Central Section football: Sunnyside rolls as playoffs open with upset and close calls
Sunnyside led Redwood at 12-7 at halftime.
The seventh-seeded Wildcats figured they needed to bring more energy in the second half.
That they did behind Sunnyside quarterback Tanner Wilson.
Wilson finished with four touchdowns in leading the Wildcats to a 39-21 victory over No. 10 Redwood in a Central Section Division II high school football playoff game.
“It was pretty much exactly what we expected,” Sunnyside coach Thomas WIlson said. “I don’t think that we expected to play as well, but it was going to be a tough, physical affair and they’re a well-coached, disciplined team. It turned out to be one of those games where we made a couple more plays than they did.”
Tanner Wilson had two passing touchdowns and two on the ground.
Sunnyside built its lead to 32-7 after an interception return for a touchdown by Romulan Phetvixay in the fourth quarter.
“It was an all-energy type of thing,” Tanner Wilson said. “We knew as soon as we got going, it’s hard for us to stop.”
Division II
From the beginning of the season, No. 11 Madera had a belief that it could do something special.
The Coyotes have held form all season, and showed it again against No. 6 Bakersfield Christian in a 27-26 upset.
A big connection from Joel Arellano to Michael Pedro set up Daniel Mendez’s 12-yard run and an extra point made by Andy Berry gave Madera a 27-20 lead.
The Eagles scored with 10 seconds left, but Bakersfield Christian’s extra-point try was blocked by the Coyotes’ JJ Lopez
Bakersfield Christian recovered an onside kick, but the Coyotes forced a fumble to end the game.
Berry kicked two field goals, including a 27-yarder that tied the score at 20 with 9:11 remaining.
Division III
A late but big defensive effort by No. 5 Kerman kept its season alive.
Adam Ortiz ran for a touchdown in the third quarter to help the Lions to a 30-29 victory over No. 12 Golden West.
It was all about defense for Kerman in the fourth quarter.
Vaughn Blunt had a sack with 4 minutes remaining and Nicholas Grewal an interception at the Kerman 2-yard line to seal the win.
Division IV
It was back and forth for No. 3 Exeter and No. 14 Highland.
The Monarchs staved off elimination when Jacob Molina completed an 8-yard pass to Aidan Robertson with under a minute remaining to give the Monarchs a 38-35 victory over the Scots.
Exeter had led 26-14 before Highland rallied.
The game featured four lead changes since midway through the third quarter.
▪ No. 11 Roosevelt controlled its game much of the way against No. 6 Chowchilla.
The Rough Riders led 27-8 in the third quarter, only to see the Tribe rally within a touchdown before falling short.
Roosevelt won the game 35-28.
Jackson Kloster threw three touchdowns for the Rough Riders.
Division V
Everything was going No. 10 Reedley’s way against No. 7 Delano.
The Pirates were up 43-14 at halftime, but the Tigers kept cutting into the lead.
Reedley never scored again.
Delano added a touchdown with 6 minutes remaining and was on the brink of possibly tying the score.
Reedley’s defense stepped in and made a big stop on fourth down with 50 seconds remaining for a 43-36 victory.
▪ Liberty-Madera Ranchos escaped 14-12 after Firebaugh rallied in the fourth quarter before the Hawks blocked an extra point and batted away a pass on a two-point conversion with 20 seconds remaining.
The Hawks scored touchdowns when Noah Bonilla threw a 20-yard pass to Dolan Dilbeck in the first half and Talan LaMattina ran 15 yards in the third quarter.
Predictions
Here is how The Bee fared in its predictions for each division:
Division I
The Bee went 3-1, incorrectly predicting Hanford to beat Clovis West.
Division II
The Bee went 6-2, with the losses by Bakersfield and Bakersfield Christian.
Bakersfield lost to Tehachapi and Bakersfield Christian to Madera.
Division III
The Bee went 5-1 with the only loss being Templeton falling to Washington Union.
Division IV
Not so good in this division as The Bee went 3-3.
The Bee incorrectly picked McLane, Chowchilla and Caruthers to win.
Division V
It was a clean sweep as The Bee went 6-0.
Division VI
Just like the previous division, The Bee went 6-0.
8-man
The Bee went 1-1.
Updated prediction record for The Bee this season is 76-28 after previously being 46-20.
Scores
Division I
No. 8 Clovis West 42, No. 9 Hanford 30
No. 5 Sanger 35, No. 12 Garces 0
No. 6 Clovis 42, No. 11 St. Joseph 7
No. 7 Central 42, No. 10 Arroyo Grande 14
Byes: No. 1 Clovis North, No. 2 Frontier, No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield, No. 4 Clovis East
Division II
No. 1 Central Valley Christian 43, No. 16 Stockdale 7
No. 9 Tehachapi 35, No. 8 Bakersfield 14
No. 3 Kingsburg 42, No. 12 Dinuba 8
No. 4 Tulare Union 42, No. 13 San Luis Obispo 14
No. 3 Centennial 42, No. 14 Lompoc 19
No. 11 Madera 27, No. 6 Bakersfield Christian 26
No. 7 Sunnyside 39, No. 10 Redwood 21
No. 2 Lemoore 38, No. 15 Garza 27
Division III
No. 8 Porterville 41, No. 9 Pioneer Valley 3
No. 5 Kerman 30, No. 12 Golden West 29
No. 4 Kennedy 42, No. 13 Santa Ynez 21
No. 3 Mission Oak 38, No. 14 Independence 31 (Thursday)
No. 6 Mt. Whitney 28, No. 11 Nipomo 18
No. 7 Washington Union 25, No. 10 Templeton 7
Byes: No. 1 Mission Prep, No. 2 Atascadero
Division IV
No. 9 Golden Valley 27, No. 8 McLane 21
No. 5 Torres 43, No. 12 Immanuel 14
No. 4 Coalinga 41, No. 13 Sierra Pacific 7
No. 3 Exeter 38, No. 14 Highland 35
No. 11 Roosevelt 35, No. 6 Chowchilla 28
No. 10 Santa Maria 36, No. 7 Caruthers 29
Byes: No. 1 Shafter, No. 2 Dos Palos
Division V
No. 9 North 43, No. 8 Corcoran 34
No. 5 Orosi 42, No. 12 Hoover 26
No. 4 Morro Bay 27, No. 13 East Bakersfield 26
No. 3 Liberty-Madera Ranchos 14, No. 14 Firebaugh 12
No. 6 Chavez 56, No. 11 Sanger West 28
No. 10 Reedley 43, No. 7 Delano 36
Byes: No. 1 Bishop, No. 2 Wasco
Division VI
No. 9 Orange Cove 46, No. 8 Avenal 0
No. 5 Woodlake 28, No. 12 Minarets 6
No. 4 Strathmore 49, No. 13 Kern Valley 14
No. 3 Mendota 35, No. 14 Foothill 7
No. 6 Taft 70, No. 11 Rosamond 34
No. 7 Fowler 49, No. 10 Lindsay 14
Byes: No. 1 Arvin, No. 2 Boron
8-man
No. 4 Mammoth 53, No. 5 Frazier Mountain 0
No. 3 Sierra 40, No. 6 Orcutt Academy 16
Byes: No. 1 Fresno Christian, No. 2 Riverdale Christian
Next week’s quarterfinal schedule
Games at 7 p.m. Nov. 9
Division I
No. 8 Clovis West at No. 1 Clovis North
No. 5 Sanger at No. 4 Clovis East
No. 6 Clovis at No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield
No. 7 Central at No. 2 Frontier
Division II
No. 9 Tehachapi at No. 1 Central Valley Christian
No. 5 Kingsburg at No. 4 Tulare Union
No. 11 Madera at No. 3 Centennial
No. 7 Sunnyside at No. 2 Lemoore
Division III
No. 8 Porterville at No. 1 Mission Prep
No. 5 Kerman at No. 4 Kennedy
No. 6 Mt. Whitney at No. 3 Mission Oak
No. 7 Washington Union at No. 2 Atascadero
Division IV
No. 9 Golden Valley-Bakersfield at No. 1 Shafter
No. 5 Torres at No. 4 Coalinga
No. 11 Roosevelt at No. 3 Exeter
No. 10 Santa Maria at No. 2 Dos Palos
Division V
No. 9 North at No. 1 Bishop
No. 5 Orosi at No. 4 Morro Bay
No. 6 Chavez at No. 3 Liberty-Madera Ranchos
No. 10 Reedley at No. 2 Wasco
Division VI
No. 9 Orange Cove at No. 1 Arvin
No. 5 Woodlake at No. 4 Strathmore
No. 6 Taft at No. 3 Mendota
No. 7 Fowler at No. 2 Boron
8-man semifinals
No. 4 Mammoth at No. 1 Fresno Christian
No. 3 Sierra at No. 2 Riverdale Christian
