In short: La Canada Spartans high school football (La Canada, CA), 2026 season: 8-1 in the Arroyo League. Last game: W 28-14 vs Monrovia on October 22, 2026. Next: vs Crescenta Valley, October 30, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
The number to watch when La Canada meets Crescenta Valley is La Canada's scoring defense. La Canada allowed 24.0 points per game over its first 5 games (4-1), #219 in CIF-SS in that timeframe. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (4-0), the Spartans have allowed 8.8 points per game, a 64% drop, #33 in CIF-SS in that window. The schedule deserves some of the credit: La Canada's last 4 opponents have averaged 19.8 points per game, a #281 offense in CIF-SS on the season, against 27.5 points per game, #162 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (19.8 points per game), La Canada held those offenses 56% below what they usually score. Meanwhile, Crescenta Valley's offense has struggled in recent weeks. The Falcons have averaged 16.2 points per game over their last 4 games (2-2), #305 in CIF-SS during that time. Those games came against some of the better scoring defenses in CIF-SS (16.5 points per game on the season, which would rank #87). On paper, that is a matchup that favors La Canada.
The battle on the ground could decide La Canada's next game, against Crescenta Valley, and the recent returns favor Crescenta Valley. La Canada allowed 3.6 yards per carry (360 yards on 99 rushes) over its first 4 games (4-0), #50 in CIF-SS through those games. In the 5 games since that hot start (4-1), the Spartans have allowed 5.1 yards per carry (421 yards on 83 rushes), a 39% rise, #136 in CIF-SS through that stretch. The schedule doesn't excuse it: the last 5 opponents have been softer, averaging 5.0 yards per carry, a #262 rushing attack in CIF-SS on the season, against 6.1 yards per carry, #149 for the first 4. Meanwhile, Crescenta Valley's ground game has been middle of the pack in recent weeks. The Falcons have averaged 6.1 yards per carry (812 yards on 134 rushes) over their last 5 games (3-2), #156 in CIF-SS over that stretch. Those games came against a middle-of-the-pack set of run defenses in CIF-SS (5.8 yards per carry on the season, which would rank #210). Overall, those opponents average an SP Strength Index rating that would rank #259 in CIF-SS, a lower level of competition. Crescenta Valley offers La Canada a fair measuring stick for whether the trend is real.
NOTES
The biggest worry in La Canada's season has been the direction of its passing game. La Canada averaged 8.7 yards per pass attempt (742 yards on 85 attempts) over its first 5 games (4-1), #119 in CIF-SS within that period. Over the stretch of 4 games that followed (4-0), the Spartans have averaged 5.6 yards per pass attempt (413 yards on 74 attempts), a 36% drop, #286 in CIF-SS across those games. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 7.6 yards per attempt on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (7.3 yards per attempt), La Canada threw for 24% less per attempt than those pass defenses usually allow. On the season, La Canada ranks #210 in CIF-SS in passing. It won't get any easier against Crescenta Valley, whose pass defense ranks #23 in CIF-SS (5.1 yards per attempt).
La Canada's offense from the opening weeks has gone missing since. The Spartans averaged 29.5 points per game over their first 6 games (5-1), #127 in CIF-SS during those games. Over the stretch of 3 games that followed (3-0), La Canada has averaged 19.0 points per game, a 36% drop, #264 in CIF-SS during that period. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 19.9 points per game on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (20.3 points per game), La Canada scored 7% less than those defenses usually allow. On the season, the Spartans rank #183 in CIF-SS in scoring. It won't get any easier against Crescenta Valley, whose defense ranks #77 in CIF-SS (16.0 points per game).
Something changed for La Canada's offense after its first 4 games. La Canada averaged 8.3 yards per play (1,367 yards on 164 snaps) over its first 4 games (4-0), #67 in CIF-SS during that stretch. In the 5 games since that hot start (4-1), the Spartans have averaged 6.0 yards per play (1,418 yards on 236 snaps), a 28% drop, #229 in CIF-SS over that period. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 6.3 yards per play on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (6.5 yards per play), La Canada gained 8% less per snap than those defenses usually allow. On the season, La Canada ranks #155 in CIF-SS in yards per play. It won't get any easier against Crescenta Valley, whose defense ranks #34 in CIF-SS (4.9 yards per play).
La Canada's ground game has run the ball less effectively as the season has worn on. The Spartans averaged 7.4 yards per carry (762 yards on 103 rushes) over their first 4 games (4-0), #66 in CIF-SS over that timeframe. In the 5 games since that hot start (4-1), La Canada has averaged 6.3 yards per carry (868 yards on 138 rushes), a 15% drop, #134 in CIF-SS over that span. The schedule doesn't excuse it: the last 5 opponents have been softer, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, a #221 run defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 4.6 yards per carry, #85 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (5.9 yards per carry), La Canada ran for 7% more per carry than those run defenses usually allow. By that measure, the early pace looks more like the outlier than the recent one. On the season, the Spartans rank #96 in CIF-SS in rushing. Crescenta Valley's run defense sits in the middle of the pack, #102 in CIF-SS (4.8 yards per carry).
TIDBITS (11 found)
• Club La Canada has won 4 straight, and a win would make it 5 in a row. The last time they won 5 or more in a row was 2025, a run of 7.
• Club La Canada is 38-1 all time when scoring 40+ points. La Canada's last loss when scoring 40+ points was October 13, 2023 against Monrovia (L, 45-49).
• Club La Canada has gone 9 straight games committing fewer than 3 turnovers (August 21, 2026 through October 22, 2026), going 8-1 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2025 (10 games).
• Club La Canada has gone 8 straight games being held under 200 passing yards (August 28, 2026 through October 22, 2026), going 7-1 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2025 (14 games).
• Club La Canada has gone 4 straight games rushing for 100+ yards (October 2, 2026 through October 22, 2026), going 4-0 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2025 (11 games).
• Player Jake Bell has 393 rushing yards over his last 3 games (131.0 a game, October 9, 2026 through October 22, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Cash Klein has 41 tackles over his last 5 games (8.2 a game, September 18, 2026 through October 22, 2026) -- his most in a 5-game stretch on record.
• Player J. Bell has 25 tackles over his last 3 games (8.3 a game, October 9, 2026 through October 22, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Jake Bell has gone 2 straight games running for a touchdown, the 6th-longest such streak of his career. He also had a career-best streak of 6 straight games running for a touchdown, during the 2024 season.
• Player Ross Piken has gone 2 straight games catching a touchdown pass, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Ross Piken has never had a game making 10 or more tackles for La Canada, over a 32-game career on record. His career high is 8, set August 28, 2026 against Santa Monica (W, 28-20).
SCHEDULE STRENGTH
La Canada has played a tougher-than-average schedule in the pool so far (#126 of 405), and what is left is a middle-of-the-road slate (#212 of 383): the hard part is behind it.
Schedule so far · 1 = hardest
#126 of 405
avg opponent rating 9.8 over 9 games · 0 vs top-25 CIF-SS
Schedule ahead · 1 = hardest
#212 of 383
avg opponent rating 3.3 over 1 games · 0 vs top-25
Fillmore W 31-22Santa Mo… W 28-20@Village … W 28-7@South Pa… W 29-22@St Franc… L 19-49Schurr W 42-7MUIR W 7-0@Burbank W 22-14@Monrovia W 28-14Crescent…
Each bar is one opponent, placed by where its rating ranks in this pool (tall and red = top 10; short and green = bottom half). Hatched bars are games still to play; the dashed line is today.
MILESTONE WATCH
La Canada
Cash Klein needs 2 tackles for 75 (averaging 8.1 a game)
J. Bell needs 30 rushing yards for 1,000 (averaging 107.8 a game)
Win chances are the site's own game projections where one is on file, otherwise the SP Strength Index gap with a small home edge. The realistic range covers 80% of outcomes (10th to 90th percentile).
Every player with a stat on file, listed only where he has one. Open the arrow beside a name for his game-by-game line. Stats through the Oct 22 game; last updated Oct 25; roster and numbers checked Oct 6.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
Section and state results and Players of the Year: CIF-SS Record Book. League finishes judged from league schedules on file (2022-2025 seasons); earlier league titles are not on file.
PPG/OPP PPG use every played game on file. YPG/PLAYS-PER-GAME columns only ever come from games with a full box score on file, which can be a smaller sample than GP -- see the coverage note below when that's the case for this team.
Averages use only games with that number on file (defense 7/9, sacks allowed 7/9 games). SACKS ALW comes from the opponent's box score; TO FORCED is takeaways; TO MAR is takeaways minus giveaways, and its bottom cell is the season total. Dashes mean not on file.
UNIT INDEX
Pass Offense: grade 48.3/100 (-18 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 76.3/100 (+55 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 78.2/100 (-46 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 84.8/100 (-81 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, opponent-curved (two-way solve over current + past seasons, recency-weighted). Composite counts yardage, efficiency vs league YPA/YPC (50% tilt), and negative plays at sack=7yd, INT=45yd, TFL=4yd -- adjustable v1 constants.
LC finished 2025 at 10-2. Made the playoffs (2 postseason game(s) on file; exact round/result not available). Notable win: 42-13 over MARANATHA (MARANATHA finished 70% that season). Toughest loss: 22-23 to SOUTH PASADENA (1-point margin).
"N/A" stands in for a box score that does not have stats entered. A total followed by a count in parentheses covers only the games with that stat on file.
TALKING POINTS (15 storylines)
LC HAS PERFORMED BEST THIS DATA SET WHEN...
• LC rushes for 100+ yards (.897), and has won 11 straight when doing so
• LC holds its opponents under 8.0 yards per attempt (.905), and has won 6 straight when doing so
• LC commits fewer than 3 giveaways (.862), and has won 4 straight when doing so
• LC holds its opponents under 6.0 yards per play (.905), and has won 6 straight when doing so
• LC's offense has failed to reach 200 pass yds in 8 straight games (08/28/2026-10/22/2026), going 7-1 over that stretch.
• LC's defense has averaged 179.5 rush yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 29-game average is 104.0 rush yards per game. (+73%)
• LC's offense has averaged 4.2 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 32-game average is 8.8 YPA. (-53%)
• LC holds its opponents under 150 rushing yards while forcing 2+ takeaways
• LC's defense has averaged 5.9 YPC over their last 3 games. Their 29-game average is 4.2 YPC. (+39%)
• LC's offense has averaged 0.7 giveaways per game over their last 3 games. Their 32-game average is 1.1 giveaways per game. (-39%)
• LC holds its opponents under 5.0 yards per carry and under 150 rushing yards
• LC holds its opponents under 150 rushing yards and under 200 passing yards
• LC's defense has averaged 4.5 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 28-game average is 7.1 YPA. (-36%)
• LC's defense has averaged 18.9 points allowed per game over their last 10 games. Their 32-game average is 13.9 points allowed per game. (+36%)
• LC's offense has averaged 19.0 points scored per game over their last 3 games. Their 32-game average is 29.1 points scored per game. (-35%)
• LA CANADA has allowed a 100-yard rusher in 2 straight games (10/16/26–10/22/26). Earlier games have no box score on file, so the run may be longer. It has not reached 3 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• LA CANADA has had a 100-yard rusher in 4 straight games (10/2/26–10/22/26). It has not reached 5 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• LA CANADA is one win from climbing to 9-1 through 10 games — for the first time since 2025. It has happened in 1 of 21 seasons on file.
• LA CANADA has won 4 straight (10/2/26–10/22/26). It has not won 5 straight since 8/22/25–10/3/25 (2025). It has reached 5 straight 2 times in the last 4 years and has won a high of 9 straight (2024) in that span.
LC's defense has averaged 179.5 rush yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 29-game average is 104.0 rush yards per game. (+73%)
LC's defense has averaged 5.9 YPC over their last 3 games. Their 29-game average is 4.2 YPC. (+39%)
LC's defense has averaged 4.5 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 28-game average is 7.1 YPA. (-36%)
LC's defense has averaged 18.9 points allowed per game over their last 10 games. Their 32-game average is 13.9 points allowed per game. (+36%)
LC's defense has averaged 1.2 takeaways per game over their last 5 games. Their 32-game average is 1.8 takeaways per game. (-34%)
LC's defense has averaged 99.0 pass yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 28-game average is 143.8 pass yards per game. (-31%)
LC's defense has averaged 297.7 total yards per game over their last 5 games. Their 29-game average is 242.8 total yards per game. (+23%)
(moved to the Appendix, Data Export 1, to keep this section shorter -- the full spreadsheet-paste table is there unchanged)
APPENDIX
Full-length explanations and full-size data exports for the shortened notes and relocated tables referenced throughout this report, numbered in the order their pointers appear above.
Explanatory Notes
Note 1 -- SEASON OUTLOOK
Every remaining game is projected from schedule-adjusted ratings; already-played games carry their real result. Records are simulated distributions, not a single guess -- MOST LIKELY FINAL is the single most probable record and its own probability, PROJECTED RECORD is the season's expected win total expressed in record form (an average across every simulated outcome, so it can land on a fraction of a game).
Note 2 -- OPPONENT TRACKER -- why some cards have no record shown
Only meaningful for an opponent who is ALSO a tracked team in the library -- an opponent with no games on file here at all shows the date and site alone.
Note 3 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on four weighted criteria and the top 5 per team are listed. In Cooper's own weighting order: (1) the WIN% attached to the condition, counted only when the condition has occurred at least 8 times -- a smaller sample is dropped outright, not discounted; (2) the PPG attached to it, with higher better on offense and lower better on defense, and each side normalized against its own kind so a defensive number competes with defensive numbers rather than against scoring averages; (3) how far the number sits from the OPPONENT's on the same condition, across win%, PPG and how often the condition happens at all; and (4) where it falls among every other team previously run through this workbook and cached. Criteria 1 and 2 measure how strong a number is; 3 and 4 measure how much it distinguishes this team. Weights: win_pct 40%, ppg 27%, matchup 20%, pool 13%. See important_numbers.py.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
Where LA CANADA sits among 399 section teams on the two Unit Index composites -- Offense Grade 65.0, Defense Grade 82.5.
YARDS / PLAY ALLOWED: LA CANADA VS THE SECTION
LA CANADA ranks #75 of 347 section teams in yards per play allowed (5.00) -- a strength worth a look.
LA CANADA: SP STRENGTH INDEX BY SEASON
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- 1.8 in 2022 to 15.2 in 2026.
These graphs were chosen by the program from this season's most notable numbers. Build your own -- any stat against any other, for any mix of teams, seasons or players, with a JPEG download -- in the Graph Builder.
