HS FOOT: Western Division favorites both seek first title

The schools are both 52 years old and have never won a Southern Section football title, but that could very well change, as top-ranked Palmdale and second-seeded Alemany of Mission Hills begin their quests Friday for a Western Division championship.

Palmdale (9-1) opens against visiting Redondo (5-5), and Alemany (9-1) plays host to Highland of Palmdale (3-7), both beginning at 7:30 p.m.

"It would be a great accomplishment for our guys but there's a long way to go," Alemany coach Dean Herrington said. "I would have to say Palmdale is the favorite because there aren't too many teams with their athleticism. But there are other teams, too - Culver City, St. Francis."

For the first time in his career dating back to coaching stints at College of the Canyons, Occidental College and Hart High of Newhall and his playing days as a Hart quarterback in the early 1980s, Herrington is focusing on a running offense instead of a wide-open passing game.

It's working, too, as Malcolm Marable has rushed for 1,370 yards.

Alemany has never even been to a final - Palmdale has twice finished as a runner-up -- so there is a buzz and excitement at Alemany.

Palmdale, led by athletic quarterback Brandon Mims, is more balanced. The Falcons are 37-1 over their past 38 Golden League games, and this season they've won the past seven in a row by an average of nearly 35 points.

"Fifty-two years? It's about due," Palmdale coach Jeff Williams said. "The odds are in our favor every year now."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com