Who made The Bee’s Central Section Top 25 preseason football rankings? See our list
High school football season in the Central Section begins Thursday when Mission Oak and Madera South meet at Bob Mathias Stadium in Tulare.
The rest of the section will get underway Friday with some top matchups taking place early in the season.
Those games include Buchanan visiting Kingsburg; Central hosting Bullard; Clovis visiting Sanger and San Joaquin Memorial taking on Clovis North at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
But first, here is a look at the The Fresno Bee preseason top 25 rankings.
1. Buchanan
Coach: Matt Giordano
2020 record: 5-0
Note: Some of the key returners are RB/LB Caden Rodgers and QB Jayden Mandal.
2. Liberty-Bakersfield
Coach: Bryan Nixon
Record: 5-0
Note: The Patriots welcome back LB Riley Hernandez who led the team with three sacks. Other key players: DB/WR Jason Oliver and DB Kresean Kizzy, a transfer from Bakersfield Christian
3. Central
Coach: Kyle Biggs
2020 record: 4-1
Note: Gone is QB DJ Stevenson. Enter Dayton Tafoya who previously played at Clovis West. One of the top returners on defense is LB Marcus Ramirez who led the team with 22 tackles.
4. San Joaquin Memorial
Coach: Anthony Goston
2020 record: 5-1
Note: Finished second in County/Metro Athletic Conference. The Panthers will be led by WR/DB T.J. Hall who already committed to Washington.
5. Clovis
Coach: Rich Hammond
2020 record: 3-2
Note: The Cougars will be led by QB Nate Johnson, a Utah commit. Clovis’ offense will be strong with the return of RB Tristan Risley.
6. Frontier
Coach: Chris Bandy
2020 record: 4-1
Note: The Titans welcome back QB Vincent Igoa and RB Danny Overton.
7. Garces
Coach: Paul Golla
2020 record: 2-3
Note: Key players returning include QB Travis Plugge, RB/OLB Ian Jernagin and MLB Logan Bowers.
8. Sanger
Coach: Jorge Pena
2020 record: 4-1
Note: Won the County/Metro Athletic Conference by going 4-0. A lot of experience is gone, but the Apaches still bring back LB Alan Pelayo.
9. Bakersfield
Coach: Michael Stewart
2020 record: 2-2
Note: Will be led on defense by SS/LB Alex Rocha who finished with a team-leading 38 tackles.
10. Bullard
Coach: Don Arax
2020 record: 4-2
Note: Team is led by WR/DB Jayden Davis who has several Division I offers including Fresno State. Bullard’s QB is Roland Russo.
11. Tulare Western
Coach: Derek Rosa
2020 record: 3-1
Note: Top player returning is NG Abe Diaz. Mustangs will be led on offense by Carmine Ficher, the brother of former Tulare Western QB Mikey Ficher.
12. St. Joseph
Coach: Pepe Villaseñor
2020 record: 5-0
Note: The Santa Maria team will be led by QB Caden Cuccia whose top target will be WR Travis Royal.
13. Kingsburg
Coach: David Wilson
2020 record: 5-0
Note: The season will start off with a bang against Buchanan at home. The Vikings will be led by Micah Spomer who will play several positions. Chase Dias anchors the defense at ILB.
14. Hanford
Coach: Cannon Sanchez
2020 record: 3-1
Note: The Bullpups lost DE Mason Broddeau to graduation, but will led by QB Cayden Muir. WR Noah Noyola also returns.
15. Bakersfield Christian
Coach: Darren Carr
2020 record: 1-2
Note: The Eagles will be young, but you can’t count them out. Some top players include WR Garrett Stephenson, RB/LB Nathan Perez and TE Bohanon Carr.
16. Central Valley Christian
Coach: Mason Hughes
2020 record: 1-2
Note: Despite a short spring, the Cavaliers pose a threat in the Central Sequoia League. CVC welcomes back TE/DE Jaeden Moore. He is listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds.
17. Paso Robles
Coach: Matt Carroll
2020 record: 5-2
Note: Paso Robles will be led by TE Andrew Olsen and RB Leo Kemp.
18. Tulare Union
Coach: Darren Bennett
2020 record: 4-1
Note: Welcomes back QB Jorge Gonzalez who completed 72 of 95 for 1,269 yards and 19 touchdowns. WR Pedro Alvarez had seven TDs.
19. Nipomo
Coach: Tony Dodge
2020 record: 4-1
Note: The Titans move over to the Mountain League from the Ocean League. Nipomo will be led by QB Nate Reese.
20. Centennial
Coach: Richard Starrett
2020 record: 2-3
Note: Returns QB Levi Manning and WR Tyler Routh.
21. Reedley
Coach: Tony Gates
2020 record: 5-1
Notes: Plenty of experience on the defensive side with four starting linebackers returning. The offense will be led by RB Ryan Warkentin.
22. Redwood
Coach: Kevin Scharton
2020 record: DNP
Notes: The Rangers are a wild card after sitting out the spring. LB Marcus Correia is listed at 6-1 and 230 pounds. He’ll play some fullback, too. RB Karson Everett is described as having good speed.
23. Golden West
Coach: Brian Allen
2020 record: DNP
Notes: The Trailblazers will be led by Michael Falcon and James Archer. Carlos Renteria will be Golden West’s starting QB.
24. Righetti
Coach: Tony Payne
Record: 4-1
Notes: The Warriors return Elias Martinez, Kidasi Nepa and Casey Daniels.
25. El Diamante
Coach: Chris Frankland
Record: DNP
Notes: The Miners will be led by Ath/RB Bryson Donelson and WR Nick Nelson. Junior Freddy Valencia will be the starting QB.
Others: South, Highland, Madera, Edison, Clovis West, North, Independence, Selma, Arroyo Grande, Golden Valley-Bakersfield, Clovis East, Shafter, Mira Monte, Lemoore, Mission Oak.
Week 0 schedule
(Schedules subject to late changes)
Thursday, Aug. 19
Nonleague
Madera South vs. Mission Oak, 7:30 p.m. (Bob Mathias Stadium)
Kerman at Kennedy
Friday, Aug. 20
Nonleague
San Joaquin Memorial vs. Clovis North, 6:30 p.m. (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
Dinuba vs. Clovis East, 6:30 p.m. (Lamonica Stadium)
Bullard at Central, 7 p.m.
Chowchilla at Delano, 7 p.m.
Fresno at Chowchilla, (canceled)
Frontier at Arroyo Grande, 7 p.m.
Corcoran at Fowler, 7 p.m.
Selma at Kerman, (canceled)
Golden Valley-Bakersfield at Kennedy, 7 p.m.
Lindsay at Bishop, 7 p.m.
Tulare Union vs. Mt. Whitney, 7 p.m. (Mineral King Bowl)
San Luis Obispo at Pioneer Valley, 7 p.m.
East Bakersfield at Santa Maria, 7 p.m.
Taft at Kern Valley, 7 p.m.
Mendota at Minarets, 7 p.m.
Orosi at Woodlake, 7:15 p.m.
Liberty-Madera Ranchos at Exeter, 7:15 p.m.
Buchanan at Kingsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Highland at Arvin, 7:30 p.m.
Boron at Foothill, 7:30 p.m.
Coalinga at Caruthers, 7:30 p.m.
Redwood at Centennial, 7:30 p.m.
Bakersfield Christian at Central Valley Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Delano at Chavez, 7:30 p.m.
El Diamante at Tulare Western, 7:30 p.m. (Bob Mathias Stadium)
Clovis West at Garces, 7:30 p.m.
Granite Hills at Orange Cove, 7:30 p.m.
Roosevelt vs. Immanuel, 7:30 p.m. (canceled)
Roosevelt at Strathmore, 7 p.m.
Washington Union at Lemoore, 7:30 p.m.
McFarland at Avenal, 7:30 p.m.
McLane at Parlier, 7:30 p.m.
Monache at Golden West, 7:30 p.m.
North at Porterville, 7:30 p.m. (Granite Hills)
Hanford West at Reedley, 7:30 p.m.
Riverdale at Tranquillity, 7:30 p.m.
Clovis at Sanger, 7:30 p.m.
Shafter vs. West, 7:30 p.m. (North)
Independence at South, 7:30 p.m.
Ridgeview at Stockdale, 7:30 p.m.
Tehachapi at Wasco, 7:30 p.m.
Torres vs. Hoover, 7:30 p.m. (McLane Stadium)
Sierra at Minarets, 7:30 p.m.
Frazier Mountain at Mammoth, 5 p.m.
Intersectional
Liberty-Bakersfield at Spanish Springs-Sparks, Nev., 5 p.m.
Brentwood at Mission Prep, 6 p.m.
California City at Fillmore, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph at Charter Oak-Covina, 7 p.m.
Desert at St. Monica, 7 p.m.
El Capitan at Firebaugh, 7 p.m.
Bakersfield at Los Alamitos, 7 p.m.
Los Banos vs. Dos Palos, 7 p.m. (Loftin Stadium)
Paso Robles at Lompoc, 7 p.m.
Atwater at Madera, (canceled)
Santa Ynez at Nipomo, 7 p.m.
Bishop Diego at Righetti, (canceled)
Rosamond at Littlerock, 7 p.m.
Morro Bay at San Marcos-Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.
Sunnyside at Golden Valley-Merced, 7:30 p.m.
Lancaster Baptist at Lone Pine, 7 p.m.
This story was originally published August 17, 2021 at 12:12 PM.
