Change Spurs Power Shift for Playoffs

The Southern Section football playoffs have a slightly different look this year because of movement by several leagues among the upper divisions.

The Bay League, for example, moved from Division II to Division III, and the Mt. Baldy League moved from Division V to Division II.

Those moves will generate some interesting matchups between traditional powers and more competitive play as the playoffs progress.

The vast majority of first-round games in the section’s 13 divisions will be played Friday, though a few are scheduled for tonight and Saturday because of facilities’ schedule conflicts.

Championship games will be played Dec. 8 and 9.

Here is a look at each division:

DIVISION I

It’s more wide-open than in the last few years, but there is no debate over top-seeded Long Beach Poly’s status as the team to beat.

“The championship has to go through Poly,” Loyola Coach Steve Grady said.

Poly (10-0), which shared last year’s title with Santa Ana Mater Dei, is led by junior running back Hershel Dennis and a stellar defense. For the second year in a row, the Jackrabbits play Fountain Valley (5-5) in a first-round game.

Second-seeded Loyola (9-1), seeking its first title since 1990, is led by senior quarterback Matt Ware and sophomore running back Rafael Rice. The Cubs’ only loss came against Mater Dei on a last-second field goal. Loyola plays Rialto (6-4) in the first round.

Third-seeded Rialto Eisenhower (9-1) lost its season opener against Corona Centennial, then won nine in a row on its way to the Citrus Belt League championship. The Eagles are led by junior quarterback Idris Moss and face Los Alamitos (8-2) in what could be one of the best first-round matchups.

Anaheim Esperanza (9-1), the fourth-seeded team, won the Sunset League behind running back Temitope Sonuyi. The Aztecs play Lakewood (6-4) in the first round. Unseeded Mater Dei (8-2), which last season won its fifth title in 10 years, plays Long Beach Jordan (8-2) Friday at the Santa Ana Bowl.

DIVISION II

Downey (10-0), the San Gabriel Valley League champion, is the top-seeded team in a division weakened some by the move from the Bay League to Division III. Downey plays Dana Hills (4-6) in the first round.

Second-seeded Upland (9-1) is out to claim what the Highlanders believe should be at least a share of a second consecutive title. Upland lost to Diamond Bar, 17-14, in last year’s division final after referees awarded Diamond Bar a fifth down during the game-winning drive. Upland opens against Paramount (5-5), the only at-large team in the division.

Defending champion Diamond Bar (9-1) is the third-seeded team, Mission Viejo (8-2) is fourth.

DIVISION III

The addition of the Bay League makes this division one of the most competitive in the section.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (9-0-1), the Mission League champion, is the top-seeded team, but most still regard two-time defending champion Newhall Hart (8-2) as the team to beat, especially if Stanford-bound quarterback Kyle Matter remains physically sound.

Golden League champion Antelope Valley (9-1) is the third-seeded team. Bay League champion Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, led by running back Michael Okwo, is fourth, but La Canada St. Francis (8-2), Palos Verdes Peninsula (8-2) and Crescenta Valley (9-1) are among the teams capable of winning it all.

DIVISION IV

Defending champion Westlake (9-1) suffered its only loss against Clovis West and is a heavy favorite to repeat in this four-league division.

Ventura Buena (8-2) is the second-seeded team and San Luis Obispo (9-1), which lost to Westlake in last year’s final, is third. Ventura (9-1) is fourth.

DIVISION V

Corona Centennial (9-1), which lost to Upland, is the top-seeded team in a division full of teams from Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Paloma Valley (8-2) is the second-seeded team, Elsinore (9-1) is third and Cajon (8-2) is fourth.

DIVISION VI

Top-seeded La Mirada (10-0) is the champion of the Suburban League, the only one of the division’s five leagues with schools not in Orange County.

Second-seeded Irvine (8-2), last season’s runner-up, is seeded second. Tustin (9-1) is third and defending champion Newport Harbor (8-2) is fourth.

DIVISION VII

Defending champion Hacienda Heights Los Altos (10-0), led by quarterback Felipe Aguilar and tight end/defensive lineman Shaun Cody, is expected to repeat.

San Gabriel Gabrielino (9-1) is seeded second, Bell Gardens (8-2) third and California (7-3) fourth.

DIVISION VIII

Desert Valley League-champion La Quinta (9-1), led by linebacker Michael Craven, is the top-seeded team in this four-team division. Barstow (8-2), Rialto Rubidoux (8-2) and Riverside Norte Vista (8-2) are also seeded.

DIVISION IX

Second-seeded Covina South Hills (9-1) won the championship of the Valle Vista league, the only one of the division’s five leagues not in Orange County. Anaheim Western (9-1) is the top-seeded team, Brea Olinda (7-3) is third and La Habra (9-1) fourth.

DIVISION X

Top-seeded Inglewood (10-0), which finished 0-8-1 and 0-7 in the Bay League last season, was moved down to the Ocean League and running back Lamar Ferguson and Jermaine Simon helped the Sentinels run the table. Inglewood could be challenged in this four-league division by defending champion Paso Robles (9-1), La Canada (9-1) and Santa Ynez (9-1).

DIVISION XI

Defending champion Ventura St. Bonaventure (10-0) is the top-seeded team, but Cathedral (9-0), Orange Lutheran (8-2) and Cerritos Valley Christian (9-1) are contenders.

DIVISION XII

Free-lance Van Nuys Montclair Prep (10-0) is the top-seeded team, defending champion Lancaster Paraclete (9-1) is second, Edwards Air Force Base Desert is third and Lebec Frazier Mountain is fourth.

DIVISION XIII

Defending champion Pasadena Poly is the top-seeded team, San Bernardino Aquinas (7-1) is second, Flintridge Prep (6-3) is third and Hamilton (fourth).

SOUTHERN SECTION AND CITY PAIRINGS, Page 10