So Far, So Good. Really Good. - Week 7

by Chris Terrence

What a year for Central Valley high school football. Be proud football fans. This area’s high school football teams are really putting on a show. One of the best in the nation as the 2005 season unfolds. Valley teams proved their toughness with some impressive victories in the early season by defeating nationally known powerhouses like DeLaSalle, Sera, and other schools to the north and south of us in California. Clovis East first beat a strong team from Anchorage, Alaska, and then traveled all the way to Midland, Texas to beat a Midland Lee team that has won Texas state championships and is always a contender every year to do it again and even had a movie made about them (Friday Night Lights).

Back here on the home front, we have had some terrific high school football games, and as the smoke clears from the first seven weeks of battle, there has been no shortage of surprises. Heading into week eight we see no more undefeated teams in the Tri-River AC and I guess you’d have to say that this really isn’t a surprise because it is such a powerful conference as many experts say it’s the strongest in the state. Clovis West, which was top ranked in Division 1,now has a 4-1 record after getting beat in So-Cal by Centennial, and then losing to Tri-River foe Buchanan, who beat Edison of our County Metro AC. Edison then turned around and beat Clovis East, a team that could go all the way this year, and then Edison gets soundly beaten by a fellow CMAC member Bullard.

Sanger High, now 7-0, is getting stronger and stronger every game and is facing a surging Bullard team that is also peaking at this time. The Apaches and the Knights will square off this weekend in Sanger in what could be one of the best games in a long time in the Valley. Both teams have good strong lines both ways, along with more stars on offense and defense than the Save Mart concert schedule. McCoy, Huerta, Webber, Smith, Jamie, Ocha, Hendrington, just to name a few. Add to that two of the best coaching staffs, led by Don Arax of Bullard and Chuck Shidan of Sanger, and folks you got a truly great game coming up in Sanger’s Tom Flores Stadium this week. Better get there early for a seat.

Also this week, we got Clovis East and Clovis West teeing it up at Golden Eagle Field (at the BEC), and you know that is going to be a great battle. Also Buchanan is at Clovis (Lamonica) and that is gong to be a great game. Central is at Madera for some more Tri-River AC fireworks. Madera has been coming on so strong and Central has been improving each week as well. Huge game for both teams. Edison is out at Reedley this week and should respond well after the Bullard loss last week. A good game is on tap at McLane this Thursday as the Highlanders take on the San Joaquin Memorial Panthers in the North Yosemite League showdown, both teams coming off big wins. Around the Valley you got Hoover vs Roosevelt, Washing ton Union at Chowchilla (this game should be a great one as Washington gave Yosemite a battle last week in the NSL. This is one of those “gauge” games for the upcoming playoffs. Also Dos Palos is at Kerman, Immanuel will try to stay unbeaten at Corcoran. Ditto Yosemite at Kingsburg.

Good luck to all in a great weekend of football. Fred Clark and I will be covering the Clovis East/Clovis West game on TV for Cocola Broadcasting and Comcast. Tune in for the tape delayed broadcasts over the next week. You can still register for the I-POD we are giving away on the Cocolatv.com website. Take care.

Chris Terrence