HS FOOTBALL: Is Van Nuys really that good?

After more than a decade struggling not to finish last, Van Nuys is making a bid for the feel-good story of the year. However, there remain a lot of skeptics because only one of the Wolves' nine victories have come against a .500 opponent.

Van Nuys (9-2) plays at Granada Hills (6-5) in a City Div. II quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Friday -- a chance for Van Nuys to earn some legitimacy.

"We want to keep improving, but we know it's going to be much tougher," Van Nuys coach Sean Pollard said. "We will definitely have our hands full."