The Gems are back for a jam-packed weekend of action across the San Fernando Valley as the playoffs get underway. There are too many great games to pick from that are going on in our backyard, so here are just a few of the highlight matchups you wont want to miss as the First round of the CIFLACS and the CIFSS postseason kicks off Friday night:

D-II First Round: #9 DMAC Pheonix at #8 Grant Lancers – Grant HS, 7 pm kickoff

It has been a season of ups and downs for the Grant Lancers but this team has the look of a squad poised to make a deep run in the postseason. They finished the season winning three of their last four games which ultimately made the difference in them being awarded a top 8 seed and hosting this game. They’ll have to bring it against this DMAC squad who are better than their 4-6 regular season record suggests. They come into the contest having won their last three games to close out the regular season by a three touchdown margin of victory. Expect this game to go down to the wire.

D-II First Round: #14 San Fernando Tigers at #3 Chatsworth Chancellors – Chatsworth HS, 7 pm kickoff

Revenge will be on the minds of the San Fernando Tigers as they return to the scene of the where their season ended a game short of the Division II championship in 2023. The cast of characters have changed for both Chatsworth and San Fernando, but there are enough components on both sides remaining from last year that should make this an emotional contest. A side story to watch out for is how the Chancellors will adjust to the post Marvin Street era.

D-III First Round: #10 Contreras Cobras at #7 Van Nuys Wolves – Van Nuys HS, 7 pm kickoff

When you look at the strides the Van Nuys program has made in the past two seasons, this playoff game is the culmination of a lot of hard work by Ken Osorio and his staff and belief and determination of his players to build a squad worthy of hosting a first round playoff game, something the program has not done since 2012. Getting back to the dance wont be enough for this group, but they will have a true test in the Contreras Cobras who have had no problems playing away from home this season (4-0 in away games). the game will ultimately come down to the Van Nuys passing game. If the Wolves can take the top of the defense, they should be in a good position to advance.

CIF-SS D-I Play-in Game: #9 Servite Friars at #8 Sierra Canyon Trailblazers – Sierra Canyon HS, 7 pm kickoff

The Southern Section offers up a juicy matchup in the Southern Section’s toughest bracket. The Trailblazers are one of the best teams in the section, but the talent is so tough in Division I they will have to settle for a spot in the play-in round against another team very familiar with playing for top titles in the section in the Servite Friars. At first glance you would think the Trailblazers are the favorite here, but the Friars late season struggles are a bit of a mirage when you take into consideration their league includes five of the top seven teams in the state. The Trailblazers are no slouch, coming into the contest as the #9 ranked team in California, but the Friars are talented and battle tested, with wins over #7 JSerra on their resume and two wins over Mission league opponents as well. Expect high drama out in Chatsworth tonight.

VST Game of the Week

D-I First Round: #13 Granada Hills Highlanders at #4 North Hollywood Huskies – North Hollywood HS, 7 pm kickoff

The North Hollywood Huskies have had a season for the ages. They come into the postseason as the only undefeated team in the CIFLACS. They have one of the stingiest defensive units in the section, having only allowed 49 points all season long. They are a tough physical veteran bunch that have met the challenge all season long. Their reward: a first round matchup against a program that has been a flagship team at the top of the city section rankings for the past few years. While many of the standout players for Granada Hills have moved on, the identity and belief in Head Coach Bucky Brooks’ vaunted double wing remain intact. The Highlanders are young compared to the past two seasons, but they can still exploit you if you are undisciplined in the gaps when they attack you with their run game. This game is going to be a fist fight that will test just how dominant the Huskies actually are.