams play, except on television. Since I work on the copy desk, I edit the stories and know this much: As successful as Troy Starr has been, he’s headed toward a Marv Levy-type fate. Banning 24, Taft 21.

Chatsworth vs. Reseda

LOUMENA SAYS: I usually take a team with a tough defense, and Reseda proved last week it can stop a passing quarterback. But Matt Cassel is a playmaker with his arm and his legs. Playmakers win close games. Chatsworth 18, Reseda 15.

St. Paul vs. Hart

LOUMENA SAYS: I’ve seen these two teams win handily in Thursday night games against formidable foes. I worked at the Newhall Signal and know about Indian football--this is the time of year (windy, wet) Hart gets handed its helmets, even with Kyle Boller, et al. St. Paul 24, Hart 22.

Harvard-Westlake vs. Charter Oak

LOUMENA SAYS: The Wolverines haven’t played the likes of Charter Oak, which at times features a line averaging 278 pounds. That was the weight of our two cornerbacks (I was a 5-8, 160-pound safety, linebacker and receiver) in ’78. Charter Oak 24, Harvard-Westlake 13.

Kilpatrick vs. Paraclete

LOUMENA SAYS: It’s been a nice playoff run, literally, for ground-pounding Kilpatrick, but Paraclete proved it can tame the turnover-prone Mustangs and Breech any void in Coach Steve Hagerty’s game plan. Paraclete 21, Kilpatrick 18.

Mater Dei vs. Long Beach Poly

LOUMENA SAYS: I haven’t even read stories regarding these two teams. But I’ve heard the stories. No matter, or should I say Mater, I know who will seize the day in an upset of a track team masquerading in football uniforms. Mater Dei 28, Poly 27.