GAME DAY: A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

HIGH SCHOOL

* BUENA (8-1, 3-0) vs. VENTURA (9-0, 3-0)

At Ventura High, 7:30 p.m.

Few people in Ventura will tune in to must-see TV tonight. This cross-town rivalry has been elevated to a whole new level, with the winner of the game also winning the Channel League championship and earning a higher seeding for the Southern Section Division IV playoffs. A crowd in the neighborhood of 10,000 is expected. Buena is well-balanced, averaging 240.1 yards rushing and 179.2 yards passing per game. Running backs D.J. Blackledge and Freddy Keiaho have combined for 1,969 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns. Receiver Cody Murphy of Buena is averaging 5.3 catches per game. Ventura counters with a one-man show on offense. Tyler Ebell has rushed for 1,216 yards and 20 touchdowns despite a thigh injury. Two-way player Scott Ellis might be the key for Ventura. Ellis has completed 44 of 106 passes for 753 yards and eight touchdowns. He has intercepted five passes as a defensive back.

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* ARCADIA (5-4, 3-1) vs. CRESCENTA VALLEY (8-1, 4-0)

At Glendale High, 7:30 p.m.

The ramifications of this game are clear. If Crescenta Valley wins, it claims its second Pacific League title in three seasons. If Arcadia wins, it clinches a share of its second consecutive title and Muir can make it a three-way tie by beating Pasadena on Saturday. The roles were reversed last season, with Crescenta Valley needing a victory over Arcadia to force a tie. Arcadia won, 15-13, on Quincy Williams’ fourth-quarter touchdown. Quarterback Scott Vossmeyer and all-purpose back Steve Carballo of Crescenta Valley are on the verge of setting school records. Vossmeyer, who has passed for 1,668 yards, needs 98 yards passing to break Mike McCall’s record of 1,765, set in 1976. Carballo has caught 46 passes for 737 yards and needs four receptions to surpass Andy Abbott’s record of 49, also set in 1976. Crescenta Valley, which suspended nine players for disciplinary reasons against Pasadena, will get three back tonight. Arcadia, which depends on the ground game, has been without Williams for most of the season because of a leg injury. Jay Salter and Anthony Freeman combined for 183 yards rushing last week in a 26-6 victory over Hoover.

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* CANYON (3-6, 2-2) vs. HART (9-0, 4-0)

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

Hart goes for an unbeaten regular season, another outright Foothill League title and the No. 1 seeding in the Southern Section Division III playoffs. The Indians, defending Division III champions, have their best defense during the reign of Coach Mike Herrington, allowing only 202 yards per game while holding opponents to an average of 10.3 points per game. Combined with a typically potent offense, Hart would appear to be too powerful for the Cowboys to challenge. Indian quarterback Kyle Matter, a junior, leads passers in the region with 2,467 yards and 36 touchdowns. He completes nearly 66% of his passes. Hart not only attacks through the air, but has a solid running game behind sophomore Tim Gregory, who averages 6.9 yards per carry and has rushed for 688 yards and 10 touchdowns, and senior Patrick Norton. Canyon slowed David Parker of Saugus, the area’s second-leading passer, in a 28-21 loss two weeks ago. The Cowboys, who clinched fourth place in the league and a playoff spot last week with a 23-20 victory over Burroughs, give up 23 points and 288.4 yards a game. Canyon is led by running back Jimmy Perry, who has rushed for 752 yards and nine touchdowns, and three other running backs who have at least 50 carries and 325 yards rushing. Quarterback Julio DeLeon has completed less than 30% of his passes for 345 yards and two touchdowns. He has had seven passes intercepted.

* OTHER GAME

Academy League: 7 p.m.--Ribet Academy vs. Campbell Hall at Birmingham High, 7 p.m.