As we enter the fourth week of competition on the football scene, the San Fernando Valley has a few red-hot matchups taking place this week. It’s now or never for a few East Valley teams taking the road this week, while a Valley Mission team off to a good start faces its stiffest test of the young season. A physical contest is on the horizon in Panorama City,  and bragging rights are on the line in the annual showdown between Granada Hill’s heavyweight programs. Here is what you need to pay attention to in the Valley this week:

Verdugo Hills Dons (0-2) at #24 Taft Toreadors (3-0)

An angry Dons team hits the road this week seeking vindication after a 2-point loss on the road last week at Hoover, a game in which  Verdugo Hills had multiple scores taken off the board due to penalties. They will be taking on a Taft Toreadors team that is off to its best start since the 2008 season. Nathan Swinson and the Toreadors’ offense have put up 42 and 43-point performances in their last two games, so the Dons had better pack their defense if they plan on notching their first win of 2025.

#12 Granada Hills Highlanders (1-2) at #10 Kennedy Cougars (2-1)

“Tina” is on the line when the Highlanders and Cougars lock horns in Granada Hills Friday night. These schools have split the last four matchups, and this game feels like splitting hairs in determining who will come out on top. The game will come down to which squad’s defensive unit is better equipped to stop the other team’s run game. We all know how difficult a task it is to slow down the vaunted GHC option game, but Diego Montes and the Kennedy backfield stable chew up yardage and move the chains as well as anybody in the city section. This game has the potential to be the best of the Week three slate.

Poly Parrots (0-2) at Sylmar Spartans (1-1)

An interesting match takes place in Sylmar when the Parrots roll into town looking for their first victory of the season. It was a lopsided result on the road at San Fernando last week, and the Parrots need to prove to themselves that they can play a clean game and take advantage of opportunities, as opposed to giving up short fields the way they did last week to San Fernando. Sylmar will be rested for this game after having a bye in Week Two. The Spartans need to be aware of the Parrots’ pass game, as they were able to complete their fair share of deep shots on the San Fernando defense last week.

San Fernando Tigers (3-0) at Alemany Warriors (0-3)

The Tigers have looked the part of a city title-caliber team the first three weeks of the season. This week provides a huge challenge as the Tigers take a short trip down the street to challenge Alemany.  The Warriors will be hungry, searching for their first win of the season, and will certainly want to take out their early-season frustrations on San Fernando. The problem is the Tigers have been anything but a pushover this season, so if the Warriors want a victory here at home, they will have to earn it against an experienced San Fernando squad.

#22 El Camino Real Royals (1-2) at Panorama Pythons (3-0)

The Royals sit at 1-2, but the performances of this team lead me to believe they could and should be 3-0 if they had not played a schedule as difficult as theirs has been in the early season. They will get to prove just how good they can be in the city when they go on the road to face an unbeaten Panorama Pythons squad. The Pythons have been dominant in their first three games, outscoring their opponents 99-36. This game represents a significant step up in competition, but the Pythons are never afraid to take on a challenge.