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Real Name: Zach Ewing Address: 1707 Eye St. Bakersfield, CA 93301 Date of Birth: July 29, 1984 Member Since: December 19, 2007 Last Signed In: November 22, 2009 Profile Views: 3020 Blog Views: 133927 Week 11 (playoffs) running thread and scoreboard Week 11 (playoffs) HS football podcast (YAY!!!!! EDITION) Week 11 (playoffs) HS football podcast (FAIL EDITION) Week 11 (playoffs) HS football predictions Central Section football rankings, Week 11 (playoffs) Time to talk volleyball Week 10, most important things Football playoff seedings (UPDATED with predictions) Week 10 HS football running thread and scoreboard Week 10 HS football podcast December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
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High school football draft — underclassmen
On Saturday, in honor of the NFL draft, we detailed what a draft of Kern County's best seniors might look like if college teams were drafting them. Today, the question is what a high school team would do for next season if the Kern High School District conducted a draft of all of the underclassmen football players in the city. What would the top 10 look like? I'm going to give it a shot, but keep in mind this is really difficult to do, partly because not a lot of underclassmen get playing time, and partly because we don't really know who the best juniors will be, considering some of them played on JV teams last year and didn't have their names in the paper. Here goes (all grades are what the player was this past year): 1. Cody Temple, soph DL, Liberty — I am really high on this kid after watching a few Patriots games in the last half of last year. He lived in the backfield in an upset win against Stockdale and was as big a reason as anything for Liberty's second-half resurgence. And he's just going to get bigger and better. 2. Cody Kessler, soph QB, Centennial — Even in the midst of the Golden Hawks' dismal season, Kessler showed his stuff with his arms and his legs. And if you take him with the first pick, you get a guy to lead the offense for the next two years. Plus, he'd help the basketball team a bunch in the winter! (not that that was considered for this draft) 3. Matt Darr, jr LB/P, Frontier — The most highly touted recruit to come through Bakersfield in years, Darr has nine scholarship offers from places like USC, LSU, Alabama and Arizona State to be a Division I punter. But he was also good enough at linebacker (93 tackles, 8 sacks) to be on the All-Area team for that. 4. Tyler Dogins, jr RB/DB, Ridgeview — Keep your eye on this lightning bolt, whose season was overshadowed a bit because the Wolf Pack struggled. He was a play-making machine on offense and on defense, where his pick-six keyed Ridgeview's upset of Stockdale. 5. Peter Welsh, jr, FB/LB, Bakersfield — There will always be a place for solid two-way players in high school football, and Welsh is among the best in town. At times, he was actually the Drillers' most effective runner last year — teams were worried about the raw outside speed of Jerek Johnson and Alphonso Jackson, but Welsh just went straight ahead and carved out yardage. He was probably even better on the defensive end, where he paced BHS' formidable defense. 6. Malik Henderson, jr RB/LB, Stockdale — Really, you could put Henderson or backfield mate Spencer Prince (also a junior) here, because they're both going to have huge years in a system like the Mike Snow's. Henderson averaged nine yards every time he ran the ball, and he caught six passes for 95 yards to boot. 7. Duane Seaton, jr OL/DL, Stockdale — Seaton probably is the area's most proven returning lineman, so let's use this pick to get some girth. Actually, Seaton only weighs 190 pounds, but he's savvy enough to make the running game go for the Mustangs. 8. Dylan Finch, jr QB, Golden Valley — After the loss of Byron Newman, the Bulldogs will need to air it out next year. Luckily for coach Erich Smith, they've got the man to do it. One of Bakersfield's most prolific passers over the past two years returns to rain down passes again. 9. Emilio Cantu, OL/DL, Bakersfield — This past fall, Bakersfield brought back experience at the line and young skill positiions. This year, it'll be the opposite, so the Drillers will really count on Cantu to provide production on the defensive line. 10. Cody Shirreffs, RB, Taft — Could the Wildcats emerge as the team to beat in the SSL? Tehachapi and Bakersfield Christian both lose the bulk of their stat-makers from last year, so Shirreffs probably is the league's head-liner. He's good for a 1,200-yard season, at worst. OK, let me have it. Who did I forget? How would you change the order? Excited for next year yet? 14 comments from 6 users
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posted by
jsize1
on May 1, 2009 at 08:32 AM
What about Chris sizemore and Doug Blacksill both from Liberty? Both moved up to varsity for the league championship game and play offs, both ended up starting and having great games!!!!!!! posted by
zewing
on May 1, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Guess I didn't notice those guys, but they're two of what's got to be a long list of players we'll see come up from underclass games and have an impact. BTW, what league championship game? posted by
jfrancais
on May 1, 2009 at 10:36 AM
I can't believe there is no mention of Alfonso Jackson. He's only been ripping it up on varsity since he was a freshman. Is he not playing next year? posted by
jsize1
on May 1, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Garces and Liberty for the co-championship with BHS I believe! Both boys moved up and got in the line up, both made some very impressive plays on the line! Didn't do to bad as sophmore O linemen! posted by
zewing
on May 1, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Nothing against Alfonso Jackson, but I'm going to wait to see it before I hype it. He was supposedly the second coming last year and spent the majority of the season on the sideline or in the doghouse. He's got all the potential in the world, but he wouldn't be in my top 10 if I'm drafting guys. posted by
jfrancais
on May 2, 2009 at 05:27 AM
Last year would have been the third coming since it was his third year, but ok, it's an opinion poll. He did have a "less than stellar" year in 08 but his 07 season and the way he plyed in the 06 playoffs speak for itself. With a "bad" year and a spread scheme predicated off the pass, his body of work stacks up with the rest of those RBs over their careers. Spencer Prince also should have got more love. posted by
Lynchmob1966
on May 3, 2009 at 01:52 AM
Isaiah Turner, the linebacker from Stockdale, would be somewhere in my Top 10 draft of local high school underclassmen. posted by
Lynchmob1966
on May 3, 2009 at 01:58 AM
If it were a true draft Alphonso Jackson would go ahead of a lot of the guys you have listed just because of his pure potential. The guy has tons of talent and could be a star in college. Some on your list are overachievers that worked really hard to become great high school players but might struggle at the next level. posted by
zewing
on May 3, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Keep in mind, the idea is that you're drafting AS a high school coach. If I'm a high school coach, overachievers are not a bad thing to have. Good call on Turner, though I maintain that even on the college level, Jackson would be hurt by what they call "character" issues — don't know if there's really anything wrong with Alfonso's character or not, but I think it's safe to say it's a concern. That said, if somebody wanted to take him No. 1 overall, I would see the logic. But if it were me, I'd pass. posted by
jfrancais
on May 3, 2009 at 04:36 PM
I guess you can call it potential but I've seen the guy play and do some amazing things (leapfrogging a Buchanon player in stride, dragging Grant defenders into the end zone for the winning TD, juking out 5 Mustangs in the backfield to make a 5 yd gain, etc.). Even though most of the press clipping were about Pete Mitchell the year they won valley, Jackson singlehandedly won the Buchanon game earlier in the year by running over a 100 yard, catching for at least 50, two interceptions, and several miraculous punt returns. He ran for over 100 yds vs. Clovis in the playoffs as a freshman on 9 carries. The guy did so many things for the Drillers in his career. Is that potential or proof in the pudding? He did have some off field issues and that is a valid concern but he did bring it on the field in more ways than as just a RB. posted by
Vikingpride78
on May 5, 2009 at 09:53 AM
Okay he wasn't heard of much this year, I dont know if he was even mentioned at all in the media but for West High, the only Jr. D-Lineman to start along with the likes of Jeremy Bethel & Brach'e Hayes. His name is Ken Thackrey. He started about 6 games and even started over Brache twice and I think he will be the anchor of the D-Line this coming season. He seems to be a really solid player PLUS he has that cool looking oldschool look, kinda like Howie Long almost lol. posted by
zewing
on May 5, 2009 at 10:43 AM
GOTTA respect the crew cut. Will definitely keep an eye out for Ken. posted by
Vikingpride78
on May 6, 2009 at 09:35 AM
I heard from his dad that he is gonna try to be #75 this year, some awfully big shoes to fill lol! posted by
TDMoney05
on Jul 22, 2009 at 11:33 AM
What do you think the outcome will be this year for Ridgeview High? Tyler Dogins is my nephew and I expect some really big numbers from him this season. After they smash the league in the regular season, I am going to bring the Georgia Crew to the Playoffs from Atlanta, and we will them to the championship from the Ridgeview Sidelines. I have a couple of coaches from down here in Georgia who are going to be taking a long hard look at Tyler this season and maybe there will be a surprise guest or two from the SEC checking out a couple of their games this year, so look out for Tyler D this year. If they make the Championship Game I will try and get my buddy Garrison Hearst to fly to the game with me and help recruit Tyler to the Georgia Bulldogs!!!
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