PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFF GAMES

Fountain Valley (6-4)

vs. No. 1 Long Beach Poly (10-0)

7 TONIGHT LONG BEACH VETERANS STADIUM

This could have been the first round’s best game. Now the question is: How will the death of lineman Scotty Lang affect Fountain Valley? Not only will the Barons be dealing with the emotional element of Lang’s absence, but also the physical: Lang started at left tackle. The Barons live by the run, but Nedal Abdelmuti (knee), who scored 12 touchdowns, might miss this game. That puts added pressure on Steven Fifita (seven touchdowns). It will be important for each team to control the line of scrimmage and avoid turnovers. In its only loss the last two years, Poly had five turnovers in last year’s title game.

KEY PLAYERS

Fountain Valley

RB Nedal Abdelmuti

856 yds., 8.2 per carry

QB Casey Clark

28.6%, 2 TDs, 6 ints.

RB Steven Fifita

599 yds., 7.0 per carry

Long Beach Poly

RB Hershel Dennis

1,152 yds., 8 TDs

QB Brandon Sasavalu

46%, 16 TDs

WR Dante Washington

19 rec., 5 TDs