FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEWS

CITY SECTION

Los Angeles Dorsey (12-1) vs. Lake Balboa Birmingham (9-4) at Coliseum, Friday, 8 p.m.

This is another title-game rematch -- the fifth in the last six years -- and each previous time the team that lost the regular-season game has prevailed. “We know we’re in for a tough game,” said Dorsey Coach Paul Knox, whose team defeated Birmingham, 21-14, in Week 5. “They do so many things, and they do them well.” Dorsey, with its only loss in its opener to Harbor City Narbonne, which lost last week to Birmingham, has been fueled all season by the memory of a one-point semifinal loss to Carson last year that wrecked its chances for the school’s first undefeated season. Birmingham was the underdog in 2002 when it upset Woodland Hills Taft to win its first title since 1963. Freshman running back Milton Knox has played a big role of late, making up a nice backfield tandem with senior Brian Stuart. Linebackers Luke Laolagi and Byron Bullock were able to shut down Narbonne’s running game, but the Patriot defense will face many more weapons, including tailbacks Jeremiah Johnson and Stafon Johnson and receivers Albert Russell and David Gettis.

-- Eric Stephens

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SOUTHERN SECTION

DIVISION I: Long Beach Poly (12-1) vs. Los Alamitos (12-1) at Angel Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m., FSN West

These perennial powers are meeting for the first time in a championship game. Top-seeded Poly is in the finals for the seventh time in eight seasons. The Jackrabbits have won or shared the title four times in that span, the last coming in 2001. Second-seeded Los Alamitos defeated Santa Ana Mater Dei for the championship in 2002. In previous meetings, Poly has had a significant advantage athletically, but that gap isn’t as wide this year. Los Alamitos is perhaps the most balanced team outside Mission Viejo -- quarterback Jim Barnes has passed for 2,474 yards and 36 touchdowns and Cortes Rice has rushed for 1,771 yards and 21 touchdowns. The defense, led by linebackers John Hale and Kevin Linehan, has given up more than 13 points only three times this season, and only once in the last 11 games. Poly won’t be intimidated by such numbers. Quarterbacks Cruz Parsons and Theo Scott have combined for 2,727 yards and 30 touchdowns, and Troy Guthrie, who has rushed for 1,308 yards and 17 touchdowns, is a breakaway threat. DeSean Jackson, who has 55 receptions for 951 yards and 14 touchdowns, can turn the game with a return on special teams. Over the last nine games, the Jackrabbits’ William Alo-led defense has given up as many as 15 points only once, last week against Anaheim Esperanza.

-- Martin Henderson

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DIVISION II: Mission Viejo (13-0) vs. Valencia (12-1) at Angel Stadium, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., FSN West

Each team features a number of playmakers, but for underdog Valencia, it’s all about linemen, especially on offense. The second-seeded Vikings must provide time for Michael Herrick to find his receivers and give Shane Vereen a chance to hit his holes. Herrick has passed for 3,718 yards and 31 touchdowns, and four receivers have caught 50 passes or more, including Shane Morales with 65. Vereen has rushed for 1,338 yards and 28 touchdowns, but yards are tough to come by against a defense anchored by ends Nick Reed and Ryan Williams. No opponent has scored more than 21 points against top-seeded Mission Viejo. USC-bound Mark Sanchez has passed for 22 touchdowns with three interceptions, and junior Chane Moline has rushed for 1,757 yards and 33 touchdowns.

-- Martin Henderson

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DIVISION III: Compton Dominguez (12-1) at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (13-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

With 1,000-yard rushers in Cary Harris and Rodney Glass, a 1,600-yard passer in Garrett Green and a kicker, Kai Forbath, who has 18 field goals, top-seeded Notre Dame has demonstrated it is loaded with offensive weapons. Standing in the way of a third consecutive Division III championship for the Knights is a second-seeded Dominguez team that has lost only once in the last two years on the playing field. The Dons, led by junior linebacker Jeron Johnson, have the kind of quickness on defense that could contain Green. Quarterback Marvin Johnson has the speed and running skills to challenge a Notre Dame defense known for its dominating line play.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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DIVISION IV: Ventura St. Bonaventure (12-1) at Ventura (11-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Ventura’s defense, which has given up only 11.9 points a game, has carried the Cougars to their first section title game since winning a Division IV championship in 2000. However, top-seeded St. Bonaventure’s high-powered offense averages 33.5 points and had little trouble against that defense in a 42-28 Channel League victory on Oct. 29. Those 42 points were twice as many as any other Ventura opponent has scored this season. Linebacker Jon Peckham, lineman T.J. Prell and the rest of the Ventura defense must contain running back Matt Lee and the quarterback tandem of Samson Szakacsy and Matt Evans. Those three combined for 314 yards and five touchdowns in their last meeting. St. Bonaventure is playing in its sixth consecutive section final.

-- Peter Yoon

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DIVISION V: Corona Centennial (12-1) vs. Norco (12-1) at Riverside Norte Vista, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Two of the Southland’s most prolific running backs will meet in the championship game, which is a rematch of a Mountain View League game Oct. 15, when Centennial won, 37-6. Norco’s Toby Gearhart, a 3,000-yard rusher last season, has battled an ankle sprain most of the season but still has managed 1,967 yards and had a season-high 323 yards last week to lead the Cougars to their second consecutive final. Hampered by the injury, Gearhart had only seven carries for 18 yards in the first meeting between the teams. Centennial, the 2000 and 2002 Division V champion, features a high-powered offense led by Brandon Minor, who has rushed for 2,585 yards and 48 touchdowns. Quarterback Chris Scott (1,959 yards passing) and receiver Dashan Miller (66 catches, 1,104 yards) add balance to the Huskies’ offense, which averages 43.5 points.

-- Peter Yoon

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DIVISION VI: Orange Lutheran (12-1) vs. Newport Harbor (12-0-1) at Angel Stadium, Saturday, 2 p.m.

When they were freshmen, these seniors played their first game against each other, and now they play their last for the championship. Each team has talented skill players, a big back and is fundamentally sound year in and year out. Top-seeded Orange Lutheran was a small-school power that reached the finals last season in its first year in Division VI. The Lancers, looking for their first section title, need a big game from their quarterback. Sophomore Aaron Corp has completed 62% of his passes for 1,922 yards and 13 touchdowns with four interceptions. Senior Seth Blackamore, the section’s player of the year last season, spent most of the season recovering from a knee ligament injury. Second-seeded Newport Harbor has won two section titles but hasn’t been in a final since 2000. The Sailors can strike quickly thanks to their trio of receivers: Alex Orth, Spencer Link and James Coder. They can also work the clock behind tailback Trevor Theriot.

-- Martin Henderson

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DIVISION VII: Covina South Hills (9-4) vs. West Covina (10-2-1) at Mt. San Antonio College, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

None of the seeded teams in Division VII reached the final. South Hills took care of that by defeating top-seeded El Monte Arroyo, 41-18, in a semifinal to move into position to win its third consecutive title. The Huskies are led by quarterback Kevin Mort, who has thrown six of his 15 touchdown passes this season in the last two games. West Covina overcame a 10-point deficit with just under nine minutes left in its semifinal against Walnut and won, 31-27, to avenge a loss to the Mustangs earlier this season. The Bulldogs are hoping to next get even with their San Antonio League rival, which dealt them their only other loss this season, 17-10, in Week 9.

-- Dan Arritt