DARIEN COWENS (0) got a block from Alijah Sadler (5) and then raced 48 yards for a touchdown in Pacifica’s game last March against Kennedy. The Mariners finished in a three-way tie for the Empire League title and will be strong again this year (Orange County Tribune photos by Jim Tortolano)

With any luck – maybe some vaccines – high school sports are returning to a more familiar look this year, with familiar seasons, fans in the stands and hope springing eternal.

Of course, the most high-profile sport of the fall is football, and Week Zero is upon us with games Thursday and Friday. Week One will see the rest of the schools kicking off for the “second” 2021 season, following the unprecedented spring gridiron campaigns with shorter schedules and no playoffs.

Here’s the lowdown, in brief. All games, unless otherwise noted, at set to begin at 7 p.m.

WEEK ZERO SCHEDULE

Thursday, Aug. 19

• Chino at Western
• Linfield Christian at Loara (Glover Stadium)

Friday, Aug. 20

• Fullerton at Pacifica (Bolsa Grande Stadium)
• Aliso Niguel at Huntington Beach
• Marina at Arcadia
• Godinez at Magnolia (Santa Ana Valley)
• Santa Ana Valley at Ocean View
• Edison at Venice.

OUR GAMES OF THE WEEK

Edison High of Huntington Beach is the highest-ranked team in The Tribune’s coverage area to make it to the pre-season Orange County Top 25. The Chargers are eighth and posted a 5-1 record last season. The green-and-gold are loaded with talent, including some transfers from Mater Dei. They’ll be traveling to L.A. to take on the Venice Gondoliers, who were 4-0 last season and finished first in the Western League.

Pacifica High of Garden Grove will be at home at Bolsa Grande Stadium to take on Fullerton. The Mariners are rated 23rd in the county and had a 4-2 record overall and finished in a three-way tie with Tustin and Cypress for the Empire League title last season. The Indians were also 4-2 and finished third in the Freeway League.

Girls v-ball watch list posted

Which are the girls’ volleyball teams who look to have the most potential for the coming season?

The CIF-SS has released a “watch list” for them. Here are the local teams that made the lineup, by division.

Divisions 1 & 2: Huntington Beach; Division 3: Edison; Division 5: Pacifica; Division 6: Garden Grove, La Quinta; Division 7: Santiago; Division 8: Orange, Rancho Alamitos; Division 9: Orangewood Academy.

“Prep Sport Spotlight” is posted on Tuesdays during the high school athletic season. Coaches, fans, etc. are encouraged to send results, rosters, statistics and feature story ideas to us at orangecountytribune@gmail.com .