IT’S CRUNCH TIME in several prep football leagues this week (Shutterstock).

The Crunch, the Nitty-Gritty, the Big Games, what-have-you … all of that is starting to come in waves with Week Eight football contests. Crucial games will be played not just for league titles but also for possible CIF-SS playoff spots. Here are some of the more crucial crucials.

• Big 4 League: This is a small but mighty conference that starts play this week, and the title will likely be decided on Friday when Garden Grove hosts Katella.
• Empire League: If Pacifica can knock off Cypress on Friday, the Mariners have a good shot at finishing in a three-way tie for the title with Cypress and Tustin.
• Pac 4 League: Also just starting this week, but the crown could be won on Friday when Laguna Beach and Westminster (both 6-1) meet Friday at Boswell Field on the WHS campus.
• Sunset League: Perhaps not a championship battle, but the game between Corona del Mar and Edison – the county’s ninth- and seventh-ranked teams – will be the most fun to watch of all.

Here’s the lineup of high school football games scheduled this week for The Tribune’s coverage area. As always, games, opponents, locations, times, etc. are subject to change without notice. Unless otherwise noted, all games are slated to begin at 7 p.m.

THURSDAY

Garden Grove League

• Santiago (6-1, 2-0) at Los Amigos (4-3, 2-0) at Monsoor Stadium (Garden Grove High), 6:30 p.m.
• La Quinta (1-6, 0-2) at Bolsa Grande (3-4, 0-2), 6:30 p.m.

Sunset League

• Los Alamitos (6-1, 2-0) at Fountain Valley (1-6, 0-2) at Sheue Field (Huntington Beach High)

FRIDAY

Big 4 League

• Katella (4-3) at Garden Grove (5-2)
• Marina (2-5) at Segerstrom (2-5)

Empire League

• Cypress (5-2, 2-0) at Pacifica (6-1, 1-1) at Bolsa Grande

Garden Grove League

• Loara (2-5, 0-2) at Rancho Alamitos (6-1, 2-0) at Bolsa Stadium, 4:30 p.m.

Orange League

• Magnolia (3-4, 1-1) at Century (0-6)
• Western (4-2, 2-0) at Santa Ana Valley (2-5, 1-1)

Pac 4 League

• Laguna Beach (6-1) at Westminster (6-1)
• Godinez (0-7) at Ocean View (2-5)

Sunset League

• Corona del Mar (6-1, 1-1) at Edison (4-4, 1-1) at Sheue Field
• Huntington Beach (5-3, 1-1) at Newport Harbor (2-5, 1-1)

SATURDAY

Orange Coast League

• Orange (4-3, 2-0) at Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana (4-3, 0-2) at Segerstrom High.

Who’s on top? Aw, you know

It’s rare that you find a football team with a 4-4 record that’s atop of the poll, but not in the case of Edison High. The Chargers have played a tough schedule – including a nationally-ranked opponent (Servite) – so they remain the best in the West Orange County area.

Pacifica moved up to second with a 45-42 win over Valencia and Garden Grove from fifth to fourth after another blowout shutout win.

Good enough to be honored (but there isn’t room… yet) are Rancho Alamitos, Santiago and Westminster.

Stars under the stadium lights

These football athletes had some outstanding performances in Week Seven games.

• Troy Fletcher of Edison ran for three scores in the Chargers’ 35-28 loss to Los Alamitos last Thursday.
• Anthony Luna of Western ran for 247 yards and a pair of touchdowns on Thursday as the Pioneers bested Anaheim 56-7.
• Vany Rodriguez of Garden Grove passed for four TDs as the Argonauts beat Glenn High of Norwalk 49-0 on Friday.
• Noah Salas of Pacifica threw for seven touchdown passes in the Mariners’ 45-42 win over Valencia, standing in for the injured Darius Cowens. It was Noah’s first varsity start.
• Isaac Hernandez of Santiago rushed for 205 yards and three scores for the Cavaliers against Loara in a 42-7 win.
• Anthony Ramirez of Ocean View gained 156 yards on the ground and Frankie Armenta 237 yards in the air against Temecula Prep. Seahawks won 36-16.
• Jeremiah Ingram of Pacifica caught eight passes worth 243 yards and four TDs.

Checking the polls

Here are the local teams named in the CIF-SS polls released on Monday.

• Girls’ tennis: In Division 1, Garden Grove is ranked ninth and La Quinta 10th.
• Girls’volleyball: In Divisions 1 and 2, Huntington Beach is unranked but received some votes. In Division 3, Edison is unranked but received some votes. Division 6, Bolsa Grande is seventh and Garden Grove is unranked but received some votes.
• Boys’ water polo: In Division 1, Huntington Beach is tied with Mater Dei for first place. In Division 2, Edison is rated 10th. In Division 4, Marina is ranked eighth. In Division 6, Westminster is ranked second and Ocean View eighth. La Quinta is unranked but received some votes.

“Prep Sport Spotlight is posted on Tuesdays during the high school athletic year. Send scores, results, photos, etc. to us at orangecountytribune@gmail.com .