HIGH SCHOOL

* SAN FERNANDO (3-1) vs. TAFT (3-1)

At Taft High, 7 p.m.

Taft Coach Troy Starr won’t be on the sideline tonight because of a one-game suspension for holding an illegal practice on Labor Day. He has been trying to convince his players that how well they practice during the week will determine how well they play against the Tigers. Assistant Jason Blatt will run the team. Quarterback Rick Clausen used the loss to Kennedy as a learning experience in dealing with defenses. The senior left-hander has passed for 1,092 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 66% of his passes. Running back Lee Marks has been effective despite a broken hand, but his cast has been removed. San Fernando looked battered last week when it played without seven starters in a 43-12 loss to Birmingham. Many of those injured or ill players are expected to return tonight. Quarterback Ruben Nevarez is difficult to stop when he has blocking and the Tigers can run to set up the pass.

* GRANADA HILLS (4-0) vs. KENNEDY (3-0-1)

At Kennedy High, 7 p.m.

The unstoppable force, Kennedy’s offense, meets an immovable object, Granada Hills’ defense in this cross-town rivalry. Kennedy averages 410 yards a game behind a balanced attack that includes the passing of Adam Geery (55 of 87, 924 yards, 10 touchdowns) and running of Jerome Williams (468 yards, 8.1 average, nine touchdowns). Receivers James Norris (23 catches, 370 yards) and Efren Lopez (20, 362) are also dangerous. Granada Hills has allowed only 20 points all season and an average of 184 yards per game. The Highlanders have intercepted 10 passes, including three by Aaron Perez. But the offense is potent too. Bobby Baca has passed for 822 yards and 10 touchdowns. Joey Rodriguez has caught seven touchdown passes and averages 29.6 yards per catch. Robert Ortega (365 yards, 8.9 average) and Bryan Wilson (267, 8.1) provide a two-pronged rushing attack. Granada Hills defeated Kennedy, 14-6, last season and, 16-13, in 1998.

* SYLMAR (4-0) vs. CHATSWORTH (1-3)

At Chatsworth High, 7 p.m.

Chatsworth completes a difficult nonleague schedule with Sylmar, which has outscored opponents, 159-41. Jason Moss is improving in his first season stepping in at quarterback for Matt Cassel, completing 51 of 89 for 637 yards and five touchdowns. Sam Riley has caught four touchdown passes, intercepted two passes and returned two kicks for touchdowns. John Valdez (51 of 82 for 634 yards, eight touchdowns) gives Sylmar a seasoned quarterback. Valdez, Isidro Medina and James Pringle all have rushed for more than 100 yards. Donnell Livingston has rushed for 79 yards and caught seven passes for 155 yards in two games for the Spartans. Josh Martin is perhaps the region’s top linebacker.

* CAMARILLO (2-2) vs. PALMDALE (2-1-1)

At Palmdale High, 7 p.m.

This nonleague matchup figures to be a shootout. Both teams have game-breaking backs and defenses that have allowed bushels of yardage and points. Bruising Loren Cerny of Camarillo has rushed for 538 yards and eight touchdowns. Terry Furlow of Palmdale has passed for 811 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 199 yards and four touchdowns. The determining factor might be which team’s defense steps up. Camarillo has allowed 393 yards and almost 30 points a game. Palmdale has allowed 468 yards and 32 points a game. Palmdale, 2-8 last season, is trying to complete an impressive nonleague schedule, which features five league champions. The Falcons’ loss came last week against Hart, ranked No. 2 in the region.

* BUENA (3-1) vs. PASO ROBLES (3-1)

At Paso Robles High, 7:30 p.m.

Buena better not overlook its final nonleague game before its Channel League showdown with Ventura next week. Paso Robles was ranked No. 1 in Division X until a 20-12 loss last week to San Luis Obispo, last year’s runner-up in Division IV. After getting stymied in a season-opening 34-21 loss to Westlake, Freddy Keiaho of Buena has found his stride and rushed for 625 yards and eight touchdowns in 86 carries. Andrew Paulson has thrown with deadly accuracy, completing 38 of 50 passes (76%) for 399 yards and five touchdowns with one interception. Paso Robles parlayed its traditionally tough defense into a 20-13 victory over Newbury Park three weeks ago. For common-game theorists, Buena defeated Newbury Park, 28-9, two weeks ago.

* NORDHOFF (3-1) vs. OAK PARK (3-1)

At Oak Park High, 7:30 p.m.

Oak Park will be at full strength for the first time this season after serving player and coach suspensions through the first four games for a mid-summer alcohol-drinking incident. Oak Park, victimized by four interceptions, suffered a 12-3 loss to Santa Paula last week. The Eagles won’t find the competition any easier against Nordhoff, ranked No. 5 in Division XI. Running back Nick Kaiser, a 6-2, 202-pound junior, has rushed for 413 yards and five touchdowns in the last two Ranger victories. Trevor Weedon has passed for 436 yards and five touchdowns, and rushed for 235 and two touchdowns. Oak Park, ranked No. 9 in Division XI, has had trouble offensively, averaging only 83 yards rushing a game despite the experience and talent of Eric Testan, who is averaging only 3.4 yards a carry. Josh Walker has passed for 526 yards in two games but had four passes intercepted last week. His favorite target is Monte McNair, who has 14 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns.

* DAMIEN (1-3) vs. NOTRE DAME (4-0)

At Notre Dame High, 7:30 p.m.

Damien, an all-boys’ school in La Verne with an enrollment of 1,100, offers a severe challenge to the Knights despite its losing record. Damien played well in losses to Servite and Bishop Amat. Kevin Clark rushed for 143 yards in the Servite loss. Notre Dame’s offense has been inconsistent. The Knights fumbled twice on the one-yard line last week against Alemany and lost the ball on an interception in the end zone. Quarterback Phil Beckmann and receiver Michael Luderer must hook up tonight. Notre Dame’s defense has been outstanding. The Knights are allowing only 137.3 yards per game, tops in the region. Defensive tackle Tim Volk is having an all-star season.

* OTHER GAMES

City Section, nonleague: 7 p.m.--North Hollywood at Roosevelt; Franklin at Poly; Van Nuys at Canoga Park; 7:30 p.m.--Grant at Reseda; Birmingham at Verdugo Hills.

Southern Section, Marmonte League: 7 p.m.--Newbury Park at Agoura; Thousand Oaks at Moorpark; Westlake at Simi Valley; Nonleague: 7 p.m.--Alemany at Canyon; Bishop Diego vs. Santa Clara at Camarillo High; Glendale vs. Burbank at Burroughs High; Burroughs vs. Crescenta Valley at Glendale High; Santa Paula at Channel Islands; Lynwood at Littlerock; Montclair Prep vs. St. Anthony at Clark Field in Long Beach; Royal at Rio Mesa; Ventura at Oxnard; 7:30 p.m.--Antelope Valley at Serrano; Bell-Jeff vs. Salesian at St. Matthias High; Temple City at Chaminade; Fillmore at Mojave; Hoover at La Canada; Muir at Hueneme; Lancaster at Barstow; Malibu vs. L.A. Baptist at Alemany High; Valencia at Quartz Hill; High Desert League: 7:30 p.m.--Bishop at Frazier Mountain.

Intersectional: 3 p.m.--Crespi at Crenshaw; 7 p.m.--Calabasas at El Camino Real; Highland at Cleveland; 7:30 p.m.--Monroe vs. Saugus at College of the Canyons.

Eight-man, Heritage League: 3 p.m.--Pilgrim at First Lutheran; Agape League: 7 p.m.--Antelope Valley Christian at Hesperia Christian; Nonleague: Lancaster Bethel Christian at Victor Valley Christian.