Prep football: Drama at Central, pick-6 decides it for Kerman and which teams are 3-0
A defensive battle took place Friday night at Koligian Stadium between The Bee’s fifth-ranked Central and Turlock of the Sac-Joaquin Section, with the Grizzlies winning 21-18 in a Week 2 high school football game.
It was never easy for Central.
Consider that the Grizzlies trailed 18-7 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter.
Central finally got things going. when Earl Riley connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Braylen Hall, with the extra point trimming the Bulldogs’ lead to 18-14.
The Riley-to-Hall connection continued in the fourth quarter, this time on a 5-yard touchdown that gave the Grizzlies their 21-18 lead.
Central had the ball on third-and-1 with 1:25 remaining, but couldn’t convert and punted it away.
Turlock had possession with 50 seconds remaining on their 29 and kept driving until time expired on the Grizzlies 3-yard line.
Kerman edges Madera
Kerman denied Madera a 3-0 start to the season after Nicholas Grewal had an interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter for a 28-22 victory.
It looked good for the Coyotes, leading 22-14 after a safety with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Lions responded with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter before Grewal showed quick awareness with 10 minutes remaining.
Kerman’s defense held on for the win.
Mission Oak rolls past Roosevelt
Marty Martin recorded his 200th career coaching win last week.
Add No. 201 to the total.
The Hawks pulled ahead 14-7 in the second quarter and kept pushing forward for a 31-7 victory over Roosevelt at Sunnyside Stadium.
“We were pretty methodical what we wanted to do,” Martin said. “(Roosevelt) is a much improved team than a year ago and I felt we came out and we struggled a little bit early than we got in our stride and our defense played really well tonight.”
Washington Union wins first game
Washington Union picked up its first win this season with a 25-0 victory over Torres.
The Panthers scored in each quarter, led by Decurtis Stroud’s three touchdowns.
Washington Union (1-2) had started the season with a win over Fresno, but the Central Section ruled that game a double forfeit because both teams used an ineligible player.
Who are the 3-0 teams?
Ten teams improved to 3-0 in the Fresno area.
They are Central, Clovis East, Clovis North, Exeter, Hanford, Kingsburg, Mission Oak, Orosi, Porterville, Sierra Pacific
Game balls
Samuel Alcantar, Porterville: Finished with two receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 44-0 win over Foothill.
Rocky Arguijo, Porterville: He completed 10 of 22 for 207 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Panthers to a 44-0 victory over Foothill.
Hunter Babb, Caruthers: Led the way for the Blue Raiders when he ran the ball 34 times for a school record 364 yards and six touchdowns in the Blue Raiders’ 46-18 victory over Firebaugh.
Andrew Camarillo, Orosi: He carried the ball 26 times for 275 yards and three touchdowns in the Cardinals’ 48-7 victory over Bay Valley Christian-Modesto.
Andrew Chavez, Clovis North: He finished with two rushing touchdowns in the Broncos’ 55-0 victory over El Diamante.
Jordan Colbert, San Joaquin Memorial: He had a touchdown pass and two rushing TDs to help the Panthers to a 38-14 victory over Capital Christian-Sacramento.
Harold Duvall, Clovis East: He finished with two receiving touchdowns and an interception that he returned for a touchdown in a 42-21 victory over Sanger.
Lonnie Franks, Clovis West: His 1-yard run gave the Golden Eagles a 27-26 victory over Lemoore.
Daniel Gomez, Hanford: He threw for six touchdowns to guide the Bullpups to a 40-22 victory over Golden West.
Nicholas Grewal, Kerman: His interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference for the Lions in a win over Madera.
Braylen Hall, Central: The senior had eight receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns against Turlock.
Jake Horn, Immanuel: He completed 13 of 18 passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns in the Eagles’ 35-12 win over Fowler.
Zack Lee, Sierra Pacific: Had two touchdown runs, including the winner in the Golden Bears’ 29-22 victory over Woodlake.
Noah Luginbill, Clovis: He racked up sacks, tackle for losses and contributed in the scoring column with a rushing and a receiving touchdown in the 41-28 win over Whitney-Rocklin.
Caleb Matthews, Garza: Led the Guardians to a 48-14 victory over Sanger West when he threw for four touchdowns with no interceptions.
Tyus Miller, Clovis East: He passed for three touchdowns in the win over Sanger.
Alex Perch, Redwood: Had three touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the Rangers’ 42-35 victory over Tulare Union.
Gunnar Piepgrass, Central Valley Christian: Had eight receptions for 210 yards and three touchdowns in the Cavaliers’ 56-25 victory over Bakersfield Christian.
Cash Rico, Redwood: His 66-yard interception return for a touchdown with 25 seconds remaining gave the Rangers a 42-35 victory over Tulare Union.
Earl Riley, Central: He passed for three touchdowns against Turlock.
Trey Romo, Immanuel: He had five receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles.
Kenyon Simpson, Kingsburg: He had an 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and 26-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Vikings’ 42-14 win over Dinuba.
Decurtis Stroud, Washington Union: He totaled three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 25-0 victory over Torres.
Noah Tasi, Coalinga: He had two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in the Horned Toads’ 46-0 victory over Selma.
The Bee’s predictions
In Week 2, The Bee went 4-1, with the only loss coming when Redwood got a late touchdown for a 42-35 victory over Tulare Union.
The Bee correctly picked Clovis West, Clovis East, Washington Union and Central Valley Christian.
The Bee is now 11-4 on the season.
Top 25 fared
1. Liberty-Bakersfield (2-1) lost to Santa Margarita 34-14
2. Clovis North (3-0) defeated El Diamante 55-0
3. Clovis East (3-0) defeated Sanger 42-21
4. Clovis West (2-1) defeated Lemoore 27-26
5. Central (3-0) defeated Turlock 21-18
6. Centennial (2-1) defeated Independence 42-21
7. Lemoore (2-1) lost to Clovis West 27-26
8. Kingsburg (3-0) defeated Dinuba 42-14
9. Sanger (2-1) lost to Clovis East 42-21
10. Frontier (3-0) defeated Bullard 24-7
11. Buchanan (1-2) lost to Rocklin 42-20
12. St. Joseph (2-1) defeated Newbury Park 63-52
13. Clovis (2-1) defeated Whitney-Rocklin 41-28
14. Hanford (3-0) defeated Golden West 40-22
15. Central Valley Christian (3-0) defeated Bakersfield Christian 56-25
16. Porterville (3-0) defeated Foothill 44-0
17. San Joaquin Memorial (1-2) defeated Capital Christian-Sacramento 38-14
18. Garces (0-3) lost to Moorpark 41-35
19. Bakersfield Christian (1-2) lost to Central Valley Christian 56-25
20. Sunnyside (1-1) Sept. 8 vs. Kerman, 7:30 p.m.
21. Bakersfield (1-2) lost to Shafter 31-17
22. Stockdale (2-1) defeated Ridgeview 21-13
23. Kennedy (2-1) defeated Highland 34-15
24. Washington Union (1-2) defeated Torres 25-0
25. Mission Oak (3-0) defeated Roosevelt 31-7
