State bowl games equation gets simpler

On Friday morning there was a possibility the Southern Section would produce three undefeated teams with compelling cases for only two spots in the top state championship bowl games.

Then came Friday night.

Ventura St. Bonaventure’s 32-31 victory in double overtime over previously unbeaten Westlake Village Westlake probably prevented the need to have a mathematician solve the Bowl Championship Series-style numbers crunch.

Now the premier Open Division and Division I bowl berths will likely go to the winners of the Pac-5 and Inland divisions, provided both are undefeated. Their opponents will be section champions from Northern California.

While the Open Division bowl can select a champion from any division, only six teams are eligible for the Division I bowl: champions from the Southern Section’s Pac-5, Inland and Northern divisions along with the Division I champions from the Los Angeles City, San Diego and Central sections.

Based on its punishing strength of schedule in the Marmonte League, Westlake appeared on track for a bid before a loss that may have ended the chance for Northern (Division) exposure in a bowl. Since St. Bonaventure has one defeat, it would probably make a less attractive candidate than an undefeated champion from the Pac-5 or Inland divisions.

Corona Centennial appeared to be the biggest beneficiary of Westlake’s defeat, having previously faced the possibility of finishing 14-0 as the Inland champion and still being left out of the bowl picture.

An undefeated Pac-5 champion such as Mission Viejo, Anaheim Servite, Mission Hills Alemany or La Puente Bishop Amat is virtually assured a bowl berth. If a team with one or more losses wins the Pac-5, the situation becomes murkier.

Even if it wins the City Section title, unbeaten L.A. Dorsey remains a long shot for a bowl berth based on a mostly nondescript nonleague schedule.

Still fight in them

Leading by two touchdowns Friday, Gardena found itself in a no-win situation.

The host Panthers, losers of their first eight games, were holding a 20-6 advantage over Washington early in the third quarter when a melee broke out in the stands. Fans were so frightened for their safety that they spilled onto the field. The game was halted.

“We had to stop the game,” said Gardena Coach Ed Lalau, who estimated that the fight involved 20 to 30 people on the home side of the stadium. “It became chaos.”

The fracas was especially frustrating for Gardena because quarterback William Benson had thrown for three touchdowns and the Panthers appeared on the way to their first victory of the season. Lalau said he expects to hear Monday whether the score will stand or the game will be resumed.

“We were disappointed,” Lalau said. “We were doing the things we wanted to do and for that incident to happen, it threw a wrench into the whole situation.”

What’s the point?

Crenshaw and Dorsey might finally play a Coliseum League game decided by fewer than 26 points Friday at Jackie Robinson Stadium when they meet for the league title.

Dorsey’s 34-8 victory over West Adams last month has been its closest call in league play. Crenshaw? The Cougars eked out a 46-7 triumph over West Adams in their league opener and have outscored their league rivals, 220-7, with three shutouts.

Of course, there’s always the chance for another blowout Friday. Last year, Crenshaw defeated Dorsey, 44-7, in league play and 35-6 in a City Section playoffs semifinal game.

ben.bolch@latimes.com