Central Section Top 10 semifinal football games to watch
The semi-finals are set and teams are one win away from playing for Central Section glory.
The top seeds have survived thus far in all six divisions and are looking strong. In fact Clovis North in D1 and Shafter in D4 are each a sparkling 11-0.
And get this, both the D1 semis feature rematches. Does Clovis East have the talent to upset Clovis North, SBLive’s #10 team in California? And can Central travel down highway 99 for a second week in a row and defeat two-time defending champ Liberty?
Those questions are much more will be answered this Friday.
Below are the Top 10 games in the Central Section.
Number 1
No. 4 Clovis East (9-2) at No. 1 Clovis North (11-0)
Division: 1
The Skinny: The stakes are much higher this time around since Sept. 29 when the Broncos beat the ‘Wolves 31-21 (see video above). Clovis North relies on a devastating pound and ground game with Jackson Cinfel, McKay Madsen and Andrew Chavez.that averages 282 yards per game with 47 touchdowns. Clovis East counters with a potent air attack with the arm of Ty Miller (3,152 passing yards and 40 TDs). The talented receiving duo of Harold Duvall and Tommy Nix have combined for 2,142 yards and 28 touchdowns and shine on defense as well.
Fun fact: The last Clovis Unified school to win a D1 Central Section title was Clovis North in 2012.
Number 2
No. 7 Central (9-3) at No. 3 Liberty (9-2)
Division: 1
The Skinny: Like the other semifinal in D1 this is a rematch from Sept. 15, won by Liberty 35-14 at home. However, the Grizzlies are as hot as anyone in the section, due to the play of quarterback Dave Marquez who passed for 335 yards and five TDs in a 36-32 comeback win over No. 2 Frontier last week. The 2-time defending section champion Patriots were bolstered last week with the return of quarterback Cole O’Brien, who passed for four TDs in their comeback win over No. 6 Clovis.
Fun fact: The last five Central Section D1 games have been won by either Central (2017, 18, 19) or Liberty (2021, 22).
Number 3
No. 4 Tulare Union (8-4) at No. 1 Central Valley Christian (10-1)
Division: 2
The Skinny: Tulare Union survived a 49-42 shootout against Kingsburg behind sophomore Jordan Crisp’s 349 yards and five TD passes and will take on the top seeded Cavaliers, whose only loss is to Clovis North. The Tribe average 48 points and 440 yards per game but will be tasked to stop running back Bryson Donelson, who put on a show in a 48-27 win over Tehachapi last Friday with 390 yards and six TDs. However, it’s not all Donelson, quarterback Brent Kroeze has passed for 2,242 yards and a sterling 29:2 TD to INT ratio.
Fun fact: Tulare’s Kazmier Allen is the national single season touchdown record-holder with 72 in 2017.
Number 4
No. 3 Centennial (7-5) at No. 2 Lemoore (9-2)
Division: 2
The Skinny: After a lackluster regular season Centennial is fully healthy, evidenced by outscoring opponents 84-26 in two playoff games. The senior QB/WR combo of Adam Copus and Boston College signee Jaxon Santiago will go against a Lemoore defense that has registered 37.5 sacks and 16 INTs. The Tigers’ feature two 2-way stars who can score in multiple ways: Kobe Green (2 rush, 4 rec, 2 fumble, 2 INT and 1 KO for TDs) and Elijah Dailey (10 rush, 1 rec, 2 punt, 2 KO for TDs).
Fun fact: With a rich football history that includes Lorenzo Neal, Tommy Smith and David Asbury, Lemoore finally won its first Central Section title in school history last year in DII.
Number 5
No. 3 Exeter (10-1) at No. 2 Dos Palos (10-1)
Division: 4
The Skinny: Exeter (26.6 points per game) and Dos Palos (25.9) clash in the only game in the section that features two 10-win teams. After dropping their first game of the season, Dos Palos reeled off 10 straight behind a balanced offense that features sophomore running back Andre Flores (1,203 yards, 18 TDs) and quarterback Peyton Van Worth (1,471 yards, 11:1 TD to INT). Exeter counters with quarterback Jacob Molina (1,899 yards, 25:5 TD to INT) and star receiver Aiden Robertson (967 yards and 10 TDs).
Fun fact: Dos Palos won five straight Central Section titles from 1997-2001 and has won 15 total.
Number 6
No. 5 Torres (9-3) at No. 1 Shafter (11-0)
Division: 4
The Skinny: The question all season has been: who can beat the Generals whose average margin of victory is 31 points. The defending D5 champs, who fell in the CIF D5 state title game last year, are led by sophomore QB Ezekiel “EZ” Osborne’s 2,581 passing yards and 33 TDs and WR Mariyon Sloan (791 yards, 17 TDs). The Toros feature the two-headed running back monster of Joseph Bass (1,132 yards, 17 TDs) and Amani Sua (1,080, 15 TDs).
Fun fact: When Shafter won the D4 Central Section title last year it was their first section title since 1955, a 67 year wait.
Number 7
No. 5 Kerman (7-5) at No. 1 Mission Prep (8-3)
Division: 3
The Skinny: Kerman shocked defending champ Kennedy when Julien Velez scored on an improbable 74-yard TD run as time expired to win 34-28 last Friday. The Lions travel to San Luis Obispo on a five game winning streak after a brutal four game losing streak to DI semi-finalist Clovis East and DII powers CVC, Sunnyside and Kingsburg. The Royals, who give up an average of 11 points per game, escaped with a 15-14 win over Porterville when the Tigers ran out of time lining up for a field goal.
Fun fact: Kerman head coach Damon Jenkins never lost a game in high school while playing for historic De La Salle in Concord.
Number 8
No. 7 Fowler (6-6) at No. 3 Mendota (6-6)
Division: 6
The Skinny: Fowler boasts a strong passing attack led by junior quarterback Jerod “Bubba” Smith (2,940 yards and 31 TDs) and receiver Diego Diaz (927, 9 TDs). The Redcats will be forced to contend with running backs Jesse Rodriguez (1,114, 11 TDs) and Donnie Munoz (863 yards, 12 TDs). Mendota comes into the game scoring 42 points in each of its playoff wins.
Fun fact: In 2013 ESPN featured the Mendota football program in a documentary and a long form article, detailing how they prepare for the season.
Number 9
No. 3 Liberty-Madera (9-3) and No. 2 Wasco (6-5)
Division: 5
The Skinny: Wasco advanced past Reedley when Ram Garcia stripped a Pirate ball carrier and took it to the house in the final minute to win 28-21. The Tigers have only passed for 370 yards and one TD on the season, relying on a running game that’s amassed 1,503 and 22 TDs. Caleb Sisco is the main weapon for the Hawks, rushing for 913 yards, 11 TDs with a 8.5 yards per carry.
Fun fact: Wasco and Shafter (in Division IV) have meet 96 times in their storied rivalry.
Number 10
No. 7 Washington Union (5-7) at No. 3 Mission Oak (7-5)
Division: 3
The Skinny: Quite the story, Washington Union trounced No. 2 Atascadero, winners of 15 straight, 41-13 behind a season high 223 rushing yards and three TDs. Defensively they are led by linebacker Kedo Felder’s 149 tackles and 25 TFL. Mission Oak quarterback Daniel Gonzalez has passed for 2,457 yards and 28 TDs targeting Kenny Jackson and Jacob Ramirez.
Fun Fact: Washington Union won a CIF State D3 title in 2011 when they beat Campolindo of Moraga 21-16.
