DILUIGI, VEREEN GO HEAD TO HEAD.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

CANYON COUNTRY - Among the storylines involving the Canyon-Valencia Southern Section Div. II semifinal Saturday at 7 p.m. at Canyon is the head-to-head showdown between running backs J.J. DiLuigi and Shane Vereen, two of the nation's most productive juniors.

DiLuigi has rushed for a school single-season record 1,707 yards (7.1 yards per carry), caught 27 passes for 424 yards and scored 39 touchdowns, including one on a 99-yard kickoff return. Vereen has rushed for 1,624 yards - averaging 9.7 yards per carry - caught 47 passes for 795 yards and scored 33 touchdowns, one on a 96-yard kickoff return and another on a 55-yard punt return.

Both are great players, and you can argue who's better until you're blue in face:

--DiLuigi has scored more touchdowns, and he came through with his best performance of the season - 271 yards total offense and five TDs - in a 49-21 victory over Valencia (and Vereen) on Nov. 4.

--Vereen has fewer yards but a lot fewer carries, too, because he shares the football with record-setting quarterback Michael Herrick. Vereen also plays defense full-time - he's a starting cornerback.

--DiLuigi has rushed for 100 or more yards in seven consecutive games, and Vereen was held to 80 against Chino Hills last week.

--Vereen rushed for 206 yards and scored six TDs in a first-round playoff victory at Trabuco Hills, and against Chino Hills he made five receptions for 134 yards in addition to his rushing yardage.

Etc., etc., etc.

One thing is certain: The player who performs better on Saturday probably will boost his team at a most critical juncture, and a berth in the Div. II championship at Home Depot Center is on the line.

DiLuigi, who played JV football last year as Vereen enjoyed headlines as a star sophomore for a team that reached the section final, is perhaps out to prove he can outperform a proven All-Southern Section player. Vereen has the revenge factor: DiLuigi was the better player the first meeting, and - more important - DiLuigi's team won that night.

Both return for their senior seasons next year, so there are more head-to-head matchups coming. None probably will be more important than this one, so for those of us who like running backs, this should be a special evening.

--Fans are reminded to arrive early for the Canyon-Valencia game, which will begin at 7 p.m. The event probably will sell out because the other semifinal, between Hart and Mission Viejo, is Friday, so there will be a larger pool of potential ticket buyers Saturday.

--The Canyon-Valencia semifinal isn't the only big-time football game of local interest Saturday. The Canyon Country 8-under Pee Wee team faces Camarillo in the Pacific Youth Football League Superbowl at Thousand Oaks High. Kickoff is 10 a.m.

Canyon Country is the first PYFL from the Canyon Country Athletic Association to qualify for a Superbowl. The team is 11-0, with an 18-14 victory over Santa Clarita in last weekend's semifinals.

Myron McAfee scored two touchdowns, made a critical reception on the final drive and several tackles for losses in the semifinal victory. Alex McKenna scored the winning touchdown on a quarterback sneak. Other important players include running back/linebacker Kevin Summers, linemen Dylan Nelson, Travis Clarke, David Sweezer, Israel Cabrera, Miguel Sahagan Jr., Tyler Wiseman and Jordan Bollar, safety Scotty Davis, linebacker Liam Cabrera and defensive linemen Christopher Riddle, Marcus Adams, Noah Chandler, Ely Quijas and Elijah McCormick were outstanding for the Outlaws.

--Even before its first game, Hart's girls' basketball team has felt the graduation loss of four-year standout Ashlee Trebilcock, now a UCLA freshman. For the first time since Trebilcock's sophomore year, Hart isn't ranked among the Cal-Hi Sports preseason state top 25.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1) DILUIGI

(2) VEREEN

Box:

(1) J.J. DILUIGI, Canyon

(2) SHANE VEREEN, Valencia