Advertisement

LOYOLA (3-1) vs. HART (4-0)

Share

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

Loyola is the last team to beat Hart, which has won 13 consecutive games since an errant snap cost the Indians a last-minute, winning field-goal attempt in a 23-22 loss. Loyola is rebuilding since its Division I semifinal appearance a year ago. The Cubs’ ground-oriented offense is led by running back Taylor Williams, who averages 100 yards a game. Lineman Keith Ornelas, a 6-4, 281-pound junior, was an all-state selection as a sophomore. The Cubs haven’t been the same since a surprising 7-6 loss to Crenshaw two weeks ago. Loyola suffered from seven turnovers and went into a tailspin when quarterback Eric McClenahan was injured. McClenahan will start tonight after a one-week layoff. Hart has had no trouble putting points on the scoreboard, averaging 44.3 a game. Loyola’s traditionally strong defense provides the Indians’ toughest test of the regular season. Hart quarterback Kyle Matter leads the area with 1,144 yards passing and 18 touchdowns. Jared Bazar has 20 receptions for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Ciccone, with 12 receptions and five touchdowns, returns after a one-week suspension. If it comes down to a field goal, Hart’s Kirk Bardin is more than capable of making a winning kick.

CRESCENTA VALLEY (3-1) vs. BURROUGHS (2-2)

At Burroughs, 7 p.m.

Crescenta Valley dominated this longtime rivalry until recently. Burroughs has won two of the last three meetings, including a 32-27 victory last season. Joe Kroells of Burroughs passed for 297 yards and two touchdowns in that game. This season, his favorite target has been Keith Jarbo, who has caught 13 passes, including the Indians’ only three passing touchdowns. Jarbo also has intercepted four passes to lead a defense that is allowing fewer than 100 yards per game through the air. But Burroughs has yet to face a quarterback as talented as Scott Vossmeyer of Crescenta Valley. Vossmeyer, one of the region’s most proficient passers, has passed for 827 yards and is on pace to break the school’s season mark of 1,765. Steve Carballo is averaging 19.4 yards per catch. Wes Jones has rushed for six touchdowns, including three last week in a 21-7 victory over La Canada. Late in that game, heavily recruited lineman Ryan Morris was injured. He is expected to play tonight.

RIO MESA (2-2) vs. THOUSAND OAKS (2-2)

At Thousand Oaks High, 7 p.m.

Commmon opponents don’t determine winners, but Thousand Oaks has an edge base on games against Agoura. The Lancers defeated Agoura last week, 35-6. Rio Mesa defeated Agoura two weeks ago, 35-24. Thousand Oaks has rebounded since being blown out by Crescenta Valley and Hart in its first two games. The Lancers employ a two-quarterback rotation with Santa Riccobono and Ben Olson, each of them completing only 14 of 37 passes. However, both are averaging nearly 20 yards per completed pass and neither has had a pass intercepted. Clint Wilson has rushed for 471 yards and four touchdowns. Rio Mesa has passed for only 63.3 yards per game, but has a decent ground game. Three running backs have rushed for more than 200 yards, led by Mike Lirzano, who has 362 yards and three touchdowns in 47 carries. Thousand Oaks defeated Rio Mesa last year, 27-20.

Advertisement

CHATSWORTH (1-3) vs. SYLMAR (2-2)

At Sylmar High, 7 p.m.

Quarterback Matt Cassel of Chatsworth might find himself running for his life against a tough Sylmar defense. The 6-foot-4, 206-pound Cassel has been rugged enough to take a pounding so far, leading the Chancellors with 177 yards and five rushing touchdowns and completing 55 of 95 passes for 806 yards and eight touchdowns. Sylmar, which has played against a succession of strong defenses, might find some soft spots against Chatsworth, which has allowed 1,524 yards and 117 points. David Contreras is the centerpiece of the Spartan offense, rushing for 659 yards and five touchdowns. Contreras has kicked two field goals, six extra points and scored on a two-point conversion run for 44 of the Spartans’ 80 points. Forty of Sylmar’s points came in a victory over Washington last week, an indication the Spartans might be building momentum heading into league play next week.

KENNEDY (3-1) vs. GRANADA HILLS (3-1)

At Granada Hills High, 7 p.m.

After three victories, Kennedy and its high-flying passing attack were brought back to earth by Taft in a 24-19 loss. Not that Ruben Zaragoza was stopped: He threw for 287 yards and completed 30 of 43 passes. But Kennedy had difficulty passing inside the 25-yard line and proved vulnerable to a power running attack. An anticipated matchup between Zaragoza and Jason Winn of Granada Hills probably will not materialize because Winn, who passed for 671 yards and six touchdowns in three games, is expected to be sidelined for a second consecutive game due to a knee injury. Bobby Baca and David DeLeon filled in capably in a 19-6 victory over Jefferson but the bulk of the offense falls to fullback Omari Mack, who has 444 yards rushing in 65 carries. Mack will try to run over his cousin, Clifford Mack, Kennedy’s best defensive back. Anthony Rodriguez of Granada Hills averages 28.6 yards on 16 catches and tight end Tommy Garagliano has 16 catches for 193 yards.

TAFT (1-3) vs. SAN FERNANDO (4-0)

At San Fernando, 7 p.m.

It’s time to find out if San Fernando’s unbeaten record has more to do with a weak nonleague schedule. The Tigers have victories over Jefferson, Los Angeles, Jordan and Birmingham. Taft has faced much tougher competition from Banning, Dorsey, Locke and Kennedy. San Fernando’s advantage is strength in the lines, led by Steve Nevarez. Taft has shown a weakness against the run, and the Tigers plan to send 210-pound tailback Bob Stanley up the middle again and again. The Toreadors got their running game untracked last week, with junior tailback Lee Marks rushing for 246 yards against Kennedy. San Fernando usually plays well against Taft, whose coach, Troy Starr, used to be the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. Taft will be without tight end-defensive end Gregg Guenther, who is scheduled to return next week from a shoulder injury. It’s a final nonleague tuneup for both schools and could be a crucial game in determining playoff seedings.

OTHER GAMES:

City Section: 3 p.m., El Camino Real at Manual Arts; 7 p.m., Kennedy at Granada Hills; Poly at Franklin; Canoga Park at Van Nuys; Monroe at North Hollywood; Cleveland at Calabasas; 7:30 p.m., Verdugo Hills at Birmingham; Grant at Reseda.

Southern Section: 7 p.m., Quartz Hill vs. Valencia at Canyon High; Westchester at Lancaster; Littlerock at Capistrano Valley; Royal at Westlake; Agoura at Moorpark; Newbury Park at Simi Valley; Buena at Channel Islands; Saugus at Camarillo; L.A. Baptist at Santa Paula; Santa Clara vs. Carpinteria at Carpinteria Middle School; 7:30 p.m., Bishop Montgomery at Antelope Valley; Burbank at Glendale; Canyon at Alemany; Chaminade at Temple City; Crenshaw at Crespi; Palmdale at Bakersfield Ridgeview; Vasquez at Rosamond; St. Francis at Serra; Notre Dame vs. Pasadena at Pasadena City College; Highland at Corona Centennial; Desert Hot Springs vs. Montclair Prep at Valley College; Hueneme at Muir; Mojave at Fillmore; Kilpatrick at Oak Park; Oxnard at Ventura.

Advertisement