It’s the final week of non-league action for many local high school football programs in the Santa Clarita Valley. On Thursday, six Foothill League teams will finish off their non-league slate with the Hart Hawks on the road as the lone local team playing Friday in a matchup against Heritage Christian.
As for the Heritage League schools, Trinity Classical Academy is on a scheduled bye while Santa Clarita Christian School is back on the road for a matchup against Sage Hill.
Here’s a look at this week’s matchups:
Canyon vs. Crespi
After starting the season 1-2, the Canyon Cowboys close out their non-league schedule against the Crespi Celts, who are 2-1 to start this year.
For the Celts, it will be the second time in recent weeks the Crespi football team visits Canyon High School after the team matched up with Golden Valley in Week 1.
For Canyon, if the Cowboys want to come out on top Thursday, the team will need to stop Crespi’s Chase Curren, a three-star athlete with multiple Division 1 scholarship offers, according to 247 Sports.
If the Cowboys want to come out on top Thursday, the team will need to limit Curren and Crespi’s offense, who’ve outscored opponents 88-59 through three games.
Thursday’s game between the Celts and Cowboys is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Canyon High School.
Castaic at Oak Park
The Coyotes (2-1) hit the road for their non-league finale as the team prepares for a tough matchup in the Oak Park Eagles, who are 3-0 and have outscored their opponents 119-25.
For Castaic, the Coyotes are amid their best start since the 2023 season and will look to build upon their early-season momentum with players such as sophomore Cody King leading the team.
King, who’s leading all Foothill League quarterbacks in passing yards with 700, will be a key player to have another big night if the Coyotes want to come out on top on Thursday.
Along with King, the Coyotes will need Justin Priestley to have a big performance, who leads the Foothill League in total touchdowns. And on defense, Lucas Duryea, who leads the Foothill League in total tackles, will be another impactful player who can determine the night for the Coyotes.
Thursday’s game between the Coyotes and Eagles is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Oak Park High School.
Golden Valley at Burbank
For Golden Valley’s (2-1) non-league finale, the Grizzlies are entering Thursday’s matchup with momentum following a 21-7 win over Crescenta Valley.
For Golden Valley, the Grizzlies’ defense has allowed 53 points through two games with the lone loss of the season to Crespi, who scored 38 points on their defense.
Outside of the Week 1 loss to Crespi, the Grizzlies allowed 15 points and will carry that momentum into a matchup against the Burbank Bulldogs, who are 1-2.
The Grizzlies will have a favorable matchup to start the season 3-1 as the Bulldogs have been outscored 121-86.
Thursday’s game between the Bulldogs and Grizzlies is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Burbank High School.
Saugus vs. Hueneme
Junior Bradyen Connelly’s name was called to start for Saugus (2-1) in last week’s win over Camarillo, and he made his shot count.
Connelly tossed three touchdowns and led Saugus to a game-winning drive on the road over Camarillo with the Centurions totaling 327 yards of offense.
The Centurions return home this Thursday and have a favorable matchup to get their third win of the season as the team welcomes the Hueneme Vikings (0-3).
The Vikings have been outscored 106-60 through the first three weeks of the season but have lost their previous two games by a combined nine points.
But with the Saugus’ offense rolling, the Centurions have the opportunity for another big home win this week and close out the non-league season on top.
Thursday’s game between the Centurions and the Vikings is set to begin at 7 p.m. at College of the Canyons’ Cougar Stadium.
Valencia vs. Paraclete
The Valencia Vikings are under .500 with a 1-2 record through three games to begin the 2026 season. And although the Vikings have begun the season with two games in the loss column, Thursday’s matchup for Valencia will be favorable for the team to even their record.
On Thursday, the Vikings welcome the Paraclete Spirits of Lancaster, who are winless to begin their season.
The Spirits, who’ve been outscored 45-96, are 1-2 in road matchups this season but are still ranked as the No. 59 team in the Southern Section, according to MaxPreps.
As for Valencia, the Vikings will look to utilize this week’s home-field advantage and need a bounce-back win following a road loss last week to Bishop Amat to gain momentum going into the Foothill League season.
Thursday’s game between the Vikings and Spirits is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Valencia High School.
West Ranch at Moorpark
The Wildcats are the lone team remaining in the Santa Clarita Valley who are winless through three games with a 3-0 record following a home defeat to Palmdale last week.
This week the Wildcats will look to end the non-league season on a high note on the road against the Moorpark Musketeers, who are 2-1 to begin the season.
For West Ranch, the Wildcats are in for another tough matchup as Moorpark’s offense has scored 99 points through three games. And with West Ranch’s defense having allowed 121 through three games, the Wildcats will need an all-around performance defensively to come out on top over a high-scoring Moorpark offense.
Thursday’s game between the Musketeers and Wildcats is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Moorpark High School.
Hart at Heritage Christian
Following a home loss to the Pacifica Tritons of Oxnard on Friday, the Hart Hawks (2-1) will look to bounce back in their final non-league game of the season on Friday.
On Friday, the Hawks will travel down to the San Fernando Valley and match up against the Heritage Christian Warriors, who are 3-0 after a 35-0 victory over Carpinteria last week.
For Hart, Friday’s matchup will be the second-consecutive season the Hawks will face off against the Warriors after the teams matched up last season, with Hart securing the win in a shootout.
This week, the Hawks will be on the road and need senior Matix Frithsmith, who totaled 179 all-purpose yards in last week’s loss to Pacifica, to have another big game against the Warriors.
Defensively, the Hawks will need a lockdown night if they want to come out on top over Heritage Christian as the Warriors have outscored theiropponents 107-16.
If both Frithsmith and Hart’s defense can have big nights, the Hawks can end the non-league season 3-1 and gain momentum into the Foothill League season.
Friday’s game between the Hawks and Warriors is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Heritage Christian.
Santa Clarita Christian at Sage Hill
On Saturday, the Cardinals secured their first win of the season on the road, 27-10 over Hesperia Christian.
With the win, the Cardinals are 1-1 to begin the season and kicked off the first of a six-game road stretch with a key victory.
On Thursday, the Cardinals take on the Sage Hill Lightning of Newport Beach, who are 2-0 to begin the season.
Thursday’s game will be a tough matchup as the Lightning outscored their opponents, 96-32. As for Santa Clarita Christian, the Cardinals will need an all-around performance from their defense as the team has been outscored 48-40 through two games.
Thursday’s game between the Cardinals and the Lightning is set to kick off at 6 p.m. at Sage Hill High School.
