Canoga Park Goes on Playoff Hunt : Powerful Sylmar Presents Last Obstacle to Clear for Automatic Berth

CANOGA PARK —  It is among the most interesting football playoff scenarios in the region:

If Canoga Park High defeats Sylmar tonight in the final regular-season game, the Hunters win the Valley Pac-8 Conference title and earn an automatic berth to City Section 4-A Division playoffs.

So why is that interesting?

For starters, upstart Canoga Park (6-3, 5-1 in conference) has had only one winning season (1992) in the past eight years and has qualified for the playoffs only four times in the past 10 years.

Yet, Canoga Park--one of the region’s smaller City schools with an enrollment of about 1,750--would be forced to compete in the playoffs with the big boys, the teams with tradition and size to match.

Make no mistake, Canoga Park is a legitimate contender--for the 3-A title. But are the Hunters,who won only seven games in the previous three seasons, ready for the big time?

That’s a question even Canoga Park Coach Rudy Lugo isn’t ready to answer.

“Is this a 4-A team?” Lugo pondered aloud, while he eyed his squad at practice. “I’ll probably be able to tell you that [tonight].”

To be sure, the speedy Hunters have the talent to upset Sylmar (7-2, 6-0), a perennial powerhouse and winner of 52 consecutive conference games. And no one knows that better than Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman.

“Canoga Park plays a full 48 minutes,” Engilman said. “And they have four or five excellent players.”

“I think we’re smaller than other 4-A teams, but we have the speed to hang with anybody.”

During the summer, the Hunters were undefeated in passing-league games, including two victories over Taft (9-0), which probably will be one of the top-seeded teams in the 4-A playoffs.

But the Hunters were slow out of the gate this season, losing three of their first four games. before winning their next five.

“I think our kids have to make up their mind that nothing else matters except beating Sylmar for that moment,” Lugo said. “And whatever comes after that, that’s destiny.”

The rest of the conference shapes up like this: While Sylmar, Canoga Park and Van Nuys (5-4, 4-2) have clinched playoff berths, North Hollywood (4-5, 3-3) gets the fourth playoff spot even if it loses to Reseda tonight because the Huskies defeated Monroe and Grant, the two teams that could finish tied with North Hollywood.

Last year, five teams from this conference made the playoffs . If the same holds true this year, Monroe (5-4, 2-4) could clinch the fifth spot with a victory over Poly (1-8, 1-5).

Playoff pictures for other leagues and conferences involving area teams look like this:

NORTHWEST VALLEY CONFERENCE

Barring a major upset, Taft (9-0, 6-0), Kennedy (6-3, 5-1) and El Camino Real (6-3, 4-2) should receive 4-A berths. The Toreadors are one of three undefeated City teams and will likely be seeded No. 2, behind San Pedro. With a victory, Kennedy might have a chance at a top-eight seeding--and a first-round home game. As a third-place team, El Camino Real will probably play a conference champion.

Even with a loss to Taft tonight, Chatsworth (4-5, 3-3) should receive a 3-A spot along with Birmingham (4-5, 2-4), which should defeat Cleveland (3-6, 1-5). San Fernando (3-6, 2-4) has an outside shot at the 3-A playoffs because of a nonconference win over Jefferson (7-2), the first-place team in the Southeastern Conference.

Cleveland and Granada Hills have slim chances to make the 3-A field. Both need victories tonight.

NORTHERN CONFERENCE

Franklin (8-1, 6-0) has clinched the conference title and a 4-A berth. Verdugo Hills (5-4, 4-2) has probably secured a 3-A berth, but a victory over Wilson today moves the Dons into second place and a higher seeding. Wilson (6-3, 5-1) and Eagle Rock (6-3, 4-2) are also locks for the 3-A playoffs.

ALPHA LEAGUE

L.A. Baptist (6-3, 3-0) is the only team that has clinched a playoff berth. Only a loss to Maranatha (4-5, 1-2) would keep Village Christian (7-2, 2-1) out. Kilpatrick (2-6, 2-1) can clinch a berth with a win over L.A. Baptist or by winning a three-way coin flip (if necessary).

Maranatha needs an upset over Village Christian and help (either a Kilpatrick victory or a coin flip) to qualify.

CHANNEL LEAGUE

Ventura (8-1, 6-0) and Dos Pueblos (8-1, 5-1) have clinched the top two spots, their order of finish to be determined by their matchup tonight at Dos Pueblos. Rio Mesa (7-2, 4-2) has clinched third place.

If Dos Pueblos beats Ventura, they’re co-champions, with Dos Pueblos claiming the No. 1 berth because it defeated Ventura. Rio Mesa can tie Dos Pueblos for second place, but Dos Pueblos defeated Rio Mesa, so they will finish second and third for playoff purposes. Even if Rio Mesa loses Friday to San Marcos and finishes tied with Buena for third, Rio Mesa goes to the playoffs because it beat Buena. Buena is still in contention for the league’s at-large berth, provided they win and improve to 5-5.

Oxnard (1-8, 1-5) last week was forced to forfeit eight games for using an ineligible player and is out of the picture.

FOOTHILL LEAGUE

Hart (7-2, 4-0), Burroughs (7-2, 3-1) and Saugus (5-4, 3-1) have qualified for the playoffs. Hart can clinch its sixth consecutive league title with a victory over Saugus. If Saugus wins, Hart, Burroughs and Saugus are tri-champions.

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Four teams from this league will qualify for the Division X playoffs because the draw is 16 teams from four leagues.

The playoff teams and order is as follows: Nordhoff (8-0-1, 3-0), Calabasas (6-3, 2-1), Santa Paula (5-4, 2-2) and Moorpark (4-5, 1-2).

GOLDEN LEAGUE

Highland (7-3, 3-1) has wrapped up a share of the league title and an automatic playoff berth. The championship will be shared three ways if Palmdale (7-2, 2-1) and Antelope Valley (6-2, 2-1) win.

A loss by either team results in a third-place tie with Littlerock (6-3, 1-2). Antelope Valley is assured a playoff spot because it defeated Palmdale and Littlerock.

If Littlerock beats Palmdale, Littlerock takes the league’s third playoff spot over Palmdale by virtue the head-to-head tiebreaker rule. Palmdale then would become the leading candidate for the division’s only at-large berth.

HIGH-DESERT LEAGUE

Paraclete (6-3, 4-0) has clinched a playoff berth and only winless Desert (0-8, 0-4) stands between the Spirits and a league title.

Bishop (7-2, 3-1) is also in, and the winner between Rosamond (5-4, 2-2) and Kern Valley (4-5, 2-2) tonight earns the final berth.

MARMONTE LEAGUE

Camarillo (7-2, 6-0) can win the championship outright by defeating last-place Channel Islands (2-7, 0-6) tonight. Thousand Oaks (7-1-1, 5-1) can finish second with a victory over Newbury Park (7-2, 4-2). A Newbury Park victory combined with a victory by Westlake (7-2, 4-2) over Agoura (5-4, 3-3) creates a three-way tie for second place between Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake. A Thousand Oaks victory combined with an Agoura victory creates a three-way tie for third place between Newbury Park, Westlake and Agoura. Ties will be broken by coin flip.

MISSION LEAGUE

Notre Dame (8-1, 4-0), St. Francis (7-2, 3-1) and Harvard-Westlake (6-3, 3-1) are in the playoffs, but their order will be determined by this week’s games. St. Francis plays at Chaminade tonight and Notre Dame plays at Harvard-Westlake on Saturday.

Scenario one: Notre Dame, with a victory over Harvard, wins its fourth consecutive league title. Harvard then finishes third, regardless of what happens in the St. Francis-Chaminade game because St. Francis defeated Harvard.

Scenario two: If Harvard defeats Notre Dame, the teams finish as co-champions at 4-1 with Harvard having the edge because it defeated Notre Dame. However, the playoff order then depends on the outcome of the St. Francis-Chaminade game.

If St. Francis loses to Chaminade, it finishes third at 3-2 behind Harvard (4-1, seeded No. 1 ) and Notre Dame (4-1, seeded No. 2 ). If St. Francis wins and Harvard defeats Notre Dame, the three teams are 4-1 and it’s a three-way tie for first. They will flip coins to determine their seeding for the playoffs.

PACIFIC LEAGUE

Muir (7-2, 4-0) can clinch its fifth consecutive league title with a victory over cross-town rival Pasadena (6-3, 3-1) at the Rose Bowl on Saturday and Crescenta Valley (5-4, 3-1) can clinch its first playoff berth in three years with a win at Arcadia (4-5, 2-2) on Friday.

A Pasadena upset combined with a Crescenta Valley victory leaves a three-way tie for first place. .

RIO HONDO LEAGUE

Monrovia (6-2-1, 3-0-1), Temple City (8-1, 3-1) and Blair (2-6-1, 2-1-1) have clinched playoff spots. Monrovia can clinch the league title with a victory at South Pasadena (3-6, 1-3) tonight and Blair plays at Temple City in a game that will probably determine the league’s No. 2 team in the playoffs.

La Canada (3-6, 1-3) visits San Marino (2-6, 1-3) tonight but has no chance at the playoffs.

TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE

Four teams from this league will qualify for the Division X playoffs because the draw is 16 teams from four leagues.

St. Bonaventure (7-1-1, 2-0-1), Carpinteria (3-5-1, 2-0-1), Bishop Diego (7-1-1, 2-1) and Fillmore (3-6, 1-3) are in. Fillmore and Oak Park (1-8, 0-3) could each finish 1-3 in league but Fillmore goes on the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The league title goes like this: If St. Bonaventure beats Oak Park and Carpinteria loses to Bishop Diego, then St. Bonaventure wins the title outright, followed by Bishop Diego, Carpinteria and Fillmore.

If St. Bonaventure and Carpinteria win and finish tied at 3-0-1, St. Bonaventure qualifies as the league’s No. 1 team because the league has a “Rose Bowl Rule,” favoring the team that hasn’t been No. 1 for the longest time.

Staff writers Dana Haddad, Steve Henson, Vince Kowalick, Michael Lazarus, John Ortega, Tris Wykes and Peter Yoon contributed to this story.