VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : GAME DAY: A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

HIGH SCHOOL

* TAFT (0-0) vs. BANNING (0-0)

At Taft High, 7 p.m.

This is a rematch of the City Championship final. Last season, the Toreadors were crushed by Banning in the opener, 41-13, only to regroup 13 weeks later and beat the Pilots, 41-29, for the title. Both teams return their primary weapons. Brandon Hance of Taft passed for 2,038 yards, including a 17-of-23 performance in the final for 288 yards and four touchdowns. Tailback Chris Howard of Banning rushed for 2,505 yards and 31 touchdowns, including more than 300 yards in the two games against Taft. The Toreadors will introduce several new threats. Lee Marks, an elusive junior who started at cornerback last season, replaces graduated Marquis Brignac at tailback. USC-bound Gregg Guenther (6-8, 260) transferred from Crespi and will play tight end and defensive end. Senior receiver Fred Williams is playing for the first time. However, the eligibility of wide receiver-defensive back Gerard Jones will be determined today by City officials and junior receiver Chris Morgan is out with a knee injury. Taft lost the opener last season largely because its offensive line was in disarray. With no returning starters, Coach Troy Starr hopes the same won’t be true tonight. Banning will showcase Raymond Grajeda and Rayshon Dukes, Division I prospects who play wide receiver and defensive back. The Pilot quarterback is Wally Salinas, a senior who played tight end last season.

*

BUENA (0-0) vs. WESTLAKE (0-0)

At Westlake High, 7 p.m.

Westlake defeated Buena last year, 37-12, though a closer score is expected tonight. Buena’s offense is nearly intact, with quarterback Kyle Loughman and running backs Freddy Keiaho and D.J. Blackledge coming back. Buena receiver Cody Murphy begins his quest to break the school record for career receptions. Westlake counters with a stellar offense headed by Penn State-bound quarterback Zac Wasserman leading the way. Running back Julian Lambert, who rushed for 1,399 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, also returns. Linebacker Jake Scott of Buena, the team’s leading tackler last season, will not play because of recent shoulder surgery. Westlake holds a 6-2-1 edge in the series since 1990, and has topped 30 points in six of the nine games.

*

NORTH HOLLYWOOD (0-0) vs. GRANADA HILLS (0-0)

At Granada Hills High, 7 p.m.

A year ago, no one knew what to expect of the Highlanders under new coaches Darryl Stroh and Tom Harp. They were coming off a 1-9 season and surprised everyone by going 12-1. This season, the Highlanders consider themselves City title contenders. Quarterback Jason Winn, who passed for 2,728 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior, made more improvement during the summer. Inexperience at receiver is the main concern on offense. There are more than 70 players on the Granada Hills roster. The defense returns linebacker Adrian Padilla and lineman Brad Cohn. The challenge North Hollywood presents revolves around running back Matthew Hicks, who rushed for 1,227 yards and scored nine touchdowns in seven games as a starter. Quarterback Billydee Payne is mobile, has another year of experience and could present problems.

*

QUARTZ HILL (0-0) vs. HART (0-0)

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

No suspense here. Quartz Hill is winless on the field in its last 16 games dating to a 19-15 win over Saugus in 1997. However, the last team from the region to register a victory against Hart is . . . Quartz Hill. In the opener last season, an ineligible Hart player inadvertently got into Hart’s 49-13 rout of Quartz Hill during mop-up time. When Hart coaches realized it, they forfeited the victory. A year later, it’s Kyle Matter not Kyle Boller making his high school debut at quarterback. His supporting cast is excellent, namely fullback-linebacker Pat Norton, receiver-defensive back Jared Bazar and receiver-defensive back Chris Ciccone. Quartz Hill’s marquee player is Justin Waasdorp, a 6-3, 250-pound senior who ranks among the best linemen in Division III. The Rebels will start QB Jeff Williams, who passed for 487 yards in a platoon role last season.

OTHER GAMES:

City Section: 7 p.m., Reseda at Chatsworth; Marshall at Verdugo Hills; Palisades at Cleveland; Birmingham at Canoga Park; El Camino Real vs. Dorsey at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles.

Southern Section: 7 p.m., Calabasas at Agoura; Newbury Park at Burroughs; Oak Park at El Segundo; Harvard-Westlake at Channel Islands; Camarillo at Canyon; Simi Valley at Ventura; 7:30 p.m., Thousand Oaks vs. Crescenta Valley at Glendale High.