HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
GAME OF THE WEEK
Long Beach Wilson (0-5) vs. No. 5 Compton (5-0)
Where, when: Compton High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Wilson, the defending Moore League champions, are still searching for the program’s first win this season. The Bruins are coming off a 59-14 home loss against Villa Park last week and dropped games to Dana Hills, Huntington Beach, JSerra and Mayfair in prior weeks. That difficult nonleague schedule should have them prepared to face Compton and hungry for a win.
Junior receiver/defensive back/kick returner Kyle Harris has seven of the team’s 10 touchdowns, including four receiving and three kick return scores.Wilson junior running back Jemel Grigsby, a three-star recruit, had run for 336 yards and one touchdown on 54 carries. Grigsby was a huge reason why the Bruins won the Moore League last season.
Wilson went undefeated in league play last season, but not before outlasting Compton 23-21. The Tarbabes finished 4-6 overall last season.
However, Compton, who left the Moore League to start the Hub City League, has already surpassed last season’s win total with a 5-0 start.
Compton running back Edward Rivera, who is committed to Sacramento State, has scored 14 of his team’s 27 touchdowns. The two-way player has scored on offense, defense, and special teams.
Wilson must figure out how to neutralize Rivera, who already has an 80-yard run and a 53-yard catch this season.
Wilson is standing between Compton and a possible undefeated regular season, since they are the prohibitive favorite to win the inaugural Hub City League title over Dominguez, Compton Early College, Cabrillo and Centennial.
That plus the redemption of making up for last season’s loss, should power Compton to victory.
Winner: Compton
No. 2 Downey (2-2) vs. Inglewood (4-1)
Where, when: Inglewood High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Downey is on a two-game win streak after defeating Millikan and Los Alamitos before last week’s bye week. The Vikings are also looking to beat Inglewood for the second straight season. Downey won last season’s nonleague game 21-20.
The Vikings are led by sophomore quarterback Chase Watkins, who has 787 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception. Watkins’ lone interception came in a season-opening loss to Long Beach Poly. Since then, he has worked with junior running back Max Acosta (310 rushing yards and two touchdowns) and senior receiver Damani Porras (387 receiving yards and seven touchdowns) to find ways to win.
Junior linebacker Matthew Dalhover leads Downey’s defense with 41 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss in three games.
Millikan’s Ryan Carter (7) is tackled by Downey Vikings Mathew Dalhover (5) as he gets a first down in the first half of a prep football game at Downey High School in Downey on Friday, September 4, 2026. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
However, Inglewood will be a tough test, especially since junior quarterback Lincoln Jahn completed 10 of 13 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-10 win over Long Beach Poly at SoFi Stadium last week. The Sentinels’ running game was just as impressive, with senior running back Marlon Watson leading the way with 163 yards rushing and one touchdown on just seven carries. Senior running back Semaj Welch added 65 yards rushing and one touchdown on 10 carries.
Downey must consistently stop Inglewood’s running game and deep passing, highlighted by senior receiver Allen Wilson’s 79-yard touchdown catch last week.
If the Vikings can’t take away both elements of Inglewood’s offense, they will drop a close game to end nonleague play before going for the program’s third consecutive Gateway League title.
Winner: Inglewood
No. 4 Long Beach Poly (1-4) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (2-3)
Where, when: Rancho Cucamonga High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: The Jackrabbits are coming off a 36-10 loss to Inglewood High at SoFi Stadium last week, where Miami cornerback commit Donte Wright Jr. was the team’s starting quarterback. The five-star recruit played hard but didn’t throw his lone touchdown pass until late in the fourth quarter.
Poly, on a four-game losing streak, faces another tough nonleague game against Rancho Cucamonga this week before kicking off Moore League play against Lakewood at Cabrillo High on Oct. 2.
The Jackrabbits must find innovative, yet simple ways to get the ball to playmakers like senior running back Jeron Johnson, senior receiver Jayden Coley, and junior receiver Zion Anderson in open space.
Rancho Cucamonga is on a three-game losing streak, including a 41-7 loss against Corona Centennial last week. However, the Cougars did beat Murrieta Valley and Oaks Christian in the first two weeks of the season.
Rancho Cucamonga junior quarterback Trey Towns Jr. has completed 56 of 95 passes for 760 yards and seven touchdowns. Poly will need to put Towns in uncomfortable situations and limit big plays to his top receivers, including junior Semaj Smith, senior Kestin McGee and senior Devin Leslie.
However, without an experienced quarterback, Poly might be a week away from beginning to turn its season around.
Winner: Rancho Cucamonga
No. 8 Lakewood (2-3) vs. Villa Park (4-0)
Where, when: El Modena High, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: The Lancers are coming off a 38-13 home loss to Torrance on Sept. 18, but this week won’t get any easier against an undefeated Villa Park team averaging 61.5 points per game.
Lakewood is a gritty team led by senior quarterback Aidan Kautsky and senior running back Thales Nguyen. However, the Lancers are only averaging 15.2 points per game, scoring a season-high 24 points in a rivalry win over Mayfair on Sept. 11.
Villa Park junior running back Coy Collins has run for 346 yards and five touchdowns on 39 carries. The Spartans’ high-scoring offense will likely be too much for Lakewood to handle in the team’s final nonleague game before kicking off Moore League play against Long Beach Poly at Cabrillo High on Oct. 2. Villa Park is winning by an average of 51.5 points, so they should win comfortably.
Winner: Villa Park
Cabrillo (1-4) vs. Jordan (0-5)
Where, when: Jordan High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Cabrillo, led by junior Armon Lumpkin, is coming off a 42-21 home loss to Marina last week. Lumpkin scored three touchdowns in Cabrillo’s lone victory of the season, 35-0 over Maywood CES on Sept. 11. After the Jaguars’ final nonleague game, they will face Centennial, Compton, Dominguez and Compton Early College in Hub City League play.
Jordan is winless this season, led by junior quarterback Caydyn Hampton and senior receiver Sama’Jay Jackson. The Panthers dropped nonleague games against Compton, Crenshaw, Hesperia, Bell Gardens and Charter Oak.
However, Jordan beat Cabrillo 54-19 in a season finale last season. This year’s game should be closer, but the Panthers are hungry for their first win of the season before a difficult Moore League schedule against Wilson, Millikan, Lakewood and Long Beach Poly.
Winner: Jordan
Jordan quarterback Caydyn Hampton (16) tries to pass to an open teammate as the Panthers take on Long Beach Poly in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)