Here, There, and Everywhere - Week 4 Shines
by Chris Terrence

I’m guessing we should start out our report on Week 4 with the big Clovis East victory, 38-37 over Midland Lee in double overtime, a drama that played out all the way back in Texas. You have to take notice with what Clovis East Coach Tim Murphy told reporters after the game, because Coach Murph has been part of many great games just in the time he has been calling the shots for the Timberwolves. “It was the greatest game I have ever been a part of...We went down 10-0 in a heartbeat in hostile territory in front of 10,000 fans, and our kids just kept on coming back.”, said the coach after the game in Texas. It must have been great because for me I’ve seen the Murphy Timberwolves in some pretty awesome games, comebacks and all. The playoff game with Bullard rings a bell, the Long Beach Poly game, some games vs Clovis, Clovis West and others. Fred Clark and I were just talking the other day about the Clovis East vs Central High playoff game of 4 years ago at Lamonica. Central won, but that young Clovis East team played a teriffic game and made a statement about their future in Valley football. So hats off to Tim Murphy and his fine staff and players for bringing it to the Rebels of Midland Robert E. Lee in Midland Texas. Tracy Slocum ran for 142 yards and scored 3 touchdowns on 31 carries and it would seem that would be enough for a victory. Tracy got those numbers with the Rebels keying on him. I guess the Midland scouting report didn’t include enough about Andrew Pancotti, however, because Andrew broke loose for 224 yards on 9 carries, including two TD’s, one for 80 yards and the other for 66. Pancotti also made an incredible clutch 30 yard catch from James Tate on a 4th down play late in the 4th quarter that set up a driving 18 yard touchdown run by Slocum to send the game into overtime. In the second overtime both teams scored TD’s, but only one team made the extra point and that was the Timberwolves. A huge win for all of us back here at home as well.

The only bad news to come out of Midland Friday night was the word of linebacker Tony Ferguson breaking his leg in the second quarter. A big blow to Tony and the Wolves, but the team rallied with and for Tony and visa versa. He is probably out for the season, but I’m sure he will still be around to help any way he can. Tony, much like his brother David has had a great affect on Clovis East football with his heart and leadership.

Meanwhile, back here on the home front, we had some very interesting games and results under our own Friday Night Lights. Buchanan beat Edison by one point 43-42 at Grizzlies Stadium in a game that saw a lot of mistakes, but at the same time was very interesting. The first score was on a 92-yard interception return by the Bears’ Tyler Woods. It turned out to be a sign of things to come. 79 points later, after some interceptions, fumbles, exciting runs, passes and touchdowns, and believe it or not, occasional outstanding defense, Edison’s Nathan Jones’ extra point try, after a Charles Amadi touchdown with 51 seconds remaining, went wide to the right, and the long game was over. A good crowd on hand was loud and happy through all the excitement. Our Cocola/Comcast players of the game were Darin Vogt for the Bears, and Travis Poh for the Tigers. Tigers soph QB Jerry Davis continues to improve each game and the Tigers also got good games from Sonny McCree, Pat Dixon, Kejon Murphy among others. The Bears got game from Jon Fox, who starred despite playing through a thigh injury, Woods, and Zak Parrish. Edison fell to 1 and 3 and Buchanan goes to 3 and 1. ...........Mike Cervantes continues to impress as the senior QB led Hoover to a 35 to 7 win over the Fresno High Warriors. Hoover, the surprise team of the County/Metro AC so far is now undefeated in four games....Cervantes scored a couple of touchdowns and threw for 2 more (AJ Rodriguez and JJ Mendes), and Vincent Andrews started the evening out with an 80 yard touchdown punt return for the Pats... Fresno High’s first TD of the year was scored by Jonathan Avalia...........Huge game up in Dos Palos as Yosemite defeated the Broncos 49 to 12 as Chris Rolf continues his great passing, going 17 for 28 for 252 yards and SIX touchdowns. Wow. The Badgers look tough with Rolf and all those excellent receivers like Jon Blea, Drew Marr, Nick Stott, with running back Aaron Wilkins keeping everybody honest. Wilkins ran 20 times for 169 yards.....That North Sequoia League is tough this year and the showdown between Yosemite and Chowchilla is going to be something to see....Chowchilla, by the way had a pretty easy time with Selma and the Redskins beat the Bears 49 to 6 in another NYL game. .....Sanger High stayed unbeaten with an impressive 20 to 3 victory over Clovis at Tom Flores Stadium. The Apaches defense is drawing rave reviews around the Valley as Sanger is definitely a team to be reckoned with, but then again, aren’t they always? Coach Chuck Shidan has another good outfit on the prowl once again. I was amazed to hear that this was Sanger’s first victory over Clovis since 1983. That’s 17 games. I’m amazed because I’ve probably seen a lot of those games and many of them were very close. Clovis, also tough this year, moved to 2 and 2 on the season......

Roosevelt got another 199 yards rushing from Angel Audelo, but it wasn’t enough for the Rough Riders to beat Arvin as the Bears won 43-36. Roosevelt jumped out to a 12 - 0 lead in the first quarter but the Bears came back with three TD’s in the second quarter.....Watch for the Pig Bowl between Roosevelt and Fresno High on a TV game to be played at McLane on the 13th of October.....

In other action there was another exciting game at Golden Eagle Field where Clovis West defeated Bullard 24-14. Bullard lost to Clovis East last week by 10 and this game was another nail biter. Alex Huerta was 10-16 for 209 yards including an 85 yd TD to Paul Jamie that gave the Knights the lead. Huerta also completed 7 passes to Big Anthony McCoy good for 100 yds, while the Eagles Kyle Duffy ran for 111 yds and also scored on a 55 yd pass from Brett Springer. Kenny Hendrington ran for 63 yds and scored his 10th TD of the year for the Knights........Meanwhile McLane came up big in Reedley, beating the Pirates 42-14, serving notice in the North Yosemite League......On the road, Madera defeated San Luis Obispo (guess where) 49 to 25 to put the Coyotes at 3 and 1 on the season. Nick Bates continues to have the kind of senior year the rest of the TRAC was afraid he would, throwing for 143 yds, running for another 83 yds and directing the 7 touchdown assault.....Madera has given up over 100 points so far but they have scored over 240. Still, that’s a lot of points against.....Immanuel, we should note, moved out to 4 and 0 with a win over Orosi, 50 to 7...The game started off with a 97 yd kickoff return by Josh Fixel and things never got much better than that for the Cardinals. The Eagles still have folks dancing in the streets of Reedley after their huge win over Central Valley Christian last week.........The Kingsburg vs Kerman game has some people scratching their heads. In the battle of unbeatens, Kingsburg is leading 24 to 0 in the 4th quarter, only to watch the Lions go ahead and score 24 in the 4th quarter to force overtimes, and then beat the Vikings, 30 to 24.

Incredible? You bet your wooden shoes........See you next week.....Let s know if there is a game or a story you think we should cover this season. My email is cterrence@hotmail.com Have a good week. Oh, and one more thing: Have you entered the I-Pod giveaway yet. Register soon and KJEO will be giving it to the lucky winner at the end of the regular season. More info on the KJEO.com home page.

Chris Terrence