The 2026 regular season has officially come to a close.
CULVER CITY CENTAURS 31 @ SAMOHI VIKINGS 21
The Santa Monica High Vikings wrapped up their regular season on a sour note Friday night, dropping a hard-fought 31-21 road battle against Culver City.
Looking to build momentum ahead of the postseason, Samohi’s offense ran into a buzzsaw early. Culver City raced out to a commanding 24-0 lead before halftime, capitalizing on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Kristopher McKay, a 1-yard plunge by Nicholas Hoang, a 25-yard scoring strike, and a late field goal. Interceptions by Jacob Fernandez and Jake Montanez helped stem the bleeding, but the Vikings dug themselves too deep of a hole.
Samohi mounted a spirited second-half comeback attempt. Joshua Fernandez ignited the spark with a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, followed by a 17-yard scoring pass from Gryffin Glowacki to Chandler Paysinger early in the fourth. After a defensive stop, Saul Buendia plowed in from 5 yards out late in the quarter, pulling the Vikings within striking distance at 31-21 after a score correction.
However, Culver City’s early cushion proved insurmountable as the clock ran out on Samohi’s regular-season finale.
Up Next: CIF-SS Playoffs. Game 1, Friday, November 6. Opponent TBD
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Photo: Aayan Lakhani @ion_lakhni
ST. MONICA PREP MARINERS 49 @ ST. BERNARD VIKINGS 20
The St. Monica Mariners put on an absolute first-half clinic Friday night, blowing out St. Bernard 49-20 on the road in Playa del Rey to lock up second place in the Gold Coast League and punch their ticket to the CIF playoffs.
With postseason position on the line, quarterback Bradley Cassier came out firing early, tossing first-half touchdown strikes to Anthony Mason (15 yards), Christopher Barnes (3 yards and 6 yards), and Aaron Minter (7 yards). Barnes also showed off his arm, throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kailan Booker and hauling in an interception on defense to fuel a staggering 49-7 halftime lead.
The defense tore the game wide open in the second quarter with back-to-back pick-sixes, as Rylann Irving returned an interception 65 yards to the house, followed immediately by Isaiah Arnold’s 40-yard interception return for a touchdown.
With a 42-point lead in hand, St. Monica pulled Cassier and key starters for the entire second half to rest up for the postseason run. St. Bernard managed two late scores against the Mariner backups, but the damage was long done.
St. Monica finishes the regular season 8-2 overall, riding high into the playoffs.
Up Next: CIF-SS Playoffs. Game 1, Friday, November 6. Opponent TBD
PALISADES DOLPHINS 38 @ WESTCHESTER COMETS 0
Palisades understood the assignment on Senior Night: establish early dominance and head into the postseason with maximum momentum. The Dolphins delivered in all three phases, pounding Westchester 38-0 at Stadium by the Sea to close out a flawless Western League slate.
Palisades finishes the regular season on a tear, turning its full focus toward a deep playoff run.
Up Next: CIF-LA City Section Playoffs. Game 1, Friday, November 6. Opponent TBD
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Photo: Mariana Flynn @Barnburnershots
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