Football playoff outlook includes Barnes family matchup

It's going to be a week of fun and intrigue for the Barnes family after Southern Section football officials couldn't resist in setting up a first-round playoff game matching Los Alamitos and Coach John Barnes against Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro and Coach Brian Barnes, his son.

How close are father and son?

"We talk twice a day, every day," Brian said.

The father has been attending Tesoro games providing advice when Los Alamitos didn't have a game.

"I've paid no attention when I was on the sideline the last two weeks," John said Sunday.

Added Brian: "They know us real well, and we know them real well."

Tesoro is 10-0 and seeded No. 3 in the Pac-5 Division playoffs. Los Alamitos is 8-2 and finished in a five-way tie for first place in the Sunset League. The game will be played Friday night at Tesoro.

"One thing I know for sure is that a week from now, one of the Barnes family guys will be still playing, and that's good," John said.

There are 13 Southern Secton and two City Section playoff divisions. Here's a look at the teams to watch:

Pac-5

Top seedings: 1. Long Beach Poly (10-0), 2. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (10-0), 3. Tesoro (10-0), 4. Anaheim Servite (7-3).

The scoop: If all goes as planned, we'll finally get to settle the argument whether a great defense can prevail over a great offense. A Poly-Notre Dame final would produce such a matchup. Poly's defense hasn't surrendered more than two touchdowns in a single game. Notre Dame quarterback Ryan Kasdorf has been this season's version of Brett Favre, completing 70% of his passes for nearly 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Both schools have potential obstacles along the way. Notre Dame might have to get past Orange Lutheran in the quarterfinals. Poly might have to face an improving Servite team in the semifinals.

Prediction: Notre Dame.

Inland

Top seedings: 1. Corona Centennial (10-0), 2. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (10-0), 3. Temecula Chaparral (9-1), 4. Fontana Miller (10-0).

The scoop: There's no way Centennial is going to be stopped in this division. The Huskies have too much offensive balance. Any hopes that Centennial could be easier to beat because of the graduation of quarterback Matt Scott vanished with the play of transfer student Taylor Martinez. The toughest call is which team Centennial will meet in the final. Chaparral has played the tougher nonleague schedule and gets the nod.