CIF Finals....Hail to the Champs

Bakersfield 35, Bullard 28.....an incredible game that lived up to it’s billing, with many legitimate stars in a battle on the McLane Stadium turf that gave the packed house of wild fans memories that they will remember for a long, long time. The game was even in just about every facet except for the two turnovers that Bullard suffered in the second half. Give the Drillers credit for getting the most of those turnovers, making them count in the course of the outcome of the game.....Aside from that there was just two teams out there battling it out and coming up with great play after great play. ......Philip Thomas of the Drillers, who switched from wide receiver to QB this year when starting QB Tyler Kay was hurt and lost for the season back in Week Four. Thomas, who had led the Drillers to eight consecutive victories coming into this game, provided leadership and thrills all night. His 88 yard touchdown run, just two plays after he killed a strong Knight drive with a diving interception, proved to be the biggest play of the game.

The Knights had been driving strong to tie the score and send the game into overtime, but it wasn’t meant to be as Thomas took over. During the course of the evening, the junior QB ran for 167 yards, three touchdowns, played great defense while leading the Drillers to the big win. Terrell Young also provided some fireworks for Bakersfield with 177 yards rushing and two touchdowns, one a 96 yarder. On the other side of the ball, Coach Don Arax had his array of outstanding players in top form. The passing of Alex Huerta, who threw for just under 300 yards, and the sometimes incredible catches by Paul Jamie and Anthony McCoy, were a thrill to watch. Jamie, as he has done all through his career at Bullard entertained the crowd with two TD’s and his his routes, concentration, and amazing hands all night. Ditto McCoy, who leaves behind a great career at Bullard. McCoy also excelled on defense, treated the fans with 8 receptions of Huerta passes, good for 162 yards. McCoy and Jamie have to be two of the best receivers ever in Fresno area football.........Kenny Hedrington also has a great game for the Knights. Kenny ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns and also picked up some first downs for the Knights when they had to have them. It’s an old sports cliquche, but you have to say there wasn’t a loser in this game. Bullard played their hearts out and made a great representative of Fresno. They went further this year than any Bullard team has gone in 30 years. Don Arax and his staff coached this team to a place not many thought they had a chance to go. The team had a lot of stars that’s true, but it also had a terrific team The line play this year for Bullard is actually what carried the Knights and allowed the marquee players to do their magic............MISCL. GAME NOTES:.....Fred Clark and I and our KJEO, Cocola Broadcasting, and Comcast crew were not the only media in the house for this one. Sporting News Radio 1550, ESPN 1430, and KBAK radio all covered the game live, as well as the Brighthouse Network cable TV company, who also did the game on TV for airing in Bakersfield......it was a regular media circus as there was so much interest in the matchup.......The field at McLane was once again in great shape for the CIF playoffs. Props to groundskeepers Albert Rojas and Rick Perez who worked extra special to have the field looking better than ever......The Drillers had over 2,000 fans also make the drive to Fresno for the game.....the Bullard crowd was huge.....Seemed like everyone was going home proud and well they should......

In the other CIF Central Section final games, West Bakersfield made it a Division I and II sweep with a stunning victory over the number one seed and previously undefeated Tulare, 53 to 28 in Tulare’s Bob Mathias Stadium. Ryan Matthews of West ran for 245 yards and SIX touchdowns, which is probably what a lot of folks figured you’d have to do to beat Tulare’s record breaking quarterback/receiver tandem of Emmaunel Lewis and Barry Wilson.....Lewis threw for 315 yards on 21 of 47 passing, but also had a rare 3 interceptions. Wilson had 8 receptions for 103 yards and a couple of TD’s, but none of it was enough to tame the Vikings............In Division III, there was another upset as Lemoore went up to Oakhurst and beat the Badgers of Yosemite High, 48-16. It was the first Valley Championship...EVER...for the Tigers and they did it behind a steady dose of quarterback Corey Billingsley who rushed for 188 yards and passed for another 126. All-american David Ausberry had 102 yards receiving for the Tigers on a very cold and wet night in Oakhurst. Classy Yosemite High coach Aaron Eames, told Lamar Lopez of the Fresno Bee, “I’m happy for coach Ball, his staff, and the community of Lemoore. They outplayed us , they outcoached us and they deserve the title.”.......Division IV might have had the biggest surprise of all in Immanuel’s 40 to 7 thumping of Chowchilla. Both Fred and I had the Redskins winning that game, Hats certainly off to the Eagles on their 13-0 season and CIF Valley Championship. All this from a team that doesn't even have a home field! The team from Reedley played the final at Tom Flores Stadium in Sanger. Bobby Hines threw 4 touchdown passes in leading the Eagles to the championship..........Last week, Central Valley Christian, out of Visalia, won their third straight CIF Division V Valley title by beating Tranquillity 31-0 with a great defensive effort.........Next week we will be announcing our KJEO/Cocola Broadcasting/Comcast all-star team featuring many of our TV Game of the Weeks players of the game winners.....We’ll also post our winners of the I-POD drawings........

It’s been a great year. We got to do 18 television games this year and we had a blast doing so many different teams.....Thanks for being with us...we hope to be back for more next year. ....Our Fresno City College Ram basketball telecasts, with myself and Tim Natsues calling the action, starting on the 4th of January.....The Rams are the defending state champs off of a 34-0 season last season. More about that next week as well.

Chris Terrence