SOUTHERN SECTION SEMIFINALS

Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro (12-0) vs. Orange Lutheran (10-2)

Tonight at Santa Ana Stadium, 7:30

Lutheran already knocked off one previously undefeated team in a 24-14 quarterfinal victory over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Now the Lancers get another in Tesoro, which is making its first appearance in a Pac-5 Division semifinal. For the Titans to advance, quarterback Robbie Picazo must avoid throwing the ball anywhere near Lutheran defensive back Gabe Lemon, whose key third-quarter interception last week swung the momentum in the Lancers’ favor.

The pick: Lutheran.

Temecula Chaparral (11-1) vs. Norco (8-4)

Tonight at Corona Centennial High, 7:30

This Inland Division game might come down to which team’s running back has the better game. Norco’s Deantre Lewis had 179 yards and three touchdowns during the Cougars’ 40-26 quarterfinal victory over Riverside North; Chaparral’s Jonathan Diaz had 188 yards and two touchdowns during the Pumas’ 20-0 quarterfinal triumph over Redlands East Valley. Norco routed Chaparral, 43-0, in the 2006 Inland championship game.

The pick: Chaparral.

Moorpark (11-1) at Valencia (10-2)

Tonight, 7

Moorpark has shown the ability to win in both a shootout and a defensive slugfest in its two postseason games. To defeat Valencia in a Northern Division game, the Musketeers must check a Vikings offense that has averaged 47.5 points in playoff victories over Ventura and Westlake Village Westlake. Valencia quarterback Dominick Solley passed for two touchdowns and ran for two in the Vikings’ 55-26 victory over Westlake.

The pick: Valencia.

Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos (10-2) at Upland (10-2)

Tonight, 7:30

The Los Osos defense had Upland quarterback Josh Nunes on the run and prevented Highlanders running back Davion Fleming from going anywhere during the Grizzlies’ 41-28 Baseline League victory in October. Facing a barrage of constant pressure, Nunes completed 13 of 35 passes for 184 yards with two interceptions, and Fleming could muster only 47 yards. “They came out and shut a high-powered offense down,” Los Osos quarterback Richard Brehaut said of his team’s defense, “and in order to win this game, they have to do the same thing.”

The pick: Los Osos.