Big Crowd Is Expected for Battle of Pasadena

There are several big Southern Section football games this week, but only one will be played in the Rose Bowl.

The 44th annual Turkey Tussle between Pasadena and Pasadena Muir is expected to draw about 10,000. Kickoff is Saturday at 1 p.m.

Muir is 26-17-1 against Pasadena--the teams also met in the playoffs in 1985--and has recently dominated a series that has been played continuously since 1954.

Muir has won 13 of 14 meetings since the teams tied in 1983. Pasadena’s last victory was a 14-7 win in 1995.

Saturday’s game could have Pacific League championship implications for Muir. If Crescenta Valley defeats Arcadia on Friday, and Muir beats Pasadena, there will be a three-way tie for first place between Crescenta Valley, Arcadia and Muir.

Pasadena probably will get a Division III playoff spot regardless of the outcome.

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A big crowd is also expected Friday night at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, where Loyola will play La Puente Bishop Amat in a Del Rey League finale.

If Bishop Amat wins, the Lancers win the league title. If Loyola wins, there could be a three-way tie for first place between Bishop Amat, Loyola and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Notre Dame defeated Loyola last week and plays Bellflower St. John Bosco in its league finale.

If there is a tie, a coin flip will determine the four-team league’s two automatic playoff berths. The loser of the coin flip probably will gain a wild-card berth.

A coin flip might also come into play in the Division I Citrus Belt League.

Rialto Eisenhower, Fontana and Fontana A.B. Miller are tied for first place and all are favored to win their final games Friday.

Eisenhower (8-1) defeated Fontana (7-2), Fontana defeated Miller (8-1) and Miller beat Eisenhower in league play.

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Quarterback Chris Lewis of Long Beach Poly, who has passed for a state-record 94 touchdowns in his career, has committed to Stanford.

Lewis last week broke the record of 91 touchdown passes set by Los Angeles Wilson’s Ron Cuccia in 1977.