The 2026 high school football season is set to feature big games every week for local teams in the Long Beach Press-Telegram area.
Practices for teams will Week 0 games began Monday morning.
The majority of the highlighted games will be local CIF Southern Section showdowns and will have postseason implications, especially in October.
Here is a week-by-week look at the marquee regular season games:
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
All games scheduled for 7 p.m. unless noted.)
WEEK 0 (Aug. 21)
Huntington Beach at Millikan, Aug. 20: The Rams will open the season against Ohio State quarterback commit Brady Edmunds.
St. John Bosco at Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas, Aug. 21: The mythical high school football championship could be decided in Week 0 between two of the nation’s top teams.
Long Beach Poly at Downey, Aug. 21: Travon Patterson’s debut as Poly’s coach begins against veteran coach Jack Williams.
Wilson vs. Mayfair at Bellflower High, Aug. 21: Second-year Bruins coach Raudric Curtis is looking to open the season with a win, especially since he was a Mayfair assistant before accepting the Wilson job in Feb. 2025.
Inglewood at Los Alamitos, Aug. 21: The Rory Schoonmaker era begins at Los Alamitos.
Valley Christian at Gahr, Aug. 21: Crosstown rivalry game in Cerritos. Private vs. Public.
WEEK 1 (Aug. 28)
Yorba Linda vs. Long Beach Poly at Veterans Stadium, Aug. 28: The Jackrabbits’ home opener will be against one of Orange County’s Alpha League teams.
Philadelphia Roman Catholic at St. John Bosco, Aug. 28: The Braves’ home opener will be against Pennsylvania 5A football state champions. Bosco will not play a CIF Southern Section team until Trinity League play.
Wilson at JSerra, Aug. 28: The Moore League champions will test themselves against a Trinity League team.
Lakewood at Paramount, Aug. 28: Coach Malik James and the Pirates could surprise the Lancers, especially with the excitement surrounding the team’s home opener.
Gahr vs. Cerritos at Gahr High, Aug. 28: Another crosstown rivalry game in Cerritos. This time, public vs. public.
Norwalk at La Mirada, Aug. 28: An old Suburban League rivalry renewed.
WEEK 2 (Sept. 4)
Millikan at Downey, Sept. 4: Coach Romeo Pellum’s team will be looking for a better showing after last season’s 55-7 loss.
Long Beach Poly at Tustin, Sept. 4: Poly’s competitive nonleague schedule continues with a trip to Tustin.
Long Beach Poly’s Zion Anderson (6) races down field as the Jackrabbits take on Tustin in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco at Pittsburg, Sept. 4: The Braves will travel to the Bay Area to play Pittsburg, which made the CIF State Northern California Division 1-A Regionals last season.
Gardena Serra at Los Alamitos, Sept. 4: The Griffins beat Serra 41-21 last season and will look to make it two in a row.
Huntington Beach at Wilson, Sept. 4: The Bruins, led by junior running back/receiver/defensive back Jemel Grigsby, will get their shot against four-star Ohio State quarterback commit Brady Edmunds.
La Mirada at Bellflower, Sept. 4: Another former Suburban League rivalry renewed.
Cerritos at Valley Christian, Sept. 4: The winner of this game will likely be crowned Kings of Cerritos.
Muir at St. Pius X-St. Matthias, Sept. 4: Coach Devah Thomas will always have his team ready to compete against all comers.
WEEK 3 (Sept. 11)
Kahuku of Hawaii at St. John Bosco, Sept. 11: The Braves coaching staff will be seeking redemption after a 30-23 loss the last time they played Kahuku in 2023.
Los Alamitos at Downey, Sept. 11: The Vikings are looking for a signature victory.
Lakewood vs. Mayfair at Bellflower High, Sept. 11: The Milk Bucket trophy will be on the line in this annual crosstown rivalry game. Lakewood ended Mayfair’s seven-game win streak last season.
Carson vs. Long Beach Poly at Cabrillo High, Sept. 11: The Jackrabbits will host one of the City Section’s best teams.
WEEK 4 (Sept. 18)
Long Beach Poly at Inglewood, Sept. 18: The Jackrabbits are the second local team to test themselves against Inglewood.
St. Anthony at Valley Christian, Sept. 18: This was anyone’s game last season until Valley Christian pulled away for the 28-13 victory. It should be evenly matched again.
Quarterback Graham Lunzer #6 of Valley Christian prepares to pass against St. Anthony in the first half of a prep football game at the St. Anthony Athletic Complex in Long Beach on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco at St. Louis of Honolulu, Sept. 19: The Braves beat St. Louis 49-20 last season at home, but playing in Hawaii takes extra focus.
WEEK 5 (Sept. 25)
Wilson at Compton, Sept. 25, 6 p.m.: The Moore League versus the Hub City League. The Tarbabes gave the Bruins a scare last season, but Wilson held on to win 23-21.
Long Beach Poly at Rancho Cucamonga, Sept. 25: The Jackrabbits will conclude nonleague play against one of the best programs in the IE.
Notre Dame Sherman Oaks at Millikan, Sept. 25: The Rams will finish nonleague play against a Mission League team.
Downey at Inglewood, Sept. 25: The Vikings will conclude nonleague play with a tough opponent, partly because they have not lost a league game in two seasons.
WEEK 6 (Oct. 2)
JSerra at St. John Bosco, Oct. 2: Trinity League opener against coach Hardy Nickerson.
Lakewood vs. Long Beach Poly at Cabrillo High, Oct. 2: Moore League opener.
Dominguez at Compton, Oct. 2, 6 p.m.: Hub City League opener with bragging rights on the line.
Paramount at Gahr, Oct. 2: Coach Malik James’ first Mid-Cities League game at Paramount.
Cerritos at La Mirada, Oct. 2: This is a new Gateway League matchup after absorbing the 605 League.
Mayfair at Downey, Oct. 2: This game has decided the Gateway League title for the past two seasons. Downey won both times.
Los Alamitos at San Juan Hills, Oct. 2: This is an underrated Alpha League matchup.
WEEK 7 (Oct. 9)
Orange Lutheran at St. John Bosco, Oct. 9: Lancers coach Ray Fenton will face off against coach Jason Negro for the first time since a 63-38 loss when he was at Los Alamitos in 2021.
Downey at Warren, Oct. 9: The Downey Showdown is always a lively game.
Millikan at Lakewood, Oct. 9: The Hamilton Trophy is on the line in this Moore League rivalry game.
Gahr at Norwalk, Oct. 9: An underrated Mid-Cities League contest.
Cerritos vs. Mayfair at Bellflower High, Oct. 9: The Dons are ripe to pull off an upset, especially since Gateway League wins might be hard to come by.
St. Pius X-St. Matthias at St. Francis, Oct. 9: The Warriors are looking to win consecutive Angelus League games against the Golden Knights.
San Clemente at Los Alamitos, Oct. 9: The Griffins went 1-1 against the Tritons last season, winning the most important game in the CIF-SS Division 2 final.
Wilson vs. Long Beach Poly at Cabrillo High, Oct. 10: This could end up being the de facto Moore League championship game. The Bruins are the defending Moore League champs.
Wilson’s Kyle Harris (6) races through Long Beach Poly’s defense as the two teams battle for the top spot in the Moore League in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
WEEK 8 (Oct. 16)
Santa Margarita at St. John Bosco, Oct. 16: Both teams are squarely in the mix to win the Trinity League.
Bellflower at Paramount, Oct. 16: This could end up being the de facto Mid-Cities League title game.
Lakewood at Wilson, Oct. 16: The Lancers are looking for a better showing than last season’s 23-0 loss.
Mayfair at Warren, Oct. 16: The Monsoons won last year’s game 26-20. However, Warren should be much improved with senior quarterback Jordan Malikin.
Los Alamitos at Edison, Oct. 16: This is always a competitive league game.
WEEK 9 (Oct. 23)
Long Beach Poly at Millikan, Oct. 23: The Jackrabbits and Rams have become arch-rivals over the past few years. However, neither team won the Moore League last season.
Millikan’s Jesse Laumasima cant stop Long Beach Poly’s Elijah Dawson (26) as he runs it in for a Jackrabbit touchdown in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
St. John Bosco vs. Servite at Orange Coast College, Oct. 23: The Braves have not lost to Servite since Tetairoa McMillan and Mason Graham played for the Friars in 2021.
Mission Viejo at Los Alamitos, Oct. 23: Any game featuring Mission Viejo has the distinct possibility of turning into a high-scoring affair. The Diablos won last year’s league game 76-49.
Compton at Centennial, Oct. 23: The crosstown rivals will face off for the first time in the newly formed Hub City League.
Norwalk at Bellflower, Oct. 23: Norwalk coach Anthony Cobbs will face off against Bellflower’s Keith Miller.
Downey vs. Cerritos at Gahr High, Oct. 23: The Vikings will play a new league foe.
St. Paul at St. Pius X-St. Matthias, Oct. 23: The Warriors are seeking redemption after a 35-34 overtime loss against the Swordsmen last season.
WEEK 10 (Oct. 30)
St. John Bosco vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium, Oct. 30: The Braves are on a four-game losing streak against the Monarchs. They are 0-3 against Raul Lara-led Mater Dei teams.
St. John Bosco quarterback Koa Malau’ulu evades an attempted tackle by Mater Dei’s Montana Toilolo in Trinity League action at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly at Jordan, Oct. 30: The Battle for Atlantic will feature first-time head coaches.
Millikan at Wilson, Oct. 30: This game will have Moore League playoff implications.
Wilson’s Jemel Grigsby runs for a touchdown against Millikan at Millikan High School on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (Photo by Scott Smeltzer/Contributing Photographer)
Paramount at Norwalk, Oct. 30: This game will have Mid-Cities League title implications.
Gahr at Bellflower, Oct. 30: The Buccaneers are looking for a better showing after last season’s 48-13 blowout loss.
La Mirada vs. Mayfair at Bellflower High, Oct. 30: A Suburban League rivalry renewed. Mayfair has had the edge lately.
Warren vs. Cerritos at Gahr High, Oct. 30: This game will have Gateway League playoff implications.
Cathedral at St. Pius X-St. Matthias, Oct. 30: The Warriors are usually competitive in Angelus League games.
La Serna at Downey, Oct. 30: The Vikings could go undefeated in league play for the third consecutive season.
Yorba Linda at Los Alamitos, Oct. 30: This game could decide which team earns an automatic playoff berth.