GAME DAY / A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

HIGH SCHOOL

* VALENCIA (7-3) vs. CRESCENTA VALLEY (8-2)

At Glendale High, 7:30 p.m.

Until last week, these teams didn’t figure to see each other until the Southern Section Division III semifinals. Valencia was ranked No. 3 in the division before a 21-13 loss to Saugus last week dropped the Vikings to third place in the Foothill League. Crescenta Valley, ranked fifth, lost to Arcadia, 21-17, to fall into a three-way tie for first in the Pacific. These teams are meeting in a playoff opener for the second consecutive season. Last season, Manuel White of Valencia rushed for a season-high 275 yards in a 42-19 victory. White, who committed to UCLA this week, surpassed 6,000 yards in career rushing and needs 155 yards tonight to go over 2,000 this season. Quarterback Kyle Bauer of Valencia has passed for 1,132 yards and 12 touchdowns. Crescenta Valley, seeking its first playoff victory since 1992, will look to Scott Vossmeyer, the school’s all-time season passing leader who has thrown for 1,893 yards and 18 touchdowns. Steve Carballo has 49 catches for 780 yards and four touchdowns, and Jason Hogan has 40 catches for 681 yards and nine touchdowns. Wes Jones has rushed for 794 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Falcons are expected to return five key players who were suspended for the final two games of the regular season. Three others returned last week.

* ALEMANY (7-3) vs. ESPERANZA (6-4)

At Placentia Valencia, 7:30 p.m.

Esperanza, second-place team in the Sunset League, is known for its defense. The Aztecs have three NCAA Division I prospects--linebacker Roland Gutierrez, who has more than 100 tackles, defensive back Benny Mastropaolo and 6-foot-5, 250-pound tackle Travis Pendleton. Esperanza features deep-threat receiver Ryan Murray, who has 11 touchdown catches. Quarterback Casey Clausen of Alemany has been doing everything possible to keep alive the Indians’ season. Last week, he played safety and had an interception in addition to passing for the winning touchdown with one minute left against Bishop Amat. Alemany’s offensive line, one of the region’s best at midseason, must return to form by protecting Clausen and creating opportunities for tailback De’Andre Scott, a junior who has 1,434 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns.

* LITTLEROCK (6-4) vs. NOTRE DAME (9-1)

At Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.

Considered the preseason favorite to win the Golden League, Littlerock slumped to a fourth-place finish after being stung by injuries. The good news for the Lobos is guard Derrick Shannon, who has had an ankle injury, and defensive tackle Chester Flowers, sidelined by a knee injury, might return. Littlerock has two of the region’s best players--running back Rodney Woods and linebacker Marcus Raines. Woods has rushed for 1,402 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. Raines has a school record 172 tackles. No. 2-seeded Notre Dame, which needs three victories in the Division III playoffs to set up a likely final against top-seeded Hart, has improved immensely on offense since the opening game. Quarterback Jonathon Brewster has become a threat to pass or run. Receiver Daniel Browne has added another dimension to the Knights’ offense. But defense remains their strength, with tackle Travis Johnson and linebackers Mike Barron and Patrick Wade.

* CHAMINADE (6-4) vs. SAUGUS (8-2)

At Canyon High, 7:30 p.m.

Still basking in the glow of its 21-13 victory over Valencia last week in the Foothill League finale, Saugus hosts a first-round playoff game for the first time since 1995. If the Centurions’ offense plays the way it did in a 206-yard first half last week, Chaminade will have a tough time. The Eagles, who finished third in the Mission League, average 251.8 yards a game, 120 fewer than Saugus. Chaminade has been hampered by injuries most of the season and lost two-way starter Chris Meyer because of a shoulder injury last week in a 32-15 loss to St. Francis. Jon Palacios has completed 50% of his passes for 1,202 yards and five touchdowns. Eric Zdenek rushed for 102 of his 253 yards last week. David Parker of Saugus is among the region’s best, completing 59% of his passes for 2,478 yards and 30 touchdowns. Parker spreads it around--Nathan Steele, Marco Gilbert and Nels Jensen each have 38 or more catches.

* RIGHETTI (7-3) vs. NEWBURY PARK (6-4)

At Newbury Park High, 7:30 p.m.

Newbury Park finished second in the Marmonte League, but this isn’t exactly a first-round reward. Righetti finished third in the Northern League, the best league in Division IV. Newbury Park has shown a strong running game since quarterback Chris Lombardo was lost for the season because of a broken leg in the second game. Marcus Crawford has rushed for 1,557 yards and 11 touchdowns in 267 carries. Quarterback Cameron Merrill has steadily improved and has thrown for 20 touchdowns, with only five interceptions. Righetti counters with quarterback Ruben Villa, a three-year starter who has rushed for more than 600 yards and passed for more than 700 in the Warriors’ option offense. In a season opener, Righetti lost to Paso Robles, 30-22. One week later, Newbury Park lost to Paso Robles, 35-20, after falling behind, 35-0.

* OXNARD (3-7) vs. VENTURA (9-1)

At Rio Mesa High, 7:30 p.m.

Ventura defeated Oxnard, 21-20, six weeks ago when Tony Williams’ two-point conversion pass fell incomplete with 15 seconds left. That was one of five games Ventura won by six points or fewer. Oxnard gave up 391 yards rushing in a 33-14 loss to Hueneme last week, but the Yellowjackets held Tyler Ebell of Ventura to 89 yards in 23 carries. Ebell has rushed for 1,367 yards and 23 touchdowns and had 151 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-28 loss to Buena last week. Oxnard’s Williams has completed 65 of 124 passes for 802 yards and eight touchdowns, and has rushed for 290 yards and three touchdowns. He was 11 of 17 for 120 yards and a touchdown and ran for 124 yards in 15 carries in the first game against Ventura.

* OTHER SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFF GAMES

Division III: 7:30 p.m.--Quartz Hill vs. Hart at College of the Canyons; Muir at Antelope Valley; Canyon at Arcadia; Lancaster at St. Francis; Pasadena at Highland.

Division IV: 7:30 p.m.--Thousand Oaks at Hueneme; Channel Islands at San Luis Obispo; Lompoc at Camarillo; Dos Pueblos at Westlake; Moorpark vs. Buena at Ventura High.

Division VII: 7 p.m.--Harvard-Westlake at California.

Division X: 7:30 p.m.--La Canada at Morro Bay.

Division XI: 7:30 p.m.--Calabasas vs. Cathedral at Pius X-St. Matthias High; Chaparral at Oak Park; Whittier Christian at Nordhoff; Verbum Dei at Santa Paula.

Division XII: 7:30 p.m.--Montclair Prep at Cantwell Sacred Heart; Desert vs. Paraclete at Antelope Valley College; Bell-Jeff at Mojave; Big Bear vs. Kilpatrick at Canoga Park High.

Division XIII: 7:30 p.m.--Flintridge Prep vs. Ambassador Christian at Fontana High.