High school football: Outright NYL title nears, fight stops game, plus a gutsy decision

Sunnyside High is a win away from clinching an outright North Yosemite League title.

The Bee’s 15th-ranked Wildcats (7-1 overall, 5-0 NYL) got it started early and kept it going Friday night against McLane while rolling to a 43-8 victory.

McLane entered the night a game back of Sunnyside in the standings.

Already, the Wildcats had defeated another top league title contender in Torres last week.

The Toros (5-3, 4-1) can only hope for a share of the NYL title with a win next week and a Sunnyside loss to Sanger West.

Fight stops game

The Mendota versus Avenal game had to be stopped in the third quarter because of a fight.

Mendota athletic director Luis Gutierrez said “there was a scuffle between players and a large (number) of Avenal fans jumped the fence to join the scuffle. Referees felt it was unsafe once their fans entered the field.”

The fight was broken up by the time officers arrived at the stadium.

Gutierrez said the fight “could have been worse.”

Administrators and on-site security helped break it up, and no injuries were reported.

Mendota had a 13-7 lead, but the game ended in a double forfeit.

Chowchilla, Caruthers don’t disappoint

It was a no-brainer for Chowchilla coach Alex Pittz.

The Tribe drove 72 yards in the final minute, with senior receiver Anthony Avila pulling them within a point of Caruthers after hauling in an 8-yard touchdown catch. They went for the win, rather than the tie.

Chowchilla quarterback Davian Stephenson took the snap on the conversion try, saw the middle was taken away, bounced to the outside and easily raced into the end zone for a 32-31 victory over Caruthers.

The Tribe (7-2, 6-0 Northwest Sequoia League) clinched at least a share of their first league championship since 2016.

“We’re exhausted and we’re going to take advantage of it when we’ve got it,” Pittz told The Merced Star. “They hadn’t stopped us on two-point conversions all night and I don’t want to put it back in (Hunter Babb’s) hands again. We had momentum and we wanted to take it.”

Caruthers (6-3, 5-1 NSL) still had time for one offensive play, but Babb was tackled and the Tribe players exploded off their sideline to celebrate a hard-fought victory against Caruthers and Babb, who entered the game as the nation’s leading rusher with 2,356 yards to go along with 34 total touchdowns.

Game balls

Niqo Calderon, Exeter: His 1-yard touchdown run was the difference in the Monarchs’ 12-7 victory over Sierra Pacific.

Jamari Carter, Central: His 55-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed the Grizzlies’ 27-15 win against Clovis West.

Bryson Donelson, Central Valley Christian: Rumbled for four touchdowns and had a receiving touchdown to help the Cavaliers defeat Washington Union 42-24.

Vincent Duran, Woodlake: He threw the late TD pass and ran for a two-point conversion in a 22-21 victory over Orosi.

Daniel Gomez, Hanford: Threw for 284 yards and four touchdowns in the Bullpups’ 35-34 victory over Mission Oak.

Joshua Kubota, Fresno Christian: Had 11 receptions for 210 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-34 victory over Sierra.

David Marquez, Central: He had two rushing touchdowns to lead the Grizzlies to a 27-15 victory over Clovis West.

Caleb Matthews, Garza: He passed for four touchdowns and ran for a score in the Guardians’ 38-10 victory over San Joaquin Memorial.

Israel Robles, Sanger: He had a big game when he rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns, guiding the Apaches to a 42-14 win over Bullard.

Shane Spomer, Immanuel: Totaled three rushing touchdowns in the Eagles’ 29-0 victory over Hanford West.

Logan Stotts, Fresno Christian: Finished the game with seven touchdowns in the Eagles’ 48-34 victory over Sierra.

Noah Tasi, Coalinga: Led the Horned Toads’ attack when he tossed four touchdowns in a 59-0 victory over Tranquillity.

This week’s predictions

The Bee went 3-2 in the latest predictions.

Wins came from Clovis North, Clovis East and Sunnyside.

The Bee picked Clovis West and Caruthers to win their games but they lost to Central and Chowchilla, respectively.

After this week’s games, The Bee is now 34-16

Top 25 fared

1. Clovis North (9-0) defeated Buchanan 28-3

2. Liberty-Bakersfield (7-2) lost to Frontier 25-20

3. Sanger (8-1) defeated Bullard 42-14

4. Frontier (9-0) defeated Liberty-Bakersfield 25-20

5. Central (7-2) defeated Clovis West 27-15

6. Clovis East (7-2) defeated Clovis 49-34

7. Clovis West (5-4) lost to Central 27-15

8. Lemoore (7-2) defeated Tulare Western 29-0

9. Hanford (8-1) defeated Mission Oak 35-34

10. Centennial (5-4) lost to Garces 10-6

11. Central Valley Christian (8-1) defeated Washington Union 42-24

12. Clovis (6-3) lost to Clovis East 49-34

13. Kennedy (7-2) lost to Shafter 28-21

14. Arroyo Grande (8-1) defeated Santa Ynez 56-24

15. Sunnyside (8-1) defeated McLane 43-8

16. Shafter (9-0) defeated Kennedy 28-21

17. St. Joseph (7-2) defeated Lompoc 36-0

18. Bakersfield (6-3) defeated Ridgeview 57-0

19. Exeter (9-0) defeated Sierra Pacific 12-6

20. Atascadero (9-0) defeated Cabrillo 55-13

21. Tulare Union (5-4) lost to Dinuba 35-28

22. Tehachapi (10-0) defeated West 38-13

23. San Luis Obispo (6-3) Oct. 27 at Templeton, 7 p.m.

24. Kingsburg (7-2) defeated Reedley 38-16

25. Mission Prep (7-2) defeated Righetti 21-12