SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Valencia Discounts Top Seeding : Division VI: Coach Marrujo knows his team is the favorite to win its third consecutive section title, but he is taking nothing for granted.

Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo might hate to hear this, but when the Southern Section Division VI football playoffs begin Friday, the Tigers should, no wait, are expected to begin their march to a third consecutive championship.

After winning titles in 1991 and 1992, Valencia is trying to become only the second Orange County team to win three consecutive section football titles since Brea-Olinda, which won Lower Division 1-A and 2-A titles from 1961-63.

The Southern Section listed Valencia as the favorite in Division VI, seeding the Orange League champions No. 1. The Tigers face Covina Northview (4-6) in a 7:30 p.m. game at Valencia High.

“Sure, I’m pleased to be top-seeded,” Marrujo said. “But I never put much stock into those things. We’ve been on both sides.”

In 1991, Valencia also entered the Division VI playoffs top-seeded and marched through the bracket by outscoring opponents, 147-21. The Tigers defeated Tustin, 27-7, in the championship game.

Last season, the Tigers were unseeded, but upset top-seeded Charter Oak in the quarterfinals, 28-25, then toppled fourth-seeded Whittier in the semifinals, 19-9, and finally defeated second-seeded Duarte in the title game, 23-15.

This season, Valencia enters the playoffs on a roll, winning nine consecutive games after losing the season opener, 30-26, to Villa Park.

The offense is led by running back Chris Draft and quarterback Rob Petko. The pair led the Tigers to the title last season and Draft also played defense for the ’91 champions.

Draft leads a balanced attack, having rushed for 982 yards and scored 18 touchdowns, while Petko has completed 62% of his passes for 1,428 yards and 14 touchdowns.

On defense, Draft, linebacker Ryan Reilly, lineman Gary DePhillips and back Joey Secoda, anchor a unit that has posted four shutouts and allowed only 40 points during the nine-game winning streak.

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Three other Orange League teams made the playoffs, including Anaheim, which received an at-large berth after finishing fourth. The Colonists (5-5) will play at third-seeded El Monte Arroyo.

“We’re pleased to be in,” Anaheim Coach Todd Borowski said. “But we belong. We play in a super tough league and four of our teams were ranked in the division’s top 10.”

Anaheim, led by Reuben Droughns, who rushed for 1,663 yards, has been a tough team to figure this season. The Colonists defeated Garden Grove League champion Kennedy, 24-7, but lost to Orange, the Century League’s last-place team, 28-21.

“We need to find some consistency,” Borowski said. “We played fantastic against Valencia and Western but played like crap against Brea-Olinda and Savanna.”

If the Colonists’ rushing attack and the rest of their game is clicking, they could post a first-round upset.

Savanna (8-2) received a tough draw and will open at Hacienda Heights Los Altos (6-4), the second-place team from the Miramonte League.

Los Altos features Jake Merrill, a 1,000-yard rusher, and quarterback Darren Merrill, who has passed for more than 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Savanna counters with a short-passing game led by the county’s top-rated quarterback, Paul Waldrop, and wide receiver Rani Kahouch.

Western (6-3-1), the league’s No. 2-seeded team, will play host to West Covina South Hills (7-3) at Glover Stadium.

Quarterback Brandon Brennan, who has passed for 1,814 yards and 21 touchdowns, and receiver Josh Christensen, who caught 45 passes for 727 yards, helped the Pioneers average 35 points in their first eight games.

Division VI at a Glance

Defending champion: Valencia.

Top teams: Valencia (9-1), Pomona Ganesha (8-2), El Monte Arroyo (8-2), Covina (7-3).

Dark horse: Western (6-3-1). The Pioneers host a first-round game and their explosive offense could trouble opponents.

Top players: Brandon Brennan (Western), quarterback; Josh Christensen (Western), wide receiver; Kourtney Dean (Whittier), running back; Chris Draft (Valencia), linebacker; Reuben Droughns (Anaheim), running back; Willie Kaholakula (Santa Fe), running back; Rani Kahouch (Savanna), receiver; Matt Kearns (Covina), quarterback; Freddie Knight (Covina), running back; Bryan La Vigne (Whittier), quarterback; Darren Merrill (Los Altos), quarterback; Jake Merrill (Los Altos), running back; Rob Petko (Valencia), quarterback; Joey Strycula (Charter Oak), quarterback; Paul Waldrop (Savanna), quarterback.

Best draw: Ganesha. The second-seeded Miramonte League champions play Rosemead (3-6) in the first round and won’t face another league champion until the semifinals.

Worst draw: Savanna. The Rebels start on the road and their bracket contains four teams ranked in the division’s top 10.

Notes: Valencia is one of three county teams seeking its third consecutive section title. Los Alamitos (Division II) and Irvine (Division IV) are also seeded in their divisions . . . All four Orange League teams were ranked in the division’s top 10 during the season and could meet in the semifinals.