High school football has returned with practices this week

High School football is back in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Practice started Monday and will continue toward the season-openers Aug. 24-26.

The defending Central Section champions: Bakersfield (Division I), Sanger (D-II), Bakersfield Christian (D-III), Selma (D-IV), Mendota (D-V) and Strathmore (D-VI).

But Sanger has moved up to DI and Mendota to D-IV.

Sanger will be coached by first-year coach Jorge Pena. Longtime coach Chuck Shidan retired this year.

This story was originally published August 4, 2017 at 12:12 PM with the headline "High school football has returned with practices this week."