I usually close one week of high school football with some idea of how I'm going to start the next — what game I'll cover, who I'll assign to cover other games, who I like to win some of the big games and how I might arrange the teams in Tuesday's set of Central Section rankings. Things might change, and they usually do, but for the most part, I stick to my basic idea. I don't really have an official brainstorming session for this or anything, but I automatically do it while I'm covering a game or writing a blog or going for a run or taking a shower or whatever. Helps me manage time and get everything done.

So, this week, like normal, I went through those thought. I think I'll give the Division I teams a rest for a week and see red-hot Frontier play at intriguing West. I think the incomparable Jeff Evans will see unbeaten but untested South get a visiting exam from Stockdale. Like always, I'll save my predictions thoughts for tomorrow's post.

But this week, something was different. Every time my mind wanted to broach the subject of rankings, I pushed it aside and went on to something else, like my wife or the alma mater's huge game on ESPN against Nebraska (nervous about that one) or the weather or my cats or a hundred other things. Anything but those rankings.

Here's the rub: It's time to do the rankings. And how do you separate Bakersfield's four Division I teams? BHS beat Stockdale, which beat Centennial, which beat Liberty. OK, easy enough there. But Liberty beat BHS last week. And Stockdale looked great against the Golden Hawks. And where does Frontier fit in all of this? And the northern teams?

I'm telling you this because the rankings below are just my best approximation of what could be reality. The truth is, any of those teams could probably beat the other depending on which Friday they get a chance. So have an extra grain of salt, then enjoy as I attempt not to make a fool of myself.

1. Fresno-Bullard (5-0, Division I, last week: 1) — I'm still not totally convinced the Knights would beat Buchanan head-to-head, but I started with them here and they've done nothing to disappoint me. One thing's for sure: There's a gap between No. 2 and everyone else right now.
LAST WEEK: won at No. 3 Clovis West, 28-21. THIS WEEK: BYE

2. Clovis-Buchanan (4-0, Division I, last week: 2) — Even though the Bears struggled to put away Edison — needing three interceptions and a goal-line stand to do it — it's probably a good sign for coach Mike Vogt that both sides of the ball have looked good at times. Now a couple of tricky games, including next week's league opener at Madera, before Buchanan hits the meat of its TRAC schedule.
LAST WEEK: won at No. 7 Fresno-Edison, 22-12. THIS WEEK: vs. No. 10 Fresno-San Joaquin Memorial

3. Tulare Union (4-0, Division II, last week: 5) — No matter who you're playing, it's impressive to put up an average of 54.3 points a game against Yosemite-class opponents. That trend ought to continue as the Redskins' next two foes are a combined 1-8 before Porterville and Delano try to offer more of a challenge.
LAST WEEK: won vs. Chavez, 58-0. THIS WEEK: at Porterville-Granite Hills

4. Clovis West (1-3, Division I, last week: 3) — If you thought Fresno State was a good 1-3 team, check out these Golden Eagles on the high school level. A win against Liberty, two losses to Southern Section powers and then a three-point defeat to Bullard in which a late Clovis West turnover was the difference. Point is, though, the next four games are tough, too, so the Eagles had better find a way to start winning some of them.
LAST WEEK: lost vs. No. 1 Fresno-Bullard, 28-21. THIS WEEK: at No. 6 Fresno-Edison

5. Stockdale (3-1, Division I, last week: 6) — Seems like the Mustangs might be taking over that typical Clovis East role of a team that's a bit under the radar section-wide, but a team no coach in his right mind would want to play. With the Wing T humming along plus the threat of a passing attack, Stockdale is a legitmate threat to run the table — playoffs included.
LAST WEEK: won vs. No. 8 Centennial, 49-20. THIS WEEK: at South

6. Fresno-Edison (3-1, Division II, last week: 7) — A loss to Buchanan says a lot when the loser is a few breaks away from a season-changing win. Keep in mind this is a program that had enough talent to be a Division II state-bowl threat a year ago before off-field issues derailed it. There are some new faces, but don't forget about the Tigers.
LAST WEEK: lost vs. No. 2 Clovis-Buchanan, 22-12. THIS WEEK: vs. No. 4 Clovis West

7. Liberty (2-2, Division I, last week: 12) — It didn't take long for the Patriots to remind all of us doubters that it only takes a little offense to support a truly great D. Liberty got that against Bakersfield and now stands a great chance at an undefeated league season. A showdown in Week 6 with Stockdale could be the only obstacle between Liberty and, against a lot of odds a couple of weeks ago, a home game in the playoffs.
LAST WEEK: won vs. No. 4 Bakersfield, 27-20. THIS WEEK: at Foothill

8. Bakersfield (2-2, Division I, last week: 4) — Seems strange to rank the Drillers so far below Stockdale just three weeks after BHS beat the Mustangs in a nail-biter. But if you look at the whole body of work, I think Stockdale deserves the clear nod for now. Bakersfield still has the talent to compete, but mistakes have derailed the Drillers too many times to consider them a fluke anymore.
LAST WEEK: lost at No. 12 Liberty, 27-20. THIS WEEK: at No. 9 Centennial

9. Centennial (3-1, Division I, last week: 8) — Again, here's a team that's multiple spots below another, Liberty, that it beat just a few weeks ago. I told you to take these rankings with a grain of salt. But just like I see Stockdale as a cut above the other D-I teams in town, I'm not sure Centennial isn't still a slight notch below. They have a huge chance to prove me wrong this week.
LAST WEEK: lost at No. 6 Stockdale, 49-20. THIS WEEK: vs. No. 8 Bakersfield

10. Fresno-San Joaquin Memorial (4-0, Division II, last week: 9) — Another casualty of the Kern County Division I mix-up is the Panthers, who won a road game against a ranked team and dropped a spot. Somebody had to make room for Liberty, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take Memorial seriously — though a defense that has averaged just 8.8 points against gets a serious test this week.
LAST WEEK: won at No. 15 Fresno-Hoover, 15-12. THIS WEEK: at No. 2 Clovis-Buchanan

11. Fresno-Central (3-2, Division I, last week: 10) — Here's a team with some speed that can cause some serious problems for anyone. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the Grizzlies can do when they get into TRAC play — this is a school with the athletes to compete and win against Clovis Unified schools in basketball, so don't doubt it can do it on the gridiron as well.
LAST WEEK: won vs. Fresno-Sunnyside, 73-7. THIS WEEK: BYE

12. Kingsburg (4-0, Division IV, last week: 11) — Quarterback Tyler Bray has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,050 yards, 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He hasn't even had to use his considerable running ability. No wonderLane Kiffin at Tennessee was interested.
LAST WEEK: won vs. Reedley-Immanuel, 63-14. THIS WEEK: vs. Coalinga

13. Visalia-El Diamante (3-1, Division II, last week: 13) — A huge out-of-section game for the Miners this week, especially when you consider the rest of the schedule. With Hanford having a down year, there isn't anyone to give El D much of a challenge in the West Yosemite League, meaning Friday night might be the Miners' last chance to learn something before running into Tulare Union or Edison in the playoffs.
LAST WEEK: won vs. Visalia-Mt. Whitney, 41-20. THIS WEEK: at Paso Robles

14. Frontier (4-0, Division II, last week: 14) — Don't sleep on Frontier. The Titans play in a league that will test them nearly every week, especially now with North out of the way, and they still have a chance to be 8-0 when they visit Stockdale in Week 9. Not to mention that the top dogs in D-II better scoot over; someone else belongs at the table.
LAST WEEK: won vs. North, 40-0. THIS WEEK: at West

15. Chowchilla (3-1, Division IV, last week: NR) — Meh. Consider this spot up for grabs until a team takes it by the reins. For now, the Redskins get it thanks to a win against Oakhurst-Yosemite last week. The first four or five teams on the waiting list below could easily be here this week or next.
LAST WEEK: won at Oakhurst-Yosemite, 30-22. THIS WEEK: at Kerman

Dropped out: No. 15 Fresno-Hoover
Waiting: Fresno-Hoover, Clovis East, Tehachapi, Clovis North, West, Taft, Lindsay, Fresno-Washington Union, Wasco, Delano, South, Exeter