HOT OFF THE PRESS H.-W. LOOKING FOR FIRST FOOTBALL TITLE, BUT O.C. IS IN WAY.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer

Harvard-Westlake High of Studio City, among the Southland's oldest schools without a football title, is two victories shy after qualifying for the Northwest Division semfinals. The problem is the Wolverines (10-2) face national power Oaks Christian (12-0) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at L.A. Valley College, so it won't be easy.

``Just a little obstacle,'' Harvard-Westlake's first-year coach Vic Eumont said with a smile.

The key member of Eumont's staff is offensive coordinator Dave Levy, a former assistant for the Detroit Lions and the USC Trojans.

``It's great to have Dave,'' Eumont said. ``The kids love him, the administration loves him, everyone loves him. That's why he's a legend.''

Oaks Christian, No. 6 in USA Today's national rankings, won't take Harvard-Westlake lightly.

``I think they're a very good team,'' Oaks Christian coach Bill Redell said.

Cruz impresses in soccer debut: Several of the area's top freshmen girls' soccer players made their high school debuts Tuesday, none more impressive than Thousand Oaks' Michelle Cruz in a 2-0 victory over Buena of Ventura. Cruz scored the first goal and nearly added two others.

Cruz, ranked among the top age-group players in the country by Soccer America, helped Real So Cal's Under-15 team win the the World Youth Cup in Sweden in July. She also led So Cal United to the Under-13 Surf Cup title last year.

``She's definitely a good one,'' Thousand Oaks coach Geoff Raives said. ``I think we've got some really good players on this team ... and we're only going to get better.''

City Section volleyball all-star game planned: The City Section plays host to an all-star volleyball game at noon on Dec. 9 at Birmingham High.

The format will be Valley-area players vs. Los Angeles-area players, and Taft of Woodland Hills' Terry Soltani and Savannah Thomas are scheduled to play for the Valley team under Taft coach Arman Mercado and assistant Will Reinhard of Verdugo Hills. Venice's Allen Hunt is coaching the City team.

Young scorers on the rise: It's a good year for young basketball talent in the Foothill League. Hart of Newhall junior Michael Montgomery scored 30 points in an opening victory Monday over Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, Valencia junior John Otavka scored 22 in an opening victory Tuesday over Ventura, and Golden Valley of Canyon Country sophomore Maverick Ahanmisi scored 20 in an opening loss Tuesday to Dos Pueblos of Goleta.

Let's hear it for the tuba player: And the band played on. Well, sort of.

For years, the Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks band has played at the Coliseum when the Notre Dame football team plays USC.

It had been beneficial for both sides. The high schoolers had the time of their lives, while the university saved some money on travel expenses.

A few years ago though, the NCAA passed a rule that banned colleges from this practice because it was seen as an extra benefit to potential recruits. So two years ago when the Fighting Irish came to the Coliseum, they had no band. Last weekend, after some alumni outcry, the university sent about a third of its band.

The high school kids stayed home.

Quijano, Dixon commit to major colleges: A couple of recruiting tidbits to pass on. Jeffrey Quijano, an All-City soccer player from Canoga Park High, has verbally committed to Michigan after helping the Hunters to the City final last season. Kayla Dixon, a girls' track sprinter from Cleveland High of Reseda, has committed to California.

Canyon cracks football rankings: After scoring 62points or more in three consecutive high school football games, Canyon (9-2) has climbed to No. 18 in the West in Student Sports' regional rankings. Heading into a Northern Division semifinal Friday at Westlake, the Cowboys, led by running back J.J. DiLuigi, average 40.7 points per game.

Concord De La Salle is No. 1 and Oaks Christian of Westlake Village is No. 2.

Soccer fest set: The second annual Westlake Soccer Showcase, featuring 11 of the area's top girls' soccer teams, is scheduled for Saturday at Westlake High.

The six-game lineup is highlighted by Westlake and Harvard-Westlake of Studio City at 7 p.m. Other games include: Chaminade of West Hills vs. Moorpark, 10 a.m.; Agoura vs. Highland of Palmdale, 11:45a.m.; Canyon vs. Louisville of Woodland Hills, 1:30p.m.; Flintridge Sacred Heart vs. Thousand Oaks, 3:30p.m.; and Buena vs. ElCamino Real of Woodland Hills, 5:15p.m.

-- Erik Boal, Ramona Shelburne, Heather Gripp, Ivan Orozco, Sean Ceglinsky and Kevin Connelly contributed.

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