Week Zero is here, and the action is red-hot right out of the gate in the San Fernando Valley. It has been an offseason of change, with new head coaches taking over at 7 of the 21 eleven-man programs in our backyard. Here are just a few of the intriguing matchups happening around the Valley that you won’t want to miss this Friday night:

Canoga Park Hunters at Arleta Mustangs – 3:30 pm, Arleta High School

It’s a new era for Canoga Park football, as Head Coach Rany Luna takes over the program. Luna brings a winning pedigree from his years at the helm at Fulton Prep, a program that dominated the 8-man football scene for years. His first game will serve as a real litmus test for his program as they head on the road to take on the Arleta Mustangs. Bill Coan’s group loves to play the role of hostile host, with a home record of 34-14 since he took over the program in 2015.

Narbonne Gauchos at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7 pm, Cleveland High School

The atmosphere will be electric as always when the Cavs take the field for the first time in 2026 on Friday night, hosting Narbonne. The Gauchos have had a tumultuous time around their program, but make no mistake, this is still a Marine League team. The Cavaliers are a veteran-led bunch that feels they have what it takes to contend for a D-I championship. A big win versus Narbonne would go a long way in making that known to all the top teams in the city.

Granada Hills Highlanders at North Hollywood Huskies – 7 pm, North Hollywood High School

The jerseys might change, but the Granada Hills philosophy remains the same. Show up, run you out of the building, and leave. That’s the intention on Friday night on the road against the defending East Valley champions, North Hollywood. A new era begins for the Huskies after Head Coach Scott Faer exited the program. Ryan Ledford takes over the program, looking to continue the Huskies’ winning ways as they go after their third straight East Valley crown. He will lean heavily on his senior QB Logan Grant to lead the way.

Calabasas Coyotes at Bishop Alemany Warriors – 7 pm, Alemany High School

The Southern Section offers up an intriguing matchup to begin the season when Calabasas hits the road to take on Alemany. It is the debut for Bishop Alemany’s new head man, Dennis Keyes, the former UCLA standout looking to turn the Warriors’ fortunes around in year one. The Coyotes will be a formidable bunch, bringing a ton of size and experience along their offensive and defensive lines. Keyes is in the process of building up the numbers in the program, but some dynamic pieces will be major contributors in what is hoped to be a quick climb back to contention in the Angelus League.

VST Game of the Week

Poly Parrots at Taft Toreadors – 7 pm, Taft High School

The most intriguing All-Valley matchup in Week Zero goes down in Woodland Hills Friday Night when the Poly Parrots travel to take on the Toreadors. This matchup features yet another head coach taking the reins at a new program in the San Fernando Valley, with Boo Williams taking over for Derrell Daniels at Poly. Expect this to be an offensive shootout, as both teams come in featuring dynamic offensive talent and in-your-face philosophies that should make for an exciting game.