TONIGHT’S TOP FOOTBALL GAMES

CITY SECTION SEMIFINALS

Venice (10-2) vs. Woodland Hills Taft (12-0) at Woodland Hills El Camino Real High, 7 p.m.

Skill players abound in this matchup between two prolific offenses. Venice, which has only lost to Santa Monica and La Verne Damien, is averaging 37 points while Taft is averaging 41. The top-seeded Toreadors, ranked No. 6 in the Southland by The Times, have not been held under 30 points in a game this season, while Venice has surpassed 40 points against Fremont and Roosevelt in the playoffs. Gerold Rodriguez has become a big-play slot receiver for the Gondoliers in their wide-open offense, hurting defenses that solely focus on wideouts B.J. Vickers and Antwuan Giddens. In addition to its usual weapons, Taft added its own wrinkle by using Lance Broadus as a tight end. Broadus caught a touchdown in a 30-6 quarterfinal win over Dorsey. The difference might be Taft’s underrated defense, which has given up an average of 8.2 points a game. Broadus (6-3, 225) is a Division I talent at linebacker, but defensive end Eddie Miller (6-3, 220) and linebacker Chris Boyd (6-2, 220) have helped give the Toreadors an additional physical presence.

-- Eric Stephens

Gardena (9-3) vs. Lake Balboa Birmingham (9-3) at Pierce College, 7 p.m.

The winner of this semifinal will accomplish something for the first time in more than two decades. Gardena won its last upper-division championship game appearance in 1973. Birmingham hasn’t been to a final since 1961. The Panthers have advanced in the playoffs on the strength of their option running game and opportunistic play on defense. They intercepted four passes and forced six Jefferson turnovers in a 38-14 victory last week. Running back DeAndre Hughes, who had 138 yards and three touchdowns against Jefferson, and fullback Jason Franklin make it difficult for defenses trying to contain elusive quarterback LaFerrell Payne. Birmingham has coasted with easy victories over Van Nuys Grant and Fairfax. The Patriots, whose three losses have come to undefeated teams (Newhall Hart, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Taft), can run or pass with equal efficiency with dangerous running back Dennis Keyes and the big-play combination of quarterback Ryan Lombardo and wide receiver Chad Green.

-- Eric Stephens

SOUTHERN SECTION SEMIFINALS

San Clemente (9-3) vs. Newhall Hart (11-0-1) at College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m.

This is a Division II matchup between a team seeking to advance to its first championship game since 1979 and an opponent that has been there, won that. While San Clemente lost in its only title-game appearance more than 20 years ago, Hart has won four consecutive Division III titles and is riding a 34-game unbeaten streak. San Clemente Coach Eric Patton does know what it’s like to win it all, having guided Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley to a title in 1990. The marquee matchup will be at quarterback, where second-seeded Hart’s Sean Norton will try to outduel San Clemente’s Beau Budde. Norton rarely throws a bad pass, having thrown 218 this season before one was intercepted. Budde completed the touchdown pass that clinched a victory over third-seeded Chino last week. San Clemente’s multipurpose star Chris Miller could make the difference with a key reception or field goal.

-- Ben Bolch

Palmdale (11-1) at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (12-0), 7:30 p.m.

This is a rematch of last year’s Division III quarterfinal game won by Palmdale, 14-7. The Knights didn’t score an offensive touchdown because they struggled with Palmdale’s defensive speed. Notre Dame quarterback Marcel Marquez must be able to run and pass for the Knights to win. Second-seeded Notre Dame will also rely heavily on defensive lineman Alex Puccinelli, who has 18 1/2 sacks. Palmdale has been underestimated all season. Quarterback Jacob McCravey has passed for 2,005 yards and 19 touchdowns.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Westlake Village Westlake (10-2) at Oxnard (11-1), 7:30 p.m.

The recent playoff experience differs between these teams almost as greatly as their offenses. Westlake has been to the semifinals in two of the last three years and won the Division IV title in 1999. Oxnard is playing in its first semifinal since 1982. Oxnard uses a one-dimensional, yet effective, rushing attack led by Aaron Brown, the career rushing leader for Oxnard with 3,930 yards. Westlake counters with a balanced offense that includes bruising runner Merrill Mullaly, who has more than 1,200 yards this season, and quarterback Erik Vose, who passed for 360 yards last week in a 36-29 victory over Paso Robles. Oxnard has nine consecutive victories and if Westlake wants to stop the streak, defensive linemen Jimmy Miller and Mike Stuart must contain Brown.

-- Peter Yoon

Riverside North (9-3) at Murrieta Valley (11-0-1), 7 p.m.

Riverside North showed off its big-play offense last week against Temecula Chaparral, scoring four third-quarter touchdowns to pull away for a 49-28 Division V victory. North will face a stiff challenge from Murrieta Valley’s defense, which has allowed only 6.5 points a game and has held five offensive units scoreless this season. The Nighthawks also have a plus-22 turnover differential and have not allowed an opponent to rush for more than 100 yards. Murrieta Valley running backs Adrian Allen and Kevin Slaughter, who combined for one carry in the quarterfinals because each had ankle sprains, are expected to be healthy for Friday’s game.

-- Dan Arritt

Orange El Modena (9-3) vs. Santa Ana Foothill (10-2) at Tustin High, 7 p.m.

El Modena blew a 21-0 halftime lead in a 28-24 loss in Week 4 to Foothill, but the defense has been outstanding in the Division VI playoffs, with wins over league champions Covina Charter Oak, 20-3, and second-seeded Orange Lutheran, 24-0. Running back Daniel Dixon has scored 35 touchdowns, and his offensive line must have a good performance. Foothill’s balanced offense presents a real challenge: Mike Liti has rushed for 1,961 yards and Don Poole has passed for 2,503.

-- Martin Henderson

Other playoff games tonight:

Southern Section Division VII, Bell Gardens (9-3) at Walnut (11-1), 7; Division VIII, Cathedral City at Phelan Serrano, 7:30; Division IX, Garden Grove Pacifica (10-2) at Pomona (11-1), 7:30; Division X, Culver City (11-1) at Lompoc (8-3), 7:30; Division XI, Oaks Christian (11-1) at Cerritos Valley Christian (11-1), Division XII, Mojave (9-2) at Desert (12-0), 7:30; Division XIII, Saddleback Valley Christian (10-1) at Grace Brethren (9-3), 7:30; Southern Section Eight-Man Large, Riverside Christian at Joshua Springs, 7:30; Eight-Man Small, Desert Chapel at Kings Christian, 7:30; City Section Invitational, Narbonne (4-8) vs. L.A. Jordan (7-5) at Gardena High, 7; Granada Hills (8-4) vs. Huntington Park (8-4) at Salesian High, 7.