PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CAPSULES : DIVISION X

Defending champion: Van Nuys Montclair Prep defeated Orange Lutheran, 53-13.

Seeded teams: 1. Cerritos Valley Christian (9-1); 2. Lake Isabella Kern Valley (10-0); 3. Pasadena La Salle (9-1); 4. Rosamond (7-3).

Dark horse: Big Bear (8-2). Big Bear was stunned by Phelan Serrano in the De Anza League final last week. Otherwise it has had a fine season. If it beats Sun Valley Village Christian, it will most likely face La Salle. Not an easy road, but not impossible, either.

Notes: Valley Christian has its best team since 1986, when it last won a division title. But don’t be surprised if Orange Lutheran, which dropped the Olympic League title, 36-31, to the Crusaders last week, finds its way back into the championship game for a rematch . . . Kern Valley (10-0) and Rosamond (7-3) finished one-two in the High Desert League, prompting Valley Christian Coach Mike Wunderley to say, “I just never know about those desert schools. They just sit out there and beat up on each other.” . . . La Salle’s Ryan Garcia has gained 1,500 rushing in the team’s single-wing offense. He has passed for 430 yards, and has caught six passes for 290 yards, an astonishing 48 yards per reception. In all, he has accounted for 27 touchdowns . . . Big Bear quarterback Rob Benson has thrown for 1,485 yards and 21 touchdowns. His favorite target is Jesse Winler, who has 28 receptions for 586 yards and 13 touchdowns.