With the West Valley League getting underway this week, we are officially in the second half of the season. There are so many intriguing matchups in our backyard this week, including a couple of matchups with major implications for both the East Valley and the Valley Mission. Here is the best of what is on the slate for Week Six in the San Fernando Valley that you will not want to miss Friday night:

Arleta Mustangs (3-2) at North Hollywood Huskies (2-3) – North Hollywood HS, 7 pm kickoff

The Huskies’ record is not eye-catching at 2-3 to start the season. But the only number that matters this week is nine. That is the current win streak of North Hollywood in East Valley play, and they will look to push that to double digits when they face Arleta at home this week. The Huskies have made it look easy, outscoring Monroe and Verdugo Hills 92-16 in their first two league contests. This week will present a different challenge facing an Arleta defense that is as scrappy as any you will find in the SFV, having only allowed 12 points to their first two opponents in the East Valley. This is easily the two most experienced rosters in the league, and the winner of this contest will have the inside track to winning the East Valley championship.

#15 Granada Hills Highlanders (2-3) at #23 Taft Toreadors (4-1) – Taft HS, 7 pm kickoff

The Highlanders and Toreadors will do battle to open league play, and this promises to be a good one. Both teams will be rested coming out of their bye weeks and should be chomping at the bit to get their league slate off on the right foot. This game comes down to one simple question. Can the Toreadors stop the vaunted run game of Granada Hills? If they cannot, then it will be on the shoulders of Nathan Swinson to do what he has been doing and put numbers on the board to outscore the Highlanders. Either way, this promises to be a tremendous game that could come down to the final possession.

Panorama Pythons (5-1) at #8 Kennedy Cougars (4-1)  – Kennedy HS, 7 pm kickoff

The Kennedy Cougars are one of the best teams in the entire city and have proven so far this season that it will take a mistake-free game to keep up with them. Luckily for Panorama, that’s exactly the formula they use to suffocate most opponents they face every week. It’s never flashy when you watch Panorama play, but they are okay with walking into an opponent’s stadium and dragging them into a dogfight. Expect more of the same with the recent history between these two programs. This will be a fun game to take in this week.

Sylmar Spartans (4-1) at Van Nuys Wolves (5-1) – Van Nuys HS, 7 pm kickoff

The Spartans are a pleasant surprise to everyone this season, except to the kids in that program. Sylmar has played with a swagger this season that is reminiscent of some of the excellent Sylmar squads of the past. Speaking of squads from the past, the Van Nuys program is experiencing a renaissance of success that has not been spoken of since those great teams back in 2011-2012 that ruled over the Valley Mission. This game will feature plenty of points with both teams sporting Senior quarterbacks in Tim Tanner Jr. and Carlos Herrera that can make plays through the air and on the ground. 

#20 El Camino Real Royals (2-3) at #2 Birmingham Patriots (2-3) – Birmingham HS, 7 pm kickoff

The Royals will be the first ones to tell you they understand what faces them this week as they head to Birmingham to open West Valley play. They watched the tape of how physically dominant the Patriots were on the road at Harvard-Westlake last week. The Royals will also tell you that they believe they can muster the same type of effort that saw them be the last team in the West Valley to take down Birmingham before they went on this dominant run. The key to this contest lies in Elco’s ability to slow down Kevin Hawkins and the Patriots’ grueling run game. It will be easier said than done,