The Santa Clarita Valley is home to some outstanding high school athletics.

But will it also be home to championship games in those sports?

The valley hosted a CIF-Southern Section championship football games as recently as 2008, when Santa Clarita Christian defeated Faith Baptist in the Division I 8-Man title game.

The valley also hosted CIF championships in 1999 and 2001. But both those games had something in common.

They involved two Santa Clarita Valley football teams.

Hart and Valencia squared off in each game at College of the Canyons, with the Indians winning both times.

If another CIF-Southern Section championship football game is to come to the valley, it will likely need help from the local teams.

"It would ultimately come down to a CIF decision," says Saugus athletic director Kevin Miner. "I think it would be better suited if it was two Santa Clarita teams playing. I think two schools would push for that."

Miner adds that there has been no discussion between the Foothill League athletic directors about hosting a CIF championship anytime soon.

Another dilemma is that Cougar Stadium is one of the few facilities in the area that could conceivably host a CIF championship, given its size.

According to Lorraine King, executive assistant to the superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District, the schools would have to approach the district and College of the Canyons if they wanted to host a CIF championship.

College of the Canyons, meanwhile, is doing plenty of hosting of its own.

The school will host the California Community College Athletic Association men's and women's soccer finals next December, after having hosted the state final in 2008.

According to athletic director Chuck Lyon, the school also hosted the women's golf state finals two years ago, and he says that the CCCAA has inquired about the school hosting the state basketball finals.

"We're obviously pretty well-known in the state and we're known to have nice facilities," Lyon says. "In fact, I just got an inquiry about hosting the state basketball championships. We're in a little bit of a remodel mode right now (with the gym), but I told them that when we get done I would entertain the thought of hosting a basketball final."

Lyon also says the school would consider hosting a CIF championship is approached by the Hart district.

"We've hosted a lot of CIF playoff games," Lyon says. "We would not be opposed to a CIF final at our school at all."
That could go for more than just football.

Cougar Stadium is also a good track facility and regularly hosts the Foothill League finals. The success of track and field programs like Canyon and Saugus could make the area a viable option to host the CIF-Southern Section prelims or finals.

The finals are currently held at Cerritos College, but the prelims are held at different schools for each of the four different Southern Section divisions.

"I know if my coach said, ‘Hey, what does it take to host prelims?' I think it's something I'd look into," Miner says. "Just knowing how well our coaches communicate with each other, I think it would be something that would be good across the board."