Central High holds on to top spot, but which team is back in coaches’ rankings?
Despite dropping its first game of the season, Central High holds the top spot in The Bee’s football coaches’ Top 10 poll.
The Grizzlies (4-1) received nine first-place votes. Central fell to nationally ranked De La Salle 49-30 in Concord on Sept. 23.
Buchanan (4-0) retains the No. 2 ranking heading into its non-league matchup against Porterville on Friday. Who’s looming ahead?
Yes, Central in a Tri-River Athletic Conference opener at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Oct. 5.
Continued losing cost the Kern County powers, as Bakersfield (1-3) fell three spots to No. 7 and previous No. 8 Liberty-Bakersfield (1-3) fell out.
No. 10 Edison (2-3) had fallen out of the Top 10 two weeks ago but is back after defeating Garces 27-15. The Tigers have a bye this week before opening County/Metro Athletic Conference play against Madera.
Games to watch
Dinuba at No. 4 Tulare – Tulare was electric in last week’s 54-7 win over Independence. Junior quarterback Nathan Lamb completed 11 of 16 for 322 yards and five touchdowns, and Kazmeir Allen returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, had five receptions for 195 yards and three touchdowns, and had a 66-yard run for a score.
Dinuba (4-0), coming off a 55-0 win over Porterville, is led by senior running back Lucas Tuttle who has five touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Josh Magana has completed 39 of 76 for 552 yards and eight touchdowns.
No. 5 Sanger at Reedley – It’s the 104th game in the series, according to Sanger historian Ron Blackwood, with Sanger winning nine straight to extend its lead in the series to 68-33-2. It figures to be rough again, with Sanger off to a 4-0 start under new coach Jorge Pena. Reedley has been outscored 172-14 in four losses.
Coalinga at Kingsburg – It will be homecoming for the Vikings (3-1). Running back Bo Jackson powers the Kingsburg offense with 88 carries for 648 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Junior running back Eric Saldana carries the load for Coalinga (2-2) with 31 carries for 415 yards and five touchdowns.
Madera continues to roll
What a different a year makes for Madera High.
Last season, the Coyotes went winless in its first season under coach Yosef Fares. This season? How about a 4-1 start for Fares’ team.
Madera routed Atascadero 34-14 on the road last week. The Coyotes have a bye this week before opening County/Metro Athletic Conference play against Edison.
Milestones
Central Valley Christian quarterback JJ Lino set school records for completions (34) and attempts (44) in the Cavaliers’ 32-28 win at Chowchilla on Sept. 15, Central Section historian Bob Barnett said. Receiver Gavin Salierno set a school record with 17 catches.
The pair backed it last week in a 56-0 win over Chavez, with Lino throwing four TD passes and Salierno catching two. CVC (5-0) has already matched last year’s win total in a 5-7 season.
Extra points
▪ Devontae Freeman of El Diamante had 28 carries for 231 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-16 victory over Mt. Whitney. Both teams accumulated 28 penalties for 287 yards.
▪ Tyler Villines of Fresno Christian hadd 11 carries for 221 yards and five touchdowns in a 58-6 win over Mammoth.
Anthony Galaviz: 559-441-6042, @agalaviz_TheBee
The Bee’s coaches’ Top 10 poll
First-place votes in parentheses
Teams | Record | Last week |
1. Central (9) | 4-1 | 1 |
2. Buchanan | 4-0 | 2 |
3. Clovis West | 3-1 | 3 |
4. Tulare | 4-0 | 6 |
5. Sanger | 5-0 | 5 |
6. Clovis | 4-1 | 7 |
7. Bakersfield (1) | 1-3 | 4 |
8. Memorial | 5-0 | 9 |
9. Tulare Western | 4-0 | 10 |
10. Edison | 2-3 | NR |
Week 6 schedule
All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Thursday
NONLEAGUE
Kings Christian at Valley Christian-Santa Maria, 5 p.m.
McFarland at Granite Hills, 7:15 p.m.
Clovis West at Centennial
Orosi at Sierra Pacific
Friday
WEST YOSEMITE LEAGUE
Lemoore at Hanford West
Hanford at El Diamante (Groppetti Stadium)
Golden West at Redwood
SOUTH SEQUOIA LEAGUE
Arvin at Shafter
Taft at Chavez
Bakersfield Christian at Kennedy
NONLEAGUE
Washington at McLane, 7 p.m.
Buchanan at Porterville, 7 p.m.
Dos Palos at Kerman, 7 p.m.
Chowchilla at Los Banos, 7 p.m.
Patterson at Liberty-Madera Ranchos, 7 p.m.
Mendota at Minarets, 7 p.m.
Fresno Christian at Frazier Mountain, 7 p.m.
Dinuba at Tulare, 7 p.m.
Yosemite at Bishop, 7 p.m.
Kern Valley at Corcoran, 7 p.m.
Orange Cove at California City, 7 p.m.
Avenal at Strathmore, 7 p.m.
Alpaugh at Laton, 7 p.m.
Liberty-Bakersfield at Oaks Christian-Westlake Village, 7 p.m.
Desert Christian at Trona, 7 p.m.
Mira Monte at Rosamond, 7 p.m.
Desert at Desert Chapel-Palm Springs, 7 p.m.
Woodlake at Sierra, 7:15 p.m.
Sanger at Reedley
Tulare Western at Fresno
Highland at Hoover
Firebaugh at Parlier
Riverdale at Tranquillity
Ridgeview at Bakersfield
Wasco at Delano
South at West
Tehachapi at North
Golden Valley at Frontier
Stockdale at Independence
Foothill at East Bakersfield
This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Central High holds on to top spot, but which team is back in coaches’ rankings?."