SOUTHERN SECTION SEMIFINALS

DIVISION III

* ST. FRANCIS (10-2) vs. HART (10-2)

At College of the Canyons, 7 p.m.

Pick your subplot. These teams have met in the playoffs the last two seasons, with Hart winning both games on the way to division titles. Coach Jim Bonds of St. Francis was an All-Southern Section quarterback at Hart. Quarterback Kyle Matter of Hart has committed to Stanford and quarterback John Sciarra has signed with UCLA, meaning this could be the second of six meetings between the future Pac-10 rivals. Running back Matt Milton of St. Francis has rushed for nine consecutive 100-yard games but faces a defensive line of Evan Allen, Peter Dubsky, Chris Frome and Jose Flores considered the region’s best. In quarterfinals, St. Francis rallied from a 26-15 deficit to upset third-seeded Antelope Valley, 47-26, and Hart outlasted Crescenta Valley, 28-23. Matter has thrown for 3,209 yards and 31 touchdowns. Sciarra has passed for 2,483 yards and 21 touchdowns.

* NOTRE DAME (11-0-1) vs. MIRA COSTA (11-1)

At Mira Costa, 7:30 p.m.

Taking advantage of other teams’ mistakes has been crucial for top-seeded Notre Dame, but the Mustangs offer a severe challenge because of their huge offensive line. With 330-pound Sean Finnerty, 245-pound Chris Voltattorni and 295-pound Erik Curtis, Mira Costa is used to pounding defenses and creating holes for sophomore tailback Michael Okwo, who has rushed for more than 1,400 yards. Notre Dame’s defense hasn’t given up more than two touchdowns in any game this season. Linemen Tim Volk and Alex Puccinelli will need to hold their own against Mira Costa’s powerful line. Notre Dame’s offense seems to be good every other week. Last week, the Knights passed for only 58 yards in a victory over Peninsula. Maybe this week, quarterback Phil Beckmann will be able to connect on a consistent basis with receivers Michael Luderer and Jim Sharp.

DIVISION IV

* ARROYO GRANDE (7-4) vs. AGOURA (8-4)

At Agoura High, 7:30 p.m.

Agoura finished fourth in the Marmonte League but upset No. 3-seeded San Luis Obispo, the Northern League champion, in the first round, 44-34. Arroyo Grande finished in a three-way tie for second in the Northern League but distinguished itself with a 31-27 upset of No. 2-seeded Buena last week. Chris Denove has been near-flawless for Agoura, throwing six touchdown passes without an interception in the playoffs. Brad Altman has 1,467 yards rushing, more than 300 yards greater than any other Marmonte League running back. Against Buena, running back Russell Spafford had three touchdowns and Arroyo Grande amassed 247 yards rushing against a usually stingy defense. The winner plays Lompoc or Ventura next week.

DIVISION XII

* KERN VALLEY (9-3) vs. PARACLETE (11-1)

At Antelope Valley College, 7:30 p.m.

Teams that steamrollered their opposition in the first two rounds of the playoffs meet in this battle of wing-T offenses. Kern Valley is the No. 3 seeded team from the High Desert League, but the Broncs beat St. Genevieve, 53-7, in the first round, and High Desert champion Desert, 49-6, in the quarterfinals. Fullback Cody Eastes, a 5-9, 165-pound senior, has rushed for 2,074 yards and 30 touchdowns for Kern Valley. Paraclete, the No. 2-seeded team in the division, defeated Mojave, 48-14, in the first round, and Big Bear, 42-6, in the quarterfinals. The Spirits, who have won three consecutive section titles, are paced by juniors Curtis Brown and Erick Jackson, and senior Michael Washington. Brown, who rushed for 2,632 yards and 29 touchdowns as the featured back in Paraclete’s multiple-set offense last season, has gained 1,593 yards and scored 20 touchdowns this season in an offense that distributes the ball more equitably. Jackson has rushed for 994 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. Washington has rushed for 852 yards and four touchdowns, caught 20 passes for 443 yards and four touchdowns, and intercepted nine passes, returning two for touchdowns. “I think we’re better up front than they are,” Coach John O’Leary of Kern Valley said. “But their backs are so athletic they can break off a long run at any time. . . . We’re going to have to dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and all other phases of the game to beat them.” The winner plays Bosco Tech or Montclair Prep on Dec. 9.