This Week’s Top Games

CITY SECTION

* Carson (0-0) at Venice (0-0), 7, tonight: Carson has won the last two meetings between these budding rivals, including a 30-20 victory in the 2003 City Section championship game. Venice, however, is primed for revenge with a strong defense that features hard-hitting safety Jonas Mouton and linemen Martell Moore, Ansley Clevil and Michael Munoz. Ken Ashley, a 1,700-yard rusher last year, returns as Venice’s main threat on offense. The Gondoliers are listed as No. 25 in the Southland in The Times’ preseason rankings. Carson has a lot of holes to fill at skill positions, but its lines are solid with Daniel Mafoe and David Niko leading the way. The Colts also have solid linebackers in Mike Lutu and Sean Ellis.

* Los Angeles Dorsey (0-0) vs. Harbor City Narbonne (0-0) at Rancho Cienega Park, 7, tonight: These City Section title contenders get a stern test right off the bat. Strength for No. 15 Dorsey lies in returning All-City running back Stafon Johnson and a defensive front that includes Jovon Hayes, Keith Browner and Cleveland Jones. Johnson figures to play quarterback too, running options out of a shotgun formation. Narbonne will be led by running back Major Culbert. Backfield mate Travon Titus is recovering from a gunshot wound in his leg. Returning All-City lineman Tim High will be a force on both sides of the ball for the Gauchos, who have 12 returning starters from their 2004 semifinalist team.

-- PETER YOON

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SOUTHERN SECTION

* Corona Centennial (0-0) vs. Long Beach Poly (0-0) at Long Beach Veterans Stadium, 7, tonight: Centennial couldn’t have played any worse in last season’s 46-20 loss to Poly. Its passing game was nonexistent as new receivers were intimidated, and the offense fumbled the ball away twice inside its own 20-yard line. The No. 12 Huskies have since lost five offensive linemen off the team that went on to win the Division V championship. The receivers should be improved for quarterback Chris Scott (67.5%, 16 touchdowns, four interceptions), but the offensive line must grow up in a hurry against a Poly defense that has nine returning starters. Second-ranked Poly, the defending Division I champion, returns running back Troy Guthrie, who averaged eight yards a carry last season, and speedy receivers Terrence Austin and Travon Patterson on offense. Senior Millicent Olawale, a backup at Concord De La Salle last season who transferred during the summer, will start at quarterback.

-- MARTIN HENDERSON

* Valencia (0-0) at La Puente Bishop Amat (1-0), 7:30, tonight: Quarterback Michael Herrick and running back Shane Vereen return for a Valencia team that routed Bishop Amat, 45-7, last season. But the receivers and most of the offensive line have graduated, creating concerns about the Vikings’ offense. Bishop Amat, ranked No. 19, opened last week with a 30-15 victory over Santa Fe Springs St. Paul. Quarterback Daniel Robles is healthy and improved. The question is whether the Lancers have learned to play effective defense against a top passing attack.

-- ERIC SONDHEIMER

* Fontana Kaiser (0-0) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (0-0) at Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos High, 7, tonight: Rancho Cucamonga, ranked No. 22, is led by linebacker Junior Fonua and defensive lineman Devin Johnson, both Southern Section Division II second-team selections as juniors. Kaiser, winner of two lower-division titles in the last three years, will counter with an experienced backfield. Paul Reyes, a Division VIII second-team selection last season, and Jamaal Smith will handle most of the carries, but they will be supported by Lonyae Miller, a transfer from Rialto. They will depend on an offensive line that includes returning starters Carlos Savala, Julio Romero and Kini Hansen.

-- DAN ARRITT

* Santa Ana Mater Dei (0-0) vs. Orange Lutheran (1-0) at Brea Olinda High, 7 p.m., Saturday: This has developed into a good series, with Mater Dei winning two of the three games. Mater Dei, ranked No. 9, has no returning starters on the offensive and defensive lines but does have solid skill players. The linebacker corps returns and the secondary is anchored by Michael Hardwick. The Monarchs are starting a freshman quarterback, Matt Barkley, for the first time since Todd Marinovich in 1984. Orange Lutheran, ranked No. 17, was led to the Division VI title last season by quarterback Aaron Corp, now an efficient junior who no longer has seasoned players around him. The Lancers will be without 18 players who were suspended for violating school policy.

-- MARTIN HENDERSON