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.