TITLE GAME PREVIEWS

SOUTHERN SECTION

DIVISION VIII: Palm Springs (12-1) at Phelan Serrano (13-0), 7:30

Serrano is making its second title-game appearance in three years and, as it was in 2002, is undefeated. The Diamondbacks lost that game to Fontana Kaiser, 28-21, but this time will have home-field advantage -- they have won 19 in a row at home. Serrano will rely on a defense that has given up only 10.5 points a game and has held eight opponents under 10 points. Palm Springs is making its first section title-game appearance. Quarterback Scott Saunders has passed for 3,127 yards and 26 touchdowns, and running back A.J. Scott has rushed for 2,131 yards and 37 touchdowns for an offense that has averaged 44.1 points, has topped 50 points four times and has been held under 30 only three times.

-- Peter Yoon

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DIVISION XI: Westlake Village Oaks Christian (13-0) vs. Oak Park (12-1) at Thousand Oaks, 7:30

When your sophomore quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, has passed for 55 touchdowns, and your sophomore running back, Marc Tyler, is averaging 16.5 yards a carry, you know that second-seeded Oak Park has a tough task ahead. The Eagles lost to Oaks Christian, 54-20, in a Tri Valley League game. They’ve improved since inserting junior quarterback Doug Deakin into the starting lineup in the ninth game. And they have their own two-way threat in UCLA-bound receiver-defensive back Gavin Ketchum. But top-seeded Oaks Christian also has UCLA-bound Aaron Ware, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and played well at cornerback; Joe Giuliani, a standout receiver and defensive back, and freshman receiver Chris Potter, who has six touchdowns in the last three games.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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DIVISION XII: Simi Valley Grace Brethren (11-1) at Ontario Christian (12-1), 7

Second-seeded Grace Brethren is playing in its second 11-man final since moving up from eight-man play, where the Lancers won the large-division championship in 1999. Grace Brethren lost to Pasadena Poly in the Division XIII final in 2002. Senior Chad Kackert leads the Lancers with 3,286 yards and 54 touchdowns in 283 carries. Kackert’s 129 career touchdowns ranks second in state history behind former Ventura St. Bonaventure and current Florida State back Lorenzo Booker’s 137. Top-seeded Ontario Christian, which has won three section titles, including Division XII in 2002, counters with a modified wing-T offense that Coach Laing Stevens has dubbed “wings ‘n things.” The Knights feature senior fullback Rich Owens, who has 1,964 yards and 26 touchdowns, and junior quarterback Lance Cromer, who has completed 71 of 132 passes for 1,352 yards and 21 touchdowns with only three interceptions.

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DIVISION XIII: Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep (11-2) at Anza Hamilton (12-1), 7

Top-seeded Anza Hamilton, in the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season, is seeking its first Division XIII championship after losing in the Division XI finals in 1992 and 1993. The Bobcats, featuring senior running backs David Quinonez (more than 2,400 yards rushing) and Jon Anderson (1,400 yards), are bigger and more physical than Rio Hondo Prep. The second-seeded Kares, however, have won nine titles -- albeit at the eight-man level from 1974 to 2001 -- and are riding a 10-game winning streak. Rio Hondo Prep relies on senior Landon Goodwell, who has rushed for an average of 180 yards in the playoffs, and senior quarterback Dan Pastor, who has completed more than 70% of his passes.

-- Lauren Peterson