LEGEND IN THE MAKING— Warrior junior signal-caller Nick Isham put up MVP numbers during the regular season, completing 76 percent of his passes while throwing 23 TDs and only two interceptions. Are you ready for some postseason football?

The playoffs have arrived for high school teams across the Southland.

“It’s a new season,” Moorpark head coach Tim Lins said.

Here is a look at Friday’s local playoff matches by division:

Northern Division

The most anticipated firstround brouhaha will be a rematch between top-seeded Valencia (10-0) and Thousand Oaks (5-5), the fourth-place team from the Marmonte League.

TOHS lost a season-opening nail-biter at home to the eventual Foothill League champions, 39-36. The Lancers held a 10-point fourth-quarter lead against the Vikings and have a chance for the ultimate redemption.

The Lancers played Valencia closer than any other team in the regular season, something that should give the squad confidence.

“It’s a unique opportunity for this team,” said Mike Leibin, Thousand Oaks’ head coach.

“We have to be really fundamentally sound. We have to protect the football, tackle well and take advantage of any opportunities we get.”

The Lancers could be without their catalyst, junior quarterback Avondre Bollar, who was hurt in the third quarter of last weekend’s loss to Newbury Park.

Leibin said Thousand Oaks is preparing to play with or without him, and his insertion in the lineup will be a game-time decision.

Bollar is arguably the Lancers’ most dynamic and important player. The game is at 7:30 p.m. at Valencia.

Marmonte League champion Westlake (10-0), the No. 3 seed in the Northern Area, will open at home against Ventura, a 5-5 Channel League squad that has lost two of its last three games.

The Warriors are paced by a throng of stellar juniors, including quarterback Nick Isham, wide receiver Nelson Spruce and tailback Tavior Mowry.

Isham, who hasn’t thrown an interception since Oct. 23, has completed 105-of-139 passes for 1,607 yards with 23 touchdowns and two picks.

He’s also rushed for 462 yards and eight scores, while snagging three interceptions on defense.

Spruce (47 catches, 978 yards, 15 total touchdowns) and Mowry (979 rushing yards, 11 scores) are also game-breakers.

Westlake’s game is slated to begin at 7 p.m.

Moorpark (9-1), which lost the Marmonte title in a defeat at Westlake last weekend, will try and bounce back at home against Canyon (2-8), a team that barely made the playoffs.

Canyon lost its first eight games, won its last two, then won a coin flip against Saugus and West Ranch, who each had better overall records, to settle a threeway tie for third place and qualify for the postseason.

“We’re looking to bounce back from the Westlake game and get back on our tracks,” Lins said. “We’re looking. . . . for the guys to respond positively.”

Running back Austin Edmonson, left tackle Joe Frank, quarterback Brody Rohach, running back Tyler Peterson, cornerback A.J. Dettorre and linebacker Marc Palacios are Musketeers to watch.

Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

Newbury Park (8-2) is a strong third-place Marmonte squad that will open the playoffs at Righetti (8-2), the Pac-7 champs.

The 7:30 p.m. opener marks the fourth straight road game for the Panthers, who are led by running back Cameron Roberson, wide receiver/linebacker Phillip Muscarella, quarterback Jake Geringer and linebackers Josh Sackheim.

Northwest Division

Oaks Christian (10-0) has won 31 straight games and is the favorite to win another section title in its last season as members of the Tri-Valley League.

The Lions will compete in the Marmonte League and Northern Area playoffs next year.

OCHS, the No. 1 seed, opens at home against Santa Ynez (6-4) at 7:30 p.m.

Don’t blame the Lions for thinking about playing in a state bowl game.

“You can’t help but think about it,” said Oaks Christian head coach Bill Redell. “That’s our goal at the beginning of the season—to get to the state bowl game.”

Redell said his Lions are big, fast and experienced. Sixteen of 22 positions are filled by returning offensive and defensive starters.

The legendary coach thinks the offense has been “a little inconsistent,” but he attributed the rust in part to the starters not playing much, if at all, in the second half of the last five wins.

“I’m going to play the starters the whole game unless the score is out of whack,” Redell said. “We may need to play them the whole time to win it.”

Oak Park (4-6), which finished third in the TVL, will open at second-seeded Serra (10-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Eagles have struggled with injuries and a sputtering offense, but co-head coach Terry Shorten is proud of the way his players fought all season.

“We’re extremely excited to be in the playoffs,” Shorten said.