HIGH SCHOOL GAME DAY / A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

HIGH SCHOOL

* SAUGUS (10-2) vs. VALENCIA (9-3)

At College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m.

These teams met three weeks ago to decide second place in the Foothill League. Tonight, the winner eliminates its cross-town rival from the Southern Section Division III playoffs and advances to a section final for the first time in school history. Saugus handled Valencia last time around, 21-13. Despite Manuel White’s 140 yards rushing, Valencia felt compelled to pass against Saugus and it proved futile. But the Vikings’ passing game has improved in the last two weeks, producing 579 yards and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Kyle Bauer, who struggled in a 12-of-30, 180-yard performance against Saugus, has passed for 484 yards in playoff victories over Crescenta Valley and Notre Dame. Saugus’ defense hasn’t looked the same since the victory over Valencia. The Centurions have allowed 72 points in victories over Chaminade and Highland. Quarterback David Parker is part of the reason Saugus is having its best season in the school’s 25-year history. Parker, who has completed 58% of his passes, has thrown for 39 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards. He has also rushed for 457 yards and eight touchdowns. Receiver Nathan Steele has 65 catches for 1,098 yards and 15 touchdowns. White, who was limited to a career-low 52 yards against Notre Dame last week, has 2,139 yards and 32 touchdowns.

* WESTLAKE (11-1) vs. ARROYO GRANDE (10-1)

At Arroyo Grande, 7:30 p.m.

It must be fun for Westlake to score 50 points or more against outmanned opponents, but the easy games are over. Now comes the real test to see whether the Warriors have the toughness and discipline to defeat a team the caliber of defending Division IV champion Arroyo Grande. The Eagles have won 10 consecutive playoff games and use the fly offense, a scheme featuring misdirection, lots of fake handoffs and unpredictable play calling. Junior quarterback Sean Shields is 6 feet 4 and led the Eagles to a section title as a sophomore. Arroyo Grande utilizes six to eight running backs who share the responsibility of trying to control the clock behind a physical offensive line. Westlake counters with a defense that might be the region’s best. Because cornerbacks Josh Golden and Ryan Foltz are adept at man-to-man coverage, it allows other defenders to focus on stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback. Offensively, Westlake faces its toughest challenge since a 15-0 loss to Clovis West in the second game of the season. Arroyo Grande’s top defensive player is 6-6, 279-pound lineman David Rivera. Quarterback Zac Wasserman must avoid interceptions, something he failed to do against Clovis West when he had five passes intercepted. But Wasserman has been productive this season and could be Ventura County player of the year. He has passed for 2,435 yards and 32 touchdowns. Arroyo Grande’s coaching staff has local connections. Coach Jon Huss used to coach at Glendale Hoover. Defensive coordinator Tom Goossen is one of eight brothers who graduated from Notre Dame High.

* RIVERSIDE BANNING (11-1) vs. ST. BONAVENTURE (12-0)

At Ventura High, 7:30 p.m.

St. Bonaventure roars into the Division XI semifinals after beating its first two playoff opponents by a combined score of 114-15. The Seraphs have yet to be tested this season, winning their games by an average score of 43-7, but the string of cakewalks could end tonight. Banning boasts a potent running game featuring tailback Geno Randle and quarterback Marcell Allen. Randle rushed for 222 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and Allen rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns last week in a 46-36 victory over previously unbeaten Orange Lutheran. The Broncos also did a good job defending Orange Lutheran’s vaunted passing game, intercepting two passes. But it’s unlikely Banning has played as well-rounded a team as St. Bonaventure. The Seraphs seemingly have no weaknesses, consistently demonstrating an ability to run or pass the ball and play suffocating defense. A key has been the players up front. Tackle Adrian Ayala anchors a physical offensive line and end Tucker Bennett is the leader of an aggressive defensive line. The offense revolves around three players: sophomore tailback Lorenzo Booker, who has rushed for 2,175 yards and 31 touchdowns; quarterback Michael Spargo, who has passed for 2,048 yards and 25 touchdowns; and receiver Adam Gray-Hayward, who has 65 catches for 1,054 yards and 16 touchdowns. St. Bonaventure and Banning have one common opponent this season. Banning beat Carpinteria, 13-10, in a playoff opener. St. Bonaventure beat Carpinteria, 41-14, in Tri-Valley League play.

* KILPATRICK (9-3) vs. RIVERSIDE NOTRE DAME (11-1)

At Cerritos Valley Christian, 7:30 p.m.

Don’t look for a passing extravaganza in this Division XII semifinal. Through 12 weeks, Kilpatrick and Notre Dame have combined to complete 61 passes. That doesn’t mean there won’t be a whole lot of offense. Kilpatrick is averaging 455 yards a game, while the No. 2-seeded Titans have scored 93 points in two lopsided playoff victories. Running back Jermaine Marshall is the cornerstone of Kilpatrick’s wing-T offense, rushing for a state-best 3,262 yards. He needs nine touchdowns to tie the state record of 59. Last week in an 18-12 upset of No. 3 Mojave, Marshall rushed for 181 yards, only the second time he has been held to fewer than 200 this season. Andy Lewis added 174 yards rushing last week and has 637 this season. Notre Dame, seeking to avenge a 20-10 quarterfinal loss to the Mustangs last season, is attempting to advance to a section final for the first time since winning a title in 1977. The De Anza League champions, who have won seven in a row, also have a talented running back. Derrick Johnson rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns last week in a 42-13 rout of Mary Star and has 1,726 yards and 27 touchdowns. Chris Imperati has passed for 800 yards, more than half of that going to Johnson. The teams have had one common opponent. Notre Dame defeated L.A. Baptist, 51-19, in a playoff opener. Kilpatrick routed the Knights, 76-32, in Alpha League play. Kilpatrick, attempting to reach the division final for the second consecutive season, needs a victory to set up a possible rematch with league rival Paraclete.

* FAITH BAPTIST (10-1) vs. GRACE BRETHREN (11-0)

At Grace Brethren High, 1 p.m.

The Heritage League rivals meet for the second time this season in the Eight-Man Large Division championship game. Grace Brethren handed Faith Baptist its only loss, 35-16, on Oct. 30. In two playoff games, Tyson Larson has rushed for six touchdowns and Ryan Shaffer has 13 receptions for 321 yards and four touchdowns for top-seeded Grace Brethren. The Lancers advanced to their first section final with a 38-13 victory over defending champion Rio Hondo Prep last week. Faith Baptist won eight-man titles in 1984, ’91 and ’94. Lonnie Clayton has rushed for 1,084 yards and 14 touchdowns for the No. 3-seeded Contenders. Julio Bautista, who has thrown for 1,269 yards and 27 touchdowns, injured his knee in a quarterfinal victory over Avalon, but rotated last week with Eujay Masangkay in a 36-21 victory over Bloomington Christian.