High school football playoffs: Preview, predictions and schedule in the Central Section
The Central Section football players roll along to the quarterfinals this week except in the 8-man where the semifinal round will be played.
Games will take place Thursday instead of the usual Friday because of Veterans Day.
One game, however, will be played on Friday when Mission Oak hosts Mt. Whitney in a Division III game at 7 p.m. at Bob Mathias Stadium.
Bob Mathias Stadium is already hosting another game on Thursday between Tulare Union and Kingsburg in Division II.
There are plenty of interesting matchups in the quarterfinals.
The Bee takes a look at each game.
Division I
No. 8 Clovis West at No. 1 Clovis North (Veterans Memorial Stadium): The top-seeded Broncos had a bye last week and will face the Golden Eagles that defeated Hanford 42-30. Clovis North and Clovis West met in the Tri-River Athletic Conference, won by the Broncos 34-27. Clovis West had led 21-14 in the third quarter before Clovis North scored the next 14 points to pull away.
No. 5 Sanger at No. 4 Clovis East (Lamonica Stadium): First meeting was a good one at Lamonica Stadium. The Timberwolves won 42-21, but the game was tied at 14 in the third quarter before Clovis East pulled away after an interception and scored 28 unanswered points. Since, Sanger hasn’t lost a game and proved to be a dominant team especially after a 35-0 win over Garces.
No. 6 Clovis at No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield: The Cougars hit the road to face the Patriots for the first time since 2019. Liberty won that game 43-34. Clovis advanced to face Liberty after defeating St. Joseph 42-7. The Patriots had a bye.
No. 7 Central at No. 2 Frontier: The Grizzlies won the first round game against Arroyo Grande 42-14 and now face the Titans who beat Liberty-Bakersfield, which beat Central earlier this season. It’s a new Grizzlies team under QB David Marquez, but it’s still a tough matchup against undefeated Frontier (10-0).
Division II
No. 9 Tehachapi at No. 1 Central Valley Christian: The Cavaliers rolled past Stockdale 43-7 last week. The Warriors didn’t have any trouble against East, winning 58-19.
No. 5 Kingsburg at No. 4 Tulare Union: Really good matchup between the two teams, which could mean a high-scoring game. A rematch from earlier this season, won by the Tribe 42-12.
No. 11 Madera at No. 3 Centennial: Can the Coyotes pull off another upset after knocking out Bakersfield Christian 27-26. The Golden Hawks won their game over Lompoc 42-19.
No. 7 Sunnyside at No. 2 Lemoore: Speaking of high scoring games, this has the makings of a busy scoreboard. The Wildcats defeated Redwood 39-20 and the Tigers beat Garza 38-27.
Division III
No. 8 Porterville at No. 1 Mission Prep: The Panthers won last week over Pioneer Valley, 41-3, while the Royals had a bye.
No. 5 Kerman at No. 4 Kennedy: The Lions won a close game against Golden West, 30-29. Kennedy beat Santa Ynez 42-21.
No. 6 Mt. Whitney at No. 3 Mission Oak (Bob Mathias Stadium Friday): This is a rematch from this season, won by the Hawks 25-22. Last week, Mt. Whitney won 28-18 over Nipomo and Mission Oak defeated Independence 38-31.
No. 7 Washington Union at No. 2 Atascadero: The Panthers were dominant in their 25-6 win over Templeton. The Greyhounds had a bye last week.
Division IV
No. 9 Golden Valley-Bakersfield at No. 1 Shafter: The Bulldogs got by McLane 35-28 while the Generals had a bye.
No. 5 Torres at No. 4 Coalinga: Really good matchup. The Toros defeated Immanuel 43-14 and the Horned Toads routed Sierra Pacific 41-7.
No. 11 Roosevelt at No. 3 Exeter: The Monarchs had a tough battle against Highland, getting by 38-35. The Rough Riders went on the road and defeated Chowchilla 35-28.
No. 10 Santa Maria at No. 2 Dos Palos: The Broncos had a bye and will face the Saints, which went on the road to defeat Caruthers 36-29.
Division V
No. 9 North at No. 1 Bishop: Bishop had a bye while the Stars held off Corcoran 43-34.
No. 5 Orosi at No. 4 Morro Bay: The Cardinals defeated Hoover 42-26. The Pirates edged past East 27-26.
No. 6 Chavez at No. 3 Liberty-Madera Ranchos: The Hawks won a close game over Firebaugh, advancing with a 14-12 victory. The Titans rolled past Sanger West 56-28.
No. 10 Reedley at No. 2 Wasco: The Pirates held off Delano 43-36 while the Tigers had a bye.
Division VI
No. 9 Orange Cove at No. 1 Arvin: The Titans got by Avenal 14-12. The Bears had a bye.
No. 5 Woodlake at No. 4 Strathmore: The Tigers and Spartans meet. Woodlake defeated Minarets 29-6 and Strathmore was too much for Kern Valley 49-14. Woodlake lost to Strathmore 22-0 in the East Sequoia League.
No. 6 Taft at No. 3 Mendota: The Aztecs blitzed past Foothill 42-7. The Wildcats rolled to a 71-34 victory over Rosamond.
No. 7 Fowler at No. 2 Boron: The Redcats had no trouble against Lindsay, winning 49-14. The Bobcats had a bye.
8-man semifinals
No. 4 Mammoth at No. 1 Fresno Christian: The Eagles had a bye. The Huskies blanked Frazier Mountain 53-0. Fresno Christian defeated Mammoth 34-6 earlier this season.
No. 3 Sierra at No. 2 Riverdale Christian: The Chieftains defeated Orcutt Academy 40-16. The Ambassadors had a bye. Sierra lost to Riverdale Christian 30-22 this season.
Predictions
The Bee went 37-8 last week and for the season is 76-28.
Here are the predictions:
Division I
No. 1 Clovis North 27, No. 8 Clovis West 26
No. 5 Sanger 43, No. 4 Clovis East 37
No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield 34, No. 6 Clovis 30
No. 2 Frontier 34, No. 7 Central 27
Division II
No. 1 Central Valley Christian 34, No. 9 Tehachapi 17
No. 4 Tulare Union 47, No. 5 Kingsburg 40
No. 3 Centennial 34, No. 11 Madera 27
No. 7 Sunnyside 37, No. 2 Lemoore 33
Division III
No. 8 Porterville 17, No. 1 Mission Prep 14
No. 4 Kennedy 31, No. 5 Kerman 24
No. 3 Mission Oak 27, No. 6 Mt. Whitney 24
No. 2 Atascadero 34, No. 7 Washington Union 23
Division IV
No. 1 Shafter 45, No. 9 Golden Valley-Bakersfield 17
No. 4 Coalinga 34, No. 5 Torres 31
No. 11 Roosevelt 23, No. 3 Exeter 16
No. 2 Dos Palos 37, No. 10 Santa Maria 33
Division V
No. 1 Bishop 34, No. 9 North 24
No. 5 Orosi 30, No. 4 Morro Bay 23
No. 3 Liberty-Madera Ranchos 23, No. 6 Chavez 14
No. 10 Reedley 34, No. 2 Wasco 30
Division VI
No. 1 Arvin 34, No. 9 Orange Cove 30
No. 4 Strathmore 24, No. 5 Woodlake 10
No. 3 Mendota 41, No. 6 Taft 20
No. 7 Fowler 35, No. 2 Boron 31
8-man semifinals
No. 1 Fresno Christian 34, No. 4 Mammoth 23
No. 3 Sierra 24, No. 2 Riverdale Christian 20
Schedule
Games at 7 p.m. Nov. 9
Division I
No. 8 Clovis West at No. 1 Clovis North
No. 5 Sanger at No. 4 Clovis East
No. 6 Clovis at No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield
No. 7 Central at No. 2 Frontier
Division II
No. 9 Tehachapi at No. 1 Central Valley Christian
No. 5 Kingsburg at No. 4 Tulare Union
No. 11 Madera at No. 3 Centennial
No. 7 Sunnyside at No. 2 Lemoore
Division III
No. 8 Porterville at No. 1 Mission Prep
No. 5 Kerman at No. 4 Kennedy
No. 6 Mt. Whitney at No. 3 Mission Oak (Thursday)
No. 7 Washington Union at No. 2 Atascadero
Division IV
No. 9 Golden Valley-Bakersfield at No. 1 Shafter
No. 5 Torres at No. 4 Coalinga
No. 11 Roosevelt at No. 3 Exeter
No. 10 Santa Maria at No. 2 Dos Palos
Division V
No. 9 North at No. 1 Bishop
No. 5 Orosi at No. 4 Morro Bay
No. 6 Chavez at No. 3 Liberty-Madera Ranchos
No. 10 Reedley at No. 2 Wasco
Division VI
No. 9 Orange Cove at No. 1 Arvin
No. 5 Woodlake at No. 4 Strathmore
No. 6 Taft at No. 3 Mendota
No. 7 Fowler at No. 2 Boron
8-man semifinals
No. 4 Mammoth at No. 1 Fresno Christian
No. 3 Sierra at No. 2 Riverdale Christian
