Westlake, Hart Have More Titles in Sight

With two weeks to play in the regular season, Westlake and Hart highs, as expected, have taken control of the Marmonte and Foothill league football races.

The Warriors and Indians, ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the region by The Times, appear capable of defending their Southern Section Division IV and III titles.

Unbeaten Sylmar and Birmingham have inside tracks to City Section league titles and have probably clinched playoff berths.

Although it’s a little early to handicap the playoffs, especially with parochial schools one game into their three-game league schedules, here’s how some league races are shaping up:

CITY SECTION

Sunset Six: Grant (5-3, 3-0) and North Hollywood (4-4, 3-0) will play Nov. 9, but North Hollywood first must get past Canoga Park (2-1, 6-2) on Friday. The league champion gains an automatic berth in the City Championship playoffs, which is a mixed blessing.

Valley Mission: By virtue of its 28-26 victory over Kennedy (6-1-1, 3-1) two weeks ago, Sylmar (8-0, 6-0) has clear sailing to the title. Only San Fernando (5-3, 2-1) and Monroe (1-7, 1-2) stand in the way of the Spartans, who have won 74 of their last 75 league games.

West Valley: Birmingham (8-0, 3-0) has navigated through Taft (6-2, 2-1) and Cleveland (6-2, 2-1). A victory this week over Granada Hills (6-2, 2-1) should secure the championship. If Birmingham loses, the title likely will be a three-way tie like it was last season.

SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III

Foothill: Hart (6-2, 3-0) can clinch a share of its 10th consecutive league title on Friday with a victory over Canyon (4-4, 1-2). Valencia (6-2, 2-1) and Saugus (4-4, 2-1) are tied for second. If Saugus defeats last-place Burbank (2-6, 0-3) on Friday, it will set up a final-week showdown with Hart for the league championship.

Golden: The winner of Friday’s game between Antelope Valley (7-1, 3-0) and Palmdale (6-1-1, 3-0) will clinch a share of the league title, with the loser having inside track for second place. Lancaster (3-5, 1-2), Littlerock (3-5, 1-2) and Quartz Hill (2-6, 1-2) are contending for the final automatic playoff berth. Lancaster plays Littlerock and Quartz Hill.

Pacific: Muir (5-3, 3-0) and Arcadia (5-3, 3-0) will slug it out Friday for sole possession of first place. A Muir victory and a Crescenta Valley (7-1, 2-1) victory over Hoover sets up an Arcadia-Crescenta Valley showdown for second Nov. 10.

DIVISION IV

Channel: Buena (6-2, 2-0) has all but wrapped up its fourth consecutive league title thanks to a 28-21 victory over Ventura (7-1, 2-1) in a league opener. Dos Pueblos (5-3, 1-1) and Santa Barbara (2-6, 1-1) are fighting for third.

Marmonte: Westlake (7-1, 4-0) is one victory away from its second consecutive league title. Agoura (5-3, 3-2), Royal (5-3, 2-2), Newbury Park (3-5. 2-2), Thousand Oaks (3-5, 2-2) and Moorpark (3-5, 2-3) are fighting for three playoff spots.

Pacific View: Hueneme (6-2, 2-1) can clinch at least a tie for its second league title in three seasons with a victory over Channel Islands (3-5, 1-1) on Friday. Defending champion Camarillo (4-4, 2-1) can clinch a share of the title with a victory next week against Rio Mesa (1-7, 0-2). Oxnard (2-6, 1-1) could force a three-way tie for first with victories over Rio Mesa and Channel Islands.

DIVISION X

Rio Hondo: La Canada (7-1, 3-0) can notch its first eight-win season under fourth-year Coach Rich Wheeler by defeating San Marino on Thursday. The Spartans could win an undisputed league championship with a victory at Monrovia (7-1, 3-0) on Nov. 9.

DIVISION XI

Frontier: Two-time defending league champion Nordhoff (6-2, 3-0) will clinch a share of the title if Santa Paula (6-1-1, 1-1) defeats Calabasas (4-4, 2-0) on Friday. A Calabasas victory would set up a winner-take-all game between the Coyotes and Nordhoff on Nov. 10.

Tri-Valley: St. Bonaventure (8-0, 2-0) can clinch at least a share of the league title with a victory over last-place Fillmore (0-7-1, 0-2) on Saturday. Bishop Diego (4-4, 2-1) and Oak Park (6-2, 1-1) are poised to finish second and third--not necessarily in that order--as Carpinteria (2-5-1, 1-2) has already lost to both and must face St. Bonaventure in a season finale.

DIVISION XII

Alpha: Paraclete (7-1, 2-0) and Kilpatrick (4-4, 2-0), which have met in the last two Southern Section Division XII finals, will meet in a regular-season finale at Antelope Valley College on Nov. 10. L.A. Baptist (7-1, 2-1) lost to Kilpatrick, 60-44, on Oct. 20, but could gain a share of the league title with a victory over Paraclete on Friday night and a Spirit victory over Kilpatrick next week.

High Desert: Desert (7-1, 4-0) has clinched the title. Frazier Mountain (6-2, 3-2) is almost assured of its first playoff berth and can clinch second place with a victory Saturday over Vasquez (2-5-1, 1-3), which is left to play spoiler.

Santa Fe: Bell-Jeff (4-4, 1-0) is favored to win the league title after a 56-8 thumping of St. Genevieve (3-4, 0-1) last week. Cantwell Sacred Heart (1-7, 1-0) is tied for first after a 46-36 victory over Murphy (1-7, 0-1).