Playoffs bring the Barnes family together
It’s going to be a week of fun and intrigue for the Barnes family after Southern Section football officials couldn’t resist in setting up a first-round playoff game matching Los Alamitos and Coach John Barnes against Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro and Coach Brian Barnes, his son.
How close are father and son?
“We talk twice a day, every day,” Brian said.
The father has been attending Tesoro games providing advice when Los Alamitos didn’t have a game.
“I’ve paid no attention when I was on the sideline the last two weeks,” John said Sunday.
Added Brian: “They know us real well, and we know them real well.”
Tesoro is 10-0 and seeded No. 3 in the Pac-5 Division playoffs. Los Alamitos is 8-2 and finished in a five-way tie for first place in the Sunset League. The game will be played Friday night at Tesoro.
“One thing I know for sure is that a week from now, one of the Barnes family guys will be still playing, and that’s good,” John said.
There are 13 Southern Section and two City Section playoff divisions. Here’s a look at the top ones:
Pac-5
Top seedings: 1. Long Beach Poly (10-0), 2. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (10-0), 3. Tesoro (10-0), 4. Anaheim Servite (7-3).
The scoop: If all goes as planned, we’ll finally get to settle the argument of whether a great defense can prevail over a great offense. A Poly-Notre Dame final would produce such a matchup. Poly’s defense hasn’t surrendered more than two touchdowns in a game. Notre Dame quarterback Ryan Kasdorf has been this season’s version of Brett Favre, completing 70% of his passes for nearly 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Both schools have potential obstacles along the way. Notre Dame might have to get past Orange Lutheran in the quarterfinals. Poly might have to face an improving Servite team in the semifinals.
Prediction: Notre Dame.
Inland
Top seedings: 1. Corona Centennial (10-0), 2. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (10-0), 3. Temecula Chaparral (9-1), 4. Fontana Miller (10-0).
The scoop: There’s no way Centennial is going to be stopped in this division. The Huskies have too much balance on offense. Any hopes that Centennial could be easier to beat because of the graduation of quarterback Matt Scott vanished with the play of transfer student Taylor Martinez. The toughest call to make is which team Centennial will meet in the championship game. Chaparral has played the tougher nonleague schedule and gets the nod.
Prediction: Centennial.
Western
Top seedings: 1. Palmdale (9-1), 2. Mission Hills Alemany (9-1), 3. Quartz Hill (9-1), 4. Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (7-3).
The scoop: Palmdale deserves the top seeding by virtue of its consistency and speed on both sides of the ball. But beware of Alemany. Dean Herrington, in his third season as Alemany’s coach, has produced a 1,370-yard rusher in junior Malcolm Marable and has a strong defensive line, led by the Obi twins, K.C. and Chuck.
Prediction: Alemany.
Northern
Top seedings: 1. Ventura St. Bonaventure (9-1), 2. Moorpark (9-1), 3. Oxnard (10-0), 4. Thousand Oaks (9-1).
The scoop: Oaks Christian Coach Bill Redell wants to buy Moorpark Coach Tim Lins a steak dinner if the Musketeers topple St. Bonaventure, which would clear the way for the Lions to earn a Division III state bowl berth. That’s not going to happen. The Seraphs’ defense, led by defensive back Patrick Hall and linebacker Dylan Davis, doesn’t give up yards or points. Moorpark won the Marmonte League championship and has a standout defensive lineman in Corey Sandoval, who has 10 tackles for losses. The unknown factor is Oxnard, which cruised through the regular season unbeaten against weak competition.
Prediction: St. Bonaventure.
Central
Top seedings: 1. Rancho Cucamonga (9-0-1), 2. Los Osos (8-2), 3. Hemet West Valley (9-1), 4. Cajon (9-1).
The scoop: There’s no doubt the winner of this division will come from the Baseline League, home of UCLA-bound quarterback Richard Brehaut of Los Osos and Stanford-bound quarterback Josh Nunes of Upland. But it was Rancho Cucamonga, led by junior quarterback Greg Watson, that emerged as the surprise Baseline League champion. Brehaut and Nunes could meet again in the semifinals.
Prediction: Los Osos.
Northwest
Top seedings: 1. Oaks Christian (10-0), 2. Gardena Serra (10-0), 3. Santa Maria St. Joseph (9-1), 4. North Torrance (9-1).
The scoop: Oaks Christian and Serra have been preparing for a championship showdown all season, and there is no reason it won’t happen. Both schools are loaded with future college players. Serra got an overtime scare from league rival Los Angeles Cathedral last week, but that should help the Cavaliers.
Prediction: Oaks Christian.
City Championship
Top seedings: 1. Narbonne (9-1), 2. San Pedro (9-1), 3. Taft (9-1), 4. Crenshaw (7-2).
The scoop: Narbonne has the most talent and the best defense, but the Gauchos are going to have to defeat two-time defending champion Birmingham in the quarterfinals and probably an improving Crenshaw team in the semifinals. If they get to the Coliseum, they’ll win it. San Pedro has the easier road to the final. All the Pirates have to do is figure out how to contain Taft running back D.J. Morgan.
Prediction: Narbonne.
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latimes.com
/sports
Talking football
Hear what John Barnes and his son, Brian, have to say about their first-round playoff matchup.
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Complete football
playoff pairings
Matchups for the City Section and Southern Section playoffs. PAGE 8
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