TONIGHT’S TOP FOOTBALL GAMES

SOUTHERN SECTION QUARTERFINALS

Rialto Eisenhower (7-4) vs. Long Beach Poly (10-1) at Veterans Stadium, Long Beach, 7:30 p.m.

The excitement of a late-season winning streak and a victory over Anaheim Servite in the first round has been tempered by the news of Eisenhower first-year Coach Glenn Thompkins’ arrest Tuesday on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with a minor. Athletic Director Tom Hoak, who stepped down as coach last year after 19 seasons, will return to the sidelines Friday as acting coach on a “day-to-day” basis, with assistant Keith Bailey serving as offensive coordinator. “We’re going to practice and we’re going to play [tonight]. We’re going to concentrate on football and let the off-the-field issues take care of themselves,” Hoak said. Jarrell Browne and Anthony Manning power Eisenhower’s running game. They combined for 251 yards against Servite last week. Poly easily won a rematch of last year’s Division I championship game against Huntington Beach Edison. The Jackrabbits limited Oklahoma-bound quarterback Tommy Grady to 44 yards passing, while speedy wide receiver Derrick Jones caught eight passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

-- Eric Stephens

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Santa Ana Mater Dei (8-3) vs. Anaheim Esperanza (10-1) at Cal State Fullerton, 7:30 p.m.

As frequently as these teams advance to the postseason, they’ve managed to avoid each other all but two times since 1973. They split those games and haven’t met in the postseason since Esperanza switched to Division I in 1994. Esperanza will be trying to keep the season going for Coach Gary Meek, who is retiring to become athletic director. Both teams feature balanced offensive attacks, rolling up more than 40 points in easy opening-round victories last week. Confidence should be soaring on both sides of the field.

-- Dan Arritt

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Bellflower St. John Bosco (9-2) vs. Los Angeles Loyola (8-3) at Glendale High, 7:30 p.m.

When St. John Bosco defeated Loyola, 26-14, in a Serra League game in Week 8, it ended a 14-game losing streak against the Cubs. The teams have never met in the playoffs, but the last time the Braves defeated Loyola twice in a row was in 1980-81. The Cubs hold a 23-5 edge in the series, but this is a different St. John Bosco team. It went undefeated in one of the toughest leagues in the state and won its first league title since 1986. Led by running back Derrick Williams and receiver Joe Cowan, the Braves are on an eight-game winning streak. Loyola seems to have regrouped after a mid-season slump, winning three of its last four with running back Bo Renaud pacing the attack.

-- Peter Yoon

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Los Alamitos (10-0-1) at La Puente Bishop Amat (6-5), 7:30 p.m.

It’s already been a season to remember for Los Alamitos. Will it continue in a Division I quarterfinal? John Barnes became the winningest coach in Orange County football history this month (he has 216 victories), and the Griffins have been on a tear for most of the season. The blemish is a 21-21, season-opening tie against Newhall Hart. Brandon Tripp and Jeremy Childs are the latest in a long line of standout receivers for the Griffins. Bishop Amat barely made it here. After finishing with a 2-3 record in the Serra League, the Lancers needed two overtimes to beat Redlands in the first round, 42-35. In that game, Andrew Soto ran for 152 yards and four touchdowns, and was one of three Bishop Amat players to have more than 100 yards rushing.

-- Mike Bresnahan

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Mission Viejo (11-0) at Canyon Country Canyon (10-1), 7:30 p.m.

Last school year, Canyon eliminated Mission Viejo in the boys’ basketball and baseball playoffs. This will be a tough task in football. The Diablos have a 25-game winning streak and one of the best defenses in Southern California. Quarterback Josh Rodarmel injured his shoulder last week against Diamond Bar but is expected to play. Canyon has the kind of offensive balance to threaten the Diablos with junior quarterback Nate Longshore and junior running back Louis Montano leading the way.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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Santa Ana Foothill (9-2) at La Mirada (8-3), 7 p.m.

La Mirada beat Foothill in the second round last year, 48-25, but only two starters return on offense. The Matadores must control the clock with workhorse Garrett Busk, who has rushed 228 times for 1,131 yards and 13 touchdowns in 10 games. He missed last week’s game with a sprained knee. Behind quarterback Don Poole, who has passed for 18 touchdowns, and running back Mike Liti, who has rushed for 22, Foothill has averaged 32.6 points while allowing 18.

-- Martin Henderson

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Gardena Serra (11-0) at Temple City (8-3), 7:30 p.m.

This Division X quarterfinal features well-matched teams that have relied on the run. In its last five games, Temple City has averaged 37 points while allowing 13. Serra averages 28 points while giving up 12. Temple City’s Desmond Reed is a potential game-breaker who has 1,022 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing, 52 receptions for 809 yards and a score, four kickoff returns, four punt returns and one interception return for scores. Ryan Kelley has rushed for more than 200 yards in each of Serra’s last two games and has 1,410 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.

-- Lauren Peterson