All three eleven-man football leagues are in full swing, and the slate of games this week offers plenty to sink your teeth into. A couple of Valley Mission teams take the field looking to rediscover their early-season momentum. The West Valley features a couple of intriguing matchups that will provide some clarity on where teams truly stand in the league heading into the final weeks of the regular season. Here is what you need to pay attention to around the SFV this Friday night:

Monroe Vikings (3-3) at Arleta Mustangs (3-3) – at Arleta HS, 7 pm kickoff

The Vikings and the Mustangs both know that league title dreams are off the table, having already fallen to the defending champions, but there is still much more to play for between the two squads. The Mustangs are outside the top-25 in the rankings this week, but are firmly in position to be a top seed in D-II when the postseason begins if they can win out and finish the regular season with seven wins. The Vikings’ position is a bit more precarious, as a faulty finish to the season could see them slide out of a competitive race for teams trying to sneak into D-III. This game promises to be a dogfight between two physical squads with a lot to prove. It should be fun. Not to mention it’s homecoming for Arleta, and we all know how much visiting teams love to ruin the festivities.

San Fernando Tigers (4-2) at Panorama Pythons (5-2) – at Panorama HS, 7 pm kickoff

Like the previously mentioned matchup, this game is as important to postseason positioning for the two teams as it is to the Valley Mission standings. The Pythons have proven they are a team worthy of competing in D-II come playoff time, but a win over a good San Fernando team could help build their resume to look like a team that should be hosting a first-round game. The Tigers’ strong start to the campaign has them in position to potentially host a first-round playoff game, but they will need to add a strong league win to their resume to remain there, and this game might be their best shot to do so.

#5 Kennedy Cougars (5-1) at Sylmar Spartans (4-2) – at Sylmar HS, 7 pm kickoff

The Kennedy Cougars have flat-out dominated competition the last few weeks. The Cougars get a chance to make another statement on the road at Sylmar this week. The Spartans need to make a statement of their own after falling just short of beating a good Van Nuys squad on the road last week, despite a spectacular effort by their offense. I do not think anyone is expecting the Spartans to win this game, but stranger things have happened, especially when you have a talented quarterback that can make magic happen the way Tim Tanner Jr. does for Sylmar every week.

#22 El Camino Real Royals (2-4) at #12 Granada Hills Highlanders (3-3) – at Granada Hills HS, 7 pm kickoff

The Royals suffered the same fate everyone has had the past seven years, and took a loss at the hands of the Birmingham Patriots. But the Royals have no time to dwell on last week, as another major challenge lies ahead on the road at Granada Hills this week. This game is not just a challenge, but a huge opportunity to improve their playoff potential if they can topple a tough team on the road. The Highlanders are a top-15 team in the city currently and know that if they can handle business this week, and with what is left on the schedule are in a prime position to host their first-round playoff matchup.