TONIGHT’S TOP FOOTBALL GAMES

Long Beach Poly (9-2) vs. Huntington Beach Edison (8-3) at Orange Coast College, 7 p.m.

This quarterfinal is a rematch of the teams that played in the 2001 Southern Section Division I championship game, but don’t expect a similar game. That contest, won by Long Beach Poly, 42-28, featured two high-scoring offenses and a host of skill players currently at Division I colleges. Edison has been led this season by its defense, which has given up more than eight points only twice in the last 10 games. The Chargers have a multi-threat player in Matt White, who has caught 59 passes for 813 yards and five touchdowns. He has also completed all five of his pass attempts with three touchdowns. Long Beach Poly still has its share of skill players, particularly wide receiver Derrick Jones, who beat Lakewood two weeks ago on a 33-yard touchdown reception with 1:45 left to play. He has caught 38 passes, 10 for touchdowns.

-- Dan Arritt

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Fountain Valley (8-3) vs. Santa Ana Mater Dei (7-4) at Santa Ana Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Fountain Valley Coach Eric Johnson faces Mater Dei for the first time since leaving the program five years ago. Johnson was defensive coordinator during four of the Monarchs’ five Division I title runs in the 1990s. Mater Dei (7-4), which struggled offensively early in the season, scored 96 points over the last three weeks behind the playmaking of quarterback Jason Forcier. The Monarchs have averaged 27.4 points while giving up 9.2 over their last seven games against a schedule that included five teams with records of 6-4 or better. Fourth-seeded Fountain Valley (8-3) has averaged 25.1 points and given up an average of 13.6 over the same span but against only two teams with similar credentials. The Barons will have to dominate with their running game to avoid being upset.

-- Martin Henderson

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San Clemente (8-3) vs. Valencia (8-3) at College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m.

Get ready for an offensive shootout in this Division II quarterfinal game. Valencia’s offensive weapons include sophomore quarterback Michael Herrick, who has passed for 2,998 yards and 20 touchdowns, and running back Jeff Bomberger, who has rushed for 964 yards and caught 47 passes for 558 yards. San Clemente will counter with senior quarterback Cole Bergquist, who has passed for 1,881 yards and 16 touchdowns, receiver Steve Melton, who has caught 78 passes and 10 touchdowns, and running back Cheyne Verhagan, who has rushed for 1,390 yards and 16 touchdowns.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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Santa Fe Springs St. Paul (9-2) at Antelope Valley (8-3), 7:30 p.m.

This Division III quarterfinal is the first meeting between veteran coaches Marijon Ancich of St. Paul, who has a Southern Section-record 330 victories in 41 seasons, and Antelope Valley’s Brent Newcomb, who has 204 victories in 26 seasons. Both teams feature physical running games. Fullback Matthew Parent stepped up for second-seeded St. Paul last week, rushing for 163 yards and a touchdown in a 46-17 victory over Glendale. The Swordsmen are without tailback Dwight Tardy, their leading rusher, because of a sprained ankle suffered Nov. 13 in a regular-season finale against St. Francis. Antelope Valley, the third-place team from the Golden League, relies on running backs Krieg Peters (1,135 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns) and Aaron Wilson and quarterback Mycahl Bogan to propel its option attack.

-- Rob Fernas

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Irvine (9-2) vs. Lakewood Mayfair (8-3) at Bellflower High, 7:30 p.m.

Mayfair, which has won eight in a row, had an uncharacteristic performance last week in its 30-27 victory over Covina Charter Oak. The Monsoons, who give up an average of 11.3 points, gave up more than they have allowed in any one game in the last two months. They trailed, 13-0, before a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Eddie Colwell got things rolling. Senior running back Dereik Driscoll rushed for 219 yards. It will be up to Irvine quarterback Luke Tracy (1,592 yards, 10 touchdowns) to test the Monsoon defense if running back Jamaal Villa (1,631 total yards, 20 touchdowns) finds the going tough in this Division VI quarterfinal. Tracy’s favorite receivers are Mike Edwards, who has 26 receptions and four touchdowns, and Mike McKee, who has 36 receptions and three touchdowns.

-- Paul McLeod

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Ridgecrest Burroughs (10-1) at Palm Desert (8-3), 7:30 p.m.

Both teams feature prolific offenses and are coming off of lopsided first-round Division VIII victories. Burroughs, which defeated Ramona, 44-14, last week, averages 42.2 points. Junior quarterback Karsten Sween has set school season records with 2,611 yards passing and 29 touchdowns. Running back Matt Williams balances the attack with 1,025 yards rushing. Burroughs has won six in a row since a 27-20 loss to Ventura St. Bonaventure in Week 5. Palm Desert, coming off a 48-20 victory over Ontario last week, averages just under 30 points. The Aztecs do most of their damage on the ground with Jared Trawick, who has rushed for 1,220 yards and 13 touchdowns.

-- Peter Yoon

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Gardena Serra (8-3) at Culver City (9-1-1), 7:30 p.m.

This Division X quarterfinal features two big-play offenses. Serra is led by quarterback Terry Wilson (11 touchdowns, only one interception), running back Ryan Kelly (1,288 yards, 16 touchdowns), and receiver Tristan Patin (24 catches, 28.8 average yards). The Cavaliers’ only loss in the last seven games was to top-seeded Encino Crespi, 17-15, in a pouring rain. Serra has outscored its last two opponents, 98-0. There’s no telling where Michael Bumpus will line up for second-seeded Culver City. He can play quarterback, receiver or running back, and his 10 touchdowns lead a team that has averaged 32.8 points and given up 10.0. Those numbers change dramatically if you throw out the Centaurs’ only loss, 49-0, to defending Division I champion Los Alamitos.

-- Martin Henderson