Santa Barbara High and Dos Pueblos both come into Friday’s city rivalry football game off Channel League-opening losses. That should heighten the intensity and sense of urgency on the field at Scott O’Leary Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
A second defeat would be a big blow to a team’s CIF playoff hopes in the five-team league.
The Chargers (1-6, 0-1) are expected to go with sophomore Kellen Roberts at quarterback after their offense struggled in a 24-7 defeat against Buena. Roberts has started three games this season and led DP to its only win, 42-20 over Santa Ynez.
Despite the loss last week, DP coach Nate Mendoza was pleased how his team kept fighting until the end.
Santa Barbara coach JT Stone hopes playing a city rival will lift the spirits and improve the focus of his football team after last week’s 44-7 drubbing against CIF Western Division fourth-ranked Ventura.
The Dons (3-4, 0-1) were run over in the second half against the Cougars. Junior quarterback Brent Peus was under duress on almost every snap.
“It’s a major gut check,” Stone said after the game.
This is the first of the three rivalry games that make up the City Championship series. Dos Pueblos and San Marcos face off in Battle of Goleta Valley next Friday, and San Marcos and Santa Barbara clash in the Big Game on Nov. 7.
San Marcos (2-4, 0-0) at Ventura (6-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.: The Royals have had two weeks to prepare for their Channel League opener. Their defense faces a tough challenge against a Cougar team that is balanced on offense and plays physical on defense. San Marcos’ offense has relied on the running of Inri Cortez and Ivan Reyes. The Royals will need to open up their passing game to keep Ventura off balance.Carpinteria (4-2) at Cantwell-Sacred Heart (5-1), 7 p.m.: The Warriors make another long road trip, this time traveling to Los Angeles to play a high-scoring team from the Northwest Division. The Eagles won their last game 70-0 against Animo Leadership and have outscored their last four opponents 200-6. Their one loss came against El Segundo (38-7), the No. 2-ranked team in the Western Division. Entering its last game before league play, Carpinteria is playing sound football. Quarterback Jimmy Graves has found his groove in the option attack and the running backs are piling up the yardage. This game could turn into a shootout.
SATURDAY
Bishop Diego (6-0) at Reedley-Immanuel (6-0), 7:30 p.m.: The Cardinals make a long road trip to the Central Valley to face their stiffest pre-league opponent. Immanuel is the No. 1-ranked team in Division 5 of the CIF Central Section. Last week, the Eagles rolled up 417 yards on the ground in beating Harbor of Santa Cruz, 63-19. They have a bruising running back in 5-8, 195-pound Robert Grier, who has run for 962 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior quarterback Caleb Paulson has completed 53 percent of his passes for 853 yards and 12 TDs. The Eagles’ defense is rugged. This is the Cardinals’ last test before Tri-Valley League play.
