MORE THAN BRAGGIN RIGHTS SOMETHING TO PROVE CANYON, HART LOOK TO THEIR STAR BACKS IN MATCHUP OF RIVALS.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - It's the biggest game in the area, year after year, but when Canyon of Canyon Country and Hart of Newhall meet up tonight at College of the Canyons, more than the usual bragging rights will be at stake.

Uncharacteristic slow starts, against difficult opposition, have raised questions about both programs, and although each is coming off impressive performances the past two weeks, there remains something to prove.

A crowd of about 8,000 is expected for the rematch of last year's Southern Section Div. II title game, and host Hart looks to break a three-game series losing streak in the series, including a 21-13 defeat in the championship game.

``It's a very big game for us,'' Hart quarterback Alex Pettee said. ``It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing because there's going to be a lot of people there. Canyon is a very aggressive team, and they fly really fast to the football. So we've got to match their intensity and get after it.''

Canyon offensive lineman Marc Valdez agrees.

``It's going to be huge -- this is a real big game,'' he said. ``It's always this way when Canyon and Hart get together, because we're archrivals.''

Hart (3-3) opened with a 34-0 loss to St. Bonaventure, the worst defeat in coach Mike Herrington's 18-year career, followed by an uninspiring performance in a 42-24 loss to Moorpark. Two weeks later, the Indians lost 28-27 in the final seconds to Westlake to fall to 1-3.

``I think our guys had to learn how to play football,'' Herrington said. ``We weren't physical on defense or offense at the beginning of the year. After the Westlake game, we challenged a lot of kids to be more physical, and they've turned it around and rallied.''

An impressive 49-21 victory last week over defending Div. I champion Loyola of Los Angeles demonstrated that Hart is back on track.

Slow starts are nothing new for the Indians. The Indians started 0-3 in 2003 before winning their final 11 games and the Div. II title.

Canyon (3-2), which entered the season with wins in 21 of 22 nonleague games, upgraded its schedule this year. The Cowboys lost twice in their first three games, to fellow Southern Section champion St.Bonaventure and state powerhouse Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, but have won two in a row, including a 38-35 comeback victory last week at Div. X champion Crespi of Encino.

Hart defeated Canyon 13 times in a row, from 1991 to 2003, but the Cowboys have won the past three, including a 16-14 victory during the regular season last year.

``This is a game for us to gain some respect back after last year,'' said Delano Howell, Hart's star running back, who has scored 18 of his 20 touchdowns in the past four games. ``We need to play hard.''

Howell and Canyon running back J.J. DiLuigi are the star attractions. Howell, a junior, is healthy after nursing a sore ankle much of last season, when he was limited to 736 rushing yards. He's run for 716 this year, caught 22 passes for 417 yards and is averaging about 50 yards per kick return.

DiLuigi, a senior who committed to BYU, scored a league-record 43 touchdowns last year and was the Daily News Offensive Player of the Year. This year, he has run for 658 yards with 17 receptions and eight touchdowns.

Canyon features an aggressive, swarming defense led by linemen Mike Spagnola and Dillon Schelske, linebacker Blake McMartin and defensive backs Mike Loucks and Chris Kingsbury. The arrival last week of Kenny Shanahan, a 5-10, 215-pound all-purpose standout who transferred from Stockdale High of Bakersfield, has strengthened the Cowboys.

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Q&A ... WITH FRED WINBORN

Grant High running back Fred Winborn leads the City Section with 1,134 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. The Lancers play tonight at defending Sunset Six League champion Verdugo Hills of Tujunga. Last year's game wasn't exactly a highlight for Winborn, who was flagged for two personal fouls and ejected in the second quarter after celebrating a touchdown with a flip into the end zone.

Tell us about the flip. Where did you come up with that one?

Reggie Bush. I saw him do that one day and thought it was cool. So I started practicing at home on my bed. I did them sideways at first because I didn't want to break my neck.

Considering the consequences ... I'm guessing you don't do much flipping anymore.

I learned my lesson. It lost us the game last year, probably the next game, too. I just hand the ball to the referee and run back to the sideline.

You mention Reggie Bush. Is he your favorite running back?

Now he is. But growing up, I liked Emmitt Smith. Reggie is so quick. He makes one move, and he's by you. Emmitt was more of a downhill runner. He hits the hole and takes off.

Are you watching Emmitt Smith on ``Dancing with the Stars?'' What do you think of his moves?

Yeah. He's the only reason I watch that show. He's pretty good. I think because he was a running back, he knows how to shake his hips.

You've been putting up some monster numbers this year. Do you pay any attention to stats? Have you set any goals for this season?

Yeah, my offensive line and I came up with the goal of 2,500 yards. Ihave to give all the credit to my offensive line. Without them, I wouldn't be able to do anything.

Verdugo-Grant is just one of a handful of big games going on tonight. If you weren't playing, which game would you be going to?

Probably Taft-Birmingham. That's always a great game. I played with a lot of those guys growing up. (Birmingham running back) Milton Knox was on my Pop Warner team.

You and Milton were on the same team? How were there enough carries to go around?

It was fine. We both got the ball, he did his thing, and I did mine.

-- Ramona Shelburne 

UNDER THE HELMET

What began with friendships and bonds formed in local Pop Warner football leagues bred one of the San Fernando Valley's top matchups in the now-defunct Northwest Valley Conference.

It has since developed into one of the City Section's and Southern California's best high school football showcases during the past decade.

Tonight's renewal of the Birmingham of Lake Balboa and Taft of Woodland Hills rivalry has both teams sporting uncharacteristic sub-.500 records with identical 2-3marks, but with the two programs combining to win the past seven West Valley League titles, there is still plenty at stake.

Three of the past four seasons, the regular-season meeting has been a preview of a playoff clash, with Birmingham twice atoning for earlier losses to prevail in the postseason, most notably in the 2002 City title game, when the Patriots got revenge for a 30-6regular-season loss by recording a 35-7 victory.

Last year was the first time that Taft swept both meetings, defeating Birmingham 25-0 in October and 39-34 in the playoff quarterfinals.

The Toreadors, who advanced to the City championship game last year, will be looking to reaffirm their status as one of the section's elite teams following last week's 32-21 loss to San Fernando.

After winning 13 consecutive games to open last season en route to the City final, Taft has won only twice in its past four contests, including a season-opening 26-7 loss to Crenshaw of Los Angeles in a rematch of last year's championship game.

More than the setback to Crenshaw, the bigger loss for Taft was an ankle injury suffered by All-Area standout Malcolm Smith, who has been sidelined since. His status is uncertain for tonight's contest.

The Toreadors have managed to remain an offensive threat with the presence of junior quarterback Exavier Johnson -- who threw for more than 3,000 yards in his debut season -- and senior receiver Jeshua Anderson, who caught a City-record seven touchdown passes and had a school-record 304 receiving yards in a 62-30 victory Sept. 29 over Gardena.

A cause for concern for Taft has been the play of its defense, which has surrendered at least 21 points in four of its five games. The Toreadors allowed opponents to score that many points only threetimes last season.

That fact should be good news for Birmingham, which survived the toughest nonleague schedule in program history to enter its league opener with momentum following a 38-25 victory over Dorsey of LosAngeles.

Milton Knox Jr., is one of the area's top running backs, and James Beloff is an improved quarterback, but the Patriots' biggest strength in this matchup is its defense.

With Dominic Baker and Willie Chandler leading one of the area's top secondaries, and Malik Jackson and Donovan Carter relentlessly pursuing the ball, Johnson might be forced to deliver the ball tonight under constant pressure.

Although the teams aren't ranked among Cal-Hi Sports' top 25 as in years past, they should still be considered among the list of contenders for the City title come November.

With no clear favorite for the section championship, the winner of tonight's game might take a big step toward separating itself from the pack.

-- Erik Boal

CAPTION(S):

5 photos, 7 boxes

Photo:

(1) no caption (FRED WINBORN)

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

(2) Canyon's J.J. DiLuigi has eight touchdowns this season, after scoring a league-record 43 touchdowns last year.

(3) Hart's Delano Howell has rushed for 18 touchdowns in the past four games.

Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News

(4) AGOURA OFFENSIVE LINE

(5) MOORPARK OFFENSIVE LINE

Box:

(1) Q&A ... WITH FRED WINBORN (see text)

(2) UNDER THE HELMET (see text)

(3) THE BIG MATCHUP

AGOURA DEFENSIVE LINE VS. MOORPARK OFFENSIVE LINE

- Sean Ceglinsky

(4) SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL RANKINGS

(5) LEAGUE UPDATES

(6) PEERLESS PROGNOSTICATION

(7) THEY SAID IT