Central Section Top 15 football rankings, Sept. 3: Liberty hangs on to No. 1 spot despite defeat
Despite Liberty-Bakersfield falling 34-14 to state ranked Santa Margarita they’re still the top team in the Central Section.
Controversial?
Perhaps, but we still feel they are the team to beat. However, if the Patriots fail to impress in the next few weeks we wouldn’t hesitate to put No. 2 Clovis North or No. 3 Clovis East — who won handily this week — in their place.
Both No. 4 Clovis West and No. 5 Central needed 4th quarter comebacks to win at home and No. 6 Hanford has now scored 181 points on the season after defeating Golden West 40-22.
And speaking of points, Central Valley Christian is the biggest mover this week (up from 13 to 8) putting up 56 points in a win against Bakersfield Christian as running back Bryson Donelson continues to dazzle. The senior has now tallied 701 yards this season on only 33 carries for an average of 22.6 YPC.
Oh yeah, he’s scored 12 times on those 33 carries.
No. 2 Clovis North at No. 8 Central Valley Christian is must-see football this Friday.
Below are updated rankings after three weeks of Friday Night Lights.
1. Liberty-Bakersfield (2-1)
Last week rank: 1
Last week: Lost to Santa Margarita 34-14
Next game: At Buchanan
Cole O’Brien’s 77-yard TD pass to Davari Degraffenried gave the Patriots a 14-7 lead in the first quarter against state No. 15 Santa Margarita, but allowed the final 27 points handing Liberty’s first loss of the season. Mekhi Deluth scored from two yards out on the team’s opening drive. Yet, it’s tough to budge the Patriots from the top spot.
2. Clovis North (3-0)
Last week rank: 2
Last week: Defeated El Diamante 55-0
Next game: At Central Valley Christian
The Broncos rushed for five touchdowns and Mario Cosmo tossed two TDs and added one on the ground, rolling to a 55-0 home win. Andrew Chavez scored on runs of 12 and 16 yards and Vincent Cordoba returned a punt 61 yards for a TD. McKay Madsen and Josh Gerena added rushing TDs, setting up a huge revenge game at Central Valley Christian this Friday. The Cavaliers defeated Clovis North 23-9 last season on the road.
3 Clovis East (3-0)
Last week rank: 3
Last week result: Defeated Sanger 42-21
Next game: Saturday vs Provo, Utah at El Dorado Hills, Ca
Harold Duvall made the most of his three catches for two touchdowns–one an impressive one-handed diving catch in the end zone–and his 70-yard interception return TD capped off a 28 points second half explosion in a 42-21 home win over No. 7 Sanger. Ty Miller threw for 202 yards on 8-11 passing with three TD throws and sophomore Caleb Slocum rushed for 68 yards and two TDs.
4. Clovis West (2-1)
Last week rank: 4
Last week result: Defeated Lemoore 27-26
Next game: Friday vs. Bullard
Lonnie Franks scored on a 1-yard plunge with 25 seconds left to lift the Golden Eagles to a 27-26 home win against Lemoore. Clovis West recovered a fumble on its own 40-yard line with 1:55 left before the final drive led by quarterback Tyler Patrick and receiver Marshel Sanders. Washington State-bound Landon Wright returned the opening kick-off 85 yards for a TD and added a 50-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter.
5. Central (3-0)
Last week rank: 5
Last week result: Defeated Turlock 21-18
Next game: Home against Bishop Diego
Earl Riley’s 5-yard TD pass to Braylen Hall in the 4th quarter gave the Grizzlies its first lead in a game they were down 18-7 midway in the 3rd quarter. Riley passed for 240 yards with three total touchdowns and Hall caught eight passes for 118 yards.
6. Hanford (3-0)
Last week rank: 6
Last week result: Defeated Golden West 40-22
Next game: At Frontier
Daniel Gomez threw for 240 yards and tied a school record with six touchdowns–four to JC Turner–as the Bullpups defeated Golden West 40-22. Gomez, a junior, also completed TD passes to Jordan Black for 74 and 36 yards. The high-flying Hanford offense came in averaging 70.5 points in two games but was able to run only 27 offensive plays compared to 66 for the Trailblazers.
7. Frontier (3-0)
Last week rank: 9
Last week result: Defeated Bullard 24-7
Next game: At Hanford
Brycen Tablit rushed for a score and caught a TD pass from Malakhi Statler as the Titans defeated Bullard 24-7 on the road. Malcolm Watkins rushed for a touchdown and Ryder Crane kicked a field goal. Look for offensive fireworks this Friday when they welcome Hanford to town.
8. Central Valley Christian (3-0)
Last week rank: 13
Last week result: Defeated Bakersfield Christian 56-25
Next game: Home against Clovis North
Bryson Donelson rushed for 193 yards on ten carries with three TDs and Brent Kroeze completed 18-19 passes for 330 and three more scores in a decisive 56-25 win over Bakersfield Christian. Gunnar Piepgrass had eight receptions for 210 yards and three TDs. Friday the Cavaliers host No. 2 Clovis North in a colossal matchup.
9. Clovis (2-1)
Last week rank: 8
Last week result: Defeated Whitney-Rocklin 41-28
Next game: Thursday Home against Salinas
Sophomore Deagan Rose rushed for two touchdowns and passed for 256 yards with a score as the Cougars defeated Whitney-Rocklin 41-28 on the road. Senior Noah Luginbill, who also recorded nine tackles and a sack, scored twice on the ground as Clovis totaled 253 rushing yards.
10. Sanger (2-1)
Last week rank: 7
Last week result: Lost to Clovis East 42-21
Next game: At Lemoore
Tied at 14 at half, the Apaches allowed 28 unanswered to Clovis East, falling to the Timberwolves 42-21 on the road. Sanger scored on runs from Jaden Chanthalangsy, Connor Bohlken and Isaiah Robles and Marquis Cropper intercepted a pass.
11. Kingsburg (3-0)
Last week rank: 11
Last week result: Defeated Dinuba 42-14
Next game: Home against Golden West
Max Warkentin threw for 207 yards and three touchdowns while the Vikings defense and special teams came up big in a 42-14 home win over Dinuba. Kenyon Simpson scored on an 84-yard TD and a 26-yard pick-6 and Chris Browe capped off the scoring with a 105 yard interception return for a TD. Wyatt Boys caught two touchdowns.
12. St. Joseph (2-1)
Last week rank: 13
Last week result: Defeated Newbury Park 63-52
Next game: BYE
Carter Vargas rushed for four TDs and Colin Fasse caught touchdowns of 55 and 53 yards as the Knights came from behind to defeat Newbury Park 63-52. Down 52-49 late in the 4th quarter Nic Matautia scored on a 1-yard run and Vargas exploded for a 41-yard score to seal the victory.
13. Lemoore (2-1)
Last week rank: 10
Last week result: Lost to Clovis West 27-26
Next game: Home against Sanger
The Tigers came up just short at No. 4 Clovis West when the Golden Eagles scored the game-winning touchdown with 25 seconds left. Kobe Green’s 85-yard TD kickoff return gave Lemoore a 26-21 lead with 3:33 left. Green also intercepted two passess and Elijah Daley returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score and rushed for 110 yards.
14. Centennial (2-1)
Last week rank: 14
Last week result: Defeated Independence 42-21
Next game: Thursday home against Ridgeview
Senior Adam Copus completed 11-18 passes for 203 yards and three TDs and Angel Lozano rushed for 177 yards and three TDs as the Golden Hawks defeated Independence 42-21. Carson Eldridge added an 80-yard touchdown catch.
15. Kennedy (2-1)
Last week rank: Not ranked
Last week: Defeated Highland 34-15
Next game: East Bakersfield
Sophomore Jace Demacablin rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns and Jamison Membreve added 114 yards and two TDs on only six carries as the Thunder defeated Highland 34-15.
Dropped out: No. 15 Buchanan
