THIS WEEK’S TOP FOOTBALL GAMES

SOUTHERN SECTION

Chino (8-1, 4-0) vs. Chino Hills (8-1, 3-1) at Ayala HS, 7, tonight

Chino Hills, with its first four-year class of seniors, comes into the game with its fingers crossed. Coach Terry Roche says his team doesn’t match up well with the best team in the Sierra League. Chino, which has won a share of eight of the last 10 league titles, is led by Kevin Guppy, who has passed for 1,022 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Dewayne Wade, who has rushed for 706 yards and eight touchdowns. Chino’s goal-line specialist, Shawn Oatis, has scored 21 times for the Cowboys, who have a 17-14 victory over Glendora, the only team to beat Chino Hills, 22-15.

-- Martin Henderson

Villa Park (8-1, 4-0) at Tustin (6-3, 4-0), 7, tonight

With six seniors on the offensive line, Villa Park’s Derek Hines rushed for 1,540 yards last season, helping the Spartans win their first 11 games and reach the Division VI quarterfinals. Hines has gained only 845 yards this season, but the junior is averaging 7.2 yards a carry compared to 7.0 in 2003. Tustin has completed only 14 of 42 passes on the season, but the Tillers are led by the Century League’s leading ground-gainer, junior Jeff Quinn, who has 1,197 yards in 136 carries. Villa Park, which suffered its lone loss to No. 18 Placentia Valencia, averages 29.4 points and gives up 16.6. The Tillers, who are coming off a 50-23 victory over Orange El Modena -- the Spartans squeaked by the Vanguards, 10-9, in Week 7 -- average 28 points and give up 15.5.

-- Bob Rohwer

Orange Lutheran (8-1, 4-0) at Placentia Valencia (9-0, 4-0), 7 p.m., Friday

Valencia, ranked No. 18 in the Southland by The Times, will go into the Division VI playoffs as the top-seeded team if it can beat No. 10 Orange Lutheran. The teams are remarkably similar: Valencia has scored 330 points and given up 60, and Orange Lutheran has scored 331 and given up 61. Running back Rylon Thomas, who has 27 touchdowns, and receivers Rashad Chambers and Ray Magree give Valencia more big-play potential. It will be interesting to see who starts at quarterback for Orange Lutheran -- sophomore Aaron Corp, who has completed 65% of his passes, or senior Seth Blackamore, who threw 21 touchdown passes last season but has taken only two snaps since last season’s section championship game because of a torn knee ligament he suffered in August. The game will be televised live by FSN West 2.

-- Martin Henderson

Arroyo Grande (7-2, 3-0) at San Luis Obispo (8-0, 3-0), 7:30 p.m., Friday

San Luis Obispo faces a tough test in its bid to wrap up the No. 1 seed in Division IV and win the Pac-5 League title. Arroyo Grande has three top offensive weapons in 6-4 quarterback Kyle Pollock, 6-3 tailback Andrew Hirsch and 6-1 receiver Danny Rohr. San Luis Obispo will counter with tailback Phil Garza, who has rushed for 1,647 yards, and quarterback Quinten Cate, who has passed for 1,551 yards. The Tigers must avoid giving up big plays against Arroyo Grande’s offense that relies on deception and misdirection.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Bellflower St. John Bosco (5-4, 2-2) at La Puente Bishop Amat (5-4, 2-2), 7:30 p.m., Friday

The winner will earn the final guaranteed playoff berth from the Serra League. Based on common opponents, No. 22 Bishop Amat appears to have the edge, having lost to No. 6 Los Angeles Loyola and No. 7 Santa Ana Mater Dei by a combined nine points while the Braves lost by 58. However, the Lancers are coming off an emotionally draining 32-26 overtime loss to Mater Dei, in which they lost an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and missed an 18-yard field-goal attempt at the end of regulation. Bishop Amat has given up an average of 24 points a game in league play while scoring just under 28. Running back William Wagner has led the way, rushing for 1,240 yards and scoring 19 touchdowns. St. John Bosco’s defense has forced 17 turnovers and has recorded 17 sacks.

-- Dan Arritt

CITY SECTION

Sylmar (7-2, 3-1) at San Fernando (6-3, 4-0), 7 p.m., Friday

Sylmar had its 24-game league win streak come to an end two weeks ago against Granada Hills Kennedy and now must fend off San Fernando to keep alive its streak of 14 consecutive seasons with at least a share of the league title. This neighborhood rivalry always draws a big crowd and it will be no different with the stakes involved with this year’s game. San Fernando boasts a strong running game with Raphael Reynolds and Anthony Cullars. Reynolds is among the City Section’s top rushers with 1,377 yards. Sylmar also relies on the run and has tailback C.J. Gable, who has 1,355 yards and 17 touchdowns. San Fernando has won five consecutive games after a 1-3 start and has averaged 34.6 points a game during that streak. Sylmar plays tough defense, however, giving up only 16.4 points a game.

-- Peter Yoon