The emotions and the action could get as hot as the weather as Taft and Birmingham, two longtime rivals, line up to begin West Valley League play this week.

Both teams are coming off a bye, and probably needed the break to solve some issues. Birmingham (3-2,0-0) began the season with three straight wins, but then sustained consecutive losses. Taft (2-3,0-0) struggled offensively in three straight losses to open the season, but the Toreadors appear to steady themselves with back-to-back-wins. A key to those wins was having no turnovers, after averaging nearly five turnovers a game in their first three contests.

The leading question at Birmingham is who will play quarterback. Coach Jim Rose benched starter Trae Smith a couple of weeks ago for disciplinary reasons, and has been playing Manny Castro instead.

At press time, Rose had not made up his mind who will start against Taft.

The Toreadors must try and sustain the momentum they took into the bye week, because they will face Granada Hills and El Camino Real after Birmingham, and could suddenly find themselves out of the league title race.

The kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Birmingham High. Other games involving Valley area teams this week include:

Friday, Oct. 5

City Section East Valley League

• Monroe (1-5,1-1) at Arleta (5-0,2-0)

• North Hollywood (3-2,1-0) at Grant (1-4,1-1)

• Verdugo Hills (2-3,1-0) at Chavez (1-5,0-2)

Metro League

• Sherman Oaks CES (0-5,0- 0) vs. Animo South Los Angeles (1-4,0-0), Reseda High

• Sun Valley (0-6,0-0) vs. Los Angeles View Park (3-2,0-0), Jackie Robinson Stadium

Valley Mission League

• Canoga Park (3-2,1-1) at Sylmar (2-3,1-1)

• San Fernando (5-0,2-0) at Panorama (1-4,0-1)

• Van Nuys (5-1,2-0) at Kennedy (0-5,0-1)

West Valley

• Chatsworth (2-3,0-0) at Granada Hills (3-2,0-0)

• Cleveland (2-3,0-0) at El Camino Real (1-4,0-0)

Southern Section Mission League

• Gardena Serra (4-1,0-0) at Chaminade (4-1,0-0), 7:30 p.m.

• Harvard-Westlake (4-1,0-0) at Santa Fe Springs St. Paul (1-4,0-0), 7:30 p.m.

Olympic League

• Village Christian (3-3,0-0) vs. La Habra Whittier Christian (3-3,0-0), Whittier College

Serra League

• Los Angeles Loyola (6-0,0- 0) at Crespi (6-0,0-0)

• Notre Dame (4-2,0-0) at Alemany (5-1,0-0)

Nonleague

• Los Angeles Marshall (3-2) vs. Sierra Canyon (5-0), Chatsworth High

All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.