Top 20

1. Bakersfield (3-0) Next: at LB Poly (2-1), Friday

2. Central (3-0) Next: vs. El Diamante (2-1), Friday

3. Clovis North (3-0) Next: vs. Frontier (1-2), Friday

4. Clovis (2-1) Next: at Stockdale (1-1), Friday

5. Garces (2-1) Next: vs. Memorial (1-2), Saturday

6. Liberty-Bak. (2-1) Next: vs. Buchanan (2-0), Friday

7. Buchanan (2-0) Next: at Liberty-Bak. (2-1), Friday

8. Edison (2-1) Next: at Crenshaw (2-1), Friday

9. Mt. Whitney (3-0) Next: vs. El D. (2-1), Sept. 21

10. Centennial (1-2) Next: at S. Barbara (2-1), Sept. 21

11. El Diamante (2-1) Next: at Central (3-0), Friday

12. Bullard (1-1) Next: at Clovis East (1-2), Friday

13. Frontier (1-2) Next: at Clovis North (3-0), Friday

14. Stockdale (1-2) Next: vs. Clovis (2-1), Friday

15. Mission Oak (2-0) Next: at Selma (1-2), Friday

16. Kingsburg (3-0) Next: at Kerman (1-2), Sept. 21

17. Clovis West (0-3) Next: at Bullard (1-1), Sept. 21

18. Porterville (1-2) Next: at Hanford (0-3), Thursday

19. Wasco (2-0) Next: at Golden Valley (1-2), Friday

20. Dinuba (3-0) Next: vs. Monache (1-2), Friday

Divisional

D-I 1. Bakersfield; 2. Central; 3. Clovis North

D-II 1. Garces; 2. El Diamante; 3. Tehachapi (2-1)

D-III 1. Mt. Whitney; 2. Dinuba; 3. Ridgeview (2-1)

D-IV 1. Mission Oak; 2. Wasco; 3. Exeter (2-1)

D-V 1. Liberty-M.R. (2-0); 2. Caruthers (1-1); 3. Firebaugh (1-1)

D-VI 1. Mendota (3-0); 2. Avenal (2-1); 3. Strathmore (1-2)

The Buzz

While Bakersfield's intrasectional game at Long Beach Poly on Friday still matches the winningest football programs in state history, it no longer is wrapped with electric tape to manage the sparks from a game anticipated for months. Yes, Bakersfield -- No. 5 in the state -- remains unbeaten but only after having to rally from behind three times last Friday in a 34-24 home-field escape against Garces. Poly, meanwhile, dropped to 1-2 while getting throttled 56-0 by Narbonne-Harbor City. And to think the Jackrabbits were No. 15 in the Cal-Hi Sports preseason state rankings. ... The Tri-River Athletic Conference has begun to establish Division I playoff seeding leverage by going 2-0 against the Southwest Yosemite League (Central 10-9 vs. Liberty-Bakersfield, and Clovis 28-17 vs. Centennial). And there are two more head-to-heads this week among the section's elite leagues with Frontier vs. Clovis North and Buchanan vs. Liberty. Then another next week with Bakersfield visiting Buchanan. ... Two losses have actually rewarded Porterville with a Top-20 billing. Coach Rick Stewart breathed life into the Panthers program in recent years before shifting to Fresno High this season. But Porterville, at 1-2, remains a force behind new coach Carl Scudder, having lost 30-28 on a last-second field goal to No. 10 Mt. Whitney before thrusting Buchanan against the ropes in a 28-14 road loss. ... Mt. Whitney steams into back-to-back biggies -- El Diamante on Friday at Golden West and Mission Oak on Sept. 21 at Mineral King Bowl. ... Mendota junior running back Edgar Segura is beginning to evoke comparisons to another former west-side great and who some believe is the section's best ever in Dos Palos' Kenny James.