High school football in Southern California doesn't do quiet weeks. Week 3 of the 2026 season delivered numbers that looked straight out of a video game, proving once again why the Southland remains a absolute factory for gridiron talent. If you missed the chaos on Friday night, you missed juniors stepping into emergency roles and senior workhorses carrying the load through sheer grit. Let's look at who actually shaped the weekend.
Emergency Quarterbacks and Heavy Workloads
When injuries hit, depth charts get shredded. Some players fold under that pressure. Others turn into local legends overnight.
Take Hayden Koo over at Tustin. He spent most of his time at wide receiver until an injury to starting quarterback Ayden Edwards forced a sudden shift. Moving a receiver under center mid-season is risky. Koo made it look easy. He carved up Damien with 110 rushing yards and a touchdown, securing his second straight win running the offense.
Over in the City Section, Fairfax senior Tru Warrior Casas didn't need to throw much. He just needed thirty handoffs. Casas pounded the ball 280 yards against Eagle Rock, wearing down the defense one brutal carry at a time.
Defensive Anchors Who Decide Games
Everyone loves explosive offenses, but elite defense wins the tight ones. Mater Dei squared off against Corona Centennial in a heavyweight clash, and linebacker Mike Davis Jr. proved why high-profile recruits earn their hype.
Centennial threatened late in the fourth quarter. Davis read the play, stepped into a passing lane, and hauled in a clutch interception. He added a sack earlier in the night, serving as the literal tip of the spear for a defensive unit that refuses to break.
Meanwhile, Redondo Union's Rocky Martinez kept his absurd momentum rolling. After rushing for a jaw-dropping 306 yards the prior week, Martinez tacked on another 218 yards and a touchdown against Huntington Beach. That is 524 rushing yards across two games. Defenses know he is getting the ball, and they still cannot stop him.
Arm Talent on Full Display
Passing attacks across the Southern Section lit up scoreboards with surgical precision. St. John Bosco rolled past Kahuku behind Koa Malau'ulu, who tossed five touchdowns. Targets DJ Tubbs and Kuika Moaalii reeled in two scores each, showcasing an aerial rhythm that few defensive secondaries can match.
In other shootouts:
- Dominik Hardy of Calabasas threw for 277 yards and four scores against Birmingham Charter.
- Chaminade relied on Jeremy Mellalieu, who shredded Beaumont for 354 yards and four touchdowns while completing 28 of 39 passes. Andrew Cordero benefited heavily, hauling in five catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
- Chase Curren of Crespi threw for 274 yards and four scores in a rout over Canyon.
Dual-Threat Monsters
Some athletes refuse to stick to just one phase of the game. Edward Rivera of Compton put on a masterclass against Gardena. He ran for two touchdowns, caught two passes for scores, and picked off a pass to return it for yet another touchdown.
Cleveland's Moyo Odebunmi put together a similar clinic in a blowout win over Franklin. Odebunmi turned 11 carries into 180 yards and a score, took a punt return 50 yards to the house, and racked up 270 total all-purpose yards before most fans finished their halftime snacks.
Week 3 proved that the competitive baseline in the Southland is higher than ever. Grab a ticket for next week because this pace isn't slowing down.
