Defending Champions Have the Clearest Paths

The Southern Section seedings have been set in each football division, first-round opponents are known and Week 11 of the season gives way to playoff speculation.

Hart, Westlake, St. Bonaventure and Paraclete begin defense of titles won in Division III, IV, XI and XII last season.

Each will face formidable opponents along the way, although Westlake and St. Bonaventure are heavy favorites to repeat and are seeded No. 1.

Hart is seeded No. 2 to Notre Dame and Paraclete is seeded No. 2 to Montclair Prep, which is seeking its first section title since 1992.

Here’s a look at the favorites and interesting first-round matchups:

DIVISION III

Two-time defending division champion Hart and St. Francis were the preseason favorites to meet in the final. That won’t happen, but they could meet in the semifinals. Notre Dame (9-0-1) has emerged as the division’s only undefeated team and earned the No. 1 seed after allowing a total of 57 points and 178.5 yards a game.

Longtime section power Antelope Valley (9-1) rebounded from a 4-7 record last season to win the Golden League title and earn a No. 3 seeding. If the Antelopes get past first-round opponent Hawthorne, they could meet St. Francis (8-2) in an intriguing matchup.

Crescenta Valley (9-1) claimed a share of its third Pacific League title in four seasons, but is still seeking its first playoff victory since 1992.

Valencia (8-2) travels to Palmdale (7-2-1) in the most interesting first-round game. Valencia, division runner-up last season, will play without 2,000-yard passer Kyle Bauer, who broke a finger last week.

Palmdale, which outscored Golden League opponents, 174-15, held out quarterback Terry Furlow last week because of a shoulder injury. He is expected to play Friday.

DIVISION IV

The Northern League does not appear to be a factor this season, paving the way for a champion from the Marmonte or Channel leagues.

Defending Division IV champion Westlake (9-1) is seeded No. 1 and could face UCLA-bound running back Tyler Ebell in an intriguing semifinal against No. 4-seeded Ventura (9-1).

Four-time Channel League champion Buena (8-2) is seeded No. 2 and could be tested in the second round by Thousand Oaks (5-5), among the hottest teams in the division with five consecutive victories.

In a controversial vote by Pacific View League principals, Oxnard (4-6) received a much-disputed top seed from the Pacific View League. The Yellowjackets must prove themselves against Royal (6-3-1), which had not made the playoffs since 1994.

Hueneme (7-3) should defeat Dos Pueblos (6-4), but could face a difficult second-round test against the winner of Agoura (6-3-1) and No. 3-seeded San Luis Obispo (8-2), the highest-seeded team from the Northern League.

SMALL SCHOOLS

It doesn’t look like any opponent is going to put up a formidable challenge to St. Bonaventure (10-0) in Division XI. Of course, that was the thinking last season when Nordhoff gave the Seraphs all they could handle in the division final.

Cathedral (9-0), the Camino Real champion, is seeded second in Division XI. Nordhoff, Oak Park and Santa Paula host first-round games.

Montclair Prep (10-0) and Paraclete (9-1) are expected to meet in a Division XII final that would feature two programs that have combined for seven section titles.

Montclair Prep, a free-lance team, is seeded No. 1 after outscoring opponents, 443-60, during the regular season.

Alpha League champion Paraclete, which is seeking its fourth consecutive section title, is seeded No. 2 after winning eight games in a row--and picking up a victory by forfeit--following a 51-0 loss to defending St. Bonaventure in the season opener.

L.A. Baptist-Montclair Prep and Kilpatrick-Frazier Mountain are possible quarterfinal matchups.

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Southern Section Playoff Pairings

DIVISION III

First round 7:30 Friday, unless noted

* Lancaster at Notre Dame

* Valencia at Palmdale

* Hawthorne at Antelope Valley

* Saugus at St. Francis

* Leuzinger vs. Crescenta Valley at Glendale High

* Chaminade vs. Hart at College of the Canyons

DIVISION IV

* Santa Barbara at Westlake

* Camarillo at Lompoc

* Royal at Oxnard

* Righetti at Ventura

* Agoura at San Luis Obispo

* Dos Pueblos at Hueneme

* Arroyo Grande at Thousand Oaks

* Channel Islands vs. Buena at Rio Mesa High

DIVISION X

* Workman at La Canada, 7:30 p.m. Thursday

DIVISION XI

* Malibu vs. St. Bonaventure at Ventura High, 1:30 p.m. Saturday

* La Salle at Nordhoff

* Bishop Diego at Santa Paula

* Calabasas at Oak Park

DIVISION XII

* Bell-Jeff vs. Montclair Prep at Valley College

* L.A. Baptist vs. Banning at Nicolet Middle School

* Kilpatrick vs. Bosco Tech at Pius X High

* Cantwell Sacred Heart at Frazier Mountain

* Kern Valley vs. St. Genevieve at North Hollywood High

* Mojave vs. Paraclete at Antelope Valley College

DIVISION XIII

* Campbell Hall at Boron

* Sherman Indian vs. Flintridge Prep, TBA

EIGHT-MAN SEMIFINALS

Large-Schools Division

* Grace Brethren vs. Bloomington Christian at Bloomington High

* Viewpoint at Mission Prep

Small-Schools Division

First Lutheran at Cuyama Valley