As we turn the corner to the second half of the football season in the SFV, we are beginning to get a clearer picture of the real championship contenders. The Patriots made a strong statement at the top of the list this week, while an East Valley juggernaut reentered the championship conversation after a big performance on the road. Here are the top ten teams heading into Week Six of the football slate here in the San Fernando Valley:

1. Birmingham Patriots (2-3) Last Week: #1
   The Patriots made just the kind of statement they needed as they begin the league portion of their schedule. They dominated Harvard-Westlake in a way that should give the rest of the city pause for concern. They look to continue their dominance of the West Valley when they face El Camino this week.
2. Kennedy Cougars (4-1) Last Week: #2
   The Cougars had a bye last week and will return to action this week =hosting a big matchup versus Panorama this week.
3. Granada Hills Highlanders (2-3) Last Week: #3
   The Highlanders were off last week but return to action in an intriguing tilt versus upstart Taft this week.
4. Sylmar Spartans (4-1) Last Week: #6
   The Spartans have looked downright dangerous and could be a dark horse for the Valley Mission title. That conversation gets louder with a win on the road versus Van Nuys this week.
5. El Camino Real Royals (2-3) Last Week: #5
   The Royals have played as tough a schedule as anybody in the city the first half of the season. Let’s see if the rest and all those reps against tough opponents prepared them for the ferocious battle they have in front of them in Birmingham to begin league play this week.
6. Panorama Pythons (5-1) Last Week: #7
   The Pythons have played exceptionally well to start the season, as is becoming customary of this young program in the Valley Mission. They can stamp themselves as a threat to win back-to-back city titles with a good performance on the road at Kennedy this week.
7. Van Nuys Wolves (5-1) Last Week: #10
   The Wolves bounced back in a major way at home versus San Fernando last week to re-establish their momentum. A win this week would push their regular-season win total to six, something the Wolves have not done since the 2012 season.
8. Taft Toreadors (4-1) Last Week: #9
   Taft faced a small setback in their loss at home versus Eagle Rock two weeks ago. Coming out of their bye, they will get a chance to regain momentum as they open league play hosting Granada Hills this week.
9. San Fernando Tigers (4-2) Last Week: #4
   The Tigers suffered their second loss of the season at the hands of Van Nuys. They will get the chance to rest and regroup before facing off against Panorama next week.
10. North Hollywood Huskies (2-3) Last Week: NR
    The Huskies re-enter the fray seemingly having dusted off their non-league trouble by pasting yet another East Valley foe on the road at Verdugo last week. Could the Huskies go unbeaten in the East Valley in back-to-back seasons? A win at home versus Arleta Friday night would cement that as a real possibility.