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    High school football: Our guide to Friday night’s games, players to watch
    • August 28, 2026

    This could be one of those Friday nights in the high school football season that fans will never forget.

    A dramatic ending to a big game. A player has a record-breaking night. A new hero emerges … a major upset … a shocking loss … There are so many things that could happen.

    Anything is possible under the Friday Night Lights in Southern California.

    That’s why the Southern California News Group will have reporters covering more than 30 games tonight, ready to report on everything that happens.

    Before the games start, check out what high school football analyst Michael Huntley has put together — a list of his “players to watch” and his predictions for some of the top games in Week 1.

    Once the games begin, we’ll have photos and score updates right here.

    HUNTLEY’S PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Oliver White, DB/WR, Crespi

    White will need to have a big game in the secondary tonight against a Golden Valley offense that had two long passing touchdowns in a blowout win over Pasadena last week. He had seven tackles with a sack when the two teams met last season, and he had 11 tackles with an interception last week.

    Simon Mekari, LB, Newbury Park

    Mekari is Newbury Park’s leading tackler at linebacker and will have plenty of opportunities to stop the run this week against Hart’s top running back Matix Frithsmith. He had 11 tackles with a sack last week in a triple-overtime loss to Westlake.

    Matthew Montez, Rio Hondo Prep

    Rio Hondo Prep ran for 321 yards against Troy in the second round of the CIF-SS Division 5 playoffs last season. Montez, a sophomore, led Rio Hondo Prep in rushing last week in a 35-0 win over Schurr with 79 yards, two touchdowns and added an 80-yard kick return touchdown.

    Isaac Jordan, LB, Chino

    Jordan and the Chino defense play a West Covina team that nearly made an improbable comeback last week against a good Victor Valley team. Jordan led Chino in tackles last season and had an interception in its Week 0 win against Ontario Christian.

    Myels Smith, DL, Inglewood

    Inglewood will be in Texas tonight to play Westlake of Austin. Two of the best players on the field will be in the trenches. Smith, a Texas A&M commit, will face a Westlake offensive line led by Texas commit Jackson Cook. Smith had nine tackles (four for a loss) against Los Alamitos last week.

    Cassius Ngaue, OL, Mary Star

    Mary Star will need to establish the run against a Valley Christian team that allowed 221 yards rushing in its tie against Gahr last week. Ngaue is the leader of the offensive line for Mary Star. He has offers from San Diego State and Hawaii among others.

    David Nansen, DL, Bellflower

    Nansen is Bellflower’s best pass rusher and the Buccaneers will have to put pressure on Trabuco Hills quarterback Jackson Verplancke, who had three touchdown passes in a win over Norte Vista in Week 0. Nansen had three sacks and five hurries in Bellflower’s blowout win over Santa Ana.

    Dallas Watson, WR/DB, Warren

    Warren has a well-balanced offense and might have some chances to move the ball through the air against Scripps Ranch tonight. Watson had two touchdown receptions for the Bears in their win over Serrano last week and added an interception on defense.

    Jaden Jefferson, QB, Centennial

    Centennial is looking to avenge its 2025 CIF-SS championship game loss to Santa Margarita. It will need a big game from Jefferson to keep pace with the Eagles’ offense. Jefferson threw for 296 yards with two touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns in his debut for Centennial in a win over Servite last week.

    Elijah Robinson, RB, San Jacinto

    San Jacinto ran for 198 yards in its win over King last season and the Tigers will look to run the ball well again to beat King tonight. Robinson, a transfer from Tustin, ran for 134 yards with a touchdown in San Jacinto’s win over Beaumont last week.

    Sebastian Castro, DL, Orange

    Orange pulled off the upset of the regular season in Orange County last year when it beat previously undefeated Laguna Beach. Castro had four sacks for the Panthers against Laguna Beach last season and will need another big game to beat the Breakers again tonight.

    Jack Norman, WR/DB, Dana Hills

    Norman had the best game of his career last season against Tesoro with 232 yards receiving and three touchdowns. He also returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in that game. He could have another big game tonight against a Tesoro defense that allowed three passing touchdowns last week.

    PREDICTIONS: HUNTLEY’S SIX PICKS

    Chaminade vs. Valencia: Chaminade held Oaks Christian to just 48 yards of offense in a shutout win last week. Valencia’s offense is a tougher matchup with quarterback Evan McCalister, but Chaminade has the edge in the trenches.

    The pick: Chaminade

    La Salle vs. San Marino: Both teams want to run the ball and are very capable of doing so. San Marino, led by Luke Badawi ran for 162 yards and five touchdowns against Vasquez last week and Denzel Carter ran for 254 yards with four touchdowns for La Salle in Week 0.

    The pick: La Salle

    Millikan vs. Loyola: Both teams suffered blowout losses against the top two quarterbacks in Orange County last week. Millikan quarterback Jonah Tuaniga had a breakout game against Loyola last season but the Rams still lost.

    The pick: Loyola

    Torrance vs. Redondo Union: Torrance had an impressive win over Mira Costa last week and Gibson Turner threw for 325 yards with four touchdowns. Redondo Union has a good defense led by Cooper Burns but Torrance’s offense is a tough matchup.

    The pick: Torrance

    Murrieta Mesa vs. Etiwanda: Murrieta Mesa was stopped at the 1-yard line at the final whistle in a heartbreaking loss to Newport Harbor last week. Coleman Jones threw for 300 yards with two touchdowns. Etiwanda ran for 280 yards in a win over Cajon.

    The pick: Etiwanda

    Cypress vs. Brea Olinda: Justin Hall threw for 266 yards with four touchdowns for Cypress against Cerritos last week. Brea Olinda had two special teams touchdowns in a win over Marina and seems up to the challenge of playing a tougher schedule this season.

    The pick: Cypress

    FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

    Games start at 7 p.m. unless noted.

    FRIDAY’S GAMES

    All games start at 7 p.m. unless noted.

    CIF-SS

    Nonleague

    Agoura at Westlake

    Alemany at Notre Dame/SO

    Alta Loma at St. Francis

    Aliso Niguel at Laguna Hills

    Antelope Valley at St. Genevieve

    Arcadia at San Gabriel

    Artesia at Wilson/HH

    Azusa at Garey

    Banning at Redlands

    Barstow at Serrano

    Bassett at Hoover

    Bellflower at Trabuco Hills

    Bell Gardens at Bishop Montgomery

    Big Bear at Glendale

    Bishop Amat at Oak Hills

    Bolsa Grande at University/I

    Bonita at Diamond Ranch

    Buena at Dos Pueblos

    Buena Park at Westminster

    Calabasas at Rio Mesa

    California Military at Firebaugh

    Camarillo at Moorpark

    Canyon/CC at Glendale

    Cathedral City at San Bernardino

    Century at Glenn

    Cerritos Valley Christian at Mary Star

    Chaminade at Valencia

    Channel Islands at Viewpoint

    Charter Oak at Upland

    Chino at West Covina

    Coachella Valley at Rancho Mirage

    Colony at Norco

    Compton Centennial at Beverly Hills

    Compton Early College at Magnolia

    Corona Santiago at Temescal Canyon

    Costa Mesa at Estancia

    Crean Lutheran at Mira Costa

    Crespi vs. Golden Valley at Canyon/CC HS

    Cypress at Brea Olinda

    Damien at Vista Murrieta

    Desert at Lancaster Baptist

    Desert Chapel at Whittier Christian

    Desert Hot Springs at Xavier Prep

    Desert Mirage at San Jacinto Valley Academy

    Diamond Bar at Claremont

    Don Lugo at Carter

    Downey at Capistrano Valley

    Eastvale Roosevelt at Summit

    El Dorado at Fullerton

    El Modena at Segerstrom

    El Segundo at Northwood

    Elsinore at Temecula Valley

    Fountain Valley vs. Esperanza at Yorba Linda HS

    Gahr at Cerritos

    Ganesha at El Monte

    Garden Grove vs. Pacifica/GG at Bolsa Grande HS

    Hart at Newbury Park

    Hemet at Tahquitz

    Heritage at Kaiser

    Highland at Apple Valley

    Lakewood at Paramount

    La Puente at Temple City

    La Salle at San Marino

    Leuzinger at Palmdale

    Loara at Lakeside

    Long Beach Wilson at JSerra

    Knight at Crescenta Valley

    Maranatha at Covina

    Millikan at Loyola

    Montclair at Burbank Burroughs

    Montebello at Cantwell-Sacred Heart

    Murrieta Mesa at Etiwanda

    Newport Harbor at Lancaster

    Nogales at Sierra Vista

    Northview at La Habra

    Norwalk at La Mirada

    Oaks Christian at Rancho Cucamonga

    Oak Park at Fillmore

    Ontario at La Sierra

    Ontario Christian at St. Anthony

    Orange at Laguna Beach

    Oxnard at Ventura

    Pacific at Rubidoux

    Peninsula at Ocean View

    Portola at Irvine

    Ramona at Arlington

    Rancho Alamitos at Godinez

    Rancho Verde at Canyon/A

    Riverside Notre Dame at Bloomington

    Riverside Poly at Riverside North

    Rowland at Baldwin Park

    Royal at Carpinteria

    San Marcos at Del Sol

    San Jacinto at Riverside King

    San Juan Hills at Chaparral

    Foothill at Tustin

    Santa Ana Valley vs. Katella at Glover Stadium

    Santa Barbara at Corona del Mar

    Santa Fe at El Rancho

    Santa Margarita at Corona Centennial

    Santa Monica at La Canada

    Santa Paula at Grace

    Savanna at Anaheim

    Schurr at La Serna

    Servite at Murrieta Valley

    Silverado at Yucaipa

    Sonora at Rosemead

    South El Monte at Saddleback

    South Hills at Ayala

    South Torrance at Arroyo

    St. Bonaventure at St. Pius X-St. Matthias

    St. Monica at Cathedral

    St. Paul at Mission Viejo

    Tesoro at Dana Hills

    Thousand Oaks at Hueneme

    Torrance at Redondo Union

    Troy at Rio Hondo Prep

    Westminster La Quinta at Pioneer

    West Ranch at Bishop Diego

    West Valley at Santa Rosa Academy

    Whittier at Gabrielino

    Workman at Mountain View

    Yorba Linda vs. Long Beach Poly at Veterans Stadium

    Yucca Valley at La Quinta

    Aquinas at Bishop Kelly (Idaho)

    Bakersfield at Paraclete

    Bakersfield Independence at Cajon

    Beckman at Pleasant Hill College Park

    Burbank at Las Vegas Centennial

    California City at Silver Valley

    Central at Palm Desert

    Chino Hills at Oceanside El Camino

    Eagle Rock at Monrovia

    Eastside at Rosamond

    Hawkins at Verbum Dei, 5 p.m.

    Heritage Christian at El Camino Real

    Inglewood at Westlake (Texas), 5 p.m.

    King/Drew at Culver City

    Las Vegas Shadow Ridge at Simi Valley

    Los Altos at South Gate

    Los Angeles Hamilton at Gardena Serra

    Los Angeles Jordan at Santa Clara

    Los Angeles Roosevelt at Lawndale

    Los Angeles University at Brentwood

    Lynwood at Dymally, 4 p.m.

    Mayfair at Bullard

    Muir at Pinecrest Academy Sloane Canyon (Nev.), 6 p.m.

    North County San Marcos at Great Oak

    North Torrance at Narbonne

    Orange Lutheran at San Diego Cathedral Catholic

    Palisades at Harvard-Westlake

    Palo Verde Valley at Shadow Hills

    Pasadena at Granada Hills Kennedy

    Philadelphia Roman Catholic at St. John Bosco

    Pinnacle (Ariz.) at Edison

    Quartz Hill at San Marcos Mission Hills

    Rancho Dominguez at Bosco Tech

    Salesian at Mesa (Ariz.) Westwood

    San Diego Lincoln at Oxnard Pacifica

    Maple Mountain (Utah) at South Pasadena

    Sylmar vs. Saugus at College of the Canyons

    Taft at Nordhoff

    Temecula Prep at Tri-City Christian

    Valley View vs. Sports Leadership & Management at Bishop Gorman

    Victor Valley at Mater Academy East (Las Vegas)

    Victory Christian Academy at Anza Hamilton

    Village Christian at North Hollywood

    Warren at Scripps Ranch

    West Adams at Pomona

    Westchester at St. Bernard

    West Torrance at San Pedro

    L.A. CITY

    Nonleague

    Arleta ar Bernstein

    Canoga Park at Hollywood

    Carson at Dorsey

    Contreras at Los Angeles Wilson

    Diego Rivera ar Santee

    Franklin at Chatsworth

    Gardena at South East

    Grant at Cleveland

    Jefferson at Van Nuys

    Los Angeles Marshall at Fairfax

    Legacy at Lincoln

    Locke at Belmont

    Manual Arts at Panorama

    Marquez at Bell

    Maywood CES at Fremont

    Sun Valley Poly at San Fernando

    Venice at Granada Hills

    Washington Prep at Roybal

    Wilmington Banning at Huntington Park

    8-MAN

    CIF-SS

    Nonleague

    Chadwick at Faith Baptist, 4 p.m.

    Mammoth at Flintridge Prep

    Maricopa at Frazier Mountain, 6 p.m.

    Thousand Oaks Hillcrest Christian at Entrepreneur

    Vista Meridian at Calvary Baptist

    St. Jeanne de Lestonnac at Fulton, 3:30 p.m.

     

     

    ​ Orange County Register 

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