Breaking down the best matchups of Week 0:

No. 5 Mater Dei vs. Carson
Friday, at Santa Ana Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Outlook: Let the post-Matt Barkley era begin. The day many close to Monarch Nation feared is finally here.

After four years, No. 5 is no longer under center for the Monarchs. Next in line is … who knows?

When fall training camp opened, the starting job was up in the air. Chase Favreau, Jack Doll and Max Wittek were all fighting for the right to be the “Next Guy.”

Will the next quarterback please stand up?

The Monarchs will have some talent at the skill positions – Victor Blackwell, Jordan Allen and AJ Roth.

The major concern for Coach Bruce Rollinson is up front on the offensive and defensive lines. If those two areas come around, then the Monarchs will be dangerous; if they don’t improve, then …

These two teams staged an early-season classic last year, as the Monarchs defeated the Colts, 46-43, in triple-overtime. 

The Colts, who play in the Marine League in the L.A. City Section, return 13 starters from last season’s team. The City Section hasn’t fared well against the Southern Section recently.

Will this be the start of something new? 

*The rankings are based on the OCVarsity.com preseason poll

Check out the rest of this week’s Calhoun Six:

• No. 1 Servite vs. Long Beach Poly
• No. 17 Dana Hills vs. No. 14 Santa Margarita
• No. 12 Fountain Valley vs. No. 22 Foothill
• No. 10 Tustin vs. Kennedy
• No. 24 Fullerton vs. No. 19 Canyon

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