PACIFICA QUARTERBACK Darius Cowens hands of to Edward “Jun” Ramos in Pacifica’s win over Fullerton last week. Ramos had four TDs (OC Tribune photo).

This is widely known as “Week One” of the high school football season, even though many teams have already begun play. Another name might be “Rivalry Week” as some non-league but very local games will be played.

On Thursday, Orange and Villa Park – district rivals – will meet at Fred Kelly Stadium on the El Modena High campus.

On Friday, La Quinta and Westminster high schools – both located in Westminster – will play for the All American city’s bragging rights at Bolsa Grande High’s stadium.

Here’s the schedule for WhatEver This Week Is, as far as local schools go. As always, dates, locations, times and even opponents can change without notice, so check with the home school if you want to be certain. All games at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday

• Bolsa Grande at La Sierra (at Norte Vista High)

Thursday

• Artesia at Garden Grove
• Linfield Christian at Pacifica (Bolsa Grande High)
• Marina at Newport Harbor
• Orange vs. Villa Park (Fred Kelly Stadium)
• Magnolia at University
• Huntington Beach at Western

Friday

• Loara at Estancia
• Westminster at La Quinta (Bolsa Grande Stadium)
• Ocean View at Los Amigos (Monsoor Stadium, GGHS)
• Santiago at Godinez (Santa Ana Valley High)
• Rancho Alamitos at Savanna (Handel Stadium, Western HS)
• Clovis North at Edison (Sheue Stadium, HBHS).

OUR GAMES OF THE WEEK

Huntington Beach led 14-0 early last week before Aliso Niguel caught fire and won going away. If the first half Oilers show up, they should be competitive with Western, which thumped Chino in Week Zero.
Garden Grove had a 3-3 record in last year’s “spring football” season, but the Argonauts were loaded with young players. Watch out especially for Malachi Bey, a junior running back. We don’t know much about Artesia except the Pioneers were 2-1 last year, competing in the 605 League.

Numbers, numbers, numbers

Seven of our 15 local schools opened football play last week, with four wins and three losses.

Playing their season openers this week are Bolsa Grande, Garden Grove, Orange, Magnolia, Westminster, La Quinta, Ocean View, Los Amigos, Santiago and Rancho Alamitos.

We will start our “High Five” ranking of the top area football season next week, but – just for fun – here’s how the maxpreps.com website ranks them. We do not endorse these rankings at all.

First five (in order): Edison, Huntington Beach, Orange, Pacifica, Western. Second five: Marina, Garden Grove, Ocean View, Rancho Alamitos, La Quinta. Third five: Magnolia, Westminster, Santiago, Los Amigos, Bolsa Grande.

A Week Zero Rewind

The biggest upset in area football in Week Zero wasn’t exactly a score, it was the matchups.  Edison was originally scheduled to play Venice (the one in L.A., not the one in Italy and Servite was to play Bishop Amat, but those games were cancelled because of coronavirus-related issues, so the Chargers had a last-minute change and ended up playing the nationally-ranked Friars instead.

The Most Fun Player to Watch was Edward Ramos of Pacifica. The 5-foot, 4-inch, 150-lb. junior running back scampered for four touchdowns against Fullerton Friday night. His quickness and size made it hard for opponents to catch and he will be a force going forward for the Mariners.

Watching the water polo teams

The CIF-SS released the 2021 Preseason Boys’ Water Polo Watch List on Monday. Five local teams were listed.

In Division 1, Huntington Beach is listed. In Division 2, it’s Pacifica of Garden Grove. In Division 5, it’s Garden Grove High. The Division 6 list includes La Quinta and Ocean View.

“Prep Sports Spotlight” is posted on Tuesday’s during the high school athletic season.