HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TODAY

Canyon vs. Palmdale

At Palmdale High 7:30 p.m.

After Palmdale defeated Culver City, 28-7, last week, a Palmdale-area newspaper’s headline declared, “Harry, This One’s for You.” Harry is Canyon Coach Harry Welch, who will send his team out in search of its 30th consecutive victory. The Cowboys have gone 5-0 in Golden League play the last three seasons. Canyon is 5-0 overall this season, coming off a 35-0 demolition of Crespi last week. Palmdale, at 4-1, is off to the best start in the school’s 29-year history. The Falcons are led by running back Toney Edwards, who has rushed for 931 yards and 14 touchdowns. Said Welch: “He’s the best running back we’ll see this year.” In one game this season, Edwards scored six touchdowns.

San Fernando vs. Kennedy

At Kennedy High 8 p.m.

Kennedy Coach John Haynes said jokingly that he spent the week “picking up the pieces” after the Golden Cougars were demolished by Banning, 49-6, last Friday. “I’m satisfied with our 2-2 record,” Haynes said, “because we had a horrendous non-league schedule. But I’m not satisfied with the way we’ve played at times.” San Fernando is also 2-2, coming off a 20-9 loss to Carson, the City’s top-ranked team. But as Haynes suggested, “You can throw out the records when these teams meet. There have been times when we didn’t belong on the field with them and we won, and years where we should have won and didn’t.” This is the Valley 4-A League opener for both teams and the winner figures to battle Granada Hills for the title.

Crespi vs. Alemany

At Alemany 7:30 p.m.

Alemany (5-0) enters Del Rey League action ranked fourth in The Times’ Valley Top 10 and ninth in the Big Five Conference. Crespi (4-1) won its first four games before being shut out by Valley powerhouse Canyon. The loss broke a string of 12 scoreless quarters by the Celt defense. Alemany’s defense has yielded an average of only 110 yards per game and has posted four shutouts in its first five games. On offense, the Indians have been paced by quarterback Sean Casey and receiver Travis Bargeman. Casey has thrown for 658 yards and seven touchdowns. Bargeman has caught only nine passes but has produced the big play when the Indians have needed it. His catches have totaled 258 yards and six touchdowns.

Simi Valley vs. Camarillo

At Camarillo High 7:30 p.m.

The book on Simi Valley says if you shut down M.J. Nelson, you shut down the Pioneers. The problem, of course, is stopping Nelson. The senior running back has rushed for 581 yards on 86 carries. He is the No. 1 rusher in the Valley. Nelson has a 6.8 average per carry and has scored five touchdowns. Fourteen of his 21 career touchdowns have come on runs longer than 50 yards. Simi Valley is 4-1. Camarillo, meanwhile, has fallen to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the Marmonte League. The Scorpions have scored 97 points and have allowed 82.

Newbury Park vs. Thousand Oaks

At Thousand Oaks High 7:30 p.m.

Last week, Newbury Park fell to 3-2 after being upset by Simi Valley. The Panthers were ranked No. 9 in the Coastal Conference prior to the loss. On defense, Newbury Park limited Simi Valley to one touchdown and one field goal, but the Panther offense was plagued by turnovers. In that game, the Panthers faced running back M.J. Nelson. This week they will try to stop Thousand Oaks’ Marc Monestime, who last week gained 190 yards. The Lancers are 3-2. They defeated Rolling Hills, 35-14, last week. Thousand Oaks held Rolling Hills to one yard rushing in the first half.

Agoura vs. Calabasas

At Calabasas High 7:30 p.m.

The Frontier League opener matches local rivals and contenders for the championship. Agoura, the defending league and Desert-Mountain Conference champion, is 3-2. The Chargers, after two straight losses, rebounded last week with a victory over Moorpark, 28-7. Agoura running back Brock Hoffman has rushed for 400 yards and six touchdowns on 56 carries. Calabasas enters league play tied with preseason favorite Santa Clara for the best overall record at 4-1. The Coyotes’ hopes for unseating the defending champs rest with their pass-catch combination of quarterback Darren Del’Andrae and split end Todd Wensley and the running of fullback Jim Ervin.