The Los Angeles Daily News is home to some of the country’s best high school sports, including athletes, programs and coaches.
Year in and year out, the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas produce nationally ranked football, girls volleyball, basketball, water polo, softball and baseball teams. The area has produced highly-touted athletes and 5-star recruits like Alyssa Thompson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Ziaire Williams, and Collin Morikawa … the list goes on.
And the best part? When the talent goes head-to-head.
Here are the top high school football games to watch for the 2025 season from Week 0 to Week 10. All games listed below will be played locally.
(All games set for Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise)
WEEK 0: St. Bonaventure at St. Francis, Aug. 22
St. Bonaventure’s new coach Troy Hill will have his debut against one of the most veteran coaches around in Dean Herrington. St. Francis has a shiny new toy in running back Elijah Wilson, a transfer from St. Monica.
WEEK 1: Sierra Canyon at Oaks Christian, Aug. 29
These two programs are always vying for the No. 1 spot in the area, so that is most likely what will be on the line Friday night. There will be two 5-star recruits to watch in Sierra Canyon defensive lineman Richie Wesley (Texas) and Oaks Christian running back Deshonne Redeaux (USC)
WEEK 2: Birmingham Charter at Moorpark, Sept. 5
A little City Section, Southern Section cross over. Birmingham Charter, with new running back Dallas Jones (from Sierra Canyon) will travel to take on Moorpark, which is under new management with first-year coach Christian Dearborn.
WEEK 3: Santa Margarita at Oaks Christian, Sept. 12
It’s always special when a Trinity League team comes to Northern Los Angeles. This time, Santa Margarita is coming to make this matchup even more fun because of the NFL ties at head coach. Santa Margarita is coached by Carson Palmer. Oaks Christian’s Charlie Collins, a longtime wide receivers coach in the NFL, is entering his eighth year with the Lions.
WEEK 4: Crespi at Oak Park, Sept. 19
Two programs looking to make a leap in 2025 will face off in mid-September. The winner of this game won’t turn into a world beater, but this Friday night result could leave the winner with good confidence ahead of league play.
WEEK 5: Ventura at Newbury Park, Sept. 26
Slim pickings for this week because a lot of teams take their bye week, but here’s a good Ventura County showdown that includes one of the Daily News’ top teams in Newbury Park. Ventura was 5-0 in the Channel League last year and boasts a top linebacker in Tristan Phillips, who will try to make Newbury Park QB Brady Smigiel’s life harder that Friday night.
WEEK 6: Gardena Serra at Sierra Canyon, Oct. 3
If history is any indication, this matchup generally decides the league championship and which team is likely to earn a berth to the Division 1 playoffs. This game was decided by one touchdown in 2023 and by one point in 2024. Both were won by Sierra Canyon.
WEEK 7: Camarillo at Simi Valley, Oct.10
A good Marmonte League matchup here. Simi Valley, led by coach Jim Benkert, will lean on a stout defense anchored by Izak Simpson and Micah Hannah. Camarillo didn’t have a great 2024, but will look to turn things around with running back Shane Feller, who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior last season.
WEEK 8: Westlake at Newbury Park, Oct. 17
This game might not provide the tightest of scores, but it could provide a fun storyline. Newbury Park QB Brady Smigiel is a 5-star Michigan commit who will be playing against the new regime at Westlake headed by Rick and Casey Clausen, two standout quarterbacks in their own right back in the day.
WEEK 9: Hart at Valencia, Oct. 24
An oldie but a goodie. One of the Daily News’ storied rivalries in the Foothill League is Hart vs. Valencia. Hart’s program is on the rise with second-year coach Jake Goossen-Brown, while Valencia is still operating under legendary coach Larry Muir. This game could be for the league title.
WEEK 10: Chaminade at Notre Dame, Oct. 31
This is a Mission League rivalry that might determine playoff placement in a dramatic season finale. Notre Dame has QB transfer Wyatt Brown (from Santa Monica) and rising senior Luc Weaver at wideout, a USC commit. Chaminade’s junior QB Cameron Pooley has solidified himself as the starter in West Hills heading into his junior season. The Eagles also have experience on the offensive line.
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