Pigskin Prophecies

The Golden League is to high school football what the NFC Central used to be to the NFL. Smash-mouth, getting down and dirty in the trenches football--with the added attraction of an occasional howling wind. Lancaster vs. Littlerock for the Golden League championship is our game of the week. Who--besides The Prophet--would have thunk it? The Prophet’s opponent this week is David Wharton, who has done such a fine job covering local football that he soon will begin a new assignment as a Pacific 10 Conference basketball reporter. (The guy graduated from USC. Like he knows basketball! Or football for that matter.)

GAME OF THE WEEK (5 points)

Littlerock at Lancaster

THE PROPHET SAYS: Our spies say Coach Jim Bauer of Littlerock, normally a no-nonsense guy, has been walking around with a Cheshire cat grin. Now we know why. Littlerock 24, Antelope Valley zip? Yeow! We’ll take the first team that scores. Or the first team that hits 10 points. But for now we have to go with . . . Littlerock, 14-12.

OTHER TOP GAMES (each 3 points)

Notre Dame at Bishop Amat

THE PROPHET SAYS: Coach Bill Redell of St. Francis says Notre Dame has a good chance of winning and, geez, wouldn’t he know? Bishop Amat only beat his team by three touchdowns! Notre Dame has the defense to stay close, but the Knights lack a go-to player on offense. Bishop Amat, 20-10.

El Camino Real at Granada Hills

THE PROPHET SAYS: El Camino Real will have to settle for a moral victory. Simi Valley and Kennedy are the only teams that have reached double figures in scoring against Granada Hills this season. The Conquistadores make three. Granada Hills, 28-13.

Ventura at Hueneme

THE PROPHET SAYS: Pick your poison: With quarterback Jeff Garcia, running back Donald Thompson and receiver Keary Colbert, Hueneme has scored 33 points or more each game since its season opener. Ventura hasn’t scored 33 points in a game this season. Hueneme, 33-20.

THE REST (1 point each)

* Taft at Chatsworth: The Prophet: It’s been an unusually quiet and noncontroversial season for Taft. All the Toreadors do is (yawn) win. Taft, 28-7. Wharton: Taft, 31-10.

* Kennedy at San Fernando: The Prophet: The real Kennedy needs to step forward--the one that took undefeated Granada Hills to the wire last Friday, not the one that got blitzed by Taft the previous week. Kennedy, 21-14. Wharton: San Fernando, 24-20.

* Van Nuys vs. Grant at Valley College: The Prophet: Statistically, Van Nuys has the second-best defense among City Section teams in the region. Sometimes numbers lie. Upset special. Grant, 17-14. Wharton: Van Nuys, 14-10.

* Poly at Monroe: The Prophet: Monroe has lost its last four. Poly is 2-0-1 in its last three. So, of course: Monroe, 22-20. Wharton: Poly, 72-12.

* St. Francis at Crespi: The Prophet: Coach Bill Redell of St. Francis returns to the site of his glory days. Crespi has never been the same. St. Francis, 24-22. Wharton: Crespi, 19-13.

* L.A. Baptist vs. Paraclete at Antelope Valley College: The Prophet: That Kilpatrick-Paraclete game next week won’t be for the Alpha League title. Another upset special. L.A. Baptist, 19-14. Wharton: Paraclete, 16-7.

* Highland at Quartz Hill: The Prophet: Highland scored 17 points against Littlerock? I’ll take the ‘Dogs. Highland, 24-20. Wharton: Tie, 6-6.

* Valencia vs. Hart at College of the Canyons (tonight): The Prophet: The game will be televised and quarterback Kyle Boller of Hart is a prime-time player. Hart, 49-13. Wharton: Hart, 42-8.

* Canyon at Burroughs: The Prophet: Canyon is 2-0 in league play, but has the toughest part of its schedule ahead. Burroughs is 0-2 with the softest part of its schedule to come. They meet in the middle. Canyon, 28-20. Wharton: Burroughs, 21-17.

* Moorpark at Westlake: The Prophet: Moorpark is a nice little team. But way too little to seriously challenge the upper echelon of the Marmonte League. Westlake, 27-14. Wharton: Westlake, 24-16.

* Camarillo at Rio Mesa: The Prophet: Camarillo has quietly won five in a row and is headed for a league-title showdown against Hueneme in the regular-season finale. Camarillo, 28-16. Wharton: Camarillo, 32-11.