TODAY’S TOP FOOTBALL GAMES

SOUTHERN SECTION SEMIFINALS

Long Beach Poly (10-2) vs. Santa Ana Mater Dei (8-4) at Home Depot Center, Carson, 7:30 p.m.

This is the fifth time in seven years that these schools have faced each other in the Division I finals or semifinals. Mater Dei holds a 2-1-1 advantage after winning last year’s semifinal, 21-20. Top-seeded Poly is coming off a 21-0 victory over Huntington Beach Edison -- a team that Mater Dei edged, 6-0, in Week 4. But since then, Mater Dei has been a different team. It has won eight of nine and averaged 28 points in that span. Poly’s defense will have to contend with running quarterback Jason Forcier (783 yards), but the Jackrabbits’ flash is on offense. Cruz Parsons has thrown 25 touchdowns and four interceptions, Anthony Torrell Baker has rushed for 1,029 yards and scored 20 touchdowns and Derrick Jones has 44 receptions with an average of 19 yards a catch.

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Los Angeles Loyola (9-3) vs. Los Alamitos (11-1) at Home Depot Center, Carson, 4 p.m.

Dating to last season, defending Division I champion Los Alamitos (11-1) has won four in a row against Serra League opponents. The second-seeded Cubs (9-3), Serra co-champions, haven’t given up more than nine points over the last four weeks. Los Alamitos hasn’t given up more than 10 over the same span. The Griffins have more recently relied on the running of converted linebacker Joshua Jones, who has averaged 7.2 yards a carry and scored five touchdowns. A successful running game figures to help quarterback Jimmy Barnes, who has passed for 19 touchdowns and run for six. Loyola counters with running tandem Trason Bragg (974 yards, 13 TDs) and George Hypolite (547 yards, 6 TDs), and quarterback Scott Deke (18 TDs, 12 interceptions). In last year’s semifinal, Los Alamitos won, 31-7.

Martin Henderson

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

Both of these teams had been written off as title contenders early in the season, but here they are in a rematch of Hart’s 24-17 victory in the 2002 semifinals. San Clemente started the season 0-2 but has won nine of its last 10, the only loss coming against top-ranked Mission Viejo. Hart started the season 0-3 but hasn’t lost since. Both defenses have given up 19 points a game and both defeated Valencia by a touchdown in the last three weeks. San Clemente quarterback Cole Bergquist has more than 2,000 yards passing and running back Cheyne Verhagan more than 1,500 rushing. Hart relies on its aerial attack with Sean Norton and his 3,475 yards passing, but running back Dan Howell can take over when needed. He has over 1,000 yards rushing.

Peter Yoon

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Westlake Village Westlake (12-0) at Moorpark (9-3), 7:30 p.m.

Marmonte League champion Westlake walloped third-place Moorpark, 49-14, in a regular-season finale three weeks ago. But Moorpark Coach Tim Lins says his players are glad to get a second shot at the No. 2-seeded Warriors. Moorpark, which is trying to reach its first Division IV title game, upset third-seeded Arroyo Grande, 20-7, in the first round and beat Camarillo, 28-7, in a quarterfinal last week. Musketeer quarterback Cody Holland has thrown for 1,355 yards and 16 touchdowns and also rushed for four touchdowns. Westlake, which lost to Ventura St. Bonaventure, 40-14, in the Division IV title game last year, has a stingy defense and a high-powered offense that includes a 2,300-yard passer in Rudy Carpenter, a 1,300-yard running back in Tahj Mowry and a 1,000-yard receiver in Michael Stuart.

-- John Ortega

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Corona Santiago (8-4) at Norco (11-1), 7:30 p.m.

Norco has won four of its last five games on the last play, with the only game during that stretch not coming down to the end being a 35-21 victory over Mountain View League rival Corona Santiago. After suffering a narrow defeat against defending Division V champion Corona Centennial in its final league game, Santiago has posted playoff victories over Hemet West Valley and second-seeded Colton, which was previously unbeaten. The Sharks must contend with Norco running back Toby Gerhart, who has rushed for 1,701 yards and 20 touchdowns in his last five games, including a school-record 403 yards and four touchdowns in the Cougars’ victory over Santiago.

-- Ben Bolch

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Orange Lutheran (11-0) vs. Hacienda Heights Wilson (10-2) at Walnut HS, 7:30 p.m.

Both teams have proved they can move the ball and score in a variety of ways. Orange Lutheran running back John Ausmus has run for 900 yards and 14 touchdowns, and quarterback Seth Blackamore has rushed for 10 touchdowns and thrown for 17. Orange Lutheran’s smallest margin of victory this season is 20 points. The Wildcats, who won their first two playoff games by a combined four points, are led on the ground by Price Wilks, a 6-1, 192-pound running back who has accumulated 1,814 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Charles Lacy has thrown 26 touchdown passes and only four interceptions.

-- Dan Arritt