SBLive Central Section Fab 15 power football rankings, Aug. 21: Teams offer lot of everything

Top-ranked Liberty looks strong in opener; No. 2 Clovis West falls; No. 14 Central Valley Christians scores 63 while running off just 12 plays

Opening weekend in the Central Section featured a little bit of everything: a few surprises, points-a-plenty, and outstanding performances.

Check out these point totals from some high-flying teams: new No. 2 Clovis North put up 62 against last year’s D1 finalist San Joaquin Memorial, No. 3 Clovis East scored 63 against Foothill from Nevada, No. 7 Hanford throttled Bullard with 71 and Central Valley Christian beat Ripon Christian 63-41 while only running 12 official plays from scrimmage.

That’s not a typo.

No. 1 Liberty-Bakersfield held strong at Highland of Palmdale in a 34-7 win, former No. 2 Clovis West fell 38-28 to St. Mary’s on the road and fall to No. 4 in our rankings.

In addition to newcomer Central Valley Christian, Kennedy-Delano shocked the section 64-24 in a home win over Edison-Fresno, a perennial D1 team. 

SBLIVE FAB 15 CENTRAL SECTION POWER RANKINGS

1 (1). Liberty-Bakersfield (1-0)

Last week: Defeated Highland-Palmdale 34-7

Next game: At Ridgeview

Up 6-0 at half, the Patriots exploded for three touchdowns in the third quarter, including a Cole O’Brien TD pass to Brock Wattenburger on the first play of the half, en route to defeating Highland-Palmdale on the road. Tre Fulton returned a punt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

2 (3). Clovis North (1-0)

Last week: Defeated San Joaquin Memorial 62-8

Next game: At Redwood

Behind their massive offensive line, the Broncos mauled San Joaquin Memorial to the tune of 459 yards on the ground, avenging last year’s 35-0 loss to open the season. Jackson Cinfel (11 carries for 179 yards) and McKay Madsen (6-156), both juniors, scored three touchdowns each in a game that was 42-0 at half. Clovis North scored on every possession and only had two possessions that went to 3rd down.

3 (4). Clovis East (1-0)

Last week: Defeated Foothill-Henderson, NV 63-34

Next game: At Arroyo Grande

Junior quarterback Ty Miller passed for 380 yards as the Timberwolves scored early and often in a home win over Foothill from Henderson, Nevada. Tommy Nix scored three total touchdowns (2 receiving, 1 rushing) and Aiden Wilson hauled in two TDs passes. Josh Delacruc scored on a fumble recovery.

4 (2). Clovis West (0-1)

Last week: Lost to St. Mary’s-Stockton 38-28

Next game: At Turlock

The Golden Eagles struggled to contain senior running back Asante Carter, who rushed for three TDs and 126 yards. Clovis West’s Marshel Sanders caught a 93-yard TD pass from Tyler Patrick and Landon Wright hauled in a 67-yard TD, which gave them a 14-13 lead with 4:34 left in the half.

Landon Wright (14) salutes teammates after 67-yard touchdown catch and run during Friday's 38-28 defeat to St. Mary's. Photo: Dennis Lee

5 (5). Clovis (1-0)

Last week: Defeated Garces 41-27

Next game: Home against No. 9 Sanger

Sophomore quarterback Deagan Rose passed for 236 yards and threw four TDs, two to Tyler Marquez and one each to Jacob Saldate and Tyler Cheney. Star senior linebacker Noah Luginbill intercepted a pass and rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown.

6 (5). Central (1-0)

Last week: Defeated Edison-Stockton 48-13

Next game: At San Joaquin Memorial

Junior quarterback Earl Riley threw for 205 yards and two TD passes and sophomore Brandon Smith rushed for four touchdowns in a huge win over Edison of Stockton. Seniors Braylen Hall and Noey Felix III each caught a TD for the Grizzlies.

7 (7). Hanford (1-0)

Last week: Defeated Bullard 71-7

Next game: Home against Buhach Colony

Daniel Gomez three for 400 yards and four TDs and rushed for two more scores as the Bullpups raced to a 58-0 halftime lead. Albert Richardson scored three times on the ground and running back mate Kourdey Glass rushed for a TD and made the most of his two receptions, both going for touchdowns. Senior Jordan Black caught four passes for 157 yards and had two touchdowns.

8 (9). Centennial (1-0)

Last week: Defeated Redwood 35-13

Next game: Saturday at Newbury Park

Senior quarterback Adam Copus tossed two touchdowns, one to fellow senior Jaxon Santiago as the Golden Hawks held the Rangers to 229 total yards. Copus completed 16 of 23 for 253 yards and Santiago, a Boston College commit, caught eight passes for 119 yards.

9 (10). Sanger (1-0)

Last week: Defeated Dinuba 41-7

Next game: At No. 6 Clovis

Junior Conner Bohlken rushed on touchdowns runs of 1, 1 and 62 yards and caught a 56-yard TD pass from Jaden Chanthalangsy in routing the Emperors at home. Marshall Pittman scored on a 65-yard run and Marquis Cropper added a 10-yard TD run.

10 (12). Frontier (1-0)

Last week: Defeated North 45-14

Next game: Home against Bakersfield

Senior quarterback Malakhi Statler threw for 366 yards on 13-16 passing with six TDs in a rout of North High in Bakersfield. Malcolm Watkins caught two of Statler’s touchdown passes.

11 (14). Kingsburg (1-0)

Last week: Defeated Paso Robles 49-14

Next game: Home against Sunnyside

Senior quarterback Max Warkintin threw for 238 yards and four TDs and added a score on the ground. Senior Denis Gagnon, also a standout linebacker, rushed for 148 yards on 16 carries with two scores. Senior Wyatt Boyd caught six passes for 117 yards with two touchdown receptions.

12 (15). Buchanan (1-0)

Last week: Defeated St. Pius X-St. Matthias 38-18

Next game: Home against Escalon

Senior Garrett Menagh rushed for 169 yards on 19 carries and a score as the Bears cruised to a road win after leading 24-12 at half.

13 (11). Garces (0-1)

Last week: Lost to Clovis 41-27

Next game: Thursday home against Paraclete

Sophomore Gunter Golla passed for 225 yards and two touchdowns, both to Cage Williams, but it wasn’t enough as the Rams fell to Clovis on the road. Austyn Hernandez added 96 yards on the ground on 14 carries.

14 (NR) Central Valley Christian (1-0)

Last week: Defeated Ripon Christian 63-41

Next game: Home against Edison-Fresno

The Cavs scored 63 points on only 12 total plays as senior running back Bryson Donelson rushed for 327 yards and five touchdowns on only seven carries. In contrast, Ripon Christian ran 79 plays, including 60 on the ground for 348 yards. Micah Paden returned three kickoffs for TDs in one of the wildest games in recent memory.

15 (NR) Kennedy (1-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Edison-Fresno 54-24

Next game: Thursday at Stockdale-Bakersfield

Kennedy enters the Top 15 after sophomore running back Jace Demacblin scored four times as the Thunderbirds throttled storied program Edison-Fresno at home. Kennedy is the defending D3 Central Section champion.

Dropped out: No. 8 St. Joseph, No. 13 San Joaquin Memorial