NATHAN KIRK (6) catches a touchdown pass in Marina’s win over Northwood on Friday. Vikings are 3-3 overall (HBUHSD photo).

Can the Chargers outpace the Stallions? Considering their different records, will it really be a horse race?

We’re talking in these equine terms about Friday’s Alpha League contest between Edison (2-4, 0-1 in league) and San Juan (5-1, 1-0).

Edison has been a football powerhouse for decades and recently won a CIF-SS title in 2024. But last year’s team slumped to 7-6 and lost all three league contests.
San Juan Hills, a relatively new school, is also trying to forget last year’s 2-10 record (1-4 in league).

But like Edison, the Stallions have a good past performance with years like 10-2 in 2024 and 11-2 in 2023.

SJH is led by quarterback Eiler King, who threw for 507 yards in SJHs’s 61-10 win over Los Alamitos. The top receiver is Like Firth, who has 11 touchdowns so far in 2026.

Sam Thomson is the Edison quarterback he’s thrown for eight scores. Brett Dempson is the top rusher, averaging 53.2 yards a game.

Another interesting contest on Friday night is Westminster (5-1, 1-0) hosting Sonora (5-1, 0-1) in the Lamda League. The Lions squeezed by Valencia, 14-12 last week, and the Raiders their first loss of the season in fallen to Fountain Valley 20-14 on Oct. 2.

Westminster is on a five-game winning streak after dropping the opener to Sunny Hills, 20-13.

And let’s not forget Huntington Beach (6-0, 1-0) in its Delta League showdown with Dana Hills (6-0, 1-0).

Here’s this week’s football schedule for teams at schools serving our West Orange County cities of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton and Westminster. All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.

THURSDAY
• Bolsa Grande (5-2, 4-1) hosts Santiago (2-4, 1-3)
• La Quinta (4-2, 3-1) hosts Santa Ana Valley (5-2, 3-2)

FRIDAY
• Edison (2-4,0-1) hosts San Juan Hills (5-1, 0-1)
• Garden Grove (0-6, 0-1) at Santa Ana (1-5, 0-1)
• Huntington Beach (6-0, 1-0) at Dana Hills (6-0, 1-0)
• Western (0-6, 0-1) at Troy (3-3, 0-1)
• Magnolia (2-4, 1-3) hosts Savanna (3-4, 2-3)
• Marina (3-3, 1-0) at Laguna Hills (5-1, 1-0)
• Ocean View (5-1, 2-0) hosts Saddleback (0-6, 0-1)
• Orange (6-0, 1-0) hosts Segerstrom (3-3, 1-0)
• Pacifica (5-1, 1-0) hosts Northwood (3-3, 0-1)
• Rancho Alamitos (6-0, 1-0) hosts Katella (2-4, 0-1)
• Westminster (5-1, 1-0) hosts Sonora (5-1, 0-1).