TOP CITY SECTION FOOTBALL GAMES

Harbor City Narbonne (5-5) at Los Angeles Jordan (6-4), 2 p.m. -- Sixth-seeded Jordan has De’ Shawn Beck, who has more than 3,000 all-purpose yards and is among the most dynamic players in Southern California. Eleventh-seeded Narbonne, City co-champion last year, has lost consecutive games to Carson and Wilmington Banning. But the Gauchos have plenty of postseason experience, with running back Melvin Davis and receiver Sean Parker playing large roles last year.

The pick: Jordan.

L.A. Dorsey (7-3) at San Pedro (7-3), 7 p.m. -- After winning seven of its first eight games, Dorsey lost consecutive games to Crenshaw and Locke and dropped to the No. 12 seeding. The Dons’ 24-20 defeat against Locke was particularly galling to Coach Paul Knox because “we weren’t focused and weren’t ready to play.” Fifth-seeded San Pedro, a co-champion last year, sprinkles in passes to complement a hard-nosed running game led by Cristian Farrow (1,200 yards). “They’re always physically and mentally tough,” Knox said of the Pirates. “The challenge for our guys is, can we stay focused for the whole game?” The pick: San Pedro.

L.A. Garfield (5-5) at Woodland Hills Taft (6-4), 7 p.m. -- All Taft Coach Matt Kerstetter needed to know about 13th-seeded Garfield is that the Bulldogs beat Birmingham and his fourth-seeded Toreadors didn’t. “They’ve got a heck of a team with a real solid running game and a pretty stingy defense,” Kerstetter said of Garfield, which is giving up only 12.3 points a game. Taft has USC-bound tailback D.J. Morgan and Lucky Radley, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in consecutive games. Garfield Coach Lorenzo Hernandez said his team typically plays to the level of competition. “One thing our kids do have is a lot of heart and pride,” Hernandez said. “Hopefully, that will get us somewhere.” The pick: Taft.

Lake Balboa Birmingham (3-7) at No. 1 L.A. Crenshaw (10-0), 7 p.m. -- Birmingham is one of the most dangerous 16th-seeded teams in the history of the City playoffs; the Patriots finished the regular season with victories over Chatsworth, Taft and Granada Hills. “Our kids are pretty positive because we have gone on a little run,” Coach Jim Rose said. Tailback Tashawn White rushed for nearly 600 combined yards in the three victories and quarterback Max Smith has thrown for 21 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Top-seeded Crenshaw has shut out three of its five City opponents and hung 76 points on Locke. “They don’t seem to have a weak link,” Rose said.

The pick: Crenshaw.

-- Ben Bolch