It’s the final week of the high school football season, and the stage is set for a Foothill League championship decider with the matchup between Hart and Valencia highlighting this week’s slate of action.
Here’s a look at this week’s matchups:
Valencia vs. Hart
The Foothill League title decider is here. And although the official California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section playoff doesn’t start until next week, the feeling of postseason high school football kicks off Friday between the Hawks (8-1, 5-0) and Vikings (7-2, 5-0).
For Hart, the Hawks are in search of their first Foothill League championship since 2007, while the Vikings look to take care of business and capture their fourth-consecutive title and defend their Foothill League game-winning streak at 24 games, a feat that dates to the 2022 season.
Truthfully, this game is a tossup, and difficult to predict. Both teams are amid a six-game winning streak and have won in shutout and dominating fashion.
And to make a prediction even harder, the teams are paired together in MaxPreps rankings with the Vikings ranked as the No. 144 team in California and Hart as the No. 145 team.
But whoever wins this game, it’ll be determined in one area: the line of scrimmage.
For Valencia, the five offensive linemen — Will Mayberry, Thomas Konrad, Josue Moreno, William Skinner and Anthony Baca — will be tasked with stopping Hart’s defensive line, which has recorded 19.5 sacks through nine games along with 33.5 tackles for loss.
As for Hart, the likes of Matai Kaisa, Valentino Cederholm, Trevor Tristan, Hector Ruiz, and Angel Naroiso will face the tall task in defending against Valencia’s defensive line, who’ve tallied nine sacks along with 33 tackles for loss.
Whoever wins on Friday, and ultimately the Foothill League, will be determined by which offensive line is able to protect the backfield and spot the ball the best to allow their skill position players to perform.
Friday’s matchup between the Hawks and Vikings is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at College of the Canyons’ Cougar Stadium.
Signal Staff Pick, Ryan Romero: Vikings four-peat; Valencia 38, Hart 31
West Ranch vs. Golden Valley
Although West Ranch (2-7, 2-3) remains below .500 and outside of contention for an automatic playoff berth through the Foothill League, the Wildcats still are in play for an at-large playoff bid if they win their road matchup against the Grizzlies (4-5, 2-3).
The Grizzlies, who are 4-5 in the season, will look to close out their season at .500 and increase their chances of earning an at-large playoff bid. According to the Southern Section’s playoff eligibility rules, a team that ends its season at .500 will be considered first for an at-large bid over teams with a worse record.
With the Grizzlies playing host for Friday’s season finale, Golden Valley will look to utilize the likes of Cornell Glass and Aaron McCormick, two of the team’s leading running backs.
Friday’s matchup between the Grizzlies and the Wildcats is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Canyon High School.
Signal Staff Pick, Ryan Romero: Grizzlies finish at .500; Golden Valley 28, West Ranch 14
Saugus vs. Castaic
After a bye last week, the Centurions (6-3, 3-2) are back in play for the season’s final game of the year and hit the road to take on the Castaic Coyotes (3-6, 1-4).
For Saugus, an automatic playoff bid is on the line for the Centurions. Going into Friday’s matchup, the Centurions have a 3-2 record in Foothill League. And with a win over Castaic, Saugus would own the third and final automatic bid through the Foothill League.
While the Centurions will look to take care of business and clinch their playoff bid, the Coyotes will look to play spoilers and snag their fourth win in the season in the team’s final home of the season.
Friday’s matchup between the Coyotes and Centurions is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Valencia High School.
Signal Staff Pick, Ryan Romero: Cents clinch playoff bid; Saugus 35, Castaic 7
Avalon vs. Trinity
Following a 31-8 road win over Orcutt Academy, the Trinity Knights (5-3, 3-1) will look to close out the season recording their sixth win in a home matchup against the Avalon Lancers on Friday.
The Lancers, who are 3-4 and ranked as the No. 35 eight-man team in California, according to MaxPreps, will be a tough matchup for the Knights as Avalon is coming off back-to-back wins.
Trinity will look to end the season with the most momentum possible as the Knights will look to make the eight-man playoffs as the team is within one of the two automatic berths the Heritage League standings grants with a 3-1 record.
Friday’s matchup between the Knights and Lancers is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Hart High School.
Lancaster Baptist vs. SCCS
After a bye last week, the Santa Clarita Christian Cardinals (4-4, 1-2) will look to solidify their playoff chances in the team’s final game of the season in a matchup against the Lancaster Baptist Eagles (5-3, 1-2).
The Cardinals, who are 4-4 in the season, can increase their odds of an at-large bid into the eight-man playoffs with a win over the Eagles as Santa Clarita Christian remains in third in the Heritage League standings and not in contention for an automatic berth.
Friday’s matchup between the Cardinals and Eagles is scheduled for kickoff at 7 p.m. at Heritage Christian High School in Northridge.
