Whenever Birmingham Community Charter High and El Camino Real Charter High line up for their annual pigskin party, the easy part is dismissing whatever the teams’ records are because neither team has any difficulty being motivated for the confrontation.
But it’s also been a truism the past several seasons that the winner has had the inside track to winning the West Valley League, and the often excellent City Section playoff berth that can come along with it — even when it’s the first league game for both as this one is on Friday, Oct. 4.
What has to make ECR (2-3) a bit nervous: the Patriots (1-4) will have several players available who were sitting out the transfer period and may not be the same team the Conquistadors have been game-planning for while both teams were on their bye weeks. Both teams, however, should also feel refreshed from not having to play on Sept. 27.
The kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at El Camino Real Charter High School.
Other games involving Valley area teams include:
Friday, Oct. 4
Del Rey League
Harvard-Westlake vs. St. Anthony, Clark Field, Long Beach
East Valley League
Chavez at Poly
Monroe at Verdugo Hills
North Hollywood at Arleta, 3:30 p.m.
Mission League
Bishop Amat at Alemany
Notre Dame at Chaminade
Valley Mission League
Canoga Park at San Fernando
Panorama at Sylmar
Reseda at Kennedy
West Valley
Chatsworth at Cleveland
Taft at Granada Hills
Nonleague
Sierra Canyon at Crespi
St. Genevieve at Agoura
Village Christian vs. Pioneer, Burbank High School
Saturday, Oct. 5
Nonleague
Vasquez vs. Campbell Hall, 6 p.m.
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise listed.