The 2025 season is in full swing, and even though quite a few of the schools in our backyard are facing tough tests on the road, there are still several juicy matchups around the San Fernando Valley worth taking the trip to see this Thursday and Friday night. Here are some of the more intriguing battles and storylines to follow around the SFV this week:

#21 Arleta Mustangs (1-0) @ #12 Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1) – Thursday 8/28, 7pm at Cleveland High School

It is rare to get non-league matchups that feel like they could have potential playoff implications this early in a season, but this top-25 matchup has that feel to it. The Mustangs will be riding high coming off a nice road win versus a quality opponent in Westchester last week. The Cavaliers tasted defeat on the road at Harvard-Westlake, but by no means will this team be anything but ready to even out their record. I would expect a physical contest between these two squads, with the Mustangs already being a team that leans heavily on their ground game, and the Cavaliers will likely do the same, given they will be starting an inexperienced quarterback to replace their injured starter.

Monroe Vikings @ Taft Toreadors– Thursday 8/28, 7 pm at Taft High School

It has been tough for the Monroe Vikings the last two seasons following their East Valley title in 2022. But similarly to that team from three seasons ago, this Viking squad is chock full of experienced players ready to turn the tables and do some winning of their own. The same can be said for Taft, who is also a team looking to make strides after a couple of seasons of rebuilding the foundations of their program. The winner of this game will be a candidate for the biggest early-season surprise at 2-0. Both teams will be desperate to put this win under their belt, with both Monroe and Taft’s schedules ramping up in difficulty over the next few weeks.

Chavez Eagles @ San Fernando Tigers – 7 pm, at San Fernando High School

While it might be too early to call the annual matchup between these two San Fernando-based teams a rivalry, this matchup brings the vibes when it comes to familiarity with the two programs. The schools are separated by less than 10 minutes, and no matter who is hosting the last five years, it’s usually a packed house. The Tigers have taken the last two matchups in the series and the Eagles will be hungry to change that. San Fernando is coming off a really quick turnaround, having just played Trinity Classical at College of the Canyons last Saturday night.

#18 El Camino Real Royals  @ Heritage Christian Warriors – Friday 8/29, 7 pm, at Heritage Christian High School

If you ask any of the coaches around the El Camino Real program, what we saw them do to Knight last week is merely a sign of what is to come from a proud program eager to prove they have what it takes to get to the top of the West Valley League. They will get a chance to prove it when they go on the road to battle a tough Heritage Christian team on Friday night. If the Royals come out of this game victorious, talk of how special this season can be will really begin to pick up steam.

St Bonaventure Seraphs @ #1 Birmingham Patriots – 7 pm, at Birmingham High School

The Patriots made light work of a Southern Section opponent in the second half last Friday night and will now turn their attention to another formidable Southern Section foe in St. Bonaventure. Kevin Hawkins showed tremendous signs of improvement and was a major catalyst in the Patriots’ victory Friday night. They will need even more from him if they intend to move to 2-0.