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Here are the best games to watch this Friday and Saturday.
No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 2 Alemany, 5 p.m.
It will be Notre Dame coach Joe McNab’s head coaching debut Friday night. McNab has been on the staff under legendary coach Kevin Rooney for 40 years, and now he’s at the helm. It’s been a long time coming for McNab due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the traditional fall season to be played this spring.
This game kicks off Mission League play, which will crown a champion at the end of the season. McNab isn’t the only one making a debut, so is junior Alemany quarterback Dylan Gebbia. Gebbia will start for the Warriors Friday night after USC-commit Miller Moss left early.
Prediction: Alemany
St. Bernard at No. 1 Sierra Canyon (0-1), 7 p.m.
Sierra Canyon is one week removed from going toe to toe with St. John Bosco. Now, the Trailblazers need to show there’s no hangover from the loss, but it won’t be easy. St. Bernard is under the guidance of new coach Manuel Douglas, the former coach at City Section power Narbonne High. St. Bernard’s team will look very familiar when it travels to Sierra Canyon Friday night. Larry Turner-Gooden and Jaylen Thompson are transfers from Calabasas. Dylan Flowers is from Westlake High, and quarterback Jackson Dadich is from Birmingham Charter.
Sierra Canyon’s quarterback Daniel Duran showed great poise against St. John Bosco last week, throwing two touchdowns. Look for him to have a bigger night against the Vikings.
Prediction: Sierra Canyon
West Ranch at No. 8 Valencia, 7 p.m.
It will be a quarterback battle Friday night: West Ranch senior Walker Eget vs. Valencia junior Tyler Voss.
Eget is a proven returner who opted to play this spring though his collegiate future is secure at San Jose State. Voss comes in with little varsity playing experience after transfers from Chaminade and Oaks Christian, but the praise from longtime Valencia coach Larry Muir.
With little time to prepare, look for the score to be high. The combination of high-level quarterback play and defenses that just started practicing together a couple weeks ago makes for a busy night for the scoreboard operator.
West Ranch coach Chris Varner said sophomore quarterback Brett Liljedahl and junior transfer (from Sierra Canyon) Ryan Staub will see snaps Friday.
Prediction: Valencia
Simi Valley at Royal, 7 p.m.
No better way to start the season than with a rivalry. The Simi Valley and Royal High football game usually draws 5,000 fans minimum. That won’t be the case Friday night due to COVID-19 fan restrictions. Simi Valley is led by returning junior quarterback Travis Throckmorton and senior wideout Malik Hunt. Pioneers’ coach Jim Benkert is high on junior linebacker Malachi Hannah, who is probably the program’s most recruited prospect.
It’s the start of a new era for Royal under new coach Christian Dearborn, who will look to seniors Tanner Wolfe (QB) and Francois Fulgentes (DL) to anchor the spring season.
Prediction: Simi Valley
No. 7 Crespi at Calabasas, 7 p.m. (Saturday)
It seems like forever ago that Crespi quarterback Zachary Siskowic transferred from Notre Dame. It was December 2019. He’ll finally start his career as a Celt Saturday night at Calabasas. Notre Dame commit Chance Tucker and Khalid Calhoun will likely be the top playmakers for Crespi.
There’s a lot of questions for Calabasas after it’s five-year stretch that saw two 14-win seasons under Casey Clausen, two 10-win seasons under Chris Claiborne, and a CIF-SS Division 1 playoff berth in 2019. Is that expectation the same, or are things different now?
New coach Cary Harris will look to new senior quarterback Tyler Ward, a transfer from Aspen High in Colorado, to get things going in the home opener. Ward will have plenty of options to throw to, including Amoni Butler, Jaylen Blizzard and 6-foot-4 wideout Devin Hardy, along with tight end Wilson Schwartz.
Prediction: Crespi
Other notable games to watch: Westlake High at No. 3 Oaks Christian (1-0); Serra (0-1) at Chaminade (1-0);