The high school football season will begin Friday for many of the teams in the Daily News area.
No. 2-ranked Chaminade hosts No. 4-ranked Oaks Christian on Friday night in the Daily News’ Game of the Week.
Here are previews for the top games and predictions for all of the area games:
FRIDAY’S TOP GAMES
Game of the week
No. 4 Oaks Christian (0-0) vs. No. 2 Chaminade (1-0), 7 p.m.
Chaminade, led by offensive lineman Jackson Hill (Notre Dame commit), will take on Oaks Christian and standout defensive lineman Alifeleti Tuihalamaka (USC commit). The game might be decided in the trenches. But it might also be determined by which quarterback handles the pressure better. Sophomore Niko Bladow gets the start for Oaks Christian opposite Chaminade sophomore Jeremy Mellalieu. He completed 17 of 28 passes for 217 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the Eagles’ opener against Leilehua last week. Chaminade also got production last week out of defensive back Jaxson Lillard, who had six tackles and a pick-6. Seniors Xavier Burkett and Josh Tyler are leading defensive backs for Oaks Christian. Chaminade’s collective physicality with defensive tackle Kingston Williams, Hudson Manning, and Elijah Williams liquidates the inexperience of Oaks Christian.
Prediction: Chaminade wins 17-13.
No. 1 Sierra Canyon (0-0) vs. JSerra Catholic (0-0), 7 p.m.
Sierra Canyon takes its star-studded roster to Orange County to face JSerra. Sierra Canyon battles a JSerra team looking to regain its former luster after finishing 3-7 in 2025. Sierra Canyon will be confronted by an improved JSerra defensive line led by three-star recruit and UCLA commit Godschoice Eboigbodin. JSerra also has standout senior ballcarrier William Hendricksen (336 rushing yards, three touchdowns) and three-star wide receiver Chris Cokley (51 receptions, 694 yards, 8 TDs in 2025). JSerra might be better this season, but so is Sierra Canyon. The speed at skilled positions, led by defensive backs Myles Baker, Duvay Williams, and Faruq Mohammad, is matched by the team’s physicality Sierra Canyon presents up front with Texas commit Kasi Currie, Marcus Fakatou (Ohio State), Cooper Cook and Brayden Tautalo. Sophomore Hunter Bryant, junior Lance Ciechanowski and seniors Braydenn Mercer and Tyson Seidman will be doing the blocking up front to make sure quarterbacks Demarco Hernandez and Ian Patterson are well protected. Sierra Canyon will also get production out of explosive playmakers Jaxson Stokes and wide receiver Sir Homer King Webb. Sierra Canyon’s physicality is otherworldly.
Prediction: Sierra Canyon wins 34-14.
No. 3 Westlake (0-0) vs. No. 5 Newbury Park (0-0), 7 p.m.
Newbury Park carries plenty of talent over from its 6-5 season in 2025. Newbury Park returns Darrien Johnson along with Tyler Stromsoe, while 6-foot-4 freshman Daniel Tromello makes his varsity debut. Tromello will be facing Westlake’s experienced and talented group up front, led by tight end Charles Davis III, wide receiver Demare Dezeurn, freshman All-American quarterback Ford Green (2,195 yards, 31 touchdowns, eight interceptions), along with a steady running back and safety in Jake Tweten. Tough situation for a freshman quarterback to try to win his debut at home.
Prediction: Westlake wins 21-14.
No. 10 Notre Dame (0-0) vs. No. 13 Crespi (0-0), 7 p.m.
Good measuring-stick game for both teams, with returning sophomore three-star quarterback Chase Curren against a speedy Notre Dame team led by Emmanuel Pullins and San Diego State commit Tahj Pullins. Two high-powered offenses that are guaranteed a shootout in Encino.
Prediction: Notre Dame wins 35-31.
No. 20 Birmingham (0-0) vs. No. 9 Hart (0-0), 7 p.m.
Birmingham, led by senior wide receiver Paul Turner and junior quarterback and linebacker Daniel Kakooza, travels to Hart. Kakooza will be tasked with stopping Matix Frithsmith, who compiled 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in 2025. Birmingham is talented, but Hart has the experience.
Prediction: Hart wins 28-10.
No. 11 Calabasas (0-0) vs. No. 22 Alemany (0-0), 7 p.m.
Calabasas, led by UCLA commit Kingston Celifie and offensive lineman Donald Penn III, heads to Alemany, led by senior running back Tabary McKnight. Alemany’s improved discipline under second-year coach Dennis Keyes should make for a good matchup. Calabasas, however, prevails in a nail-biter.
Prediction: Calabasas wins 21-17.
OTHER GAMES FRIDAY
Granada Hills vs. North Hollywood 7 p.m. Prediction: North Hollywood 24-7.
Saugus vs. Agoura, 7 p.m. Prediction: Saugus 31-20.
Heritage Christian vs. San Fernando, 7 p.m. Prediction: Heritage Christian 28-14.
Valencia vs. Simi Valley, 7 p.m. Prediction: Valencia 27-21.
Monroe vs. Royal, 7 p.m. Prediction: Royal 27-7.
Harvard-Westlake vs. West Ranch 7 p.m. Prediction: Harvard-Westlake 21-19.
Sun Valley Poly vs. Taft, 7 p.m. Prediction: Taft 28-26.
Knight vs. Canyon, 7 p.m. Prediction: Knight 35-14.
Fillmore vs. La Canada, 7 p.m. Prediction: Fillmore 28-20.
Arroyo vs. Panorama 7 p.m. Prediction: Arroyo 17-7.
Canoga Park vs. Arleta 3:30 p.m. Prediction: Arleta 21-14.
Reseda vs. Fulton, 3:30 p.m. Prediction: Reseda 14-12.
Cabrillo vs. Burbank, 7 p.m. Prediction: Cabrillo 28-21.
Narbonne vs. Cleveland 7 p.m. Prediction: Cleveland 21-17.
California City vs. Eastside, 7 p.m. Prediction: Eastside 34-21.
Glendale vs. San Gabriel, 7 p.m. Prediction: San Gabriel 42-7.
Fremont vs. Van Nuys, 7 p.m. Prediction: Fremont 27-14.
Hesperia vs. Palmdale, 7 p.m. Prediction: Palmdale 35-20.
Marquez vs. Verdugo Hills, 7 p.m. Prediction: Marquez 16-13.
Paraclete vs. St. Bonaventure, 7 p.m. Prediction: St. Bonaventure 38-28.
Quartz Hill vs. Chino Hills, 7 p.m. Prediction: Quartz Hill 42-35.
Oak Hills vs. Highland, 7 p.m. Prediction: Highland 31-21.
Maya Angelou vs. Oak Park, 7 p.m. Prediction: Oak Park 42-7.
Golden Valley vs. Pasadena, 7 p.m. Prediction: Golden Valley 36-13.
Grant vs. Wilson, 7 p.m. Prediction: Wilson 38-14.
Antelope Valley vs. Kern Valley, 7 p.m. Prediction: Antelope Valley 28-27.
Northview vs. Thousand Oaks 7 p.m. Prediction: Thousand Oaks 38-27.
Apple Valley vs. Moorpark 7 p.m. Prediction: Moorpark 35-28
South vs. Burroughs, 7 p.m. Prediction: South 21-7.
Lancaster vs. Coronado, 7 p.m. Prediction: Coronado 31-24.
St. Genevieve vs. Minarets 7 p.m. Prediction: St. Genevieve 27-14.
Kennedy vs. Eagle Rock, 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 20. Prediction: Kennedy 24-21.
Village Christian vs. Huntington Park, 7 p.m. Prediction: Village Christian 31-7.
Arrowhead Christian vs. Grace, 7 p.m. Prediction: Grace 28-10.
Clairemont vs. Viewpoint, 7 p.m. Prediction: Viewpoint 35-14.
El Camino Real vs. Kauai (HI), Saturday. Prediction: Kauai 31-10.