EDISON vs, Mission Viejo is a top matchup this weekend (Shutterstock).

With the now-earlier start to the high school football season, it seems kind of odd to be referring to Week Nine when there’s still a week left in October. But there it is and there are league championships to win and playoff berths to earn.

Big games on Friday include an Alpha League contest with Mission Viejo hosting Edison. The Diablos are Orange County’s second-ranked team – second only to Mater Dei, rated first in the nation. The Chargers are 6-2 but played a tough pre-league schedule. Both at 1-0 in conference.

Another game we’re keeping an eye on is a Sigma League meeting with Los Amigos (3-0, 8-0) visiting Santa Ana Valley (0-3, 0-8). It’s not expected to be close, but with a win the Lobos can clinch no worse than a tie for the league title.

And also of interest is Thursday’s Lambda League game with Marina (3-0, 8-0) hosting a pretty good Kennedy (2-1, 5-3) team at Westminster High’s Boswell Field. A win by the Vikings would set up the title game next week against Beckman (3-0, 8-0).

Here’s the lineup of games scheduled for this Thursday and Friday involving teams from schools serving our home cities of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton and Westminster. As always, matchups, times, locations, etc. are subject to change without notice. They should all start at 7 p.m.

THURSDAY

Lambda League

Kennedy (2-1, 5-3) at Marina (3-0, 8-0), at Boswell Field (Westminster High)

Sigma League

Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana (2-1, 3-5) at Rancho Alamitos (1-2, 5-3) at Bolsa Stadium.

FRIDAY

Alpha League

Edison (1-0, 6-2) at Mission Viejo (8-0, 1-0).

Delta League

Tustin (2-1, 7-1) at Western (1-2, 4-4)

Epsilon League

Crean Lutheran (2-1, 6-2) at Huntington Beach (2-1, 5-3)

Foxtrot League

Orange (2-1, 2-6) at Aliso Niguel (1-2, 5-3)

Kappa League

Esperanza (2-1, 5-3) at Westminster (1-2, 3-5)

Garden Grove (0-3, 1-7) at St. Margaret’s (0-3, 2-6)

Omicron League

Katella (0-3, 1-7) at Pacifica (3-0, 4-4), at Monsoor Stadium (Garden Grove High)

Sigma League

Los Amigos (3-0, 8-0) at Santa Ana Valley (?)

Ocean View (1-2, 2-6) at Estancia (2-1, 6-2)

Tango League

Anaheim (3-0, 6-2) at Bolsa Grande (2-1, 4-4)

Santiago (1-2, 3-5) at Loara (0-3, 0-8) at Glover Stadium.