A preview and prediction for the top football games in the Long Beach area this week. The teams are listed by their ranking in the Press-Telegram Top 10.
GAME OF THE WEEK
YORBA LINDA (1-0) VS. NO. 2 LONG BEACH POLY (1-0)
Where, when: Veterans Stadium, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Long Beach Poly gained confidence after a convincing 24-7 victory against No. 4-ranked Downey last week. The Jackrabbits scored on defense, offense and special teams. Junior quarterback Ace Fa’agata completed 18 of 26 attempts for 180 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Receivers Zion Anderson and Jayden Coley were the recipients of those touchdown passes. However, the X factor will be Poly’s running game, led by Fa’agata, and running backs Jeron Johnson, Elijah Dawson and Steven Hunter. Yorba Linda, a team that rarely makes mistakes, is coming off a 34-21 victory at Laguna Beach last week. Senior quarterback Noah Trujillo led the way by completing 9 of 12 passing attempts for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Aiden Gutierrez ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. However, Poly’s overall speed, particularly at skill positions like receiver, and the addition of a relentless defensive line led by junior Sammy Timu, should be the difference in a highly competitive game.
Winner: Long Beach Poly
Long Beach Poly’s Sammy Timu scores on an interception in the first quarter as Poly defeats Downey in a non-league game and season opener for both teams on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
ROMAN CATHOLIC (0-0) VS. NO. 1 ST. JOHN BOSCO (0-1)
Where, when: St. John Bosco High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: St. John Bosco is coming off a 38-28 loss at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. The Braves are on a three-game losing streak dating back to last season and are in much need of a win. Junior quarterback Koa Malua’ulu completed 17 of 37 attempts for 222 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Braves only had 48 rushing yards on 18 carries but should fare much better at home. Meanwhile, this will be Roman Catholic season opener. They went 12-3 last season, including a Pennsylvania Class 5A state championship. However, Bosco’s offense should be firing on all cylinders after scoring 28 points in the second half against Bishop Gorman. If the Braves can get their running game going early, they should win this game by several touchdowns.
Winner: St. John Bosco
NO. 3 LOS ALAMITOS (0-1) VS. HUNTINGTON BEACH (1-0)
Where, when: Huntington Beach High, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Los Alamitos is coming off a 20-7 loss at home to Inglewood last week. The Griffins had limited success playing two quarterbacks (Zach Correa and Elijah McDaniel). Senior running back Kamden Tillis, who is committed to San Diego State, was limited to 30 rushing yards on 11 carries. Los Alamitos needs to get Tillis going and sustain long offensive drives to limit Huntington Beach’s explosive offense. Oilers senior quarterback Brady Edmunds, who is committed to Ohio State, completed 25 of 32 passes for 446 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in his team’s 42-14 victory at Millikan. Edmunds’ experience should be the differentiator.
Winner: Huntington Beach
Downey quarterback Chase Watkins (2) carries in a non-league game and season opener against Long Beach Poly on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
NO. 4 DOWNEY (0-1) VS. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (1-0)
Where, when: Capistrano Valley High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Downey coach Jack Williams has challenged his young team to look within heading into the team’s first road game of the season. The Vikings are coming off a disappointing 24-7 loss at home against No. 2-ranked Long Beach Poly. Senior receiver Damani Porras, who is committed to New Mexico, was limited to four catches for 17 yards and one touchdown. He will need to have a greater impact going forward. Capistrano Valley beat Damien of Hawaii 55-6 on Aug. 14. That game was a rout from the start. Senior quarterback Talon Spencer had 208 total yards and four touchdowns (one passing, three rushing). Downey will need to make Spencer one-dimensional. However, even if they do that, it’s always hard to win a road game in South Orange County. Capistrano Valley’s home field advantage should be the difference.
Winner: Capistrano Valley
NO. 6 WILSON (0-1) VS. JSERRA (0-1)
Where, when: JSerra High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Wilson was aiming to win its season opener but suffered a 41-40 loss to No. 5-ranked Mayfair last week. Bruins junior receiver Kyle Harris had four total touchdowns (two receiving, two kick returns) in Week 0. If JSerra takes Wilson seriously, they will avoid kicking to Harris at all costs. If not, Harris, who finished with 334 all-purpose yards, could be in for another big game. JSerra, last season’s last-place Trinity League team, is coming off a 42-21 loss against Sierra Canyon. Senior receiver Clark Cokley had 13 receptions for 116 yards. Wilson has some elite playmakers, but JSerra’s overall depth may be too much to handle for four quarters.
Winner: JSerra
Wilsons Kyle Harris (6) races through Mayfairs defense in Bellflower, CA, on Friday, August 21, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
THURSDAY’S OTHER GAME
Compton at Orange Vista
FRIDAY’S OTHER GAMES
Artesia at Wilson of Hacienda Heights
Bellflower at Trabuco Hills
California Military Institute at Firebaugh
Century at Glenn
Cerritos vs. Gahr
Compton Centennial at Beverly Hills
Compton Early College at Magnolia
Dominguez at Hawthorne
Jordan at Crenshaw
Lakewood at Paramount
Lynwood at Dymally, 4 p.m.
Mayfair at Bullard of Fresno
Millikan at Loyola
Norwalk at La Mirada
Ontario Christian at St. Anthony
Rancho Dominguez at Bosco Tech
St. Bonaventure at St. Pius X-St. Mattias
Valley Christian at Mary Star of the Sea
Warren at Scripps Ranch
SATURDAY’S GAME
Cabrillo at Big Bear, 1 p.m.