SoFi Stadium hosting three California high school football games this month

For six California high school football teams, the lights on Friday night will be much brighter this month.

This Friday, Oct. 4, Mission Viejo and Long Beach Poly will take the field at SoFi Stadium — the home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams. The game will be one of three that take place at the NFL venue across the next four weeks as a part of ‘SoFi Stadium’s Friday Night Lights presented by LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk.’

Headlining the festivities is the ‘Brotherhood Bowl’, a matchup between St. John Bosco and Servite, the No. 2 and 7 teams in the state per the On3 Massey Ratings, on Oct. 18. Rounding out the series is the ‘East L.A. Classic’ between Roosevelt and Garfield on Oct. 25.

Powerhouse lineup 🗓️🏈

We're bringing three HUGE High School Football games to @SoFiStadium this month.

🎟️ Go to https://t.co/itdWofgvae today to get tickets and parking! pic.twitter.com/2gGfSTupH6

— LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk (@LABowlGame) October 1, 2024

“We are excited to host two of these elite high school football programs at our world-class stadium,” Adolfo Romero, Executive Director for LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk said of the opening game in a press release. “The Friday Night Lights series is dedicated to showcasing local talent, highlighting community spirit, while providing a stage for these student-athletes to shine.”

Mission Viejo enters Friday night’s matchup as the No. 3 team in the state and No. 11 team in the nation. The Diablos, led by Alabama five-star cornerback commit Dijon Lee, Ohio State wide receiver commit Phillip Bell and standout junior WR Vance Spafford, are 6-0 and are favored to finish the regular season undefeated.

Long Beach Poly lost its first three games of the season but will enter the showdown on a two-game winning streak. The Jackrabbits rank No. 49 in the state.

California’s best look to perform on big stage

The Trinity League matchup between St. John Bosco and Servite will also feature plenty of top prospects. For the No. 2 Braves, junior four-star athlete Madden Williams, four-star WR Daniel Odom and USC ATH commit Joshua Holland headline. The No. 7 Friars are led by Michigan State QB commit Leo Hannan and San Diego State running back commit Quaid Carr.

Both storied Golden State programs are currently undefeated at 5-0. Bosco ranks No. 3 nationally, while Servite checks in at No. 63, per the On3 Massey Ratings.

“This event highlights not only the talent of these student-athletes, but also the spirit of brotherhood and tradition that these two esteemed football programs represent,” Adolfo Romero, Executive Director for LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk said. “We are honored to provide a global stage for the Brotherhood Bowl creating a memorable experience for the players, coaches, and fans alike.”

Last year, the first high school football game at SoFi was a battle between nearby Downey and Warren that saw a reported attendance 18,000, according to NBC Los Angeles. Both the Chargers and Rams are helping sponsor this year’s trio of games, which will likely see an uptick in attendance.