GAME DAY

SYLMAR vs. TAFT

7 p.m. at Taft High

Donald Carpenter rushed for 1,214 yards and 15 touchdowns last season for Taft. Once again, he is set to go, but this time for Sylmar. Taft is smarting from the loss of Carpenter, who transferred amid allegations of recruiting. Another transfer to Sylmar is talented linebacker Derrell Daniels, and Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman has been suspended for two games for talking to Daniels in the Sylmar weight room last spring. Assistants Obbie Brown and Darrel McIntyre will run the team in Engilman’s absence. Taft also should benefit from several transfers. Quarterback Nick DiPadova, who passed for 1,290 yards last season, has four new receivers, including Damon Coleman from Van Nuys and Keith Johnson from Montclair Prep. Marquis Brignac and Sedric Hurns will carry the ball. Taft, 7-3-1 last season, has 10 returning starters, including linebackers Alex Scheer and Tyler Brennan. Sylmar, 11-1 last season, had a 25-game winning streak snapped in the City Section 4-A Division quarterfinals. Senior quarterback Chris Cervantes is savvy--he threw only four interceptions last year--and tight end Jose Ochoa (6 feet 4) gives him a big target.

NO. HOLLYWOOD vs. EL CAMINO REAL

7 p.m. at Canoga Park

This may not be the most anticipated matchup this week between teams from the Valley Pac-8 and Northwest Valley conferences but it could be almost as exciting as Sylmar-Taft. North Hollywood has high hopes, based on senior running back Dante Clay, one of the top backs in the region. Husky Coach Gary Gray believes his offensive line has finally mastered the double wing-T offense installed last year, meaning Clay could surpass his 1,525 rushing total from last year. The defense is anchored by inside linebackers Devon Rose (Granada Hills) and Adam Brubaker (Burbank), both transfers. El Camino Real showed steady improvement last season. Junior Aaron Fredette steps in at quarterback for Shaun Fishman, who is concentrating on baseball. El Camino Real Coach Bob Ganssle thinks junior tailback Quincy Wright, who rushed for 1,049 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, is more talented than Clay. El Camino Real must contain Clay, who gained 301 yards against the Conquistadors in the opener last year, a 20-20 tie.

WESTLAKE vs. BUENA

7:30 p.m. at Ventura High

The future looks promising for Westlake, which finished third last season in the always-tough Marmonte League before making a Southern Section playoff run that included an upset of defending Division III champion Notre Dame. The Warriors reached the semifinals before losing to Newbury Park, 22-15, in the final seconds. Quarterback Casey Preston passed for 1,323 yards and 12 touchdowns in eight games. Middle linebacker Bobby DeMars (6-4, 235 pounds), who made 121 tackles, has committed to USC. Most coaches are picking Westlake to win the league. Buena, third in the Channel League last season, might be in a rebuilding year. A bright spot is senior wide receiver T.J. Stafford, who tied a school record last season with 56 receptions, six for touchdowns. Stafford is one of only two returning starters on offense. The Bulldogs have a strong offensive line that includes seniors Mike French (6-1, 275) and Dave McAlpine (6-4, 255). The teams played to a 35-35 tie in last season’s opener.

CRES. VALLEY vs. THOUSAND OAKS

7 p.m. at Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks defeated Crescenta Valley, 22-6, in the first meeting between these teams last year, but coaches Alan Eberhart of Crescenta Valley and Mike Kelly of Thousand Oaks agree that game was closer than the score. “They moved the ball on us but then made errors,” Kelly said. “They had a lot of drives where they’d get four of five yards a carry and then they’d make a mistake.” The game will contrast the well-balanced offense of Thousand Oaks and the wing-T running attack of Crescenta Valley. Thousand Oaks quarterback Scott McEwan, who is bound for UCLA, threw for a school-record 1,854 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Barrett Grindle was the Lancers’ leading receiver with 40 receptions for 609 yards and five touchdowns. Eleo Cuadra, who rushed for 508 yards and five touchdowns last year, should lead the Lancers’ ground game. Kenneth Pritchett will be the featured back in Crescenta Valley’s offense after rushing for 1,131 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. Junior Ryan McKnight is expected to start at quarterback, but Eberhart could go to senior Mike Dely if he wants to pass more.

Other games: At 4 p.m., Burbank at Harvard-Westlake. At 6:45, Van Nuys at Palisades. At 7:30, Chatsworth at Reseda; Granada Hills vs. Hart at College of the Canyons; Agoura at Hueneme; Bell-Jeff at Calabasas; Hoover at Monroe; Canoga Park at Birmingham; El Segundo at Oak Park.