Who is on top of The Fresno Bee’s preseason football Top 25? There are some surprises
Central Section high school football kicks off this week highlighted by a Thursday tilt between Clovis and Long Beach Poly at Lamonica Stadium.
Game time is set for 7 p.m.
But before the kickoffs, The Fresno Bee lists the preseason Top 25 rankings with players figuring to play a role this season.
1. Liberty-Bakersfield Patriots
The defending Central Section Division I champions return USC commit and defensive lineman Grant Buckey. Patriots welcome back 15 starters. Other players to watch are OL/DE Cade Gretlein and WR/CB Kresean Kizzy.
2. Buchanan Bears
Back is QB Jayden Mandal (Fresno State) who helped the Bears to a Tri-River Athletic Conference title last season. The Bears have a solid group of RBs in Kannon Campbell, Michael Runnels and Augustus Remlinger. LB Logan Studt, DL Roman Fries will lead the defense.
3. San Joaquin Memorial Panthers
The Panthers remain loaded on offense and defense. Memorial will be led by senior RB/DB Brandon Ramirez, NG Marquise Jones, OL/DL Brayden Hall and WR/LB Jayden Enriquez. Carson Dean will be the QB. Fifteen starters return.
4. Central Grizzlies
Plenty of talent for Kyle Biggs who welcomes back QB Dayton Tafoya. Joining Tafoya once again is WR/DB Imari Conley (Fresno State). The Grizzlies also have WRs Landanian Streets, Braylen Hall and Kaleb Tennison. Fifteen starters return.
5. Clovis West Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles welcome back 16 starters led by WR Marshel Sanders, WR/CB Jordan Pierro, WR/CB Landon Wright, LB/TE Tytus Khajavi and C/DT Desean Watts.
6. Bullard Knights
Knights coach Don Arax said his team is young and they have “to grow up fast,” but said there is talent highlighting TE/DE Kyle Hughes. Others include DE/TE Elijah Eason, RB Nick Stubblefield and WR Wendell Ware.
7. Bakersfield Drillers
RB Tybo Rogers (Washington) scored 10 TDs last season. QB Tye Monteiro finished with 1,751 yards and 14 TDs.
8. Hanford Bullpups
QB Cayden Muir passed for 2,259 yards and 26 TDs. He is joined by WR/DB Jayden Sudds, LB/TE Brak Hill and RB Kourdey Glass, who led rushers with seven TDs last season.
9. Clovis Cougars
Aaron Wilkins takes the reins for the Cougars and is excited for his team. He welcomes CB/WR Jaden Carillo. Figuring to be in line for a lot of playing time are LB Noah Luginbill, OL/DL Matt Miller, DL/OL Brenden Neheimer and WR/DB Dominic Decanio. Freshman Ty Rose will be the QB.
10. Central Valley Christian Cavaliers
TE/DE Jaeden Moore is being recruited by several Division I schools. He had 975 yards receiving and 13 TDs last season. He is joined by QB Max Bakker who will be protected by OL Chase Womack. DE/TE Zach Zwart will add to the punch for CVC.
11. Garces Rams
Eleven starters return from a 6-4 season, led by OL/DL Davis May, WR/S Julian Smith and OLB/SB Jalani Smith. Garces moves to the Southwest Yosemite League.
12. St. Joseph Knights
Back for the Knights is QB Darian Mensah. He’ll have targets such as Collin Fasse, and will be complemented by RBs Malaki Langley and Fred Jordan. Carter Vargas is a versatile RB/S.
13. Kingsburg Vikings
While the offensive line may be inexperienced, the Vikings return a strong nucleus in QBs Max Warkentin and Ethan Winslow, followed by RB Trace Jackson and WR Connor McFall. The Vikings graduated key players on defense.
14. Clovis East Timberwolves
The Timberwolves return six starters on offense and five on defense led by LB/TE Rocky Koontz, RB Lamaj Travis and LT Brayden Bigham. Tyus Miller will be Clovis East’s starting QB. Keep an eye on WR/CB Harold Duvall.
15. Clovis North Broncos
The Broncos will be strong on defense led by CB Rashid Mansour and WR/S Vincent Cordoba. Broncos coach Mike Jacot mentioned new LBs in Brayden Bitter and McKay Madsen. Clovis North will have several RBs split time.
16. Bakersfield Christian Eagles
Stepping in at QB is Jordan Delgado. He’ll throw to Bryson Waterman who led receivers with 13 TDs. RB David Bonales led rushers with 12 TDs last season. Bonales also had 74 tackles. Also back is Bo Carr who recorded eight sacks.
17. Redwood Rangers
Fourteen starters return led by DE Kai Preisendorf who led the team with 11 sacks last season. He is joined by LBs Joe Viveros, Evan Gonzalez. At QB will be Francisco Alvarez.
18. Frontier Titans
LB James Moon finished with 53 tackles last season to lead the team. S John Appleton had four interceptions. The Titans lost some key contributors on offense, but welcomed back Devin Cockren who finished with five TDs in 2021.
19. Tulare Western Mustangs
Back is QB Carmine Ficher who threw for 2,533 yards and 23 TDs last season. Seven of those TDs went to WR Carson Lopes. The Mustangs lost a lot of playmakers on defense.
20. Mission Prep Royals
QB Colby White will lead the charge for the Royals. He threw for 17 TDs last season. WR Tyler Garrett had 10 TDs. LB Mario Luera led the team in tackles with 71.
21. Lemoore Tigers
The offense will be led by QB Ty Chambers. He’s followed by RB Andrew Moench. Gio Quintero finished last season with 57 tackles. Isaiah Morales led the Tigers with four sacks.
22. Sunnyside Wildcats
Expectations are high for the Wildcats who bring back sophomore QB Tanner Wilson. He will have sophomore WR CJ Jones to throw to. The defense is expected to be strong with LBs Noah Gonzales and Daequan Jones. Shamar Jones will play at CB.
23. Reedley Pirates
The Pirates lost key players from last season’s strong group that included Ryan Warkentin (now at Fresno State), but their offensive line should remain strong, powered by OL Sam Rodriguez. Jacob Rocha will be the starting QB and he’ll have Kahlil Young as his target.
24. Edison Tigers
QB Ya’j Vance will start for the Tigers and coach Mike Stamps is expecting big things from him this season. Also emerging for Edison are DE/OLB Nick Ball and CB/SS/RB John Eubanks. Tigers, by the way, will sport a new look with a Cincinnati Bengals-style helmet.
25. Washington Union Panthers
The Panthers bring in a host of talent. WR Noah Taylor will be a threat along with defensive players LB Kado Felder and S William Fowler.
Also: Dinuba, Arroyo Grande, Centennial, Mission Oak, Madera, Tulare Union, Highland, Paso Robles, Independence, Stockdale, Righetti, Sanger, Kennedy, Wasco, Porterville, Golden West
Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 18
Intersectional
Long Beach Poly at Clovis, 7 p.m.
Nonleague
Tulare Western at El Diamante, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 19
Nonleague
Bakersfield at Buchanan, 6:30 p.m.
Hanford at Bullard, 7 p.m. (Ratcliffe Stadium)
Clovis East Dinuba, 7 p.m.
Kerman at Chowchilla, 7 p.m.
Ridgeview at Clovis West, 7 p.m. (Lamonica Stadium)
Kennedy at Edison, 7 p.m. (Sunnyside Stadium)
Immanuel at Garza, 7 p.m. (Koligian Stadium)
Mission Prep at Bakersfield Christian, 7 p.m.
Foothill at Boron, 7 p.m.
Bishop at Lindsay, 7 p.m.
San Luis Obispo at Nipomo, 7 p.m.
Independence at Pioneer Valley, 7 p.m.
Atascadero at Santa Ynez, 7 p.m.
Exeter at Strathmore, 7 p.m.
Madera South at Orosi, 7:15 p.m.
Delano at Mira Monte, 7:15 p.m.
Fresno at Washington Union, 7:15 p.m.
Hanford West at Woodlake, 7:15 p.m.
Clovis North at San Joaquin Memorial, 7:30 p.m.
Sanger West at Sanger, 7:30 p.m.
Chavez at Arvin, 7:30 p.m.
Centennial at Redwood, 7:30 p.m. (Mineral King Bowl)
Caruthers at Coalinga, 7:30 p.m.
Fowler at Corcoran, 7:30 p.m.
Santa Maria at East Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.
Reedley at Firebaugh, 7:30 p.m.
North at Frontier, 7:30 p.m.
Sunnyside at Golden Valley-Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.
Arroyo Grande at Golden West, 7:30 p.m.
Stockdale at Highland, 7:30 p.m.
Paso Robles at Kingsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Avenal at McFarland, 7:30 p.m.
Porterville at McLane, 7:30 p.m.
Liberty-Madera Ranchos at Mendota, 7:30 p.m.
Mission Oak at Monache, 7:30 p.m.
Sierra Pacific at Orange Cove, 7:30 p.m.
Farmersville at Parlier, 7:30 p.m.
Lemoore at Selma, 7:30 p.m.
Wasco at South, 7:30 p.m.
Kern Valley at Taft, 7:30 p.m.
Torres at Madera, 7:30 p.m.
Riverdale at Tranquillity, 7:30 p.m.
Mt. Whitney at Tulare Union, 7:30 p.m.
Shafter at West, 7:30 p.m.
Minarets at Sierra, 7:30 p.m.
Intersectional
Palos Verdes at St. Joseph, 6 p.m.
Lompoc at Agoura, 7 p.m.
Tehachapi at Burroughs, 7 p.m.
Cabrillo-Lompoc vs. Nordhoff-Ojai, 7 p.m.
St. Monica at Desert, 7 p.m.
San Marcos at Morro Bay, 7 p.m.
Righetti vs. Bishop Diego, 7 p.m.
Central at Edison-Stockton, 7:15 p.m.
Los Banos at Dos Palos, 7:30 p.m.
California City at Fillmore, 7 p.m.
Los Alamitos at Garces, 7 p.m.
Central Valley Christian at Ripon Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Spanish Springs-Sparks, Nev. at Liberty-Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.
Littlerock at Rosamond, 7 p.m.
Mariposa County at Yosemite, 7 :30 p.m.
Tonopah-Nevada at Mammoth, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 20
New Designs University Park at Lone Pine, 7 p.m.
