HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : TONIGHT’S TOP GAMES

Southern Section

Ventura (4-1-1, 2-0-1) vs. Buena (2-4, 2-1)

At Larrabee Stadium 7:30 p.m.

A capacity crowd of more than 7,000 is expected to watch these longtime rivals play a game that will help shape the Channel League race. “You mention Buena and Ventura in the same breath and people come out to watch,” Buena Coach Rick Scott said. “With the magnitude of this game, if a kid can walk, he is going to play. We’re telling our kids all week that we’re playing for the championship.” Buena played much like a champion last week when it handed San Marcos a 41-10 defeat. Buena rushed for 346 yards and amassed 441 total. Matt Kemsley carried nine times for 108 yards and freshman George Keiaho added 106 yards in 10 carries. Keiaho leads the team with 445 yards and Chuck Mullaney has rushed for 297. Ventura is averaging an area-best 375 yards a game after rolling up a season-high 442 in a 43-32 win over Oxnard. Senior Jack Hammond carried 21 times for a career-high 218 yards and sophomore Derek Swafford gained 121 yards in 16 carries. Hammond leads the team with 694 rushing yards and Swafford is second with 493. The game also features teams that rotate quarterbacks. For Ventura, Jeff Dietz (23 completions in 36 attempts for 420 yards) and Trevor Rumsey (eight of 23, 188 yards) have alternated possessions. Buena’s Mike Dexter (26 of 66, 311 yards) and Jim Seguine (29 of 50, 296 yards) also split time.

Agoura (5-1, 2-1) vs. Royal (5-1, 2-1)

At Moorpark College 7:30 p.m.

Royal had allowed an average of only 145 yards a game, but Camarillo rushed for 254 yards in a 26-20 upset of the Highlanders last week. Agoura will attack the Highlanders in a Marmonte League matchup with a balanced offense. “We have our work cut out for us,” Royal Coach Gene Uebelhardt said. “If we play like we did Friday, we’ll get beat.” Agoura senior quarterback Sean Fitzgerald has completed 52 of 102 for 746 yards. Matt Francisco (407 yards) and Kirk Klotz (361) key the Chargers’ rushing game, which has accounted for 1,050 yards. Francisco also leads the team with 14 receptions for 186 yards. The Highlanders average only 80 rushing yards a game and rely on the passing of junior quarterback Ryan Fien, who completed 13 of 21 for a season-high 237 yards last week. Royal has two of the league’s best receivers in Jeff Creed (19 receptions for 349 yards) and Tony Liming (16 for 344).

Westlake (6-0, 3-0) vs. Newbury Park (1-5, 0-3)

At Newbury Park 7:30 p.m.

Last year this matchup ended in a 14-14 tie after Westlake quarterback Todd Preston hit tight end Dave Monheim with an 89-yard pass, longest in school history, early in the fourth quarter. But those were two entirely different teams. Westlake was struggling to gain respect and eventually earned its first playoff berth since 1983. Newbury Park was en route to a 7-3-1 record. The Warriors have vaulted to the top of the Marmonte League standings and the No. 4 ranking in the Division II poll, thanks to an offense that averages 363 yards. And the Warriors’ defense, despite allowing 307 yards a game, recorded its first shutout in 21 games last week, a 35-0 win over Channel Islands. Senior quarterback Preston, who has thrown for 4,536 yards, needs 162 yards to move past Royal’s Ken Lutz and into the No. 2 slot among Ventura County’s all-time passing leaders. Santa Clara’s Tim Gutierrez is the all-time leader with 7,272. Preston has completed 87 of 135 (64%) for 1,355 yards and 12 touchdowns. Reuben Allen, who has rushed for 759 yards in 100 carries, complements the passing game. Newbury Park quarterback Zack Sutton, who was in danger of losing his job last week, responded by completing 13 of 25 for a season-high 246 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-13 loss to Agoura.

Canyon (5-1, 0-1) vs. Antelope Valley (1-5, 0-1)

At Antelope Valley 7:30 p.m.

Antelope Valley probably is not too eager to find out how Canyon will respond to its second league loss in the past nine years. The Cowboys were beaten by Quartz Hill, 12-6, in a Golden League opener last week. Canyon’s only other league loss in Coach Harry Welch’s nine years came in 1986, a 21-20 loss to Antelope Valley. The Cowboys bounced back from that loss with a 42-21 win over Palmdale. With starting tailback David McDivitt still sidelined because of a deep thigh bruise and backup Mark Santos relegated to one-way duty on defense, Welch again will go with Mike Torres, who ran for 41 yards in 10 carries against Quartz Hill. “It’s kind of hard for our offensive line to get fired up and say, ‘OK, we’re going to open some holes. . . . but for whom?’ ” Welch said. Quarterback Kevin Bialas threw three interceptions against Quartz Hill and passed for 118 yards in an off-night. Antelope Valley’s 14-7 loss to Palmdale in last week’s league opener surprised many observers. Fullback Chelsa Blanks leads the team with 452 yards. Coach Brent Newcomb’s offense has no secrets: Antelope Valley has thrown the ball just 32 times in six games.

Saugus (1-5, 0-1) vs. Quartz Hill (4-2, 1-0)

At Quartz Hill 7:30 p.m.

It should be a triumphant homecoming for Quartz Hill, which traveled to the Santa Clarita Valley and knocked off league giant Canyon in the Golden League game of the year last week. But Rebel Coach John Albee is wary: “That was just one hurdle,” he said. “We’ve got four more to go. If we stumble on one of them, then all is lost.” Quartz Hill’s running game is difficult to stop. A four-pronged attack of Erik Thomas (580 yards, eight touchdowns), David Nelson (495 yards, five touchdowns), Selves Smith and quarterback Jake Haro is impressive. The Centurions will use third-string quarterback Jason Bobby. First-stringer Jeff Hickman quit the team and backup Rich Gutierrez still is suffering from a badly bruised kidney. Saugus has gained just 264 yards on the ground, and Quartz Hill has allowed only 349 yards in six games.

City Section

Taft (3-1, 2-0) vs. San Fernando (3-2, 1-1)

At San Fernando 8 p.m.

San Fernando Coach Tom Hernandez sees a lot of similarities when he looks at Northwest Valley Conference opponent Taft. That can be unfortunate. “They have a team with a lot of talent,” Hernandez said. “But sometimes, they do a lot of dumb things, kind of like we do.” Whether San Fernando’s 14-13 defeat at the hands of El Camino Real qualifies as dumb is Hernandez’s call, but another loss could seriously hurt the Tigers’ shot at a league title. Even though starting quarterback Jesse Menchaca (six touchdown passes) is out indefinitely because of a broken left ankle, Taft has the weapons to make the game close. Backup quarterback Karlon Mack is perhaps more talented than Menchaca, but he is inexperienced. Tailback Darnell Hendricks has gained 289 yards, scored three rushing touchdowns and is a threat out of the backfield with three scoring receptions. San Fernando’s wishbone is sparked by Will Taylor (366 yards, six touchdowns), Leonice Brown (405 yards) and LaKarlos Townsend (300 yards). With Mack at quarterback, Taft might need to establish the run--but the Tigers have allowed an average of only 82.8 yards rushing a game. Defensive back Keith Woods leads the San Fernando defense with three interceptions. Even though the Tigers have passed for just 321 yards, the team ranks third among area City teams in average offense at 293.6 yards a game.

El Camino Real (3-1, 2-0) vs. Kennedy (4-1, 2-0)

At Kennedy 8 p.m.

El Camino Real pulled off the upset of the young Northwest Valley Conference season last week with its 14-13 road defeat of San Fernando. As usual, the Conquistadores were tough defensively, allowing just 156 rushing yards, 61 of which came on a single scoring run. However, Kennedy presents a different and more complex set of obstacles than does wishbone-oriented San Fernando. “This won’t be three guys playing in tight,” El Camino Real Coach Mike Maio said. “They try to spread you out, try to look for that one-on-one opportunity.” Kennedy can pass and run behind quarterback Mike McMullen (734 yards, six touchdowns) and tailback Ontiwaun Carter (512 yards, nine touchdowns). Carter, who did not play in last week’s 34-13 victory over Chatsworth because of a bladder infection, is expected to play. Receiver Keith West (22 receptions for 315 yards) leads area City receivers in both categories. El Camino Real’s conservative offense is paced by running back Ryan Marine (335 yards, five touchdowns). It could be a long night for El Camino Real if it falls behind; the team has passed for just 207 yards.

Granada Hills (4-1, 2-0) vs. Cleveland (0-3-1, 0-2)

At Cleveland 8 p.m.

Granada Hills, ranked No. 2 in the region by The Times, should have an easy time with Cleveland, the only winless team in the Northwest Valley Conference. But a lopsided game was expected last week and Granada Hills struggled to edge Reseda, 14-0. The Highlanders, who have recorded two consecutive shutouts, limited Reseda to 70 yards. Cleveland quarterback Dave Erhardt, who separated a shoulder in last week’s 28-13 loss to Taft, is not expected to play. Delvon McDaniel, normally the tailback, will start in Erhardt’s place. It will not be easy against the Highlander defense; Cleveland has no player among area City leaders in any statistical category. Granada Hills, on the other hand, has the area’s second-leading City rusher in fullback Brett Washington (627 yards, eight touchdowns) and second-leading passer in quarterback Bryan Martin (698 yards, seven touchdowns). Martin, a highly regarded senior, had a tough outing against Reseda, completing 11 of 39 for 86 yards. Defensive back John Moss (four interceptions) leads a Highlander defense that has allowed 310 passing yards in five games.