PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: AGOURA EATS WAY TO TOP.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

Agoura High is the region's biggest football playoff surprise. The Chargers (8-4), coming off road victories over two-time finalist San Luis Obispo and Dos Pueblos, host Arroyo Grande (7-4) in a Division IV semifinal Friday night.

They're one victory away from their first championship appearance since 1984.

Agoura's secret for success?

Pregames meals at Hometown Buffet restaurant. However, the players must cope with a change in routine on Friday because they don't have to travel.

``Going to Hometown Buffet was kind of a fun superstition,'' quarterback Chris Denove said. ``It's definitely a fun time going in there for all you can eat. It gave the team a chance to bond.''

Because Agoura had a party of about 70, coach Charlie Wegher said the restaurant offered a group discount.

``It's been great,'' Wegher said. ``Some of the kids were eating so much pudding, ice cream and cake that they needed a buddy to help them carry all the plates back to the table. Actually, it wasn't just the players - our coaches were all over that stuff, too.''

--Foltz to Cal: Westlake High's Ryan Foltz has orally committed to play at the University of California next fall.

- Chris Cocoles

--Line in the sand: Even Loyola defensive back Matt Ware was surprised how effectively the Cubs stopped heralded running back Darryl Poston in Friday's 21-14 Division I quarterfinal victory over Huntington Beach Edison.

USC-bound Poston entered with 1,600 yards, including 233 in a victory over Servite the week before. But he managed just 1 yard in six carries against a Loyola defense designed to swarm him.

``He's a good running back, no doubt, but I think Edison underestimated our defense,'' said Ware, who has committed to UCLA. ``The guys up front, like Josh Quaye, Giovanni Seretti and Nathaniel Green, were playing so well that I didn't even get any tackles. I wasn't even tested.''

Second-seeded Loyola (11-1) needs to beat third-seeded Rialto Eisenhower (11-1) Friday night at Glendale High to qualify for its fifth championship appearance since 1990.

Loyola is 3-1 against Eisenhower, including a 1996 playoff victory.

--Site switch: Friday's Division III semifinal between Notre Dame and Mira Costa will be played at Mira Costa High beginning at 7:30 p.m.

--Just for kicks: How's this for efficiency? Top-seeded Montclair Prep (12-0) hasn't attempted a punt in a month entering Saturday night's Division XII semifinal against Don Bosco (10-2) at L.A. Valley College.

``I was trying to remember the last time. It was four games ago,'' said coach George Giannini, who's Mounties have nine punts on the season. ``That's why we practice punting every day, because we never get to do it in a game. We've got a pretty good kickoff team because we do that a lot (83 touchdowns).''

--Recruiting update: Paraclete running back/defensive back Michael Washington, preparing for Friday night's Division XII semifinal against Kern Valley at AV College, said he might commit to Utah State next week.

``The coaches are coming Wednesday to talk to my parents,'' Washington said. ``I always wanted to play football in the snow.''

--On the Mark: Antelope Valley linebacker/running back Mark Sutton finally made his debut on Friday. He had been dismissed from the team in both his freshman and sophomore seasons before transferring last year to Sylmar, where he emerged as one of the region's top defensive returnees.

But Sylmar didn't allow Sutton back this year even though he was listed as the region's preseason No. 3 linebacker by the Daily News. Sutton then briefly emerged at Monroe before transferring back to Antelope Valley.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder rushed for 51 yards on four carries in Friday's quarterfinal loss to St. Francis.

``The guy has really grown up,'' Newcomb said. ``He handled himself with maturity, and at least he got himself on film. I don't think he has the marks to play college football, but the guy's a force. If he plays JC, some college coaches should keep an eye on him.''

DAILY NEWS TOP 40 FOOTBALL

1. Notre Dame 11-0-1

2. Hart 10-2

3. St. Francis 10-2

4. Westlake 10-2

5. Sylmar 11-1

6. Antelope Valley 10-2

7. Crescenta Valley 10-2

8. Birmingham 10-2

9. Taft 9-3

10. Valencia 9-3

11. Agoura 8-4

12. Palmdale 7-3-1

13. Kennedy 8-2-1

14. Granada Hills 8-4

15. Royal 7-4-1

16. Chaminade 6-5

17. Thousand Oaks 5-6

18. La Canada 10-2

19. Muir 6-5

20. Camarillo 5-6

21. Saugus 5-6

22. Canoga Park 8-4

23. San Fernando 5-6

24. Chatsworth 4-8

25. Grant 7-4

26. Lancaster 5-6

27. Eagle Rock 6-5

28. North Hollywood 5-6

29. Cleveland 6-5

30. Moorpark 3-6-1

31. Newbury Park 2-8

32. Canyon 4-6

33. Littlerock 3-7

34. Burroughs 3-7

35. Van Nuys 2-8

36. Monroe 1-9

37. Highland 3-7

38. Alemany 2-8

39. Reseda 2-8

40. Quartz Hill 2-8

SMALL SCHOOLS TOP 10

1. Montclair Prep 12-0

2. Paraclete 11-1

3. Oak Park 8-3

4. L.A. Baptist 8-3

5. Flintridge Prep 7-4

6. Calabasas 4-7

7. Bell-Jeff 5-6

8. Campbell Hall 5-5

9. St. Genevieve 5-5

10. Village Christian 4-6

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Box: Daily News Top 40 (see text)