It’s the halfway point in the 2018 prep football season. But the showdown between Reseda High and San Fernando High on Friday, September 21, could go a long way in deciding the Valley Mission League champion.
The outcome could also be critical in determining playoff positioning when the regular season ends.
Reseda and San Fernando are considered to be the best teams in the league. The unbeaten Regents (5-0, 1-0) have been red hot since the season began in August, and already have a league win after knocking off Canoga Park last week.
The Tigers (2-2) are following their blueprint from last year’s City Division I championship season by playing the most demanding nonleague schedule they could put together. That part of the season ended last week with a home loss to Notre Dame.
There is good news for both sides — Reseda and San Fernando are getting some prime reinforcements who were sitting out because of transfer rules. The Regents get quarterback Ezekiel Savage II, who played last year at Royal High in Simi Valley, and will plug him into the starting lineup. The Tigers will bolster their offense and defense with lineman David Rangel, and linebacker Agustin Medina.
Should Reseda win, it might have already faced its two toughest league opponents on the schedule. San Fernando still must visit Canoga Park, thought to be the third strongest league team, next week.
The kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at San Fernando High School.
Other games involving Valley area teams:
Friday, Sept. 21
East Valley League
Chavez at Arleta
Grant at Poly
North Hollywood at Verdugo Hills
Valley Mission League
Canoga Park at Panorama
Van Nuys at Kennedy
Nonleague
Birmingham at Notre Dame
Harvard-Westlake at St. Francis
Mary Star of the Sea vs. Village Christian, Burbank High School
San Pedro at Cleveland
Sierra Canyon at Bakersfield
Saturday, Sept. 22
Nonleague
New Design Watts at Heritage Christian, 2 p.m.
Temecula Prep at Campbell Hall, 6 p.m.
All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.