HS FOOT: Oaks Christian, Alemany gear for opener

The biggest opening game next week is an intriguing nonleague match up pitting national power Oaks Christian of Westlake Village at Alemany of Mission Hills on Sept 4.

Defending Northwest Division champion Oaks Christian, ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation, has won six consecutive Southern Section titles and features six national recruits, including running back Malcolm Jones, one of the top prospects in the country. Alemany, led by Oregon State-bound running back Malcolm Marable, is a program on the rise and participates in a larger division, winning the Mission League title and finishing as Western Division semifinalists last year.

"It's a huge game for us because we want to come out and show everybody what we're all about," Oaks Christian linebacker Zac Stout said. "Alemany is a good team from what everyone says and what we've seen, so it should be a fun game."

-- Gerry Gittelson