TODAY’S TOP FOOTBALL GAMES

SOUTHERN SECTION SEMIFINALS

Long Beach Poly (11-1) vs. Santa Ana Mater Dei (9-3) at Edison Field, 4 p.m.

There is no more significant rivalry in Southern California high school football than the one between these teams. Each of the last three meetings decided a Division I championship, with each team managing a victory and a tie. This is only a semifinal, but the winner will likely emerge as the favorite for the championship. Mater Dei did not appear to be a title contender this season after a slow start, but the Monarchs have steadily improved and now face a Poly team that hasn’t been tested since early games against Kahuku (Hawaii) and Concord De La Salle. Poly’s biggest offensive weapon of late has been receiver Derrick Jones, who gained more than 200 yards in each of the first two playoff games. The Monarchs move the ball by a committee of running backs and the steady play of sophomore quarterback Jason Forcier.

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Los Angeles Loyola (9-3) vs. Los Alamitos (11-0-1) at Edison Field, 7:30 p.m.

The last game between these teams featured one of the most memorable finishes in Division I playoff history. Los Alamitos won the 1999 quarterfinal game in double overtime, 30-23, after tying the score in regulation on a last-second 60-yard field goal. Loyola won the only other meeting between the schools, 37-34, in 1995. Second-seeded Los Alamitos is favored because of a potent passing game that features quarterback Jeff Kline and receivers Brandon Tripp and Jeremy Childs. The Cubs advanced to the semifinal by upsetting third-seeded Bellflower St. John Bosco, 38-8, behind a defense that limited the Braves to 167 yards. Running back Bo Renaud will be counted on to lead Loyola’s offense.

-- Ben Bolch

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Claremont (9-2) at Mission Viejo (12-0), 7:30 p.m.

Jamall Floyd is averaging more than nine yards per carry for offensive-minded Claremont, but it took a goal-line stand for the Baseline League champions to reach the Division II semifinals. The Wolfpack held fourth-seeded La Verne Damien four times at the two-yard line in the final seconds to preserve a 35-27 quarterfinal victory. Top-seeded Mission Viejo, No. 2 in The Times’ rankings, ran roughshod over Canyon Country Canyon, 48-14, in the quarterfinals. End Justin Williams had four sacks for the defensive-minded Diablos, who have won 26 in a row. If quarterback Josh Rodarmel (shoulder) can’t start, look for Coach Bob Johnson to turn again to super sub Marty Tadman. In the first round of the playoffs, Claremont defeated Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills, 43-21, a week after Mission Viejo rallied to beat the Mustangs, 21-14.

-- Bob Rohwer

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Lancaster Antelope Valley (10-2) at Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (12-0), 7:30 p.m.

Antelope Valley has allowed only 10.9 points a game this season and Mira Costa has scored more than 40 points nine times, so something has to give in the Division III semifinal. Mira Costa running back Michael Okwo has 2,069 yards rushing this season. Quarterback Peter Dobush adds balance with 1,537 yards and 25 touchdowns passing. Antelope Valley looks to do-it-all quarterback Johnny Walker, who is expected to play despite a sprained right thumb. He has close to 2,000 combined yards rushing and passing in the Antelopes’ option offense. Running back Krieg Peters has more than 1,000 yards rushing for Antelope Valley.

-- Peter Yoon

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Ventura St. Bonaventure (11-1) at Moorpark (11-1), 7:30 p.m.

Heading into this Division IV semifinal, top-seeded St. Bonaventure has won 10 in a row since falling to Division II semifinalist Newhall Hart, 31-6, in the second week of the season. Fourth-seeded Moorpark lost its regular-season finale to Westlake Village Westlake, 20-14, but has beaten Camarillo and Santa Barbara San Marcos in the playoffs. The Musketeers will be trying for their second appearance in a championship game; the Seraphs seek their fourth division final in a row. Whitney Lewis leads St. Bonaventure with 54 catches for 1,018 yards and 87 rushes for 783 yards. Moorpark’s Cliff Cardwell has rushed for 1,545 yards and Dennis Pitta has 63 receptions for 904 yards.

-- Lauren Peterson

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Moreno Valley Canyon Springs (10-1-1) at Corona Centennial (10-2), 7:30 p.m.

Fourth-seeded Canyon Springs must rely on its defense in the Division V semifinal, which means containing the top-seeded Huskies’ balanced attack that averages 44 points a game. Terrell Jackson rushed for 1,805 yards and 33 touchdowns during the regular season, averaging more than seven yards a carry, and quarterback Shaun Lewis completed 62% of his passes for 1,962 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions for No. 12 Centennial. Canyon Springs, which averaged nearly 30 points a game, has running back Ryan Beard, who rushed for 11 touchdowns and 815 yards during the regular season, and quarterback Josh Gibson, who threw for 868 yards and four touchdowns, completing 44.3% of his passes. The teams’ common opponent is Moreno Valley, which lost to Centennial last week, 34-12, and to the Cougars, 28-6, in Ivy League play in Week 9.

-- Dan Loumena

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Tustin (7-5) at Hacienda Heights Los Altos (10-2), 7:30 p.m.

Los Altos, a Division VII power the last four years, has a chance to reach its fourth consecutive championship game but first in Division VI. Since two-way lineman Armando Soto returned from an injury, Los Altos has outscored four opponents, 152-14. Randall Brown has scored nine touchdowns, but the Conquerors probably need a solid effort from quarterback Carlos Ordonez to outscore Tustin, which has won seven of eight and outscored opponents in that span, 303-119.

-- Martin Henderson

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Other Southern Section playoff games tonight:

Division VII, Covina South Hills (9-3) at Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe (10-2), 7:30 p.m.; Division VIII, Fontana Kaiser (11-0-1) at Victorville Victor Valley (6-6), 7:30; Division IX, La Habra (11-1) at Garden Grove Los Amigos (11-1), 7:30; Division X, L.A. Cathedral (10-2) at Gardena Serra (12-0), 7:30; Division XI, Carpinteria (12-0) vs. Lancaster Paraclete (9-3) at Antelope Valley College, 7:30; Division XII, Bishop (7-5) at Ontario Christian (11-1), 7:30.