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With three defending Central Section champions, South Sequoia League will come down to the wire
| Tuesday, Sep 2 2008 11:30 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Sep 2 2008 1:50 PM
Elections, to the joy of prognosticators and the dismay of many a spectator, have a way of deciding themselves before results even begin to come in.
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Have we got a proposition for you. Correction, make that 20 propositions for you.
The Bakersfield Californian sports department presents the first of three preview sections on high school football, and we’re asking you the reader to vote. It’s not a debate without your involvement.
Today, we focus on the six teams of the South Sequoia League and the rest of the area programs in Kern County. On Thursday, we’ll take a look at the Southwest Yosemite League and Friday it’s the Southeast Yosemite League.
From Taft to Ridgecrest, from Delano to Frazier Mountain, and every non-SEYL and SWYL team in between is covered in today’s section, including information on the area’s three 8-man football programs.
In addition to these features, you will find the most comprehensive preview of Kern County high school football teams available. We produced three sections with the idea that it could be a reference for fans to keep at their fingertips throughout the season.
We’ll also have more features, predictions, blogs, podcasts and more as the season continues. So you’ll be able to read about your favorite team and all of the area’s programs in the daily newspaper or on www.Bakersfield.com.
ABOUT THE BALLOT
Look in today’s, Thursday’s and Friday’s football preview sections for all the propositions or go online at Bakersfield.com/footballballot.
The answers to these 20 propositions, written by The Californian staff, could determine your team’s fate this season.
INSTRUCTION TO VOTERS
Be sure to cast your votes online at Bakersfield.com/footballballot.. Votes will be tallied at the end of Week 2 of the season.
(PLUS BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN)
QB: Derek Carr, Bakersfield Christian; Noel Lopez, Arvin; Terrance Wells, Desert
RB: Israiel Lucas, Boron; Adam Mullen, Tehachapi; Josh Strauss, Tehachapi; Justin Sulu, Kern Valley; Christian Taylor, Bakersfield Christian
WR/TE: Joshua Glass, Boron; Colby Herron, Bakersfield Christian; Loren Kolb, Taft; Rene Medina, Shafter; Jake Peterson, Bakersfield Christian
OL: Mario Abundez, Delano; Travis Hicks, Arvin; Sammy Padilla, McFarland; Justin Richardson, Wasco; Ben Savaii, Taft; Ioane Savaii, Taft
DL: Blake Emberson, Taft; Noel Gomez, Cesar Chavez; Baltivar Martinez, Arvin; Nick Sanchez, Wasco
LB: Garrett Coontz, Tehachapi; Curtis Doyle, Bakersfield Christian; Derek Lange, Tehachapi; Warren Pappas, Kern Valley; Cody Shirreffs, Taft; Dominic Sween, Burroughs
DB: Edgar Contreras, Arvin; Marcus Hall, Bakersfield Christian; Matthew Macanas, Cesar Chavez; Mychael Quiddam, Delano
K/P: A.J. Hall, Desert
Photos:
Referee Bucky Redfern keeps a sharp eye out as this year's prep football season begins.
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- Southern Section
- North Kern County and 8-Man
- Tigers young but a potential threat
- Tehachapi High: The brand that works
- Taft High: Looking for some stress relief
- Shafter High: Injury-free season will be difference
- Bakersfield Christian: Eagles’ hopes soar
- Arvin High: A darkhorse in Bears’ skin
When the campaigning is done, final polls are released and one candidate usually has a hefty lead, good enough to assume he or she will be elected before a single vote is counted. (For now, we’ll swallow the 2000 presidential election, grimace, and call it an exception.)
Maybe that’s why football campaigns are so much more fun. Here we are, two days from high school football’s opening kickoff, and nobody, no matter what might be boasted, has any idea of what’s going to happen, of who’s going to win this particular 2008 election.
The South Sequoia League is a perfect example. Who will tally the most wins, fill in the most bubbles and be lucky enough to give an acceptance speech in November?
In one corner, there is Tehachapi, the incumbent champion from 2007. The Warriors’ rich history and talented stable of linebackers, offensive linemen and running backs makes them a solid choice.
Challengers are Bakersfield Christian and Taft, both of whom were close in the last election.
The Wildcats, led by fiery coach Steve Sprague, boast a huge line and enough skill position players to complement their smashmouth style.
As for Bakersfield Christian, a solid campaign became a real option for voters when the Eagles introduced a new candidate at quarterback. Derek Carr, younger brother of Stockdale and Fresno State standout David Carr, moved from Houston over the summer and will start under center. David Carr was the No. 1 pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.
The other contenders — 2006 champ Arvin, improving Wasco and pass-happy Shafter — seem more like third-party candidates in this race. But third-party candidates have won races before (heck, former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura even coached high school football).
Tehachapi coach Steve Denman is convinced the SSL race is too close to call.
“It’s going to be tight,” he said. “Wasco is improving, they’re real physical and gave us everything we could handle last year. Taft is loaded. ... BCHS is probably the most talented team as far as skill positions. Arvin could surprise you, they won the (JV) league as sophomores. And Shafter, they say they don’t have anybody over there, but you know, they’re playing a little possum, I think.”
The challengers aren’t ready to give any premature victory speeches, either.
“There is some potential there,” BCHS coach Doug Barnett said. “... But we’ve got to stay healthy. I think all the pieces to the puzzle are there, but we’ve got to put them in the right order.
“... We are fortunate to be in this league. It will be a lot of fun. Whether we are ready for that yet, it’s hard to tell.”
Other races are cropping up all over the county. In the East Yosemite League, contender Delano would like to upset favored Tulare Union, and Cesar Chavez has its eyes on getting in the race, too.
The High Desert League, a Southern Section race based primarily in Kern County, will be decided by attrition.
Incumbent champion Desert returns league MVP Terrance Wells but loses top running back Phillip Pleasant. Kern Valley has to make up for multiple losses along the offensive and defensive lines, and Frazier Mountain is the opposite — experienced lines but green skill players. Rosamond hopes to improve under first-year coach Doug South.
Mojave, citing diminished enrollment, has dropped out of the race and into independent status. It will run again for election in the Desert Mountain League in 2009.
No matter which way the races go, one thing’s for sure: The candidates, campaign managers and supporters are all ready for them to begin.
“Our league’s tough, and I respect that,” Sprague said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”