FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS 1. Can Alemany succeed in the Southern Section's top division? Yes, but it will not be easy. Alemany is seeded fourth in the Pac-5, and the Warriors are hoping to bring home a championship in the section's most competitive division - an accomplishment that's achieved by a San Fernando Valley program just once back in 1986 when Crespi won the Big Five. In the Pac-5, every round is a major challenge, but Alemany has a shot if junior quarterback Devon Dunn can continue to perform spectacularly - while keeping his poise - and if the Warriors' hard-hitting defense can rise to the occasion. 2. Is Westlake really that good? Absolutely. The Warriors have rarely been challenged while winning all 10 games by an average margin of more than 32 points, plus there is major incentive to succeed: If Westlake, led by quarterback Justin Moore, running back Dashon Hunt and defensive lineman Justin Solis, can win the Northern Division title, a CIF State Bowl berth is all but a certainty. 3. Any chance for a San Fernando Valley program to win the CityDiv. I championship? No. It's a down year for local City Section schools. Sixth-seeded Birmingham figures to be the only one capable of making a challenge, but the Patriots do not have quite enough firepower to keep up with San Pedro, Narbonne, Dorsey and some of the other top City programs. 4. Can anyone other than Serra win the Western Division? A ridiculous proposition in past seasons, yet this year it is possible. Serra is 48-4 since 2008, but the rebuilding Cavaliers have proved a bit more vulnerable than usual after being hit hard by graduation. Then again, Serra already owns a regular-season victory over Chaminade, which was No. 1 at the time. 5. Is this the year small-school power SierraCanyon finally goesall the way? Yes. The Trailblazers have been knocking on the door, losing to rival Paraclete in the East Valley championship last season, and with star quarterback Tyler Stewart back, Sierra Canyon is like a steamroller. DIVISION BREAKDOWN SOUTHERN SECTION PAC-5 Top four seeds: 1. Servite (9-1), 2. Mission Viejo (8-2), 3. Long Beach Poly (9-1), 4. Alemany (8-2) Other locals: None Players to watch: Travis Averill, OL/DL, Servite; Alex Bridgford, QB, Mission Viejo; Devon Dunn, QB, Alemany; Kyle DeVaughn, DL, Alemany; Sam Hunt, DB, Servite; Chandler Leniu, LB, Lakewood; Steven Mitchell, WR, Alemany; Jalen Moore, RB, Bishop Amat; Buth Pauu, LB, Servite; Cody Pittman, QB, Servite; Richard Smith, WR, Long Beach Poly; Bryce Treggs, WR, St. John Bosco; Max Tuerk, OL, Santa Margarita; Kodi Whitfield, WR/DB, Loyola; Travis Wilson, QB, San Clemente; Ryan Wolpin, RB, Santa Margarita. Our pick: Alemany - It's time to bring the big trophy back to the San Fernando Valley Sleeper: Santa Margarita - Tough to pick against legendary Harry Welch NORTHERN Top four seeds: 1. Westlake (10-0), 2. Oaks Christian (8-2), 3. St. Bonaventure (8-2), 4. Valencia (6-4) Other locals: Canyon (7-3); Eastside (4-6); Hart (7-3) ; Highland (8-1), Moorpark (6-4); Palmdale (6-4); Quartz Hill (8-2); Saugus (6-4); Thousand Oaks (6-4) Players to watch: Ishmael Adams, RB/DB, Oaks Christian; Rhett Almond, PK, Hart; Alex Ball, PK, Westlake; Osirius Burke, RB, Quartz Hill; Nathan DeBeikes, RB, Thousand Oaks; Bobby Eckert, LB, Moorpark; Marc Evans, QB, St. Bonaventure; Dashon Hunt, RB/DB, Westlake; Jonathan Jerozal, QB, Canyon; Carlos Mendoza, LB, Oaks Christian; Justin Moore, QB, Westlake; Austin Murillo, DB, Hart; Jordan Payton, WR, Oaks Christian; Eric Rodriguez, OL/DL, Palmdale; Grant Rohach, QB, Moorpark; Justin Solis, DL, Westlake; Drew Wolitarsky, WR, Canyon. Our pick: Westlake - The high-powered Warriors are 36-2 over the past three seasons. Sleeper: Canyon - When QB Jerozal and WR Wolitarsky are on, the Cowboys are tough to stop. WESTERN Top four seeds: 1. Serra (8-2), 2. Arroyo Grande (9-1), 3. Chaminade (8-2), 4. Ventura (10-0) Other locals: Camarillo (7-3), St. Francis (8-2) Players to watch: Conner Armstrong, RB, Ventura; Kris Cooper, OL/DL, Serra; Jalen Greene, QB, Serra; Keishawn Haley, LB, Culver City; Taylor Hindy, OL, Chaminade; Seth Jacobs, LB, Arroyo Grande; Jared Lebowitz, QB, St. Francis; Dallas Lopez, RB, Downey; Jake Maulhardt, WR, Camarillo; Billy McCreary, PK, St. Francis; Terrell Newby, RB, Chaminade; Kache Palacio, TE/DL, Serra; Logan Scott, QB, Chaminade; Rodney Stanley, QB, Ventura. Our pick: Chaminade - Coach Ed Croson looks to find a way to beat Serra in rematch Sleeper: Downey - Lots of speed and skill-position talent. SOUTHEAST Top four seeds: 1. West Covina (9-1), 2. Santa Fe (6-4), 3. Burroughs (6-4), 4. La Mirada (6-4) Other local: Crescenta Valley (6-4) Players to watch: Zander Anding, RB, Burroughs; Pavle Atanackovic, PK, Crescenta Valley; Myles Carr, QB, Arcadia; Brandon Cox, QB, Pasadena; Jimmy Frazier, RB/DB, West Covina; Justin Fa'aola, RB/LB, Los Altos; Robbie Haines, TE/DL, Arcadia; Ryan Hunley, RB/DB, Bellflower; Taylor Lagace, WR, Arcadia; Christian Mahlsted, WR, Santa Fe; O.J. Medina, RB/DB, La Serna; Travis Newberry, RB/DB, Bellflower; Nick Ruiz, WR/DB, Crescenta Valley; Kevon Seymour, DB, Muir; Dorrin Turner, WR/LB, West Covina. Our pick: West Covina - Reigning CIF State Bowl champs have advanced to quarterfinals or further every season since '06. Sleeper: Burroughs - If Zander Anding keeps rushing for 300 yards per game, who is going to beat the Indians? NORTHWEST Top four seeds: 1. Lompoc (10-0), 2. St. Bernard (10-0), 3. Cabrillo (8-2), 4. Nordhoff (6-4). Local: Oak Park (3-7) Players to watch: Austin Brasher, RB/LB, El Segundo; Luca Bruno, DL, Oak Park; Lavon Coleman, RB, Lompoc; Andy Drifka, QB/LB, Nordhoff; Jack Gerstenberger, QB, Oak Park; Joshua Hill, WR/DB, St. Bernard; Jonathan Kim, PK, Bishop Montgomery; Lee Jensen, TE/LB, Santa Ynez; Aaron Lacombe, WR/DB, Oak Park; Brandon Loera, RB/LB, South Torrance; Caylin Moore, QB/S, Verbum Dei; Isaac Seymour, RB, Nordhoff; Christian Smith, QB, St. Bernard; Ryan Welker, QB, Santa Ynez. Our pick: Lompoc - Top seed is averaging 37.4 points, 305 yards rushing Sleeper: Bishop Montgomery - Good special-teams play can go a long way EAST VALLEY Top four seeds: 1. Sierra Canyon (10-0), 2. Paraclete (8-2), 3. St. Margaret's (8-2), 4. Bishop Diego (9-1). Other local: Grace Brethren (6-4) Players to watch: Tyler Carvalho, QB, Paraclete; Christian Dirksen, PK, Ontario Christian; Samuel Franklin, QB/LB, Brethren Christian; Jack Gilliland, WR/DB, Grace Brethren; Brandon Gonzalez, RB/DL, Bishop Diego; Elijah Gutierrez, WR/DB, Paraclete; Christian Guzman, WR/DB, Desert Hot Springs; Nolan Hayes, QB/DB, Desert Hot Springs; Tyler Stewart, QB, Sierra Canyon; Taylor Syvertsen, QB, Linfield Christian; Jacob Taylor, RB/DB, Rim of the World; Andrew Terry, OL, Sierra Canyon; Nolan Tisdale, QB/LB, Bishop Diego; Brandon White, RB/LB, Brethren Christian; Daniel Young, RB/DB, Rubidoux; William Young, LB, Sierra Canyon. Our Pick: Sierra Canyon - Top- seeded Trailblazers defeated No. 2 Paraclete in regular season Sleeper: Ontario Christian - Always a factor in playoffs. NORTHEAST Top four seeds: 1. Bishop (9-1), 2. Rio Hondo Prep (9-1), 3. Boron (7-2), 4. Salesian (8-2) Other locals: Desert Christian (7-2) Santa Clarita Christian (4-5); St. Genevieve (7-3); Viewpoint (7-3). Players to watch: Chance Callahan, QB, Bishop; Jamadre Cobb, RB/DL, Salesian; Austin Cooper, RB/CB, California Military Institute; John Curran, RB, Saddleback Valley Christian; Cameron Larsen, TE/LB, Desert Christian; Adam Markun, RB, Viewpoint; Greg Nolan, RB/DB, California City; Hank Trumbull, QB, Chadwick; Jihad Vercher, QB, Salesian; Joey Verhaegh, QB, Viewpoint; Marquis Ware, TE/DL, Salesian. Our pick: Boron - The little team that could. Sleeper: Mojave - They grow'em tough in the desert. CITY SECTION DIVISION I Top four seeds: 1. San Pedro (10-0), 2. Narbonne (7-3), 3. Dorsey (9-1), 4. Venice (6-4). Locals: Arleta (9-1); Birmingham (8-2); El Camino Real (8-2); Reseda (8-2); Taft (4-6). Players to watch: Antoine Anderson, WR, Narbonne; Eli Assouline, OL, El Camino Real; Nuoye Clemmons III, RB/LB, West Adams Prep; Dejon Coleman, RB, Arleta; Kwamhe Davis, QB, Reseda; Jordan Descalo, PK, Taft; Lance Fernandez, RB, Garfield; Kevin McMahon, QB, Carson; Adrian Mora, LB, Birmingham; Greg Morton, RB/LB, El Camino Real; David Orellana, OL, Birmingham; Kenny Potter, QB/DB, San Pedro; Kawan Rally, RB, El Camino Real; Darreus Rogers, WR, Carson; Marquis Smith, RB/DB, Fairfax; Michael Whitt, WR/DB, San Pedro; Troy Williams, QB, Narbonne. Our pick: Dorsey - The Dons earned stripes by defeating Pac-5 power Alemany in nonleague game. Sleeper: Birmingham - Patriots have gone from 2-8 to 8-2 and are not through yet. DIVISION II Top four seeds: 1. South East (9-1), 2. Marshall (8-2), 3. Granada Hills (5-5), 4. Jefferson (9-1) Other locals: Canoga Park (6-4); Eagle Rock (4-6); Grant (4-6); Van Nuys (8-2); Verdugo Hills (7-3) Players to watch: Fabian Alomar, QB, Canoga Park; Daniel Belton, LB, South East; Anthony Benitez, QB, Marshall; Edgar Delgado, LB, Canoga Park; Robert Lewis, RB, South East; Iheanyi Obinna, WR/DB, Van Nuys; Mark Powell, QB, Verdugo Hills; Brian Sanchez, RB, Granada Hills; Jonathan Santos, QB, South East; Joshua Szin, QB, Granada Hills; Randy Uzoma, WR/DB, Canoga Park; Sylvester Williams, WR/DB, Verdugo Hills. Our pick: South East - Good luck stopping dominant RB Robert Lewis Sleeper: Granada Hills - Has enough skill talent to beat anyone FIVE GAMES TO WATCH ST. JOHN BOSCO (7-3) at ALEMANY (8-2), 7:30 p.m. today This is a tough first-round matchup for Alemany, but there is no easy pickings in the Pac-5, the Southern Section's most competitive division. St. John Bosco's Bryce Treggs is a top WR, and it will be fun watching him match up with Alemany's elite secondary led by DBs Jerico Richardson and DeRon Smith. MOORPARK (6-4) at VALENCIA (6-4), 7:30 p.m. today These two know each other well, having met in the Northern playoffs the past three seasons. Valencia defeated Moorpark in the quarterfinals last year, and the visiting Musketeers look to turn things around. To do so, Moorpark QB Grant Rohach must remain poised against Valencia's heavy defensive pressure. MIRA COSTA (4-6) at OAKS CHRISTIAN (8-2), 7:30 p.m. today Defending Northern champion Oaks Christian, led by QB Brandon Dawkins, WR Jordan Payton and RB/DB Ishmael Adams, is looking to win its eight section title over the past nine seasons. LOS ALTOS (7-3) vs. BURROUGHS (6-4), 7:30 p.m. today at Glendale HS All eyes will be on Burroughs RB Zander Anding, who has rushed for 2,468 yards and 30 TDs, including five 300-yard performances, as the host Indians look to make an impact in the Southeast Division. ARLETA (9-1) at BIRMINGHAM (8-2), 7 p.m. today In this attractive City Section first-round matchup, Birmingham looks to contain Arleta RB De'Jon Coleman, who has 46 TDs. OTHER SOUTHERN SECTION GAMES All games 7:30 p.m. today unless noted PAC-5 Huntington Beach (8-2) vs. Loyola (8-2) at Valley College, 7 p.m. NORTHERN Eastside (4-6) at Westlake (10-0), 7 p.m. Hart (7-3) vs. Palos Verdes (8-2) at Mira Costa, 7 p.m. Thousand Oaks (6-4) at Quartz Hill (8-2) Palmdale (6-4) at Canyon Country Canyon (8-2) Saugus (6-4) at Highland (8-1), 7 p.m. WESTERN Inglewood (5-5) at Chaminade (8-2) St. Francis (8-2) at Paramount (5-5) SOUTHEAST Crescenta Valley (6-4) at La Mirada (6-4) NORTHWEST Oak Park (3-7) vs. Cabrillo (8-2) at Lompoc, 7 p.m. EAST VALLEY Desert Hot Springs (5-5) at Sierra Canyon (10-0) at El Camino Real HS Grace Brethren (6-4) at Paraclete (8-2) at Antelope Valley College NORTHEAST Viewpoint (7-3) at Bishop (9-1), 6:30 p.m. Desert Christian (7-2) at California Military Institute (8-2) Santa Clarita Christian (4-5) at Salesian (8-2) St. Genevieve (7-3) at Boron (7-2) OTHER EIGHT-MAN GAMES DIV. II Trinity Classical Academy (10-0) vs. Hope Centre (3-6) at Daniels Field (San Pedro), 1 p.m. Saturday Westmark (6-4) vs. Cuyama Valley (8-0) at Sykes Field, 7:30 p.m. OTHER CITY SECTION GAMES DIV. I El Camino Real (8-2) at Crenshaw (5-4) Taft (4-6) at Venice (6-4) Reseda (8-2) at Narbonne (7-3) DIV. II Grant (4-6) at South East (9-1) Fremont (4-6) at Verdugo Hills (7-3) Eagle Rock (4-6) at Canoga Park (6-4) University (3-7) at Granada Hills (5-5) Belmont (5-5) at Van Nuys (8-2) EIGHT-MAN East Valley (5-4) vs. Community Harvest (5-3) at Baldwin Hills Recreation Center
