THIS WEEK’S TOP GAMES

A look at the top high school football playoff games in the Southland:

THURSDAY’S GAME

Lake Balboa Birmingham (5-5) at Venice (8-2), 7 p.m. Birmingham, the two-time defending City Section Open Division champion, hasn’t lost to a City Section opponent since 2017 to Fairfax. The Patriots are the underdog against a seniordominated Venice team that has the City’s best quarterback in Paul Kessler and a strong defense that will try to slow down the Patriots’ rushing attack. The pick: Venice.