A Look at Today’s Key matchups

DIVISION II

* HART (10-1) vs. PALMDALE (9-2)

At Palmdale High, 7:30 p.m.

Expect a different game than Hart’s 20-0 nonleague victory over Palmdale in the fourth week of the season. The Golden League champion Falcons were in the middle of a two-game slide and have won six in a row since by an average score of 25-13. Hart’s offense had yet to get untracked at that point. David Neill averaged 204 yards and had 11 passes intercepted in the first five games. He has averaged 251 yards and has had just four passes intercepted in the last six games. Jerry Owens, Hart’s leading receiver with 56 catches for 1,260 yards, might not play and will be less than 100% if he does because of a broken toe. Neill will have to find another favorite receiver among Jared Bazar (29 catches), Nick Mercado (28) and Nate Small (19). Palmdale will rely on 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive lineman Matt Leonard to pressure Neill and hope its offense, led by Jason Anderson, who has 1,265 yards rushing, can produce more than last time.

* DOMINGUEZ (10-1) vs. ANTELOPE VALLEY (7-3)

At Antelope Valley High, 7:30 p.m.

This is a rematch of a Division II semifinal last year, won by Dominguez, 34-17, and marks the fourth time in two seasons these teams have met. Dominguez out-gained the Antelopes, 460-155, earlier this season in the Dons’ 28-10 victory. USC-bound Jason Thomas, last year’s division player of the year, broke his ankle in that game and didn’t play for Dominguez until last week’s 21-0 victory over North Torrance. Everett Smith stepped in and passed for 1,305 yards and 11 touchdowns while leading the Dons to the San Gabriel Valley League title. Willie Hurst has rushed for 1,486 yards and 12 touchdowns. David Relph has caught 64 passes for 830 yards and eight touchdowns. The Dons have won 24 of 25 games over two seasons. Antelope Valley, second in the Golden League, is trying to reach a fifth consecutive division semifinal. Bruce Molock, sidelined most of the season with ankle problems, rushed for 168 yards in last week’s 38-14 romp over Valencia. Quarterback Justin Mobley has rushed for a team-high 519 yards and 12 touchdowns. Andrew Campbell forced and recovered three fumbles last week and has rushed for 458 yards. Joe Manning has caught 27 passes for 490 yards and three touchdowns, and has returned three interceptions for touchdowns.

DIVISION III

* WESTLAKE (8-3) vs. RIGHETTI (6-5)

At Righetti, 7:30 p.m.

It’s not the two-hour bus ride to Santa Maria that concerns Westlake Coach Jim Benkert. It’s Righetti’s huge offensive line, headed by 6-8, 300-pound David Junod. Righetti upset second-seeded Crescenta Valley last week with a punishing ground attack. Sophomore quarterback Ruben Villa runs Righetti’s option attack that uses an unbalanced line to put pressure on opposing defenses. The good news for Westlake is that wide receiver Joey Cuppari is expected back. He was held out of last week’s victory over San Marcos to give his sprained ankle more time to heal. Westlake has developed two dependable receivers for sophomore quarterback Zac Wasserman in case Cuppari continues to hobble. Travis Campbell caught 13 passes for 189 yards against San Marcos, and tight end Mike Seidman had three receptions for 60 yards. Nose guard Karl Holley will be a key player for Westlake, which is trying to reach the Division III semifinals for the third consecutive year.

* NOTRE DAME (9-2) vs. OXNARD (8-2-1)

At Oxnard High, 7:30 p.m.

This meeting of area powers features a tailback showdown between Justin Fargas of Notre Dame and Desmond Davis of Oxnard as a subplot. The durable sprinters didn’t meet during track season, but Fargas posted a 100-meter best of 10.58 and won the state title while Davis’ best was 10.78 and he won the Ventura County title. Fargas has rushed for 2,340 yards and 29 touchdowns, and Davis has 1,477 yards and 16 touchdowns. Fargas has more than 70% of his team’s carries while Davis has shared the load with fullback Chad Pierson, who has 968 yards and seven touchdowns. Pierson had a career-best 190 yards and two touchdowns last week in the Yellowjackets’ victory at Lompoc. Oxnard has passed for fewer than 1,000 yards, so Dave DeMartinis may be the edge Notre Dame needs. DeMartinis has completed 96 of 156 passes for 1,637 yards and 17 touchdowns without having a pass intercepted. Notre Dame lost to Camarillo in last year’s division title game. Oxnard failed to make the playoffs last season because of forfeits incurred for using an ineligible player. The Yellowjackets reached the quarterfinals in 1982 and 1984.

DIVISION IX

* BEVERLY HILLS (8-3) vs. LA CANADA (7-4)

At La Canada High, 7:30 p.m.

The Normans ousted La Canada, 38-6, in a first-round game last season. Beverly Hills, the No. 2 entry from the Ocean League, outlasted Paso Robles, 28-27, last week. The Normans rely on quarterback Adam Kennybrew, an elusive runner and efficient passer who has been heavily recruited by Division I colleges. Senior receivers Omar Bennett and Kahlil Salazar are Kennybrew’s favorite targets. Senior Jason Portee is the Normans’ top rushing threat. La Canada, fourth in the Rio Hondo League, beat fourth-seeded Gladstone, 13-10, on Neven Dravinski’s 27-yard field goal in overtime last week to give the Spartans their first playoff victory since 1987. Sam Kim, who had only 109 rushing yards during the regular season, gained 125 against Gladstone. La Canada has thrived defensively for first-year Coach Rich Wheeler. The Spartans, who have four shutouts, are yielding only 180 yards and 11.4 points per game, including only 10 points in the past three games. La Canada has passed for only 500 yards in 11 games and is averaging 181 yards. Eric Leverton leads the Spartans with 435 yards rushing.

DIVISION X

* MOORPARK (10-1) vs. ST. BERNARD (6-5)

At St. Bernard High, 7:30 p.m.

The Musketeers take on a team they shut out in the fourth week of the regular season, 17-0. Moorpark is allowing 8.3 points and 60.8 rushing yards per game. Chad Willis has completed 114 of 197 passes for 1,352 yards and 19 touchdowns, with Erris Green catching 31 passes for 467 yards and five scores. Art Garcia heads a balanced rushing attack with 403 yards, while Shane Brogdon has 375 yards and Art Lopez has gained 334. Receiver-punt returner Jeremy Shoop has come up big recently, scoring four touchdowns in five games. Javier Hanson of St. Bernard has rushed for 1,065 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 9.4 yards per carry. Hanson’s one-yard touchdown with 24 seconds left gave the Vikings a 21-17 victory over Santa Ana Calvary Chapel last week. He also had a 76-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

DIVISION XII

* FLINTRIDGE PREP (6-4) vs. ARROWHEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (8-3)

At Arrowhead Christian, 7:30 p.m.

Flintridge Prep, in its second season at the 11-man level, defeated Mammoth, 37-0, in the first round, but Arrowhead Christian won the division title with a 14-0 record last season and has shut out five of its past six opponents. “The double wing offense is something we haven’t faced this year,” Flintridge Prep Coach Glen Beattie said. “So we’re going to have to be very disciplined on defense.” Arrowhead Christian, which has won six games in a row, is averaging 45.1 points and 351 yards rushing a game, but leading rusher Trevor Wilson suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice this week. Wilson had more than 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns, but Arrowhead Christian Coach Dan Finfrock expects Jon Reed to be an adequate replacement. Reed has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and has scored 15 touchdowns while playing fullback and wingback. Junior J.P. Blecksmith of Flintridge Prep has completed 65 of 142 passes for 956 yards and seven touchdowns, and rushed for 698 yards and 12 touchdowns. Evan Cablayan has rushed for 744 yards in 162 carries and scored eight touchdowns.