GAME DAY: A Look at Today’s Key Matchups

SOUTHERN SECTION

AGOURA (5-1, 3-0) vs. NEWBURY PARK (6-0, 3-0)

At Newbury Park High, 7 p.m.

Newbury Park is ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times and has won four of the past five Marmonte League titles. Agoura, ranked ninth, probably will be without Ryan McCann, a three-year starter. McCann, who has passed for 717 yards and six touchdowns, separated a shoulder two weeks ago and is not fully recovered. Agoura runs the ball effectively behind a line anchored by Derek Graf and Mike Beam. Chris Poling has rushed for 893 yards and 14 touchdowns in 121 carries and is coming off a 222-yard performance. Newbury Park’s Ryan Shipton has scored eight touchdowns and averages 8.4 yards per carry and 18.1 yards per reception. Jake Farrel, who has caught 25 passes, leads a solid group of targets for Nick Czernek, who has passed for 1,591 yards and 13 touchdowns.

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HUENEME (3-3, 1-2) vs. OXNARD (5-1, 3-0)

At Oxnard High, 7:30 p.m.

Banged-up Oxnard could be in for a rough time. Hueneme has one of the top defenses in the Channel League, allowing 204.5 yards per game, and has the second-most potent offense at 337 yards per game, behind Oxnard’s 370.8. Desmond Davis, who has rushed for 856 yards and 11 touchdowns for Oxnard, is less than full strength because of a strained ligament in his right knee. Eric Swanger, Oxnard’s best receiver and defensive back, is out with a separated shoulder. Hueneme has a strong one-two running punch with Donald Thompson, who has 604 yards, and Bobby Lee (524). Thompson has rushed for six touchdowns and also scored on kickoff and interception returns. Quarterback Jeff Garcia has quick-strike capability, averaging 16 yards per completion.

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PALMDALE (4-2, 1-0) vs. QUARTZ HILL (3-3, 0-1)

At Quartz Hill High, 7:30 p.m.

Palmdale’s 47-13 victory last season was its first over the Rebels in the 1990s. Shaun Perez gained 197 yards in a 41-16 rout of Lancaster last week and has surpassed touted senior Jason Anderson as the Falcons’ top running threat. They have combined to gain almost 800 yards. Quartz Hill’s Hiram Johnson rushed for 143 yards in a 29-6 loss to Antelope Valley last week and became the fourth Rebel to surpass the 200-yard mark for the season.

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HART (5-1, 1-0) vs. VALENCIA (5-1, 1-0)

At College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m.

Hart, six-time defending Foothill League champion, looked impressive in its 38-28 league-opening victory over Canyon last week. David Neill completed 15 of 23 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns, by far his best game of the season. Receiver Jerry Owens has touchdown catches of 79, 79, 51, 43 and 34 yards in the past two games. Valencia, whose 2,315 yards of offense is almost identical to high-powered Hart’s 2,349, gets it done on the ground. Sophomore Manuel White has three 200-yard games. Quarterback Brian Hamilton, who threw four touchdown passes last week against Burbank, is also a running threat. Hart won, 37-7, last season.

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SERRA (3-3, 1-0) vs. ST. FRANCIS (4-2, 1-0)

At St. Francis High, 7:30 p.m.

The Golden Knights can take another step toward the Mission League title with a victory over the Cavaliers. After losing to Claremont and Bellflower, St. Francis finally got a strong performance from its offensive line last week in an upset of four-time league champion Notre Dame. Darius Brown has rushed for 795 yards and seven touchdowns, but continues to feel the effects of a sprained ankle. His backup, Murice Law, had seen little action before last week but rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns against Notre Dame. Serra, which has finished no higher than third in the six-team league the past three seasons, was fifth last year. But the Cavaliers opened some eyes in a 22-8 loss to powerful Loyola on Oct. 3.

CITY SECTION

BIRMINGHAM (5-1, 2-1) vs. EL CAMINO REAL (5-1, 2-1)

At Canoga Park High, 7 p.m.

This game was supposed to produce the main challenger to Taft for the Northwest Valley Conference title. Then Birmingham was upset by Chatsworth last week. Both teams must win to stay in the hunt. Birmingham relies on Emmanuel Evans, who has rushed for 1,133 yards and 15 touchdowns, and Scott Doherty, who has passed for 836 yards and 13 touchdowns. Evans missed several days of practice this week because of illness. El Camino Real counters with Quincy Wright, who has rushed for 582 yards and nine touchdowns, and Aaron Fredette, who has passed for 769 yards and nine touchdowns. Wright missed last week’s game against Kennedy because of a bruised knee. He is expected to play tonight.

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TAFT (5-0, 3-0) vs. KENNEDY (4-2, 2-1)

At Kennedy High, 7 p.m.

The Toreadors, especially quarterback Steve Alvarado, have shown slow, steady improvement on offense but it’s clear defense, especially at linebacker, is the strength for Taft. David Melo caused a key fumble and undersized Dionte Hall had another solid game in Taft’s 20-6 victory over San Fernando last week. Ray Rodriguez of Kennedy has passed for 859 yards and six touchdowns. Junior Jason Jones has filled in well at tailback for Paul Jones, who left the team three weeks ago. Taft has won three Northwest Valley Conference titles and Kennedy one since 1993.

Other games:

City Section

Northern Conference: At 3 p.m., Verdugo Hills at Hollywood. Northwest Valley Conference: At 3 p.m., Chatsworth at Cleveland. At 7 p.m., San Fernando at Granada Hills. Valley Pac-8 Conference: At 3 p.m., Sylmar at Grant. At 7:30 p.m., Canoga Park at Van Nuys, Reseda at Monroe, North Hollywood at Poly.

Southern Section

Channel League: At 7:30 p.m., Buena at Ventura, Dos Pueblos at Rio Mesa. Del Rey League: At 7:30 p.m., St. Paul at Alemany, Crespi at St. John Bosco. Foothill League: At 7 p.m., Burroughs at Canyon. At 7:30 p.m., Saugus vs. Burbank at Burroughs High. Frontier League: At 7:30 p.m., Calabasas at Santa Paula, Santa Clara at Moorpark. High Desert League: At 7:30 p.m., Rosamond vs. Paraclete at Antelope Valley College. Marmonte League: At 7 p.m., Channel Islands at Royal, Simi Valley at Camarillo. Mission League: At 7:30 p.m., Notre Dame at Chaminade. Pacific League: At 7:30 p.m., Glendale at Muir, Arcadia vs. Hoover at Glendale High. Santa Fe League: At 7:30 p.m., St. Genevieve vs. Murphy at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Tri-Valley League: At 7:30 p.m., Bishop Diego at Oak Park, St. Bonaventure at Fillmore. Nonleague: At 7 p.m., Buckley vs. Bloomington Christian at Bloomington High. At 7:30 p.m., Carpinteria at Nordhoff.

Intersectional

At 3 p.m., Montclair Prep at L.A. Jordan.