SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL FINALS : Quartz Hill Seeks to Establish Its Identity Against Loyola

A question asked this week concerning tonight’s Southern Section Division I football championship game between Loyola and Quartz Hill high schools: “Where is Quartz Hill?”

Prep football fans are familiar with tradition-rich Loyola, but one news release called its opponent Coltz Hill.

For the record, Quartz Hill is located in the Antelope Valley, about 70 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. The best-known player to come out of the school is former USC running back Aaron Emanuel.

The Rebels compete in the Golden League and enter tonight’s 7:30 game at Anaheim Stadium with an 11-2 record.

Quartz Hill, making its first championship appearance, has outscored its opponents, 110-40, in the playoffs, including last week’s 37-7 dismantling of Santa Ana Mater Dei.

Loyola is 131-38-4 in the last 15 years under Coach Steve Grady, but the Cubs are playing in the title game for the first time since 1975. After opening the playoffs with an easy 42-14 victory over Long Beach Jordan, Loyola relied on defense in beating Fontana, 10-7, and Canyon Country Canyon, 10-3.

Loyola is led on defense by senior linebacker Drew Casani, the defensive player of the year in the Angelus League.

Casani will have his hands full trying to stop a potent Quartz Hill running game spearheaded by junior Erik Thomas, who has gained 1,394 yards and scored 17 touchdowns, and senior David Nelson, with 917 yards and 12 touchdowns.

A look at the rest of the Southern Section championship games:

Division II

PARAMOUNT (13-0) vs.

CAPISTRANO VALLEY (11-2)

At Santa Ana Stadium

Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

This may be the best matchup of the weekend. Paramount, which has the section’s longest winning streak at 21 games, is going for its third consecutive championship. The Pirates lost most of their top players from last season to graduation, but Coach Ken Sutch overcame that. Running back Leon Neal has been the key offensive player in playoff victories over Rio Mesa, Pasadena Muir and El Toro.

Capistrano Valley finished third in the South Coast League this season behind Mission Viejo and El Toro, but rebounded in the playoffs and defeated Mission Viejo, 26-24, in the semifinals. The Cougars’ leaders are quarterback Tony Solliday and receiver Dave Poltl.

Division III

SANTA FE SPRINGS ST. PAUL (8-3-2)

vs. ANAHEIM ESPERANZA (13-0)

At Cerritos College

Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

St. Paul’s drop from Division I to Division III this year helped the Swordsmen. After struggling in nonconference losses to Loyola, Fontana and Serra, St. Paul turned things around, won the Mission League and hasn’t lost in seven weeks. The offensive leaders are quarterback Albert Borunda, who has passed for 1,200 yards, and running back Carlos Ramos, who has rushed for 850 yards.

Esperanza, making its first appearance in the finals in six years, is the division’s top-seeded team. The Aztecs are coming off a 38-35 victory over Hart in which Reid Pullen scored on a seven-yard pass from Keith McDonald with three seconds remaining.

Division IV

BALDWIN PARK (10-2-1) vs.

RIVERSIDE ARLINGTON (10-3)

At Riverside Ramona HS

Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Neither team was expected to make it to the finals after failing to win league titles. Baldwin Park finished second in the Sierra League, and Arlington was third in the Ivy League.

In Arlington’s ride to the championship, the Lions had to defeat second-seeded Nogales in the quarterfinals and third-seeded Glendora in the semifinals. Baldwin Park’s key was a 21-7 upset of top-seeded Canyon Springs in the quarterfinals. Baldwin Park beat previously undefeated Santa Margarita, 13-7, last week.

Division V

NORCO (12-1) vs.

ETIWANDA (12-0)

At Citrus College

Tonight at 7:30

Etiwanda has a distinct advantage tonight because it didn’t have to play last week. The school’s scheduled semifinal game against El Centro Central was canceled because it had used an academically ineligible player during the playoffs. Etiwanda received an automatic bye and was charged with a home game. Norco beat Palm Desert, 36-28.

Both schools are playing in the finals for the first time. Top-seeded Etiwanda is led by running back William Taukieaho, the Hacienda League player of the year. Norco linebacker Shay Muirbrook is equally as talented on defense.

Division VI

TUSTIN (13-0) vs.

FULLERTON SUNNY HILLS (10-3)

At Orange Coast College

Tonight at 7:30

Tustin hasn’t played in a football championship game since 1948, when it defeated Vista, 20-13. This season has been one to remember, however. The Tillers went undefeated and are seeded No. 1 in the division. Tustin is coached by Marijon Ancich, the winningest active coach in the section.

Sunny Hills lost three of its first five games before turning things around in midseason to win the Freeway League. It beat Savanna, Newport Harbor and Valencia in the playoffs.

Division VII

LOMPOC (12-1) vs.

ARROYO GRANDE (11-1)

At Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Tonight at 7:30

The biggest worry tonight is whether the stadium at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is big enough to handle the expected crowd of 10,000. The game is a battle between Northern League rivals. Lompoc defeated Arroyo Grande, 35-24, in the regular-season finale on Nov. 9 to win the league title.

Arroyo Grande has been impressive in the playoffs, stunning top-seeded Serra, 31-0, last week to end the Cavaliers’ 24-game winning streak. Lompoc, led by All-American running back Napolean Kaufman, is returning to the finals after losing to Serra in last year’s championship game

Division VIII

PALOS VERDES (8-5) at

TEMECULA VALLEY (10-3)

Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

After starting the season 3-0, Palos Verdes lost five of its next six games, including a four-game losing streak in which the team was shut out twice. The Sea Kings finished third in the Ocean League but have been impressive in the playoffs with victories over Santa Paula, Bloomington and top-seeded Cabrillo. Palos Verdes hasn’t won a football title since 1965.

Temecula Valley, which beat Palos Verdes’ rivals Rolling Hills, West Torrance and Morningside in the playoffs, is led by multipurpose running back Ronnie Long, who has scored 20 touchdowns, rushed for 907 yards and caught 32 passes. The Bears are in the finals for the first time since the school opened six years ago.

Division IX

WHITTIER CHRISTIAN (12-0) vs

TEHACHAPI (12-1)

At Bakersfield College

Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

These are two of the most dominant schools in lower-division football. Tehachapi is making its fourth consecutive trip to the finals and seventh since 1980. Whittier Christian won sectional championships in 1979, ’83 and ’84. The game was originally scheduled at Tehachapi High but was moved to Bakersfield when Whittier Christian administrators convinced the Southern Section that it would need a bigger stadium for all of its fans.

Both teams are hungry for a title, because Tehachapi lost to Carpinteria in last year’s championship game and Whittier Christian was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Bishop.

Division X

MALIBU CAMP KILPATRICK (9-3-1)

vs. VAN NUYS MONTCLAIR PREP (9-3)

At Valley College

Tonight at 7:30

Two teams that each have won eight consecutive games meet for the first time in the first Division X title game. Both teams won easily in the semifinals, Montclair Prep defeating Village Christian, 34-0, and Camp Kilpatrick beating Mammoth, 52-20.

Montclair Prep is led by Eliel Swinton, who has gained 1,716 yards. Camp Kilpatrick’s threat is Michael Black, who has rushed for 1,969 yards and 25 touchdowns.