With league play now underway, games where opponents face each other every year are now emerging on the schedule. And one of those annual scrums is popping up this week in the East Valley League with Chavez High playing Arleta High on Friday, Sept. 27.
The host Eagles (3-2) have only beaten the Mustangs once in the seven previous years Chavez has been playing varsity football. That was in 2016; in the other years, Chavez’s grind-it-out power running game has looked overwhelmed by Arleta’s more balanced offensive explosiveness. It could also be a matter of talent, the Mustangs simply having more, better players.
Chavez is entering this year’s game after a 50-21 victory last week against Verdugo Hills High, meaning the Eagles should be feeling confident in their ability to score points. A win over Arleta (4-1) — which had the bad luck of being placed in City Section’s Division I this season — would give Chavez a boost in its scramble for potential playoff positioning in Division II.
And if the Mustangs come into the game feeling complacent about their domination of the Eagles, it could make for a very interesting encounter — something that helps to breed a rivalry.
The kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Chavez High School.
Other games involving Valley area teams include:
Friday, Sept. 27
East Valley League
Poly at Grant
Verdugo Hills at North Hollywood
Valley Mission League
Kennedy at Van Nuys
Panorama at Canoga Park
San Fernando at Reseda
Nonleague
Bakersfield vs. Sierra Canyon, Granada Hills High School
Campbell Hall at Oak Park
Chatsworth at Sylmar
Cleveland at San Pedro
Crespi vs. St. Bonaventure, Ventura College
Harvard-Westlake at St. Francis
Servite at Notre Dame
Village Christian vs. Mary Star of the Sea, Daniels Field in San Pedro
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise listed.