GAME DAY / A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

CITY CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS

* KENNEDY (8-3) vs. CRENSHAW (9-2)

At Fremont High, 7 p.m.

Kennedy riddled Sylmar for 69 points in the first round, but might find the going tougher against No. 3-seeded Crenshaw, which beat Bell, 24-0, last week. Crenshaw is the Coliseum League champion and has defeated top-seeded Carson and powerful Dorsey. Linebackers Chris Bohannon, Lee Webb and Justin Smith lead the defense. Webb, the fullback, and tailback Terrance Whitehead each have rushed for about 700 yards. The Cougars don’t throw as often as Kennedy, but Devon Collins completed eight of 15 for 197 yards and two touchdowns against Bell. Ruben Zaragoza has set Kennedy records with 3,028 yards passing and 34 touchdowns this season. The senior spreads his throws around to four receivers and has had only six passes intercepted. Kennedy has won its last five games since 215-pound Mike Miles took over at running back. Miles has 458 yards rushing, including three games over 100. Kennedy linemen Robert Avina, Armando Avina, Julio Lazo, Robert Garcia, Rene Esparza and Mike Taylor have allowed Zaragoza to be sacked only 12 times.

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* GRANADA HILLS (9-2) vs. CARSON (9-2)

At Long Beach Veterans Stadium, 7 p.m.

Whenever these teams meet in football, Granada Hills is usually the underdog to nine-time City champion Carson. This quarterfinal meeting is no different. The top-seeded Colts are loaded with quality athletes on both sides of the ball. Running back-linebacker Wendell Hunter, who has committed to California, has scored 13 touchdowns. He anchors the defense along with linebacker Michael Crowder-Jones, who is being recruited by Stanford. The Colts have a balanced offense and a defense particularly strong against the run. Granada Hills, which upset the Colts in the 1987 City final, hopes to use its passing game as the great equalizer. If quarterback Jason Winn is given time to pass, the Highlanders might be able to cause trouble. Winn has passed for 2,251 yards and 26 touchdowns. The Highlander defense must prevent big plays and even create some turnovers to make an upset happen. “It’s the same situation every time we play Carson,” co-coach Tom Harp said. “They have good size and speed, but hopefully our passing attack can move the ball.”

CITY INVITATIONAL QUARTERFINALS

* MONROE (1-10) vs. GARDENA (7-3-1)

At Gardena High, 7 p.m.

Monroe is 7-4 on the field, having forfeited six victories because of an ineligible player. The Vikings used a 72-yard drive in the final moments to score and defeat Narbonne, 32-27, in the first round. Tyrone Burwell, a 235-pound tailback, has rushed for 1,432 yards and 18 touchdowns. Running back DeAndre Phillips has scored 16 touchdowns while rushing for 679 yards and making 21 receptions for 389 yards. Monroe is 2-0 with Diego Barba at quarterback. Gardena defeated Jefferson, 21-7, in the first round behind two touchdown runs by Dennis Smith. Gardena boasts a strong defense that allows about 240 yards a game.

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CHATSWORTH (4-7) vs. PALISADES (9-2)

At Palisades High, 7 p.m.

Matt Cassel, meet David Koral, the state’s most prolific passer. Cassel, 6-5 Chatsworth senior headed to USC, has passed for 1,943 yards and 14 touchdowns with only four passes intercepted. Those statistics are puny compared to Koral, who has passed for 4,138 yards and 50 touchdowns. Palisades beat Locke, 28-26, in the first round by scoring two touchdowns in the last 3:21. Geoff McArthur has 72 receptions and is Palisades’ best defender. Chatsworth, defending City Invitation champion, beat Eagle Rock, 39-17, in the first round. The Chancellors are much improved since the emergence of Samuel Wesley, who has rushed for 827 yards in six games.

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SOUTH GATE (6-4-1) vs. RESEDA (8-3)

At Reseda High, 7 p.m.

Reseda defeated Manual Arts, 14-7, in the first round, while South Gate dispatched Venice, 20-14, in similar workmanlike fashion. South Gate is solid defensively, and on offense relies on quarterback Hugo Avendano and tailback Octavio Cortez. Reseda has a potent three-pronged running attack. Junior tailback Eddie Robinson has 1,182 yards and 18 touchdowns but was held in check by Manual Arts. Fullback Allen Johnson, a 230-pound senior, took over and rushed for 134 yards to increase his season total to 563 yards. Slotback Jason Wagner has rushed for 606 yards, caught 29 passes for 517 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

SOUTHERN SECTION QUARTERFINALS

Friday’s Schedule

Division I

Mater Dei at Alemany, 7:30 p.m.

Division III

Hart vs. Muir at Pasadena City College, 7:30 p.m.; Notre Dame vs. Valencia at Canyon High, 7:30 p.m.; Highland vs. Saugus at College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m.

Division IV

San Luis Obispo at Hueneme, 7:30 p.m.; Newbury Park vs. Buena at Ventura High, 7:30 p.m.; Arroyo Grande vs. Ventura at Rio Mesa High, 7:30 p.m.; Camarillo at Westlake, 7:30 p.m.

Division VII

Harvard-Westlake vs. Garey at Mt. San Antonio College, 7:30 p.m.

Division XI

Nordhoff at San Jacinto, 7 p.m.; Oak Park vs. Cathedral at Pius X-St. Matthias High, 7:30 p.m.; St. Bonaventure at Santa Paula, 7:30 p.m.

Division XII

Paraclete vs. Montclair Prep at Valley College, 7:30 p.m.; Mojave vs. Kilpatrick at Canoga Park High, 7:30 p.m.

Division XIII

Hamilton vs. Flintridge Prep at St. Francis High, 7 p.m.

* Football Logs, D10