Football: Now the real playoffs begin in City Section

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The opening round of the City Section Division I playoffs produced zero upsets. Every game went as expected. There were few close encounters other than No. 6 Birmingham rallying past No. 11 Arleta, 21-18.

Now comes the real fun. The quarterfinals are loaded with games that could go either way and will finally begin to answer which teams are really the best.

Crenshaw at San Pedro, Carson at Venice, Birmingham at Dorsey and West Adams at Narbonne will require teams to be at their best.

Certainly, the most intriguing game has the two-time defending champion Cougars playing unbeaten San Pedro. Can Crenshaw’s speed make a difference? Can San Pedro keep delivering victories in big games?

The second toughest matchup is Carson-Venice. Carson, at times, looks very good. At other times, the Colts struggle. Venice is well prepared, having won six consecutive games after a 1-4 start in nonleague games when the Gondoliers played a tough schedule, just like Carson. The game matches the two best receivers in the City Section in USC commit Darreus Rogers of Carson and SMU commit Gabe Marks of Vence.

-- Eric Sondheimer