Friday Night Lights: Week 5 Prep Football Preview

A school district battle pitting Mt. Carmel against Poway and a meeting of unbeaten teams matching East County's Grossmont High against South Bay's Mar Vista hightlight this weekend's high school football calendar.

No. 4-ranked Poway leads the all-time series with the neighboring Sundevils 25-11, including last season's 36-32 win at Mt. Carmel, which renewed the rivalry after a two-year hiatus. Mt. Carmel's last victory over the Titans was a 38-35 squeaker in 2006.

Mar Vista has used a powerful ground game to bolt to a 3-0 start, while Grossmont had a pair of close wins over Ramona and University City before a 28-28 tie with Bonita Vista on Sept. 16, its last game.

While everyone else is still playing non-league games, league action starts this week in the Central League, with University City (2-2) visiting Coronado (3-1).

Though Vista is unexpectedly 0-3, the Panthers will do their best to upset highly regarded and No. 3 Oceanside (2-1).

No. 2 Helix makes the trip up to the L.A. area to take on Venice High, while closer to home, another East County power, No. 5 Mount Miguel, hosts Sweetwater.

Friday, Sept. 30 (all games at 7 p.m. except as shown):

Santa Fe Christian (3-1) at La Jolla (1-3), 6:30 p.m.
Grossmont (2-0-1) at Mar Vista (3-0)
Sweetwater (1-2) at Mount Miguel (3-0)
Valhalla (3-1) at Monte Vista (1-3)
Patrick Henry (3-0) at West Hills (0-3)
Santana (4-0) at San Ysidro (2-2)
Helix (2-1) at Venice (1-2)
University City (2-2) at Coronado (3-1) (Central League opener)
Army-Navy (1-2) at La Jolla Country Day (3-0)
Torrey Pines (1-2) at Carlsbad (2-1)
Westview (4-0) at El Camino (1-2)
Vista (0-3) at Oceanside (2-1)
Fallbrook (1-2) at La Costa Canyon (2-2)
Mt. Carmel (2-1) at Poway (3-0-1)
Mission Hills (0-3) at Rancho Bernardo (3-1)
Ramona (1-3) at Valley Center (3-1)

Saturday, Oct. 1:

Bishop’s (3-0) at Newport Beach Sage Hill (1-2)