Top Central Section performers from the Fresno-area in football playoff games
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Bee will recognize at least 10 Fresno-area players for playoff performances.
- Jelani Dippel passed seven touchdowns to lift Central East to a 56-21 win.
- Runners and quarterbacks produced long touchdowns as teams advance to rematches.
Following the Central Section football playoff games, The Bee will recognize athletes who had a standout performance.
The Bee will recognize several players for the big games they provided to their teams.
This series will continue until the end of the playoffs.
Jelani Dippel came through once again for Central East when he passed for seven touchdowns in a 56-21 victory over Clovis East in the Central Section Division I-AA game. Dippel has shown a lot of moxy for the Bengals. That is not a surprise considering Central East coach Kyle Biggs knows a thing or two about playing QB. He played QB at Clovis and Fresno City College.
Buchanan’s season continues, and Gannon Sever is part of the reason for that. He ran for two scores, including an 87-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against Clovis North in D-I AA. The Bears face Central East in a rematch.
JJ Howard of Clovis West is an impressive sophomore. He already has several D-I offers because of his dangerous arm and the ability to run. St. Joseph found that out when Howard finished with three TD runs. He ran for 113 yards.
Kendale McGrew of Sanger has been impressive all season for the Apaches. He ran 12 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns to send Sanger to the next round against top-seed Bakersfield Christian.
Nick Davalos 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Kingsburg’s 28-7 victory over Dinuba. The Vikings were well in control of that game.
Tyson Alvarado did it often for Coalinga when he ran the ball 13 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-15 victory over Monache.
Central Valley Christian QB Asher Piepgras made sure the Cavaliers’ season would continue, finishing with three touchdowns in a 37-13 victory over Lompoc. The Cavaliers, under head coach Don Arax, are playing well and will move on to the next round.
Henry Bilskey of Liberty-Madera Ranchos was impressive, considering the Hawks also have Ethan Dunn. But Billskey shouldered the load, too, when he finished with 12 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Dunn, meanwhile, ran for 100 yards and two TDs.
CJ Barker of Roosevelt is an impressive quarterback for Ricky McCoy’s team. He did his part against Exeter, but so did sophomore running back Ehis Idoni, who is tough to tackle. He is also a shifty quarterback who can elude defenders, and he did on a carry, running for a 72-yard touchdown. By the way, Idoni patterns his running style after Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty. And yes, he has the Michael Myers stance like Jeanty.
Adrian Torres of Kerman has been consistent all season. It wasn’t any different when the Lions played Tulare Western. He passed for five touchdowns, as he helped Kerman score the last 29 points of the game to come from behind.
Central Section playoffs scores/schedule
7 p.m. unless noted
Division I-AA
Quarterfinals
Nov. 7
No. 1 Central East 56, No. 8 Clovis East 21
No. 4 Buchanan 32, No. 5 Clovis North 14
No. 3 Clovis West 28, No. 6 St. Joseph 7
No. 2 Clovis 27, No. 7 Frontier 25
Friday
No. 4 Buchanan at No. 1 Central East
No. 3 Clovis West at Clovis
Division I-A
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Bakersfield Christian, bye
No. 4 Sanger 28, No. 5 Bullard 21
No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield 49, No. 6 San Joaquin Memorial 14
No. 2 Hanford, bye
Friday
No. 4 Sanger at No. 1 Bakersfield Christian
No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield at No. 2 Hanford
Division II
First round
No. 1 Tulare Union, bye
No. 2 Bakersfield, bye
No. 3 Redwood, bye
No. 9 Kingsburg 28, No. 8 Dinuba 7
No. 5 Garces 28, No. 12 Tehachapi 10
No. 4 Arroyo Grande 62, No. 13 Sunnyside 14
No. 11 San Luis Obispo 42, No. 6 Lemoore 32
No. 7 Central Valley Christian 37, No. 10 Lompoc 13
Friday
No. 9 Kingsburg at No. 1 Tulare Union
No. 5 Garces at No. 4 Arroyo Grande
No. 11 San Luis Obispo at No. 3 Redwood
No. 7 Central Valley Christian at No. 2 Bakersfield
Division III
First round
No. 1 Shafter 38, No. 16 Mission Prep 17
No. 8 Washington Union 27, No. 9 Garza 21
No. 5 Kennedy 63, No. 12 Paso Robles 28
No. 4 Golden West 21, No. 13 Mission Oak 0
No. 3 Porterville 42, No. 14 Ridgeview 14
No. 6 Independence 34, No. 11 Madera 27
No. 10 Kerman 41, No. 7 Tulare Western 20
No. 2 Wasco 57, No. 15 Righetti 6
Friday
No. 8 Washington Union at No. 1 Shafter
No. 5 Kennedy at No. 4 Golden West
No. 6 Independence at No. 3 Porterville
No. 10 Kerman at Wasco
Division IV
First round
No. 1 Templeton, bye
No. 2 Immanuel, bye
No. 3 McLane, bye
No. 4 North, bye
No. 8 Coalinga 30, No. 9 Monache 15
No. 5 Roosevelt 20, No. 12 Exeter 0
No. 11 Dos Palos 14, No. 6 Santa Ynez 0
No. 7 Nipomo 35, No. 10 Atascadero 34, 2OT
Friday
No. 8 Coalinga at No. 1 Templeton
No. 5 Roosevelt at No. 4 North
No. 11 Dos Palos at No. 3 McLane
No. 7 Nipomo at No. 2 Immanuel
Division V
First round
No. 1 Liberty-Madera Ranchos 56, No. 16 Selma
No. 9 Morro Bay 51, No. 8 Delano 21
No. 5 Cabrillo 35, No. 12 Hoover 14
No. 4 Bishop Union 49, No. 13 Golden Valley-Bakersfield 21
No. 3 West 47, No. 14 Taft 20
No. 6 Chowchilla 36, No. 11 Strathmore 33
No. 10 Reedley 35, No. 7 Sanger West 32 (Thursday)
No. 2 Woodlake 38, No. 15 Fowler 14
Friday
No. 9 Morro Bay at No. 1 Liberty-Madera Ranchos
No. 5 Cabrillo at No. 4 Bishop Union
No. 6 Chowchilla at No. 3 West
No. 10 Reedley at No. 2 Woodlake
Division VI
First round
No. 1 Minarets 46, No. 16 Sierra 6
No. 8 Mendota 21, No. 9 Lindsay 14
No. 5 Kern Valley 47, No. 12 Granite Hills 37
No. 4 Boron 19, No. 13 Corcoran 14
No. 3 Foothill 20, No. 14 Rosamond 7
No. 6 Mira Monte 27, No. 11 McFarland 21
No. 7 Firebaugh 49, No. 10 Yosemite 0
No. 2 Orosi 55, No. 15 Parlier 14
Friday
No. 8 Mendota at No. 1 Minarets
No. 5 Kern Valley at No. 4 Boron
No. 6 Mira Monte at No. 3 Foothill
No. 7 Firebaugh at No. 2 Orosi
8-Man
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Fresno Christian 74, No. 8 Orcutt Academy 20
No. 4 Laton 39, No. 5 Alpaugh 12
No. 3 Mammoth 60, No. 6 Trona 16
No. 2 Immanuel Christian 30, No. 7 Frazier Mountain 22
Friday
No. 4 Laton at No. 1 Fresno Christian
No. 3 Mammoth at No. 2 Immanuel Christian
This story was originally published November 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
