Looking Out For No. 1

Football championship games in two City Section and 13 Southern Section divisions will be played Friday and Saturday.

Here is a look at each game and the teams that have survived three rounds of the playoffs to earn the chance to play for a title.

CITY SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP

* Wilmington Banning (9-3-1) vs. Woodland Hills Taft (11-2), Friday at Coliseum, 8 p.m., KLCS-TV

For the first time since 1991, 10-time City champion Banning is in the title game. The Pilots defeated Taft, 41-13, on Sept. 11, then lost, 35-34, to defending Southern Section Division I champion Long Beach Poly a week later. Banning is led by junior running back Chris Howard, who gained 343 yards in a semifinal victory over Granada Hills, and wide receiver Mike Cockrell, both of whom regularly make big plays on offense and as kick returners and defensive backs. Taft lost to San Pedro in the last two championship games. Senior running back Marquis Brignac is the main threat for the Toreadors.

CITY SECTION DIVISION

* Chatsworth (8-5) vs. Reseda (9-4), Friday at Coliseum, 5 p.m., KLCS-TV

This game is a rematch of the season opener, which Chatsworth won, 35-13. Chatsworth quarterback Matt Cassel has passed for 2,647 yards and 23 touchdowns. Jason Holmes has gained 596 yards for the Chancellors. Reseda running back Joseph Looney has rushed for 1,165 yards and 11 touchdowns.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION I

* Long Beach Poly (13-0) vs. Santa Ana Mater Dei (12-1), Saturday at Edison Field, 7 p.m., Fox Sports West 2

Last year, Mater Dei took a 27-game winning streak into the final and lost to Poly. This year, it’s Poly with the 27-game win streak and a chance to become the first team to repeat as major division champion since Anaheim Servite in 1982 and ’83. Poly has one of the fastest teams in the nation with running back Larry Croom, wide receivers Kareem Kelly and Samie Parker and defensive back Darrell Rideaux. Quarterback Chris Lewis has passed for 2,957 yards. Many wrote off Mater Dei after the Monarchs lost to Concord De La Salle. But that was the Monarchs’ only loss. Mater Dei whipped previously unbeaten Los Alamitos, 33-6, in the semifinals. The Monarchs are led by linebacker/fullback Kevin Mitchell, tailbacks Matt Grootegoed and Junior Palacios and quarterback Scott Lukash.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION II

* Chino (13-0) vs. Diamond Bar (12-1), Friday at Citrus College, 7:30 p.m.

It has been an emotional season for Chino, which won the Division IV championship last season--the school’s first title since 1948. On Sept. 2, 10 days before the Cowboys’ opener, linebacker Scott Maughan died after collapsing on the practice field the day before. The Cowboys, inspired by his memory, have rolled on and take a 26-game winning streak into the final. Chino and Diamond Bar advanced to the final with double-overtime victories in the quarterfinals. Chino defeated Beverly Hills, 31-28, and Diamond Bar beat Claremont, 42-35. Andrew Saucedoc scored three touchdowns in Chino’s semifinal win over Chino Hills Ayala. Don Sizemore rushed for three touchdowns in Diamond Bar’s semifinal victory over Compton Dominguez.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III

* Newhall Hart (11-2) vs. Santa Fe Springs St. Paul (11-2), Saturday at College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m.

Hart quarterback Kyle Boller, the state passing leader with 4,677 yards, will direct the Indians against a St. Paul defense that had five consecutive shutouts earlier this season. The Swordsmen figure to have their hands full against Hart. Boller, who has thrown 58 touchdown passes, completed passes to nine receivers in the Indians’ quarterfinal victory over La Canada St. Francis. St. Paul’s defense gets the attention, but the Swordsman offense is also formidable. Quarterback Jon Montez and receiver Marcell Almond lead the attack.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION IV

* Arroyo Grande (10-2) at San Luis Obispo (11-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Arroyo Grande is going for its second consecutive championship after defeating Justin Fargas and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in last season’s Division III final. The Eagles defeated Oxnard Channel Islands, Ventura Buena and Lompoc en route to the championship game. San Luis Obispo, led by quarterback Matt Crivello, beat Oxnard Rio Mesa, Ventura and Oxnard Hueneme in the playoffs.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION V

* Norco (10-3) vs. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (11-2), Friday at Moreno Valley, 7:30 p.m.

Neither school was a league champion, but both battled their way past higher-seeded teams in the playoffs. Norco, the No. 3 team from the Mountain View League, beat Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, Murrieta Valley and Temecula Valley in the playoffs. Marcus Guzman rushed for 235 yards against Murrieta Valley. Rancho Verde, the No. 2 team from the Sunbelt League, beat Chaffey, Corona Centennial and Rancho Cucamonga. Damon Gayton gained 244 yards and scored twice in the Mustangs’ 23-15 semifinal victory over Rancho Cucamonga.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VI

* Irvine Woodbridge (12-0-1) vs. Santa Margarita (10-3), Friday at Cal State Fullerton, 7:30 p.m.

Santa Margarita is trying to win its third consecutive section championship. The Eagles were Division V titlists in 1996 and ’97. Santa Margarita does not have the high-powered passing attack that characterized the Eagles in the Carson Palmer era. Greg Orlando rushed for 141 yards in a 17-0 semifinal victory over Irvine. Woodbridge is led by quarterback Scott Barlow, who passed for 260 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-7 semifinal victory over Anaheim Servite.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VII

* North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (10-3) at Covina Charter Oak (9-2-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Charter Oak’s Steve Stevenson has been an all-around standout for the Chargers. Last week, he rushed for two touchdowns and returned an interception 65 yards for a score in Charter Oak’s 28-7 semifinal victory over Bell Gardens. Harvard-Westlake is led by running back George Witter, who gained 124 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown against top-seeded Hacienda Heights Los Altos in last week’s 21-14 semifinal victory.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VIII

* Temescal Canyon (12-1) vs. Bloomington (10-3), Saturday at Elsinore Diamond, 7:30 p.m.

Bloomington, which won the Division VII title last season, is led by running back Ronnie Adams, who has gained more than 2,000 yards. Adams rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 34-32 overtime victory over San Bernardino Pacific. Top-seeded Temescal Canyon, led by quarterback Jason Fife, defeated Calexico, San Gorgonio and La Quinta to reach the final.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION IX

* La Mirada (13-0) vs. Lakewood Mayfair (10-3), Friday at Cerritos College, 7:30 p.m.

This game is a rematch of the Suburban League showdown won by La Mirada, 21-18, on Nov. 6. La Mirada running back Mike Lemon has gained 2,519 yards this season. He rushed for 223 yards and scored two touchdowns in the top-seeded Matadores’ 27-14 semifinal victory over Anaheim Western. La Mirada lost to Laguna Hills in last year’s division final. Mayfair quarterback Mike Harrison has been instrumental in leading the Monsoons to the final. He has passed for 2,451 yards and threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns--two to Joe Hunter--in Mayfair’s 26-13 semifinal victory over Brea Olinda.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION X

* Monrovia (12-0) vs. Paso Robles (12-1), Friday at War Memorial Stadium, Paso Robles, 7:30 p.m.

Top-seeded Monrovia is making its second consecutive appearance in a championship game. Last year, the Wildcats lost to Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in the Division IX final. Senior running back Akil Harris is the main threat for Monrovia. He has rushed for 2,557 yards. Monrovia beat Cabrillo, Torrance and Santa Ynez en route to the final. Paso Robles beat La Puente, West Torrance and Temple City in the playoffs.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION XI

* Carpinteria (10-3) vs. Santa Monica St. Monica (9-3-1), Saturday at Santa Barbara City College, 7:30 p.m.

St. Monica, which lost in the final last season, is coming off a 42-22 semifinal victory over Calabasas, a game in which running back Davion Doby gained 207 yards and scored three touchdowns. Quarterback Chris Griffin and wide receiver James Dunn are also threats for the Mariners. Carpinteria quarterback Ryan Gocong leads the Warriors. He rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 156 yards and a touchdown in a 35-6 semifinal victory over Playa del Rey St. Bernard.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION XII

* Lancaster Paraclete (12-1) vs. Kilpatrick (8-5), Saturday at Antelope Valley College, 7:30 p.m.

Paraclete won the Division XI title last year. Tommy Breech gained 231 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns as the Spirits routed Cathedral, 62-33, in the semifinals. Kilpatrick, making its first appearance in a final, is led by running backs Albert Youngblood, who has gained 1,471 yards, and Kevin White, who has gained 1,196 yards.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION XIII

* Redlands Arrowhead Christian (9-4) at Boron (13-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Arrowhead Christian, the defending Division XII champion, was the No. 3 team from the Christian League. But the Eagles beat Hamilton, Brentwood and Arrowhead Christian to reach the final. Top-seeded Boron defeated Downey Calvary Chapel, Pasadena Poly and Mammoth.