Central Section football championships: Who will win the title? Preview and predictions
It is high school football championship week in the Fresno area.
Teams will decide who will take home the hardware when games are played Friday in the Fresno area.
One championship game was already decided when Fresno Christian defeated Sierra 34-26 for the section eight-man championship.
Now it’s the other divisions turn.
In one contest, top-seed Clovis North will face No. 7 Central for the Division I title.
Other games include No. 2 Lemoore at No. 1 Central Valley Christian (D-II), No. 5 Kerman at No. 3 Mission Oak (D-III), No. 5 Torres at No. 2 Dos Palos (Division IV), No. 2 Wasco at No. 1 Bishop (Division V) and No. 4 Strathmore at No. 3 Mendota (Division VI).
Championship matchups
Division I
No. 7 Central at No. 1 Clovis North: They meet again. In their last game, it came down to the final minutes of the game. The Broncos hung on to a 27-20 victory at Veterans Memorial Stadium, the site of Friday’s game.
Both teams enter the game peaking at the right time.
Central went to Liberty on Friday and avenged its earlier defeat to the Patriots with a 35-21 victory behind David Marquez’s three touchdown passes and another one rushing.
Clovis North withstood a furious rally by Clovis East to win 34-28.
In that game, Jackson Cinfel nearly ran for 200 yards in the first quarter. He finished with two touchdowns and 255 rushing yards.
This game could come down to the wire again. Ten years ago, Clovis North won the section title by beating Central.
What’s key?: Can the Grizzlies stop the vaunted rushing attack? Can the Broncos stop Marquez, who’s been clutch for the Grizzlies.
Division II
No. 2 Lemoore at No. 1 Central Valley Christian: This is a rematch of last season’s D-II title game when the Tigers were victorious, 62-46.
This time, CVC would like nothing more than to return the favor.
CVC last week had to rally against Tulare Union, down 33-13, to defeat the Tribe 43-42.
Fresno State-bound running back Bryson Donelson led the charge with four touchdowns, including the game-winner and a two-point conversion.
Lemoore got past Centennial 20-14.
A Tigers touchdown in the fourth quarter was the difference in the game.
Lemoore converted on a two-point conversion.
What’s key?: If Lemoore wants to repeat, it will need to stop Donelson. That’s a tough task.
Division III
No. 5 Kerman at No. 3 Mission Oak: The Lions got past top seed Mission Prep in overtime on an Adam Delgado touchdown.
Kerman quarterback Adrian Torres had two touchdown passes to Delgado that went 78 yards and a 15 yards.
The Lions will hit the road again, this time against the Hawks at Bob Mathias Stadium.
Mission Oak defeated Washington Union 39-25 after reeling off 32 consecutive points.
Quarterback Danny Gonzalez rushed for two touchdowns and threw for a third. Kenny Jackson rushed for 107 yards. Cameron Azevedo caught a touchdown pass and had two interceptions.
Mission Oak coach Marty Martin is a former Kerman head coach.
What’s key: Both teams scored more than 30 points in the playoffs. Expect a shootout.
Division IV
No. 5 Torres at No. 2 Dos Palos: The Toros are in the championship game despite a late appeal by Shafter in a game that was controversial.
No. 5 Torres converted on a two-point conversion after a botched snap for a 43-42 overtime victory over No. 1 Shafter.
The play unfolded after a Joseph Bass touchdown that made in 42-41.
Torres lined up for an extra point, but the snap was high and Pablo Adame scrambled and looked for a teammate.
He found Bass in the end zone for the two-point conversion and victory.
But one potential problem: Bass lined up to snap the ball, which would make it a penalty for an illegal man downfield.
Shafter filed a protest and met with Central Section commissioner Ryan Tos, the game officials and Torres athletic director Jordan Murphy through a Zoom call Sunday.
The appeal was denied by the section office on Sunday afternoon.
“After reviewing the information presented and speaking with all the parties involved, the result of Friday’s game between Matilda Torres High School and Shafter High School stands as was called on the field,” the section office wrote.
The Broncos defeated No. 3 Exeter 28-21.
Dos Palos made a defensive stop at their own 20-yard line with just over 1 minute left in the game as Dos Palos held on for the win.
Drake Hennagan threw to Anthony Del Rio in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
What’s key?: Interesting matchup, but could the game come down to the wire? It’s possible the way both teams have played during the playoffs.
Division V
No. 2 Wasco at No. 1 Bishop Union: Bishop Union edged No. 4 Morro Bay 28-26 while Wasco dominated No. 3 Liberty-Madera Ranchos 27-10.
Division VI
No. 4 Strathmore at No. 3 Mendota: The Spartans upset top-seed Arvin 28-21.
Jacob Poole led the way for the Spartans when he finished with two touchdowns and totaled 215 rushing yards.
The Aztecs ended Fowler’s season after a 56-44 victory.
Mendota was led by Donnie Munoz who finished with 257 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
What’s key?: Mendota looked impressive against Fowler. Can the Aztecs keep being a scoring machine? The Spartans have a tough defense.
Predictions
Division I: Clovis North 27, Central 26
Division II: Central Valley Christian 52, Lemoore 40
Division III: Mission Oak 34, Kerman 27
Division IV: Dos Palos 43, Torres 34
Division V: Bishop Union 37, Wasco 33
Division VI: Mendota 52, Strathmore 43
Last week’s predictions
The Bee did OK in its predictions.
The Bee went 7-6 to run its season record to 99-44.
Central Section championships
7 p.m. Nov. 24
Division I
No. 7 Central at No. 1 Clovis North (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
Division II
No. 2 Lemoore at No. 1 Central Valley Christian
Division III
No. 5 Kerman at No. 3 Mission Oak
Division IV
No. 5 Torres at No. 2 Dos Palos
Division V
No. 2 Wasco at No. 1 Bishop
Division VI
No. 4 Strathmore at No. 3 Mendota
