Hamlet Nalbandyan
GLENDALE -- o7 A preview of tonight's local first-round football
games of the CIF Southern Section playoffs.f7
Leuzinger (6-4) vs. Crescenta Valley (9-1) at Moyse Field, 7 p.m.:
Saying the Crescenta Valley High football team has a monkey on its back
would be a considerable understatement.
The Falcons have had success in the regular season, but the CIF
playoffs haven't been too kind to Alan Eberhart's squad.
Since Eberhart took over as head coach for CV in 1992, the Falcons
have not won a CIF playoff game.
CV, the tri-Pacific League champion, will get its chance to snap that
streak tonight in a CIF Southern Section Division III contest, but that's
easier said than done.
Leuzinger, the second-place team from the Bay League, might not have
as impressive record as CV, but that's deceiving.
Its four losses have come against teams with a combined record of
33-7, including just a 28-20 loss to perennial-power Los Alamitos.
The Olympians are led by running back Mafua Leilua, who thrives in the
double-wing offense. Quarterback David Guerin is a threat as well.
Saugus (5-5) at St. Francis (8-2), 7:30 p.m.: The Golden Knights
finished second in the Mission League, but that didn't hurt their seeding
in the Division III playoffs.
For the second straight year, St. Francis has a good chance of
advancing to the semifinals. Against Saugus, Jim Bonds' squad should have
little trouble.
In the second round, St. Francis would likely face Antelope Valley
(9-1), but considering how highly regarded the Golden Knights are, they
have a good chance in that one as well.
Saugus is the third-place representative from the Foothill League and
is led by its defense, which allowed just 231 yards per game.
But St. Francis' Matt Milton, John Sciarra and Brett Mitchell will
have something to say about that. The Golden Knight offense has scored
345 points this year and gained 3,622 total yards.
Saugus is led by quarterback Chris Ahlheim, whose thrown for nine
touchdowns and 1,405 yards, and running back Brandon McCullough, whose
scored 10 touchdowns and ran for 619 yards.
Rialto (6-4) vs. Loyola (9-1) at Pierce College, 7:30 p.m.: The Cubs,
the No. 2 seed in Division I, should have little trouble in this one.
Rialto is an at-large team and is making its first playoff appearance in
school history, since opening in the early 1990's.
Rialto is coached by Don Markham, who led Bloomington High in the mid
1990's to success. The top player for Rialto is running back Rob
Williams.
