News Summary
In California, high school football is in full swing with 49 games scheduled, including top 25 team matchups like Etiwanda vs. Cajon and Maranatha vs. Rio Hondo Prep. The Central Section features 10 games, starting with Buchanan vs. Edison. However, off the field, Bishop Montgomery High School has forfeited its 2025 season due to CIF rule violations linked to illegal player transfers involving financial incentives, raising concerns about compliance and recruiting practices. Fans can stay tuned for game results and updates as the season unfolds.
California – Excitement is heating up in the California high school football scene, with a total of 49 games scheduled across the state on Thursday, September 4. Among these, two highly anticipated matchups feature teams ranked in the top 25 statewide. Etiwanda will be making the trip to face Cajon, while Maranatha is set to host Rio Hondo Prep. These games are expected to draw significant attention from both fans and scouts, as teams strive to make their mark early in the season.
The Central Section is set to host 10 high school football games on Thursday. The opening game will include Buchanan taking on Edison at 7:00 PM, followed by several other matchups, with the final game featuring South against Golden Valley starting at 7:30 PM. This gives local fans several opportunities to catch live action as their favorite teams compete.
Additionally, the Central Coast Section will see three games, beginning with Burlingame squaring off against Palo Alto at 7:00 PM, while the last scheduled game is between Monta Vista and James Lick at 7:15 PM. Over in the Los Angeles Section, two games will be held, both kicking off at 7:00 PM, featuring a matchup of Fremont against Manual Arts.
The Oakland Section is also scheduled to see one game on Thursday, highlighting the contest between Fremont and Manual Arts, which adds to the excitement of the night. However, the Southern Section leads with the most substantial number of games, with a total of 26 games scheduled. The first game in this section will feature Heritage against Chaffey at 7:00 PM, and the final matchup of the evening will see Silverado take on Patriot at 7:30 PM.
Fans eager to follow the action can stay updated with live scoreboards available for each section, effectively connecting supporters with their teams as the new season unfolds.
In other significant developments within California high school football, a troubling situation has emerged at Bishop Montgomery High School, which has forfeited its 2025 varsity season due to violations of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rules relating to illegal player transfers. An internal investigation is ongoing, conducted in coordination with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The allegations point toward a figure known as “Money Man” Brett Steigh, who is alleged to have facilitated player transfers to the school with dubious practices.
Reports indicate that Steigh claimed to have financially incentivized parents, allegedly paying them sums as high as $50,000 to facilitate player transfers. These actions have drawn significant scrutiny and led to accusations of multiple CIF violations. In response, the CIF Southern Section ruled several of these transfers ineligible, citing false information.
Moreover, the situation escalated further after a brawl occurred at a game in Hawaii, resulting in Bishop Montgomery forfeiting a contest against Mater Dei. Amid the fallout from these incidents, Bishop Montgomery made the decision to part ways with head football coach Ed Hodgkiss.
Steigh has faced similar sanctions for his actions in other schools and has claimed that his financial support was conducted with the knowledge of school officials. However, Bishop Montgomery has denied these assertions. Investigative bodies, including the CIF Los Angeles City Section and the Southern Section, are currently examining remarks made by Steigh on a podcast, which have raised further questions about recruiting practices and compliance with CIF regulations.
As the California high school football season progresses, the combination of exciting matchups and unfolding scandals is sure to keep fans engaged for weeks to come.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Los Angeles High School Sports Highlights: Football Showdown
High School Sports Weekend Showcase in Los Angeles
High School Sports Rankings: Week 3 Insights
Los Angeles High School Football Week 2 Results
NFL Launches International Matchup with Chiefs vs. Chargers
Bishop Montgomery High School Football Loses Coach Amid Crisis
California High School Football Season Kickoff
Birmingham High School Sports Game Cancelled Due to Safety Issues
High School Sports Showcase Dominance in Southern California
Southern California High School Sports Showcase Weekend Wins
Additional Resources
- SI: Top 25 California High School Football Rankings
- Wikipedia: California High School Football
- LA Times: Top 25 High School Football Rankings
- Google Search: California High School Football
- SFGate: High School Football Trouble
- Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Football
- SacBee: California High School Football News
- Google News: California High School Football News
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