California High School Football Games of the Week: Sept. 26-28

California is entering the sixth week of the 2024 high school football season as a majority of top programs enter byes before picking things back up in October.

Two matchups featuring teams ranked in the On3 Massey Ratings California top 25 headline the upcoming slate, including a big bout at home for No. 3 Mission Viejo.

Below are four games to watch across the state of California this week.

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

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#18 Chaparral vs. #3 Mission Viejo — Friday, Sept. 27
No. 3 Mission Viejo is the top-ranked team in California that will take the field this week. The 5-0 Diablos defended home turf against a stout Basha (Ariz.) team last week and still look like one of the top defensive teams on the West Coast. Chaparral enters at 4-0 with its best win coming back in its season-opener — a 17-16 victory over top-30 San Clemente. The Pumas are coming off a two-game stretch where they’ve outscored opponents 98-2. The trip to Mission Viejo is game No. 2 of a three-game road trip.

#17 Junipero Serra Gardena vs. #11 Los Alamitos — Friday, Sept. 27
This Friday will be crucial for Junipero Serra Gardena, as it is still in search of its first win against a ranked opponent this season. The 2-2 Cavaliers have taken care of business against teams with losing records but were unable to take down either Orange Lutheran or Oaks Christian. Offense has not been easy to come by thus far. Los Alamitos checks in at 4-1, with its lone blemish coming against Mililani, the No. 1 team in Hawaii. The Griffins are averaging 43.4 points per game and will enter Friday coming off a big 21-point road win over No. 25 Clovis North.

San Clemente vs. #16 Murrieta Valley — Friday, Sept. 27
Checking in as the No. 27 team in the state this week, San Clemente will look for its biggest win of the season on Friday at No. 16 Murrieta Valley. The visiting Tritons are riding a two-game winning streak following a 35-28 win over Chino Hills last week. Three of San Clemente’s games this season have come down to one score. Murrieta Valley will look to make it three wins in a row this week. The 3-1 Nighthawks have won their last two contests by a total of 104-6 and are yet to allow 20 points in a game this season.

#8 De La Salle vs. El Cerrito — Friday, Sept. 27
No. 8 De La Salle has proven that it can score points in bulk so far this season and is now averaging 40.25 points per game. The Spartans own a ranked win over No. 12 Junipero Serra San Mateo and recently avoided an upset loss on the road against Stockton St. Mary’s. El Cerrito won’t look like the toughest challenge on paper, but the Gauchos haven’t allowed a point in their last two wins and also enter the matchup undefeated at 4-0. The No. 76 team in the state has a major opportunity on its hands this week.