TIME OUT for some high school football teams this week (Shutterstock).

As the 2024 area high school football team reaches the halfway-mark, a bunch of the teams representing schools serving our West Orange County cities are idle this weekend.

Since several of them started their campaigns in what’s called Week Zero, in order to have no more than 10 regular season games, they sitting out this one.

And the timing is pretty good too, as league play starts next week and this gives coaches and players time to catch their breath and injuries to head.

Our High 5 has seen some shuffles this time. Edison remains at the top with its third straight win in a tough schedule. Marina (5-0) moved up into the third spot and Orange (0-5) dropped off entirely. The Panthers have a lot of talent, but sooner or later potential needs a payoff.

Game of the Week

We’re picking the “Bell Game” between Western (2-2) and Anaheim (3-1). That’s the oldest rivalry between the first two Anaheim schools, which began in 1959. It was one-sided at first, with the Colonists winning 21 of their first 22 meetings, but got a lot more even after that.

The game will be played Friday night at Handel Stadium on the Western campus.

The Schedule

Here’s the lineup – as published – of area high school football games this week. As always, details about location, time, date and opponent are subject to change without notice. All these games are non-league. All games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Thursday: Western Christian (2-1) at Los Amigos (4-0) at Monsoor Stadium, Garden Grove High.

Friday: Corona (1-3) at Rancho Alamitos (4-0) at Bolsa Stadium; Los Amigos (4-0) at Compton Early College (0-4); Gabrielino (1-3) at Santiago at Monsoor Stadium, Garden Grove  High; LaSerna (3-2) at Edison (3-2), Sheue Stadium, Huntington Beach High; Anaheim (3-1) at Western (2-2); Westminster (2-2) at Cerritos (3-2); Magnolia (0-5) at Buena Park (1-3).

Saturday: Bolsa Grande (1-3) at Channel Islands (1-3).