Caleb Munroy, Jered Smith Spark Verdugo Hills to Victory in Home Opener

Verdugo Hills defeated Canoga Park 41-0 in Thursday night’s nonleague contest between the two Valley schools, earning its first win of the 2026 season. Both teams were searching for their inaugural win, with Verdugo Hills falling to Marquez in dramatic fashion to open the season, while the Hunters fell to 0-2 when their late comeback fell short against Hollywood.

The Dons wasted no time. Caleb Munroy took the opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown and converted on a two-point try to give Verdugo Hills an 8-0 lead just 12 seconds into the game.

It was an all-around effort for Verdugo Hills, with five different players reaching the end zone throughout the night. Senior quarterback Jered Smith led the way, completing 10 of 15 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a 19-yard touchdown run and intercepted a pass while playing safety.

Canoga Park went three-and-out on its opening drive as the Dons flexed their defensive muscle and showed early that they were out to make a statement.

“In the past, we’ve gotten into shootouts,” Verdugo Hills coach Sean Jackson said after the game. “So defense has been our big focus this summer. I was happy with what we did tonight.”

Verdugo Hills scored on its second drive of the game when senior running back Joel Innocent spun off two would-be tacklers for an impressive 25-yard touchdown run. Another successful two-point conversion gave the Dons a 16-0 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter.

The Dons scored on their next three drives, including two touchdown catches by senior wide receiver Aiden Mejia, to take a 35-0 lead into halftime.

The Hunters’ offense never really threatened the Dons’ defense, although junior quarterback Manuel Vasquez had some strong runs and showed toughness through the final whistle.

Verdugo Hills’ defensive line harassed Vasquez throughout the night, giving him little time to make plays.

For Canoga Park, it was another step in the process for coach Randy Luna in his first season at the helm.

“It’s a new process, and I know there’s going to be some trials and tribulations throughout that process,” Luna said after the game. “I have faith in my coaching staff and the players that we’re going to continue to build and continue to learn.”