THIS WEEK’S TOP FOOTBALL GAMES

SOUTHERN SECTION

Mission Viejo (1-0) vs. Santa Ana Mater Dei (1-0) at Cal State Fullerton, 7, tonight

Kyle Woody was impressive in his debut at quarterback last week for Mater Dei, ranked No. 11 in the Southland by The Times. The senior completed eight passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-7 victory over Orange Lutheran. It won’t be enough against Mission Viejo unless each member of the Monarchs’ defense has the game of his career. The top-ranked Diablos rolled up 580 yards in a 55-21 victory over perennial power Los Alamitos. Unlike Orange Lutheran, which was auditioning backup quarterbacks for the starting job, Mission Viejo features USC-bound Mark Sanchez. Junior fullback Chane Moline looked unstoppable en route to 276 yards in 16 carries, four rushing touchdowns and one receiving.

Martin Henderson

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St. Bonaventure (2-0) vs. Newhall Hart (1-0) at College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m., Friday

Hart won the Division II championship last season, but its defense still has hurt feelings about losing to St. Bonaventure, 41-34, in a nonleague game. The No. 3 Indians get a chance at redemption against the No. 8 Seraphs but will have to stop tailback Matt Lee, who rushed for 211 yards in last year’s game. Lee is even more elusive this season, having rushed for 197 and 112 yards in victories over Ridgecrest Burroughs and Las Vegas Centennial. Hart quarterback Tyler Lyon passed for 357 yards in his varsity debut last week -- a 55-20 victory over Moorpark -- but he faces a defense that has speed and knows how to pressure a backfield.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (1-0) vs. Anaheim Esperanza (2-0) at Placentia Valencia HS, 7 p.m., Friday

Mira Costa has not lost a regular-season game since playing Downey Warren in Week 2 of the 2001 season. The No. 18 Mustangs came close Friday night against visiting North Torrance, but Kevin Kelley caught a touchdown pass with five minutes left and knocked down a last-second pass in the end zone to preserve a 31-27 victory. Esperanza is looking to reverse a trend with road victories over Covina South Hills, the defending Division VII champion, and Murrieta Valley. The No. 24 Aztecs finished with winning records from 1985 to 2000 but have had losing records two of the last three seasons, including a 5-6 mark last year.

-- Dan Arritt

CITY SECTION

Carson (1-0) at Woodland Hills Taft (0-1), 7 p.m., Friday

Defending City Section champion Carson, ranked No. 14, needed the late heroics of quarterback Bo Napoleon and running back Dwayne Sanders to defeat Venice, 24-21, for its 10th consecutive victory. Taft, ranked No. 25, led for most of its game against Los Angeles Crenshaw but lost, 21-20, after Raymond Carter’s touchdown run and subsequent two-point conversion. Toreador quarterback Josh Portis accounted for more than 330 yards of total offense but committed two fourth-quarter turnovers, including a fumble that led to Carter’s score.

Eric Stephens

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INTERSECTIONAL

Compton Dominguez (1-0) at Los Angeles Crenshaw (1-0), 7 p.m., Friday

Dominguez, ranked No. 23, has yet to lose on the field in more than a season -- the Dons missed the 2003 playoffs after having to forfeit nine regular-season victories for using an ineligible player. This year’s team is big, strong, tough and fast, but it needed a 30-yard touchdown pass from Marvin Johnson to Darryl Crummie with 1:40 left to beat Bloomington, 15-14. Crenshaw, No. 21 after its 21-20 victory over Taft, needs to bring its same opportunistic defense but must do a better job of tackling if it hopes to maintain momentum and prove it belongs among the Southland’s best.

-- Martin Henderson