After two weeks of the high school football season, the Santa Clarita Valley is halfway through the non-league schedule with local programs combining for an overall 9-8 record going into the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Week 2.
This week, three local programs play on Thursday with the Trinity Knights taking their scheduled bye following a 58-0 win over Desert Christian for the team’s first eight-man win of the season.
Here’s a look at this week’s matchups:
Canyon vs. Kennedy
After a defeat in the first week of the season to Knight, the Canyon Cowboys (1-1) responded with a narrow 25-24 win over Glendale last weekend to record their first win of the season.
With the victory, the Cowboys recorded their first non-league win since the 2024 season and will look to build upon their momentum with a home matchup Thursday against the visiting Kennedy Golden Cougars of Granada Hills.
The Golden Cougars, who are one of the top-ranked programs in the Los Angeles City Section rankings, according to MaxPreps, carry a 2-0 record and have outscored their opponents 86-14 through the first two weeks.
The teams matched up last season at Kennedy High School with the Cowboys falling to the Golden Cougars, 29-21.
The Cowboys will have a tough matchup Thursday and will need to rely on their run game, which produced 144 yards in last week’s win along with two touchdowns.
Thursday’s game between the Golden Cougars and Cowboys is set to kick off at 7 p.m. at Canyon High School.
Castaic vs. Cleveland
The Castaic Coyotes (2-0) are one of two remaining undefeated teams in the Santa Clarita Valley after a big 48-0 road win over Littlerock last week.
This week, the Coyotes return home but host the Cleveland Cavaliers of Reseda Thursday, who are the No. 12 ranked team in the Los Angeles City Section, according to MaxPreps.
The Cavaliers, who are 2-0 through the first two weeks of the season, will be a tough contest for the Coyotes as Cleveland has outscored its opponents 96-0.
As for Castaic, the Coyotes will look toward sophomore quarterback Cody King to have another big day offensively. In last week’s win over Littlerock, King tossed for four touchdowns and 219 yards.
The Coyotes face a big test Thursday but have the players to bring Castaic its third win of the season.
Thursday’s game between the Cavaliers and Coyotes is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Valencia High School.
Valencia at Bishop Amat
Following a 35-10 defeat to Chaminade in last week’s matchup, the Vikings (1-1) will have a quick turnaround and hit the road for a contest against the Bishop Amat Lancers of La Puente.
The Lancers, who are 2-0 to begin the season, are ranked as the No. 48 team in California and No. 25 in the Southern Section, according to MaxPreps.
Despite the loss for Valencia last week, sophomore quarterback Evan McCalister threw for 250 yards along with a touchdown with Caysen Badawi having a big day offensively and defensively.
Badawi received over 140 yards for four receptions along with a touchdown and interception defensively.
This week, Valencia will need both McCalister and Badawi to have big performances as the Vikings eye a bounce-back win this week.
Thursday’s game between the Lancers and the Vikings is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Bishop Amat Memorial High School.
Hart vs. Pacifica
Following last week’s 21-10 road victory over Newbury Park on Friday, the Hawks (2-0) started the season 2-0 for the first time under head coach Jake Goossen-Brown, and their first 2-0 start since the 2023 season.
This week, the Hawks will look to start the season 3-0 back at home against the visiting Pacifica Tritons of Oxnard, who are 2-0 and ranked as the No. 29 team in California, according to MaxPreps.
Friday’s matchup won’t be easy, but Hart’s defense will be the key if the Hawks come out victorious this week after allowing a combined 10 points through two weeks.
Last week, Pacifica’s quarterback Taylor Lee tossed five touchdown passes in a 52-27 win over San Diego Lincoln and will be a key player to stop for the Hawks.
If the Hawks win this Friday, it would be the first time Hart football is 3-0 since the 2023 season.
Friday’s game between the Hawks and Tritons is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at College of the Canyons’ Cougar Stadium
Saugus at Camarillo
Following a 49-0 homecoming win at home over the Sylmar Spartans, the Saugus Centurions (1-1) go back on the road this week with a matchup against the Camarillo Scorpions.
The Scorpions, who are 1-1 through two games, have been outscored 56-53 and will need to stop a Centurions offense that produced 332 total yards of offense last week behind freshman Zach Barnes calling snaps.
But the question remains, who will start as quarterback for Saugus?
In Week 0, junior Brayden Connelly started the game against Agoura and last week Barnes led the Centurions to victory in his first-ever start.
Both quarterbacks had multi-touchdown games in their respective starts, and neither has thrown an interception.
Although this Friday’s starter is up in the air, the Centurions will have a favorable matchup to have another big day offensively against a Camarillo defense that gave up 40 points last week.
Friday’s game between the Centurions and the Scorpions is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Camarillo High School.
Golden Valley vs. Crescenta Valley
After a 38-7 loss to Crespi last week, the Golden Valley Grizzlies (1-1) will look to bounce back at home this week against the Crescenta Valley Falcons.
The Falcons kicked off their season last week with a 31-0 win over Knight High School with Crescenta Valley’s offense producing 285 total yards of offense.
This week, the Grizzlies will have a tough matchup if the team wants to get its second win of the season after Golden Valley’s defense gave up 38 points to Crespi in last week’s loss with the Celts’ offense totaling 351 yards of offense.
Friday’s game between the Falcons and the Grizzlies is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Canyon High School.
West Ranch vs. Palmdale
The Wildcats (0-2) haven’t started the season they’d like following back-to-back losses to Harvard-Westlake and Bishop Diego and have been outscored 80-20 through two weeks.
This week, the Wildcats return home with a matchup against the Palmdale Falcons, who are 1-1 this season.
If the Wildcats want to come out on top on Friday, West Ranch’s defense will have its toughest matchup this season against Palmdale’s offense, who has outscored its opponents 63-50 including a 42-7 win over Leuzinger last weekend.
Friday’s game between the Falcons and Wildcats is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Valencia High School.
Santa Clarita Christian at Hesperia Christian
Last week, the Cardinals (0-1) kicked off their season with a home loss to St. Joseph Academy.
Despite the loss, Santa Clarita Christian’s run game had a good day on the stat sheet as the Cardinals tallied 132 total rushing yards with junior Isaac Lee recording 125 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Cardinals recorded 62 total tackles and held St. Joseph Academy to 16 points in the second half.
This week, the Cardinals will look to bounce back on Saturday with a road matchup against Hesperia Christian, who are coming off a 40-13 win over Valley Christian Academy last week.
Saturday’s game between the Cardinals and Patriots is scheduled for kickoff at 6 p.m. at Hesperia Christian High School.
Photos below from Santa Clarita Christian School’s loss to St. Joseph Academy on Saturday:
