It's playoffs time...

The predictions for the first round are finally here. All the way from Div I to Div V check them out and leave your comments.

SECTION CHAMPIONS PREDICTIONS:
Div I: Edison High
Div II: El Diamante
Div III: Washington Union
Div IV: Dos Palos Broncos
Div V: Bakersfield Christian

Predictions for Div I:

Thursday:
#10 Sanger will defeat #7 Buchanan…Sanger has a lot of heart and looking to rebound after a tough loss to Reedley last week. It’s just hard to go against the Apaches they just figure out ways to win. The Bears may be too banged up from playing in the tough TRAC.

Friday:
#8 Liberty-Bakersfield will defeat #9 Central…The enigma that are the Grizzlies will just not be able to handle the… QB play of Liberty-Bakersfield. If Rakim Dawkins can get out in the open this could go the other way. For now I’m sticking with the Bakersfield school.

#5 Clovis West over #12 Stockdale….The Golden Eagles were the preseason favorite and they may be peaking at the right time. Matt Jelmini and Beau Sweeney will have to carry this team against Edison in two weeks, because we expect them to win here and then defeat the Clifton Rogers-less Bullard team.

#6 Clovis East over #11 Redwood….Rumors are Tim Murphy is on the hot seat. Rumors are also circulating regarding supplements at T’Wolves country. Why anger the defending section champions? The coach will have his team ready and the running game will be too much for Redwood to handle, who had a tough time handling Mt. Whitney’s Benjamin Bowen last week.

Bye: #1 Edison #2 Centennial (Bakersfield) #3 Bakersfield High #4 Bullard


Predictions for Div II:

#8 Fresno over #9 Tulare Western…I’m saying Chad White has a big game and Harless Dailey will be contained by the speedy Fresno High team.

#5 Monache over #12 Hoover….Don’t expect a lot of points in this battle. Both these teams have great defenses but I think Monache’s is a little better and a turnover late in the game will be the key in this one.

#4 Lemoore over #13 San Joaquin Memorial…The Panthers have Anthony Soto, but Lemoore’s Eric Aviles I think will make the key plays to help Lemoore advance.

#14 Yosemite over #3 Sunnyside….I’m taking the Badgers in this one. The reason is because Jesse Lownsbury is that good and I think Sunnyside will struggle against the passing attack of Yosemite. Should be a good one though.

#6 West over #11 Reedley…This is a tough one because Reedley has momentum after their huge win over Sanger last week. I just think West-Bakersfield will be too much for the Pirates.

#7 Hanford over #10 East (Bakersfield)…This is a toss up again, but I’m taking Tyson Perez and Cougar Williams to outscore superstar running back Andre Smith of the Blades.

#2 Tulare Union over #15 North (Bakersfield)….Too bad North High has to face an angry Tulare team. They are out to prove they deserved a bye and the number one seed in this division.

Bye: #1 El Diamante (Visalia)

Predictions for Div III:

#8 Highland over #9 Cesar Chavez…Two 4-6 teams battling it out here. I’m going with Highland because, well, no reason really. I just think they are going to win.

#5 Selma over #12 Golden Valley…The reason for taking a team to win a playoff game that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in the last couple of years is Adrian Pacheco. The Bears’ running back has been a one man show and I expect him to continue excelling right into the second round.

#4 Garces over #13 Frontier High…This is going to get ugly. Garces will dominate early and get ready for their second round game during halftime.

#3 Washington Union over #14 Madera South…This is a mismatch. Then again anyone that tries to stop Ebahn Feathers is just dreaming. The Panthers finished the season strong and have figured out to just sit back and watch Feathers run and throw.

#11 Kerman over #6 Delano…I keep going back and forth on this one. Delano is bigger and probably faster. But I’m going with the Lions because I know Adrian Ruiz and Kevin Richards want coach Guizar’s career to end on the right way. Look for Richards to throw it 30+ times and Ruiz to get 10-15 touches.

#7 Dinuba over #11 Roosevelt…The Emperors have shown flashes of a good team this season. They defeated Kingsburg 33-0, but have also looked flat. I think they have enough to defeat Roosevelt.

Bye: #1 Tehachapi, #2 Foothill

Predictions for Div IV:

#8 Dos Palos over #9 Wasco…History alone gets DP into the second round. Not to mention the return of three starters. This has Coach Sparks’ team believing in each other. Look for the Broncos’ to run the ball effectively and throw it to Hector Gomez. Quarterback Sean Lemos is playing with a lot of confidence especially after his performance against Chowchilla last week.

#6 Coalinga over #11 Immanuel…The Toads already defeated Immanuel back in week 7 and I look for them to do it again.

#7 Exeter over #10 Parlier…Cameron Loeffler is just going to be too much for Parlier to handle. I look for them to advance to the second round where Kingsburg is waiting patiently.

Bye: #1 Taft, #2 Kingsburg, #3 Corcoran, #4 Chowchilla, #5 Central Valley Christian

Predictions for Div V:

#1 Fowler over #8 Orange Cove….Josh Poytress is a good quarterback and wants to win. The Redcats are the favorites all through this division.

#4 Liberty-Madera Ranchos over #5 Caruthers…Look for Liberty to knock off the defending champions. Last year as a #1 seed Liberty folded so expect them to be mentally prepared this time around.

#3 Strathmore over #6 Firebaugh…Strathmore has only lost to Fowler so I expect them to beat up on Firebaugh. But Firebaugh has been here before and will be ready to play. I still give the edge to Strathmore.

#2 Bakersfield Christian over #7 Coast Union….Two weeks ago Bakersfield Christian was undefeated and looking for a perfect season but Taft and Tehachapi knocked them back to earth. Jake Peterson, quarterback for Bakersfield Christian, is the leader and playmaker of the team.

Check back as we give you the results of these games. Also I will be providing more insight and predictions for the rest of the playoffs.