Can Culver City climb into the rankings?

I've got to give credit, where credit is due.

Toward that end, I'm having a midseason change of mind about Culver City, and making an all-out push to get the Centaurs into The Times' rankings.

Now, before anyone jumps on me and says, 'Ah-hah, I told you so,' let me make it clear that this was something I expected to happen at some point. The Centaurs, with talented, multi-faceted senior quarterback Darius Banks, pictured right, at the controls, were too good for it not to.

In making out my "secret" ballot for The Times' top-25 poll last week, I slipped Culver City in at No. 24.

Final say on Saugus-Valencia

I know some people out there, specifically coaches, don't like to hear slam-dunk predictions two weeks into league play, but here I go:

I guarantee Saugus will make the playoffs again this season and Valencia won't.

Some of you dedicated blogosophere adventurers might remember I said this in my very first posting back in August, but now I know for certain that Saugus is postseason bound. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Centurions post an upset against Canyon or Hart -- that's how much they impressed me in their 34-19 victory over Valencia.

Girls' cross-country: Saugus sets course record at Mt. SAC Invitational

There never seems to be an end to the incredible achievements of the Saugus girls' cross-country team.

A couple weeks after winning the Division I race at the Clovis Invitational, Saugus set a combined course record of 89 minutes 34 seconds to win the SuperSweepstakes race at the Mt. SAC Invitational on Saturday morning.

Saugus team leader Katie Dunn (17:27) finished eighth and freshman teammate Kaylin Mahoney (17:31) took ninth for a Centurion team that proved once again why it's the favorite to repeat as Division I state champions.

Mission Prep's Jordan Hasay, who finished second in the 1,500 meters at the IAAF World Youth Track and Field Championships in the Czech Republic last summer, won the race in 16:42.

For full results of every race from Friday and Saturday, click here.

- Austin Knoblauch

First win feels good

Jeff Engilman, pictured left, was prepared for a long season at Arleta because this is the team's first season of varsity football. His only hope was not to go winless.

Hope became reality when Arleta (1-5, 1-2) shut out Van Nuys (2-5, 1-3) on Friday, 24-0. The Mustangs got rushing touchdowns from quarterback Bryan Choto and running backs Nick Ferlini and Omar Barrera-Sanchez. On defense, Ferlini had two of the team's three interceptions.

Engilman, who previously guided Sylmar to two City titles, had 205 career victories on his resume before coming to Areleta. Still, there is no win like the first one for a new program.

"It was so gratifying to see the joy in the kids' eyes," Engilman said. "All of these kids, even the 11th graders, had never played varsity football before. So the whole year's been shock to the system -- at least mine, anyway."

- Mike Terry

-- Image by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times

Poly sets state record for consecutive league victories

Long Beach Poly's march through the Moore League continues.

With a 45-6 victory over Long Beach Wilson on Friday night, the Jackrabbits (6-1, 3-0) set  a state record for consecutive league victories in football with 70.

Their 69th in a row, a 28-14 decision over Millikan last week, had tied them with Sylmar, which had a streak that ran between 1989 and 1999, according to Cal-Hi Sports. Last season, the Jackrabbits' streak surpassed the Southern Section record of Hart, which had won 65 in a row between 1990 and 2004.

Marlborough, Viewpoint win Commissioners Cup

Marlborough and Viewpoint each have long histories of academic success. Now, the schools are showcasing their athletic prowess, too.

Marlborough snapped the three-year reign of Corona del Mar by winning the Commissioners Cup as the top girls' athletic program in the Southern Section for the 2006-07 school year. Viewpoint won the award for the first time in recognition of its status as the top boys' athletic program in the section.

Taft shows promise in basketball

It was a meaningless Saturday morning fall basketball league game at Hollywood High, but Woodland Hills Taft showed its potential in beating Harvard-Westlake, 40-31.

Larry Drew wasn't there, nor was Justin Hawkins. But the Toreadors have plenty of inside strength, and 6-6 Eugene Phelps and 6-5 Teran Carter scored 10 and 12 points, respectively. Harvard-Westlake was at full strength. Tennessee-bound Renaldo Woolridge started well but he had trouble shooting and scoring in the second half.

The Wolverines had better develop some more scoring threats or they're going to have a tough time against top teams. Practice begins Nov. 5 for City Section schools and Nov. 10 for Southern Section teams. Both Taft and Harvard-Westlake figure to be top 25 in The Times.

- Eric Sondheimer

Doing some father-son stuff

Jack McCullough, an assistant coach with the Lakewood freshman team, won't be working Friday night.

He'll be taking in the big Southwestern League game between Vista Murrieta, ranked No. 13 in the Southland by The Times, and top-25 bubble team Chaparral, hoping the Pumas can pounce on a great opportunity to gain some recognition and, perhaps, a ranking.

McCullough, a 1966 Lakewood graduate who watched the Lancers beat Millikan on all three levels -- freshman, JV and varsity -- this week, will be taking advantage of Lakewood's upcoming bye to go watch his son, Jeremy McCullough, at work.

Jeremy McCullough serves as Chaparral's offensive coordinator and receivers coach.

- Lauren Peterson

You don't always pick a winner

Here's my latest list of 'Games I'd wish I attended last night.' (not including Ayala's incredible comeback)

Riverside Poly defeated Riverside King in quadruple overtime, 48-42, leaving Poly Coach Jeff Huerta feeling pretty emotional after the game. If my wife knew, she'd want our sons to play for Huerta. I can also guarantee both these teams will lose to Riverside North, so this result will likely determine second place in the Ivy League.

Now that's using your leg

When an onside kick is going to be attempted, you almost always you see players from the receiving team  lined up the width of the field, anticipating the ball. If you didn't know why before, ask Damien Coach Scott Morrison. He learned the hard way.

Last night Ayala, with 27 seconds left and six points down, attempted an onside kick by sending all of its players to the left side. Damien did the same thing. But Ayala's Brian Bracci kicked with his left leg instead of his right and recovered the ball on the right side.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-0 ) went on to win the game, 34-33, erasing a 19-point deficit it faced to begin the fourth quarter.

"You don't see that play very often," a jubilant Ayala coach Tom Inglima told the SGVT. "We were hoping they would over-shift and they did."

Ayala quarterback Matt Baca passed for 340 yards and five touchdowns, including the two-yard pass to David Quiroga with five seconds left to tie the score. Bracci, fittingly, provided the game-winning PAT.

- Jaime Cardenas

- Editor Bob: OK, I couldn't find a YouTube video that showed the lineup Ayala used to recover its onside kick, but I did find one in which the kicker recovered his own kick. Enjoy: