Extreme heat in Fresno forecast causes changes to opening-week prep football games
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Extreme heat prompts Fresno area high schools to shift football kickoff times.
- Many junior varsity games moved from 4 p.m. to evening to avoid peak heat.
- Varsity start times delayed up to 8:30 p.m. due to 100+ degree forecasts.
The return of extreme heat to the Fresno area has forced high school athletic directors to change kickoff times for some season-opening football games.
Most schools have varsity kickoff times of 7 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, but some have pushed back kickoff one hour because of the forecast of 106 degrees that day.
When season begins Thursday, the weather service is calling for a high of 101.
Here is a look at some of the games that changed:
Clovis North moved its JV game to 7 p.m. Thursday, but is sticking with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday against San Joaquin Memorial at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Central Valley Christian will host Clovis at 8 p.m. Friday.
The Hanford JV team will play Thursday and varsity is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday “with as many needed water breaks as they wish,” said Hanford AD Beau Hill.
Golden West’s JV game, slated to start at 5 p.m., will be moved to Arroyo Grande and will start at 6:30 p.m. after the freshman game. The varsity game will remain in Visalia at 7:30 p.m.
Madera South moved its JV game against Orosi to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and the varsity is pushed back to 8 p.m. Friday.
Fowler is moving its JV game to 6 p.m. and will monitor the heat; the varsity will follow at 8-8:30 p.m.
The Liberty-Madera Ranchos games have been moved to 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Woodlake is moving games to 6:30 p.m. for JV, followed by varsity at 8:30 p.m. Tulare Western’s freshman and JV teams will play on Thursday, but the Mustangs varsity will remain on Friday and play at 7:30 p.m. at Bob Mathias Stadium. At Caruthers, JV will start at 6 p.m. and varsity at 8 p.m. Torres will host Kerman at 8 p.m.
Week 1 schedule
Thursday
Avenal at McLane, 7 p.m.
Elite-Vallejo at Central West, 7 p.m. (Koligian Stadium)
Sanger West at Mission Oak, 7:30 p.m. (Bob Mathias Stadium)
Fresno vs. Reedley, 7 p.m. (at Orange Cove)
Friday
Inglewood at Central East, 7 p.m.
Clovis West at Edison-Huntington Beach, 7 p.m.
Tulare Union at St. Joseph, 7 p.m.
Firebaugh at Chowchilla, 7 p.m.
Avalon at Fresno Christian, 7 p.m.
Mariposa County at Yosemite, 7 p.m.
Kingsburg at Paso Robles, 7 p.m.
Dos Palos at Los Banos, 7 p.m.
Hoover at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
Golden Valley at Mendota, 7 p.m.
Sierra at Minarets, 7 p.m.
Mammoth at Desert, 7 p.m.
Rosamond at Eastside, 7 p.m.
Lompoc at Nipomo, 7 p.m.
Oakland at Boron, 7 p.m.
Oxnard at Mission Prep, 7 p.m.
Bishop Union at Fernley, 7 p.m.
Foothill at Morro Bay, 7 p.m.
Independence at Pioneer Valley, 7 p.m.
Bakersfield Christian at Faith Luterhan
Ridgeview at South, 7 p.m.
Liberty-Bakersfield at Mountain Vista, 7 p.m.
Santa Ynez at Dos Pueblos, 7 p.m.
Parlier at Orange Cove, 7:15 p.m.
Garza at Mesa Verde, 7:15 p.m.
Exeter at Shafter, 7:15 p.m.
Cuyama Valley at Frazier Mountain, 7:30 p.m.
North at Stockdale, 7:30 p.m.
Garces at Paraclete, 7:30 p.m.
Taft at Immanuel, 7:30 p.m.
McFarland at Farmersville, 7:30 p.m.
Oak Ridge at Frontier, 7:30 p.m.
Lemoore at Monache, 7:30 p.m.
Kennedy at Hanford, 7:30 p.m.
San Joaquin Memorial at Clovis North, 7:30 p.m. (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
Riverdale at Tranquillity, 7:30 p.m.
Buchanan at Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.
Lindsay at Arvin, 7:30 p.m.
Del Oro at Chavez, 7:30 p.m.
Arroyo Grande at Golden West, 7:30 p.m.
Edison at Templeton, 7:30 p.m.
Kern Valley at West, 7:30 p.m.
El Diamante at Tulare Western, 7:30 p.m. (Bob Mathias Stadium)
Madera at Sunnyside, 7:30 p.m.
San Luis Obispo at Mt. Whitney, 7:30 p.m.
Highland at East Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.
Mira Monte at Delano, 7:30 p.m.
Porterville at Wasco, 7:30 p.m.
Burroughs at Tehachapi, 7:30 p.m
Redwood at Centennial, 7:30 p.m.
Bullard at Clovis East, 7:30 p.m. (Lamonica Stadium)
Coalinga at Caruthers, 8 p.m.
Clovis at Central Valley Christian, 8 p.m.
Orosi at Madera South, 8 p.m.
Strathmore at Liberty-Madera Ranchos, 8 p.m.
Kerman at Torres, 8 p.m.
Hanford West at Fowler, 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
Sierra Pacific at Woodlake, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
Immanuel Christian at Valley Oaks Charter, 6 p.m.
