Things are getting serious in the Fresno-Edison grade-changing case. The school district has asked Central Section commissioner Jim Crichlow to re-investigate the matter, which concerns a teacher's allegation that a player's grade in a math class was changed from an F to an A. Crichlow's first investigation cleared Edison, but the school district hasn't yet finished its own probe.

If anyone finds wrongdoing, I'd imagine the consequences would be severe — Clovis East has lost the chance to host playoff games after a much less serious offense — and it could affect the Central Section's Division II playoff picture. We'll keep you posted.

Back on the field, it's time for a look back to Week 7 predictions:

The Good: Just about everything, from taking North and Bakersfield Christian in the big games to nailing Highland winning a defensive battle to going 5-1 in Southern Section games

The Bad: Failing to see that this was indeed the week Ridgeview would spring its upset, still having faith in Centennial

The Ugly: Picking Lighthouse Christian to become Lit-Up Christian and then seeing the Guardians handle Clovis Christian in a bizarre game that hasn't officially been decided yet

Thursday, Oct. 30
PORTERVILLE (3-4, 2-1 EYL) AT CHAVEZ (3-4, 2-2) — The Titans quest for the school's first winning season might come down to the next two weeks, when two losing teams visit. Then again, it'd be exciting to watch a rivalry meeting with Delano to end the year with something on the line for both teams. Either way, I think Chavez gets its fourth win by doing something its crosstown rivals couldn't do — beat Porterville.
Prediction: Chavez 37, Porterville 33

Friday, Oct. 31
STOCKDALE (5-2, 2-1 SWYL) AT NORTH (6-1, 4-0) — Well, well, well. We might have our first league champion crowned this week, if the surprising Stars can come away with one more victory. Do that, and North would be 5-0 in the SWYL with one game to play; Stockdale would fall to 2-2 and be eliminated, and even if Frontier wins to go to 3-1, North would own the tiebreaker. But that's all for after the game. First, we have a battle of two teams connected by coaching (Mike Snow went from North to Frontier to Stockdale, and he's good friends with Mark Camps) and by styles (the Wing T). So what gives? A mistake, maybe two, could decide this one. Both teams have made them this year, so it's anybody's guess. Mine is that the Mustangs bounce back from the Ridgeview loss.
Prediction: Stockdale 28, North 26

TEHACHAPI (3-4, 1-1 SSL) AT TAFT (6-1, 2-0) — An elimination game for the Warriors, who came up on the short end of another close game last week. They nearly erased a 34-7 deficit against Bakersfield Christian only to lose 40-35. But Taft won't make things easy with its punishing offensive and defensive lines. Win or lose, the Wildcats will be in this race until the season finale at home against BCHS, though a win would likely make both teams undefeated. But I think Tehachapi, which has lost games by 6, 1, 2 and 5 points, finally gets a close one to fall its way with the aid of a new-found passing attack.
Prediction: Tehachapi 29, Taft 24

HIGHLAND (6-1, 2-1) AT FOOTHILL (4-3, 1-2) — Tim Hartnett's team has done nearly everything it could do in the first seven games of the year, with a loss to Garces in a Saturday game the only blemish. But now comes the gauntlet: at Foothill, vs. Liberty, vs. Bakersfield. The Scots' defense hasn't held up well in only a couple of games this year, but Foothill has the horses to make this another. Highland won't be able to keep up.
Prediction: Foothill 33, Highland 21

DELANO (5-2, 2-1 EYL) AT TULARE UNION (7-0, 3-0) — I invite you to turn your attention north for a few minutes, while we discuss what is a rare specimen in the Central Section this year: an undefeated team. By my count, only six remain, and the Redskins are the only in the top two divisions. What does that mean for Delano? The Tigers had better bring their A game, not whatever it was that caused losses to Hanford West and Porterville, and even that might not be enough. Keep Tulare's offense off the field and don't turn the ball over, and you might have a chance. Otherwise, it's victim No. 8 for the machinelike 'Skins.
Prediction: Tulare Union 50, Delano 21

GARCES (5-2) AT WEST (3-4) — The Vikings might be the team that costs me the most games throughout the season. It seems like they're in the "Bad" category for my picks every week, and it's because I just can't figure this team out. But who could? Hang with El Diamante. Lose to East. Beat Liberty. Get knocked out by Frontier and North. Turn around to dominate the second half against Centennial. What happens this week, nobody knows. I will say, though, Garces has been much more consistent. (Well duh).
Prediction: Garces 24, West 17

BAKERSFIELD (5-2, 3-0 SEYL) AT GOLDEN VALLEY (3-4, 1-3) — We talk about this at length in the Week 8 podcast (which you can catch at School House Zach on Thursday afternoon), but how is the Drillers' closing schedule going to affect their playoff run? BHS played Liberty in Week 4 and won't play a D-I team — or likely receive a challenge, for that matter — until the playoffs hit. I think the increased confidence will help, fueled by wins like this one, where BHS will look to shut down Golden Valley's multi-faceted attack.
Prediction: Bakersfield 41, Golden Valley 13

FRONTIER (4-3, 2-1 SWYL) AT SOUTH (3-4, 1-2) — It's back to the drawing board for both teams after they lost chances last week to have a season-defining win. That's especialy the case for South, which hung with North early but couldn't keep pace. Either way, if these teams want to play more important games down the stretch, a win here is a must. A loss, and the season could fade quickly.
Prediction: Frontier 22, South 14

LIBERTY (4-3, 2-1 SEYL) AT EAST (1-6, 0-4) — With three games left in what's been a terribly frustrating season for the Blades, it'll be interesting to see if they can make any headway towards 2009. East has scored a grand total of 26 points in its last four games (and only 73 all together) and has games with BHS and North, the two league leaders, in the final two weeks. Ouch, because Liberty's defense is even better than those teams. Looks like 2009 might really be the rallying cry already.
Prediction: Liberty 30, East 0

CENTENNIAL (1-6, 0-3 SWYL) AT RIDGEVIEW (2-5, 1-3) — This probably would have been the week I'd take Ridgeview to spring for its first SWYL victory in two years — except that happened last week. Now you wonder about the Wolf Pack's complacency, plus I'm starting to wonder if Centennial will ever get it together. I went with Centennial winning and Ridgeview losing last week and got burned, and I'm not putting my hand next to the burner again.
Prediction: Ridgeview 27, Centennial 21

SHAFTER (1-6, 0-2 SSL) AT BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN (6-1, 2-0) — One of the mismatches of the year in that Shafter tries to play a similar style to BCHS but does so with less precision and less good old-fashioned talent. If you hadn't heard, this Carr kid is pretty good. The Central Section record for passing yards is 520, says section historian Bob Barnett, and if he plays all four quarters of a close game, Carr could threaten that one of these weeks.
Prediction: Bakersfield Christian 51, Shafter 7

WASCO (3-4, 0-2) AT ARVIN (3-4, 1-1) — Is this the battle for fourth place in the South Sequoia League? That depends. Arvin still has games left with Tehachapi and Bakersfield Christian to move up, but the Bears have to take care of business with the offensively-dangerous Tigers first. If the game was in Wasco, I might pull the trigger on an upset here. But Arvin it is.
Prediction: Arvin 29, Wasco 19

LATON (0-7, 0-2 ESL) AT McFARLAND (2-5, 1-1) — Here's what I know about Laton: (1) Its nickname is the Mustangs. (2) It's not as good as the Stockdale Mustangs. (3) It's not as good as the Mojave Mustangs. (3) It scored 20 points just once this year, and that was exactly 20. (4) It hasn't given up less than 31 all year. McFarland isn't the best team around, but you can bet the Cougars have enough firepower for this one.
Prediction: McFarland 41, Laton 10

ROSAMOND (2-6, 1-1 HDL) AT DESERT (6-2, 1-1) — On paper, this doesn't look like much of a matchup, but consider that two weeks ago, Desert lost 19-16 to Frazier Mountain, the same team Rosamond blanked 22-0 last weekend. Plus, Terrance Wells' status is unknown. The difference, I think, is that the Scorpions have figured out what to do even without him, as evidenced by a win against Kern Valley last week.
Prediction: Desert 23, Rosamond 17

BISHOP (2-4, 1-0 HDL) AT KERN VALLEY (3-4, 0-1) — Just from talking to him a couple of times, I have faith in Ben Goffinett as a coach and a motivator, and it's about time the Broncs got themselves a big victory out at the lake.
Prediction: Kern Valley 24, Bishop 23

MARICOPA (2-5, 1-1 CVL) AT CUYAMA VALLEY (3-3, 2-1) — Don't underestimate the Indians, who look like they matchup more favorably with Cuyama than some might have thought before the season. But I don't think Maricopa is prepared to go west and come back with a victory.
Prediction: Cuyama Valley 44, Maricopa 27

Saturday, Nov. 1
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN (2-5, 1-1 CVSSL) AT COALINGA-FAITH CHRISTIAN (0-6, 0-5) — Faith Christian (the Warriors, in case you were wondering) started its program this year and has gotten more competitive, as evidenced by two games against Visalia Christian (44-15 losers the first time, 39-24 the second). But Lighthouse showed last week that it doesn't plan on letting its league title go easily.
Prediction: Lighthouse Christian 49, Faith Christian 12

FRAZIER MOUNTAIN (3-4) AT MALIBU (6-1) — The other High Desert League teams, when they're the odd man out in the league schedule, normally take the week off. Not Frazier Mountain. The Falcons are taking the long trek out to treacherous ... Malibu?? Yeah, well, some of us vacation at home, some at the beach. Malibu plays in one of the nation's most beautiful high school locales, but that doesn't mean the Sharks are friendly hosts.
Prediction: Malibu 33, Frazier Mountain 14

MOJAVE (3-5) AT CLAREMONT-WEBB (3-3) — Since a 3-1 start, the Mustangs have fallen on hard times, dropping four in a row and falling out of the Southern Section divisional rankings and completely out of the playoff picture. With the team mired in no-man's land until it joins the Desert Mountain League next year, tonight offers a chance to get back on track, but even if Mojave can win, it's playing for pride only at this point.
Prediction: Webb 27, Mojave 17

IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN (3-4, 1-2 HLL) AT BIG PINE (7-0, 3-0) — After two weeks off, the Crusaders travel to the Hi-Lo league leader for their second-to-last game.
Prediction: Big Pine 52, Immanuel Christian 13

Last week: 16-4 (.800)    Season: 116-48 (.707)