GAME DAY

HIGH SCHOOL

* GRANADA HILLS (4-1) vs. TAFT (4-1)

At Taft High, 7 p.m.

Losses to Kennedy are all that blemish the nonleague records of these teams as they begin West Valley League play. To say the winner will be the league favorite is unfair to unbeaten Birmingham, but that’s the conventional wisdom. Granada Hills poses the stiffest challenge yet to Taft’s high-powered passing game. The Highlanders have intercepted 11 passes, four by safety Aaron Perez, and allow only 141 yards passing a game. Rick Clausen of Taft leads the region with 1,369 yards passing and 14 touchdowns. Bobby Baca of Granada Hills has passed for 1,075 yards and did not have a pass intercepted until last week against Kennedy. Receiver Joey Rodriquez, who has 607 of those yards and nine of Baca’s 12 touchdown passes, is recovering from a slight concussion but will probably play. Taft linebacker Kris Govea, a transfer from Granada Hills, will undoubtedly collide with no-nonsense Highlander running back Robert Ortega, who has rushed for 444 yards.

* BUENA (3-2) vs. VENTURA (5-0)

At Ventura High, 7:30 p.m.

Last year, the teams met in a much-anticipated regular-season finale in front of an estimated 9,000 people. This year, they’re meeting several weeks earlier in a Channel League opener, but the anticipation remains. Tyler Ebell has been almost impossible to stop, running for 1,785 yards and 24 touchdowns, and averaging 13.2 yards a carry. Ebell’s presence has taken the pressure off first-year quarterback Andrew Lovier, who has completed 27 of 54 passes for 430 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Buena defeated the Cougars last year, 49-28, behind a power running attack that amassed 401 yards. Freddy Keiaho burned the Cougars for 207 yards and he must repeat the performance for Buena to take a step toward its fourth consecutive league title. Andrew Paulson throws with accuracy and touch, completing 52 of 76 passes (68.4%) for 550 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions for the Bulldogs.

* HIGHLAND (2-3) vs. PALMDALE (3-1-1)

At Palmdale High, 7 p.m.

This game is for the Palmdale city championship and will likely determine who plays Antelope Valley for the Golden League title. Something has to give. Defending league champion Highland doesn’t give up many yards, but doesn’t gain many, either. Palmdale, playing against its sixth consecutive league champion, is averaging a league-best 333 yards on offense, but has allowed 440 yards a game, ahead of only Crespi among the 71 region schools playing 11-man football. Terry Furlow of Palmdale has passed for 906 yards and six touchdowns, and rushed for seven touchdowns and six two-point conversions. Josh Mejia is Highland’s leading rusher with 439 yards and four touchdowns. The Bulldogs beat Palmdale, 17-0, last season, but trail the series, 6-2. The winner of this game has gone on to win three of the last four league titles.

* SAUGUS (2-3) vs. VALENCIA (4-1)

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

This Foothill League opener is a rematch of last season’s Division III semifinal, won by Valencia, 55-21. Saugus won, 21-13, in league play. Both teams have changed considerably since then. Valencia, traditionally a run-oriented program, is ranked fifth in the division while passing for almost twice as many yards as it has rushed. Quarterback Kyle Bauer and receiver Will Broadous are Valencia’s key threats. Freshman running back Kreig Peters has scored four touchdowns since being called up to the varsity two weeks ago. Saugus has struggled with turnovers this season, but the Centurions were bolstered last week when transfer Brandon McCullough got his first start and rushed for 196 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 42-14 victory over Monroe. Saugus is allowing 198 yards a game, best in the league, and is second in offense at 320 yards a game. Valencia is first in offense, averaging 333, and second in defense at 215.

* KILPATRICK (2-3) vs. MONTCLAIR PREP (5-0)

At Valley College, 7:30 p.m.

This nonleague game would appear to be a mismatch when looking at the team’s records, but Montclair Prep hasn’t played a particularly tough schedule and Kilpatrick is 2-0 since running back Jeremy Hartsfield joined the team after missing the first three games for disciplinary reasons. Hartsfield, who played for Dorsey last season, has rushed for 542 yards and scored 11 touchdowns and makes an “incredible difference” for Kilpatrick, according to co-coach Scott Faer. Gary Sonkur of Montclair Prep, top-ranked team in the Southern Section Division XII poll, has rushed for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 13.3 yards a carry. He has gained 1,004 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in the last four games, but quarterback Jason Goss of Montclair Prep should not be overlooked. He has completed 23 of 40 passes for 501 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 234 yards and four touchdowns in the Mounties’ 43-42 victory against Kilpatrick last year. Montclair Prep scored 22 points in the fourth quarter of that game after recovering three consecutive onside kicks.

* OTHER GAMES

CITY SECTION

Sunset Six: 7 p.m.--Grant at Verdugo Hills; Hollywood at North Hollywood; Canoga Park at Poly; Valley Mission: 7 p.m.--Monroe at Kennedy; Sylmar at Van Nuys; 7:15 p.m.--Reseda at San Fernando; West Valley League: 7 p.m.--El Camino Real at Birmingham; Cleveland at Chatsworth.

SOUTHERN SECTION

Foothill League: 7 p.m.--Burroughs at Canyon; Hart vs. Burbank at Burroughs High; Frontier League: 7 p.m.--Malibu at Santa Paula; Santa Clara at Nordhoff; Golden League: 7 p.m.--Lancaster at Antelope Valley; Littlerock at Quartz Hill; High Desert League: 7:30 p.m.--Mojave at Frazier Mountain; Vasquez at Kern Valley; Marmonte League: 7 p.m.--Simi Valley at Agoura; Moorpark at Westlake; Royal at Thousand Oaks; Pacific League: 7 p.m.--Hoover at Arcadia; Muir at Glendale; Pacific View League: 7 p.m.--Camarillo at Channel Islands; Oxnard at Hueneme; Rio Hondo League: 7:30 p.m.--South Pasadena at La Canada; Tri-Valley League: 7:30 p.m.--Carpinteria at Oak Park; Fillmore vs. Bishop Diego at Santa Barbara City College; Nonleague: 7 p.m.--Crespi at Serra; St. Bonaventure at Calabasas; 7:30 p.m.--Bishop Montgomery at Notre Dame; Chaminade at St. Bernard; Rio Mesa vs. Dos Pueblos at San Marcos High; Servite at Alemany.

EIGHT-MAN

Agape League: 7 p.m.--Antelope Valley Christian at Victor Valley Christian; Heritage League: 3 p.m.--Faith Baptist at First Lutheran.