Prep Blitz Week 7: Sanger, Bullard brace for latest CMAC showdown

The most moving year, quite likely, of football coach Chuch Shidan’s career at Sanger High will find a critical junction Friday night at Tom Flores Stadium.

This is a season that will probably be his last among 27 with the Apaches. He is on pace to deliver a 200th win for a milestone reached as a Central Section coach by seven others, and surely has potential to close with a fourth section title.

Next up is Bullard in a County/Metro Athletic Conference opener matching teams who have accounted for nine of the league’s titles since it was launched in 2004, according to section historian Bob Barnett.

The Knights had won seven straight in the series before Sanger won 21-14 last year.

But Bullard’s heretofore dominance is a bit deceptive.

“I think our last four or five games with them came down to the last possession,” Shidan says. “It’s just how it is. They’ve had the upper hand on us, but it’s usually been close.”

That’s a concern for Shidan for this reason: The 5-0 and eighth-ranked Apaches haven’t been involved in a game in doubt in the fourth quarter since a season-opening 28-21 win over Fresno on Aug. 25.

Since, they beat Hanford 31-14 a week after the Bullpups lost star quarterback Ryan Johnson for the season with an ACL tear and then defeated Clovis East 55-13, Lemoore 55-14 and Reedley 48-0.

Those past three opponents are a combined 1-15.

“We haven’t had a four-quarter game in more than a month,” Shidan says, “and that’s a major concern for us.”

Seventh-ranked Bullard is 2-3, but take a better look: The Knights’ losses have been to No. 4 Buchanan (28-17), No. 1 Clovis (35-28) and No. 5 Clovis West (31-27).

Sanger has a talented, senior-based team – an ideal one for Shidan to go out with.

He admits that’s likely, but he stops just short of announcing it: “I’m getting close, but I want this to be more about this team.”

Yet he adds: “We’re going to have a big party after (the season).”

Shidan is 195-110, according to Barnett. Neither Barnett nor Cal-Hi Sports editor Mark Tennis credit in Shidan’s win total a 31-0 forfeit over Hoover in 1990, his first season.

The Apaches return virtually the same impact cast that beat Bullard last year.

That includes the right side of guard Nick Steele and tackle R.J. Banegas clearing the wing-T way for running backs Christian Graney, Andrew Asua, Miguel Garcia and Chris Soria.

The defensive base is formed by nose guard Mathew Davila, linebackers Garcia, Josiah Arreola, Adrian Valencia and Jose Garza, and cornerbacks Soria and Aaron Mosby.

Other top games (all Friday night):

No. 4 Buchanan (4-1) vs. No. 2 Central (4-1), at Koligian Stadium: Can the Bears do in the Tri-River Athletic Conference opener what Central’s past four opponents haven’t – be competitive? The Grizzlies’ mauling has struck No. 17 Sunnyside (56-15), No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield (38-0), Frontier (59-17) and No. 11 Ridgeview (42-7). Central sophomore Trent Tompkins has completed 62 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns against three interceptions.

No. 5 Clovis West (3-2) vs. No. 13 Clovis North (3-2), at Veterans Memorial Stadium: If Clovis West and junior quarterback Adrian Martinez are legitimate TRAC and section D-I contenders, they’ll make a statement here.

No. 10 Bakersfield (3-2) at No. 9 Garces (4-1): Season-ending injuries to quarterbacks Josh Maran (collarbone) of the Drillers and Conor Bruce (leg) of the Rams hang a cloud over this one in the Southwest Yosemite League.

No. 12 Redwood (6-0, 2-0) vs. No. 15 Hanford (4-2, 2-0): West Yosemite League title bout, it seems, and forget that it’s early October.

This story was originally published October 6, 2016 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Prep Blitz Week 7: Sanger, Bullard brace for latest CMAC showdown."