The beginning of the fall season is always a special time for the staff at Valley Sports Telegram. Coming out of the summer break, we have had time to strategize, speak to coaches, keep tabs on player movement and development, and have in-depth conversations about where we expect the prep football season to take us. I asked my fellow senior staffers, Kaylie Harden, Benjamin Becher, and our Editor-in-Chief, Arshavir Saryan, their opinions about a few topics that loom large as we sit on the eve of the 2025 season.

In 2024, we witnessed two of our Valley teams take home titles with Chatsworth and Panorama lifting hardware in D-II and D-III, respectively. We also saw deep playoff runs by perennially strong teams like Cleveland, Arleta, and Kennedy in D-I as well. The surprises that stuck out for us were the resurgence of teams such as Chavez, East Valley newcomer Fulton, and the run to the D-III title game by Van Nuys. In 2025, who can have that kind of impact? Who can step forward and have a run like 2024 Van Nuys?

Kaylie Harden (VST Social Media Coordinator): You know, I’d like to see what Granada could do if they get a little more out of the Quarterback position. They could have a memorable season.

Arshavir Saryan (VST Editor-in Chief):  I went back and forth between so many teams this season. Ultimately, this might be Sean Jackson’s best chance at getting back to a title game with Verdugo Hills.

Benjamin Becher (VST Senior Photographer) :  I think this is the year we see San Fernando make a title game with some key players still on their belt, and coach Burnley back leading this group. I can see them making a real run.

Kenny Hodges (VST Senior Editor) : I look at Taft and I see a program with a lot of potential. The squad took its lumps early on last season, but you saw them turn the corner, including a postseason win and a near comeback for the ages against Van Nuys. I would keep an eye on them this season.

We all know that Birmingham has been the top dog in the City Section for quite some time now. The Pats ran into a speed bump in their dominant run last November, but you must ask: Was that a blip on the radar? Or have the kings come back to the pack in 2025?

Arshavir Saryan: I think it is too soon to say so. Honestly, I expect Birmingham to do what Birmingham does: bully the City Section. Until someone knocks them off, it is more of the same.

Kenny Hodges: Before we can definitively say they have come back, we have to see the West Valley get more competitive with them. It is so hard to gauge where Birmingham is with the City if we have to wait until the postseason before we see them play a tight game. But for the sake of the question, it was a blip on the radar…for now, at least.

Benjamin Becher:  It will be the same as every year; they play the toughest teams in the southern section, then bully the city section. Their preseason (before league play) is so tough that they go in having more experience playing tough squads.

Kaylie Harden: ⁠Hannah Montana said, “Everybody has those days, everybody gets that way.” I think last season was just one of those days- by the law of large numbers (and Birmingham has a large number of city section wins) they’re bound to have a season that doesn’t quite live up to the rest. I do not think we can or should declare the dynasty dead yet.

The accomplishments of Coach Rose and Coach Brooks are frequently discussed, and established coaches like Bill Coan and Sean Jackson have numerous rings to showcase. I want to focus on Kennedy Coach Troy Cassidy and the perennial winner he’s building with the Kennedy program. They won a title in 2022 ( Ben knows a little something about that.) And last year, they had an incredible season that fell just short of championship glory. They are back and loaded with talent, including their Senior Quarterback, Diego Montes, widely regarded as one of the best in the Section. We can all agree that they are the favorites in the VML, but is this the year Kennedy breaks through to compete in the Open Division come postseason time?

Benjamin Becher: Kennedy has the potential to make an open division spot; they have the players and the coaching to do it. But I do not see them winning the open title. There are other open teams that I think are a little deeper, but I can see them making some sort of run in Open.

Arshavir Saryan: They have scheduled with the intention of breaking through into the top 8. They should be an Open team. However, the big question for me isn’t whether they finish in Open, but can the Golden Cougars add another ring with Diego Montes under center? He did play a role in their 2022 title as a freshman. This time, he is the senior leader.

Kaylie Harden: ⁠Kennedy BETTER! I love watching this team rise to the top and their ability to have success with every challenge they seem to take on.

Kenney Hodges: There is a belief in that coaches’ room in how they prepare and play when the lights turn on Friday nights. The success we have seen over the last few years is the design of a ton of hard work from players past and present, and this could be a year where Kennedy announces they are in that class. Listen, it’s tough breaking into that bracket when you must unseat the regulars that seem to reside there from the other side of the city. They’ll be up to the task, I believe.

North Hollywood had an incredible run last season in the East Valley, but that league could be ripe for the taking by several teams heading into 2025. Is there an under-the-radar team that could steal a title this year?

Arshavir:  I wouldn’t go as far as to say the EVL is wide open. NoHo is returning 14(!) players from last year. They have 25 seniors and 15 juniors on the roster. I expect big things from Gaven Zamora, Logan Grant, and Josiah Taylor this season. I think they go back-to-back.

Kaylie: ⁠For my sanity, I hope Grant can get it together in terms of consistency this year. They have triggered my Browns fan PTSD in recent years- and not just because they wear the same colors.

Kenny: North Hollywood will be tough to dethrone, but I think Arleta is a team to keep an eye on this year. I know they don’t fit the description of an underdog, but after the losses to Noho and the late collapse to Grant in 2024, the Mustangs have something to prove this year. It’s never fun facing those Arleta kids when they feel undervalued and overlooked. But also, Chavez. I will speak that Purple Reign into existence!

Benjamin:  I think Fulton‘s playoff run was a sneak peek of what they could be this year, and I think they could sneak into winning the East Valley if things fall right.

Okay, final question: We have a lot of great Coaches leading programs in the SFV. Who emerges as your pick for Coach of the Year when the dust settles?

Benjamin: I’m going with the goat, Coach Cassidy

Kenny: If the Highlanders thrive in this gauntlet of a schedule they have between their non-league and West Valley slate, like I think they may, Coach Bucky Brooks at Granada Hills is my pick.

Kaylie: ⁠This is a great one! I think if Coach Rose can maintain success heading up the girls and boys teams this year, he’s deserving. Otherwise, I would love to see how Coach Guzman at Cleveland takes off.

Arshavir: You’re killing me, smalls. I am going to play it safe and go with Troy Cassidy at Kennedy. They’re going to have a big season.