After nine years sitting in the Oxnard High football office, The Centennial Cup will be dusted off this week.
Ventura County celebrates the return of a rivalry Friday, Sept. 4, when Oxnard welcomes Hueneme to Houser Field for the teams’ 55th meeting and first since 2017, when releaguing took the programs on separate paths.
“Last time we played them, we were in the (Pacific View League),” Oxnard coach Lonnie McCowan said.
A win itself will be as valuable as the trophy that will come with it.
Oxnard (0-2) hast lost 13 straight games since a 35-33 win over Buena on Oct. 25, 2024.
Hueneme (0-2) has won one game in the same span, a 25-0 victory over Channel Islands in the resumption of another city rivalry.
Both teams are led by strong senior running backs.
Hueneme’s Kelechi Ofoego is sixth in the state in rushing with 430 yards and four TDs touchdowns on 38 carries through two games. Oxnard’s Aaron Salazar has run for 179 yards and three TDs on 40 carries.
The city of Oxnard has enjoyed a strong start to the football season.
Pacifica is atop The Star’s rankings and is one of the top teams in the state. After going winless last season, Santa Clara is 2-0. Del Sol celebrated its second varsity win last weekend against San Marcos and is on the cusp of opening its stadium.
Oxnard and Hueneme are excited to join the party.
“The kids are fired up,” Hueneme coach Alex Morfin said. “The school spirit from our non-football students is amazing.”
Onto the Week 2 picks. Let’s see how much Joe Knows.
Thursday, Sept. 3
Westlake 45, Chatsworth 7: Chatsworth won two games last season, but one of them came in the playoffs.
Royal 28, Contreras 14: The Highlanders haven’t started 3-0 since 2013.
Friday, Sept. 4
Hueneme 20, Oxnard 14: The Centennial Cup rivalry returns after a eight-year hiatus.
Fillmore 24, Buena 21: Fillmore beat Buena for the first time in 62 years last season.
Agoura 31, Thousand Oaks 30: The Lancers have won 18 straight in the series, stretching back to 2006.
Santa Paula 21, Del Sol 20: The Cardinals won the teams’ first meeting, 42-0, last year.
Pacifica 38, Hart 14: Hart has thrown just four incompletions in two games.
St. Bonaventure 35, Trabuco Hills 20: Senior Nate Davis has caught 11 passes for 211 yards and a TD for 2-0 Trabuco Hills.
Simi Valley 41, Bishop Montgomery 6: Bishop Montgomery is rebuilding after last year’s season was canceled amid a recruiting scandal.
Liberty 21, Oaks Christian 14: Senior Gavin Williams has caught 14 passes for 323 yards and five TDs through two games for Bakersfield-Liberty.
Arroyo Grande 28, Newbury Park 21: The Panthers have won this matchup the past two seasons.
Ventura 31, Lakewood 7: Lakewood has mustered just 15 points through two games.
Moorpark 31, Birmingham 17: Birmingham has yet to score a point this season after a Week Zero shutout against Hart.
Camarillo 31, Saugus 24: Senior Landon Lattimore has caught 13 passes for 260 yards and four TDs through two games for Saugus.
Brentwood School 27, Oak Park 24: Brentwood went 3-0 against local schools last year, beating Hueneme, Oak Park, and Grace.
Calabasas 27, Burbank 13: The Burbank defense went from shutting out Cabrillo in the opener to allowing 74 points in a loss to Las Vegas-Centennial last week.
Channel Islands 15, San Marcos 14: San Marcos has started 0-2 under new head coach Isaiah Veal.
Grace 34, El Camino Real 24: El Camino Real fell to Heritage Christian, coached by former Thousand Oaks coach Ben McEnroe, 35-9 last week.
Nordhoff 31, Mira Monte 21: The Bakersfield school dropped its opener 49-10.
Saturday, Sept. 5
Santa Clara 28, Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac 7: The Temecula school has yet to score a point this season in two losses.
Last week: 14-4 (.777).
This season: 32-6 (.842).
Joe Curley — aka Jostradamus — writes The Star’s high school football picks column. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. Follow him at @vcsjoecurley on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Jostradamus delivers picks for Centennial Cup game, rest of Week 2
