CIF Central Section preseason football rankings: Liberty-Bakersfield No. 1 to start 2023 season

As top-end talented as Clovis West is, the two-time defending Division 1 champion Liberty Patriots are still the team to beat

Preseason rankings are like chips and salsa before the main course — they whet the appetite for something larger and ultimately more satisfying.

Thus is the case for this year’s Central Section football rankings. While it’s certainly enjoyable to read about the teams and players and discuss who might be better than who, we really, really love watching Friday Night Lights.

• CENTRAL SECTION FOOTBALL SCHEDULE (AUG. 18)

And after 15 straight weeks of football, these questions and much, much more will be answered:

• Will Liberty-Bakersfield win its third consecutive Central Section D1 title?
  
  
• Can a Clovis Unified school win its first D1 title since 2012 when Clovis North took home the crown?
  
  
• Will a senior-layden Clovis West squad, with its dangerous air attack, rise again to prominence?
  
  
• Can a team outside of the preseason top 5 win the whole enchilada?

Burning questions abound but in the meantime, we couldn't be any more excited for the season to arrive.

Now, about those rankings we promised you …

1. Liberty-Bakersfield

Last year’s record: 13-2

Last year’s final ranking: 1

Next game: Friday at Highland of Palmdale

All the Patriots did last season was win a second consecutive Central Section D1 title and a CIF Division 1-A state championship. Pretty, pretty good. So, what will the top program in the section do for an encore? Despite losing six starters on both defense and offense they return a solid bunch including quarterback Cole O’Brien and coach Bryan Nixon’s son, Jace, a 6-5, 221 pound Fresno State commit who will see time at TE after splitting some time with O’Brien at QB. Defensively they are solid, adding Frontier transfer Ethan Adkins at DE and return safety Tre Fulton and linebackers Drew Underwood and Tyler Lewis. They are certainly the top dog until they get knocked off in the playoffs.

Cole O'Brien returns at quarterback after leading the Patriots to a state-title win over Pittsburg. Photo: Joe Bergman

2. Clovis West

Last year’s record: 10-2

Last year’s final ranking: 4

Next game: Friday at St. Mary’s of Stockton

The Golden Eagles, a.k.a. “Air West”, are loaded on offense with a passing attack that will rival any school in the state. Senior Tyler Patrick will quarterback a team that boasts Division 1 receivers in Fresno State commit Marshel Sanders (1,098, 14 TDs) and JoJo Pierro (485, 5 TDs). Add in Washington State commit Landon Wright (776, eight TDs) and junior Jonavon Darrington, who also holds an offer from Fresno State, and that’s a potent offense. Pierro and Sanders will also patrol the secondary. The linebackers are fast from sideline to sideline led by last year’s Tri-County Conference Defensive Player of the Year Tytus Khajavi, also a Fresno State commit.

Landon Wright can score from anywhere on the field. Photo: Bobby Medellin

3. Clovis North

Last year’s record: 7-5

Last year’s final ranking: 7

Next game: Friday home vs. San Joaquin Memorial

The Broncos return a ton of talent, including 10 of 11 starters on offense, from a team that hit their stride late last season. Juniors Jackson Cinfel and McKay Madsen and senior Andrew Chavez headline a pounding running game led by a stout and massive offensive line. Senior Brayden Bitter is a beast at tight end and do-everything senior Vincent Cordoba will see the field as a kick returner, wide receiver and defensive back. Senior Mario Cosma returns at quarterback and is extremely effective in play-action situations.

4. Clovis East

Last year’s record: 6-5

Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked

Next game: Friday home vs. Foothill (Henderson, Nev.)

Like Clovis North, don't let last year’s mediocre record fool you — the Timberwolves are locked and loaded for a great 2023. After winning their first six games of the season the team was decimated by 13 season-ending injuries. Junior quarterback Ty Miller’s stats were impressive (2,458 yards, 25 TDs, nine rushing TDs) and is entering his third year as the starter. This year he has the weapons and offensive line to thrive once again. Junior Harold Duvall, who missed the final six games last season due to injury, is as talented a receiver as there is in the section and has help in transfers Tommy Nix (WR/DB), Blake Mathieu (WR) and Donyell Booker Jr (WR). Sophomore running back Caleb Slocum is the real deal. The offensive line is a strength with the Razo brothers: senior Anthony (6-3, 290) and juniors Jacob (6-1, 280) and Joshua (6-0, 295).

5. Clovis

Last year’s record: 5-7

Last year’s final ranking: 12

Next game: Home Thursday vs. Garces

The Cougars return one of the top quarterbacks in the Central Section in sophomore sensation Deagan Rose, who passed for 2,429 yards and 26 TDs as a freshman. The ground game will be led by seniors Roman Moreno and Tyler Marquez who combined for 1,062 yards and 12 TDs last season. Senior linebacker Noah Luginbill, already the school’s all-time leading tackler, and will also see carries. The receiving core is solid with senior Jacob Saldate (771 yards, 12 TDs) and emerging sophomore Maddox Merrill. The coaching staff raves about senior Brandon Neuheimer, who will double at TE and DE.

Deagan Rose was one of the top freshman quarterbacks in the state. Photo: Bobby Medellin

6. Central

Last year’s record:7-5

Last year’s final ranking: 8

Next game: Friday home vs. Edison-Stockton

For the first time in years there are question marks at quarterback but the Grizzlies will field a solid team led by senior receiver/safety Braylen Hall (1,094, seven TDs, four interceptions) and junior running back David Bell (956 yards, 8.5 average). Using his height and long arms, 6-foot-5 senior Noey Felix III caught 12 TDs last season and junior Darlon Scott is a threat. The quarterback competition will be between David Marquez and Earl Riley, who can break a game open with his speed. Watch out for sophomore stud Brandon Smith, a star in the making on both offense and defense.

7. Hanford

Last year’s record: 9-4

Last year’s final ranking: 10

Next game: Friday home vs. Bullard

The up-tempo Bullpups return a dynamic rushing duo in juniors Kourdey Glass and Albert Richardson, who combined for 2,062 yards and 36 rushing TDs. College coaches are already taking notice of strong-armed junior quarterback Daniel Gomez who takes the reins from 3-year starter Cayden Muir. Gomez passed for 268 yards and two TDs in his lone start last season. One of the team’s best athletes is senior transfer Jordan Black, who will patrol the secondary.

8. St. Joseph

Last year’s record: 10-2

Last year’s final ranking: 9

Next game: Friday at Palos Verdes

Skill position players abound this year but the biggest question mark revolves around the quarterback position, left void when 4-year starter Darian Mensah graduated last year. Senior receiver Collin Fasse (1,221 yards, 16 TDs) is a beast and running back Carter Vargas (1,321 and 17 TDs) will be tough to stop. Linebackers Mark Pullman and Anthony Vargas will anchor the defense. This is the best team from the Central Coast.

9. Centennial-Bakersfield

Last year’s record: 8-3

Last year’s final ranking: 14

Next game: Friday at Redwood-Visalia

The Golden Hawks will rely heavily on its passing game with one of the most potent passing combos in the section in quarterback Adam Copus (2,436, 22 TDs) and Boston College commit Jaxton Santiago (49-983, 13 TDs). Junior receiver Hoben Hodge, who tallied 670 yards and seven TDs last season, will provide a solid bookend for Santiago. The defense will be anchored by Boise State commit Connor Warkentin, a 6-5, 220-pound defensive end.

10. Sanger

Last year’s record: 6-6

Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked

Next game: Home Friday against Dinuba

The Apaches are on the upswing and will be led by a solid group of two-way players and an offensive line as good as anyone in the section. Transfer Israel Lopez is expected to contribute at the running back position and talented junior Bryson Baker will see time at receiver and corner. The O-line returns five starters including 6-3, 285-pound right tackle Johanathan Ibarra, who is picking up Division 1 college interest.

11. Garces

Last year’s record: 4-7

Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked

Next game: Thursday at Clovis

Returning six starters on offense and seven on defense the Rams will have plenty of players going both ways. Despite losing a bulk of their rushing yardage from last season, they’ll look to control the clock with juniors Logan Slayton, RJ Green and transfer Austyn Hernandez. Junior quarterback Gunter Golla, the son of coach Paul Golla, can air it out and defensive standouts Cage Williams and Nathaniel Wallace will man the secondary. Sophomore Ricky Johnson is opening up eyes at running back and classmate Michael Smith has speed to burn at receiver.

12. Frontier

Last year’s record: 9-3

Last year’s final ranking: 11

Next game: Thursday at North-Bakersfield

The Titans return one of the most prolific passers in the section with senior Malakhi Statler who passed to the tune of 3,544 yards and 31 TDs last year. However, there are question marks about who will step up at receiver and running back. Sophomore Kobie Watson and Kai Rodriguez will need to pick up the bulk of receiving yards and Brycen Tablit is a load at running back.

13. San Joaquin Memorial

Last year’s record: 10-2

Last year’s final ranking: 2

Next game: Friday at Clovis North

The Panthers will have to replace a ton of skill position players from last year’s team that fell to Liberty in the D1 finals, including current Fresno State running back Brandon Ramirez who had one of the great seasons in Central Section history. However, they reloaded with junior dual-threat quarterback Jaylen “Showtime” Patterson, a transfer from Vista De Lago in South Central Los Angeles where he was named Conference Player of the Year. Receiver CJ Jones, a transfer from Sunnyside, will be Patterson’s main threat along with senior Ryan Wristen. 5-star kicker/punter Alex Asparuhov is a weapon and is as good as anyone in the nation.

14. Kingsburg

Last year’s record: 9-2

Last year’s final ranking: 13

Next game: Friday at Paso Robles

The Vikings are the smallest public school (1,147 students) in the top 15 and return a ton of talent off last year’s 9-2 squad that was ranked as high as 8th last year. The defensive unit returns nine of 11 starters with a front seven that includes Gregory Ross, Dennis Gagnon, Bodhi Verners, Houston Hirschkorn and Aaron Garcia and a secondary in ballhawks Gavin Jensen and Kenyon Simpson. Explosive senior quarterback Max Warkentin has been waiting his turn at the helm and will look to Wyatt Boyd and Chris Browe as his top targets.

15. Buchanan

Last year’s record: 9-3

Last year’s final ranking: 3

Next game: Friday at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy in Downy

The good news is that the Bears boast perhaps the best offensive line in the Central Section in Bryson Harrington, Isaiah Inge, Alec Dansby, Trayce Simes, and Brayden Walton. The not-so-good news is they have to replace almost every skill position player from last year’s 9-3 team that was seeded second in last year’s D1 bracket. A couple of sophomores in Logan Phillips (RB/LB) and Austin Finnegan (WR/S) will be tasked with leading the offense and Fresno State commit Logan Studt is one of the best linebackers in the section.

Listen to Paul Meadors, along with Jose Gonzalez and Pat Hill, who will broadcast Friday's game between San Joaquin Memorial and Clovis North on 1430ESPN. Paul also hosts the Central Valley Sports Report every Saturday between 10 a.m. and noon, also on 1430ESPN.