CVA TOP 15 Rankings - 2007 Week Zero

CVA's TOP 15 TEAMS IN THE CENTRAL SECTION AFTER WEEK ZERO RESULTS.
(*note: 6-15 after the jump.)

1. Clovis West (Fresno): Always a powerhouse and the return of RB Matt Jelmini and CAL-bound QB Beau Sweeney make the Golden Eagles the team to beat this year.


2. Liberty (Bakersfield): 12 starters back from last year when they finished 9-3. QB Byron Campbell is one of the top talents in the section along with one of the best LB Matt Akers.


3. Edison (Fresno): Displayed the Edison athleticism against Madera but are they going to be tough enough down the stretch? Seniors Robert Golden and Brandon Leslie along with juniors Cliff Harris and Tim McDonald Jr. will be talked about as one of the best secondaries in the nation.

4. Clovis East (Clovis): Lost a lot of starters from last year didn't seem to matter against Hug of Reno. Coach Tim Murphy has to serve a four game suspension but the Timberwolves will find a way to play great football.

5. Bakersfield: The loss of Phillip Thomas and Justin Cheadle are going to be hard to replace. But RB Marcus Nelson, QB Pete Nelson and WR Emmaniel Ojeriaki are studs.


6. Centennial (Bakersfield): Return top two players in RB-LB Zander Fabbri and QB Brock Bivens. Fabbri already has committed to Arizona and Bivens passed for over 1,000 yards and 12 TDs.


7. Madera: Looked extremely sloppy against Edison High. Head coach Randy Blankenship will turn things around there and Madera should rebound. They need junior QB Nick Caraccilo to grow up quickly.

8. Lemoore: 11 starters back for the Tigers led by WR-DB Beau Avila.



9. El Diamante (Visalia): Earl Rhodes is an outstanding running back that will lead El Diamante.



10. Central (Fresno): Returners Rakin Dawkins and Brian Easter combined for nearly 1,700 yards last year. The Grizzlies are loaded with returners but are also in a loaded league.


11. West (Bakersfield): How do you replace the leading rusher in the nation in Ryan Matthews? West's WR-DB Dion Curry and RB-DB Dionte Tomlin will have to step up and carry this team that is full of young players.

12. Sanger: West lost Matthews and Sanger lost their superstar in Justin Webber to an injury. Junior RB Mario Navarrete will be asked to carry the load.


13. Foothill (Bakersfield): Made the finals last year and return RB Eric Jones and WR Randy Davenport.


14. Yosemite (Oakhurst): Junior QB Jesse Lownsbury was lights out when he won the job midway through the last year. The development of Lownsbury will be the key for the Badgers.


15. Washington Union (Fresno): Dual-threat QB Ebahn Feathers is a stud. The Panthers will be a tough team, but also can be their worst enemies.


Others: Clovis, Buchanan (Clovis), Garces (Bakersfield), Hoover (Fresno), Mt. Whitney (Visalia), San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno), Tulare. | MORE

Edison and Clovis East victorious

With week zero officially in the books we see a continued tradition and an always talented team. Clovis East continues where they left off last season after being central section champions. The departure of Armando Vasquez, running back, didn't seem to hurt the rushing attack of the Timberwolves. Just like last year when Vasquez had to step in for current CAL red-shirt freshman Tracy Slocum, Clovis East appears to be the prep version on the Denver Broncos. Plug anyone into the backfield and they are destined to have a great season. Paul Jimenez led the way on this night for the Wolves with 101 yards and one touchdown. The Wolves did use eight running backs to rush for a total of 303 yards against Hug of Nevada. Quarterback Jay Puentes also had a touchdown for the Wolves. Puentes called many of the offensive plays himself, while coach Tim Murphy was serving his first of a four game suspension for a recruiting violation of a seventh grade student. The final score was 45-20.

Edison High has always had the talent. Well at least at the positions that are noticed (wide receivers, cornerbacks, running backs). Speed has never been questioned, athleticism is in a surplus at this Fresno Unified school. In week zero they displayed it against Madera High, a team carrying the number nine ranking in the central valley. Rolando Jefferson, junior receiver, had his best varsity game with three touchdowns. Jefferson's longest being a 64-yard reception, to go along with a 10 yard TD reception and an 8-yard rushing touchdown. Not to be out shined teammate Cliff Harris returned a punt untouched for 70 yards, bringing back memories of former Edison High standout and current Fresno State running back Clifton Smith. The athleticism that is in surplus as mentioned earlier doesn't stop with those two. Everyone knows the star of the Edison Tigers is third year quarterback Jerry Davis. Davis finished the night 8 of 15 for 113 yards and three touchdowns and one interception. The question now will be can Edison play consistently enough and tough enough to dethrone Clovis East or Clovis West later in the year?

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CVATHLETE OF THE WEEK GOES TO: ROLANDO JEFFERSON (JUNIOR, WR EDISON HIGH)
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OTHER NOTES AND SCORES: Mission Prep defeats Avenal, star running back Ily Lopez for Avenal High finished with 17 carries for 93 yards.

Parlier 14 Roosevelt 9

Firebaugh 63 Kings Christian 0
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WEEK 1 GAMES TO WATCH:

#1 Clovis West @ #2 Liberty-Bakersfield

Clovis East vs Alta-Sandy (Utah) @ Las Vegas
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QUICK TRIVIA: Which former Fresno State women's basketball player attended Alta-Sandy High School? | MORE

High School Football Around the Corner

It's almost time to get rid of the shorts and put on your thigh, butt and hip pads. The most anticipated time of the year is upon us in the central valley. High school football. Aww the guys that play for the love of the sport not the money. Although others may play to get that pretty cheerleader or land that big scholarship. What you won't find is any high school stars funding dog fighting rings or hanging out at strip clubs "making it rain." With the likes of Pacman Jones and Michael Vick being in the news day in and day out all summer long some of these kids will have to look to imitate other NFL superstars. Regardless these kids have been busting their butts all summer long and it's finally time for them to put all the 7 on 7 drills and new formations to work. Friday nights are the nights were streets are empty in small towns such as Sanger, Dos Palos, Chowchilla among others because everyone wants to see their beloved high school's game. Speaking of a beloved high school, Sanger suffered a huge blow when arguably their best player, Justin Webber, was injured at a Stanford camp and lost for the entire year (http://www.fresnobee.com/459/story/102930.html) Clovis West has a new coach but still the same tradition. Dos Palos is returning valley champs for like th 100th time in the last century. Edison High again is full of athletes, but for former 49er Tim McDonald the challenge is getting them to play together. Ebahn Feathers and Jerry Davis are two very versatile quarterbacks in the valley. Beau Sweeney has the name and is the most polished quarterback in the valley. Sweeney accepted a scholarship to CAL. Feathers has been offered by Fresno State while Davis remains mum on his choices. It's time to witness football at its best, well purest form at least. Good luck to all teams this season from CV Athletes. | MORE