It’s a jam-packed slate of action around the San Fernando Valley this weekend, with several top-25 matchups in the City Section and one intriguing matchup in the Southern Section between two Mission League squads off to undefeated starts. The game of the week is a heavyweight clash in the West Valley that the entire city section will be watching. Here are the intriguing matchups happening around the Valley that you won’t want to miss on Friday night:

#4 Kennedy Cougars (5-0) at Panorama Pythons (4-1) – 7 pm kickoff, Panorama High School

This week brings the annual showdown between the two teams that have battled for the top spot in the Valley Mission over the past three seasons: the Cougars and the Pythons. The question this year is whether the Pythons can find answers to slow down Kennedy’s offensive onslaught. The Cougars have averaged 48 PPG in the last three matchups. The Cougars have a problem of their own to solve in Panorama’s Brandon Hernandez. The Pythons’ bell-cow running back enters the contest as the state’s leading rusher and has been nearly impossible to corral. The winner takes the top spot in the Valley Mission league race.

#20 Arleta Mustangs (4-1) at #22 North Hollywood Huskies (3-2) – Saturday 10/3, 6:30 pm kickoff, North Hollywood High School

This game was originally slated for Friday afternoon but now gets a solo spotlight on Saturday night. This game promises to be a dogfight between two teams that have designs on finishing at the top of the East Valley standings this year. The Huskies have run the league the last two seasons, and after a blowout win over Verdugo Hills last week, they seem intent on a third consecutive title. The Mustangs have rebounded nicely from their only loss at Chatsworth with dominant showings in their first two league contests. If the Mustangs can pull out the win, this league will be completely up for grabs and put a spotlight on some key matchups down the stretch with only league title contenders such as Verdugo Hills and Poly.

#17 Granada Hills Highlanders (3-2) at #24 El Camino Real Royals (2-3) – 7 pm kickoff, El Camino Real High School

The first half of the season has been a roller coaster for both the Royals and the Highlanders, but the start of West Valley play offers a chance to reset and build momentum toward the postseason. The Royals are a young bunch, but they are talented. Their defense will have its work cut out for it trying to slow down the GHC double-wing offense, which has churned out 374.6 rushing yards per game this season.

#14 Chatsworth Chancellors (4-1) at #19 Taft Toreadors (3-2) – 7:15 pm kickoff, Taft High School

A top-20 matchup goes down in Woodland Hills Friday night as the red-hot Chatsworth Chancellors take on the Taft Toreadors in the West Valley opener for both squads. It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Chancellors, who are seeking their fifth win of the season after a one-win regular season in 2025. The Toreadors are also looking to build momentum toward the postseason, having notched impressive wins this season in the lead-up to league play. Wins in the West Valley are hard to come by, with every squad currently ranked in the top 25. Expect both squads to bring their A-game tonight.

Notre Dame Knights (5-0) at #18 Chaminade Eagles (5-0)

The Mission League kicks off with a bang when rivals Notre Dame and Chaminade lock horns this evening. The Knights’ offense has been scorching hot this season. They’ve blitzed their last four opponents, averaging 45 points per game. The Eagles have been equally dominant in their unbeaten start, holding opponents to 13.4 ppg in their first five contests. Something has to give here. This game could be one of the best of the weekend.

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VST Game of the Week

#3 Cleveland Cavaliers (5-0) at #13 Birmingham Patriots (1-4) – 7 pm, North Hollywood High School

The Birmingham Patriots have been so dominant in the West Valley in recent years that it’s rare to go into a game feeling like a league opponent could keep it close, let alone win. The Cavs are definitely worthy of the optimism, given how they have dominated competition through the first five games. They are battle-tested, veteran-laden, and talented at every impact position you need to pull off the unthinkable. The Pats have struggled in the first half, but they play a schedule that is designed to make them sharp as a tack by the time they step into the league portion of their schedule. A Cavs win would send waves through the City Section and cement them as an Open division favorite. A Pats win would declare that they are not just the top dog in the West Valley, but still a force to be reckoned with in the Open come postseason.