I know it's football season now, but I have to say, there's something about playoff baseball that absolutely captures my attention. These guys play 162 games in a game that's all about repitition and longevitiy and then have their entire seasons come down to one game. That said, the fact that Major League Baseball put Tuesday's Tigers-Twins game at 2 p.m. disturbs me. Not that I don't like day baseball; I think as many games as possible should be played in the afternoon. It's just that I'm trying to start this predictions column a little early this week and the game is distracting me to no end.

But, the show must go on, and if I'm going to have this posted by Wednesday afternoon, it's time I got going. After all, there's more playoff baseball tomorrow afternoon. And there are good football games to talk about, too. The Southwest Yosemite League brings us a trio of intriguing games in what should be one of many great weeks in that balanced league. There's also the last non-league week for South Sequoia League teams, some more league play from the SEYL and of course, another Division I showdown, Bakersfield at Centennial.

So let's look into the crystal ball and do some Week 5 predictions. First, a look back at a wild and crazy Week 4.

The good: Quite a few things, if I do say so myself. Wasco to take out D-V power Corcoran probably was my best pick. Taking Stockdale to roll Centennial. Garces shaking off any off-field distractions and beating Golden Valley. Going 6-1 in Southern Section games (though, again, the Immanuel Christian schedule was screwed up, so I didn't count that game. I think the issue is solved now.)

The bad: Thinking Liberty wouldn't find the offense to capitalize on any Bakersfield mistakes. I thought West would make a game of it with Ridgeview, but I picked the Wolf Pack to come through late, not the Vikings.

The ugly: Not much, though thinking East didn't have much of a chance at Highland turned out to be a black eye. I did better on teams I haven't seen than teams I have, which probably doesn't speak well for me.

Thursday, Oct. 8
MIRA MONTE (0-4, 0-0 SCSL) AT TULARE-MISSION OAK (0-4, 0-0) — They've officially named the Freeway League the South Central Sequoia League, which is important only for this year because in 2010, all of these teams will go into their permanent leagues. But while Independence has to be the odds-on favorite to win the league title, this could well be a battle for second place (the teams play again Nov. 6 at Highland). Neither team has shown a whole lot so far; the closest game either has played was the Lions' 30-11 defeat to lowly Shafter two weeks ago. Mission Oak has played a tougher schedule, but I'll say getting pounded by 50+ every week has messed with the Hawks' confidence a little. Mira Monte gets its first varsity win by a touchdown.
Prediction: Mira Monte 28, Mission Oak 21

Friday, Oct. 9
FRONTIER (4-0, 1-0 SWYL) AT WEST (2-2, 1-0) — What originally looked like a game that would be interesting only because Frontier's Rich Cornford is going back to his old stomping grounds has suddely become much more than that, thanks to West's hard-fought loss to Liberty and, more important, a comeback to beat Ridgeview last week. So what do the Vikings have in store for Frontier? Lots of speed and probably the stiffest test the Titans defense has faced all year. But Frontier is the best around on special teams, and that can play a huge role in a game. West also has struggled at times on D, while Frontier's offense has put up 40+ in three of four games so far. Matt Darr will force West into some long fields and the Vikings won't be able to keep up.
Prediction: Frontier 35, West 17

STOCKDALE (3-1, 1-0 SWYL) AT SOUTH (4-0, 0-0) — Now the real challenge begins for the Rebels. They've shown they can put up points in bunches against lesser teams, but they haven't seen the speed Stockdale has on defense. They've shown the ability to pull away from teams in the second half — Foothill kept it close for a half last week — but Stockdale has a huge roster full of athletes. I'm not saying South can't win; it's not out of the question by any means. But the Rebels will need an early lead, or at least a close score throughout, so they can shorten the game with their ground game. Then, a big play or a mistake from Stockdale could turn it and keep South unbeaten. But I'll play the odds here and say Stockdale wears the home team down.
Prediction: Stockdale 41, South 21

BAKERSFIELD (2-2) AT CENTENNIAL (3-1) — This certainly has game of the week potential, but for some reason it doesn't excite me like last week's Division I games or next week's Stockdale-Liberty clash. Or maybe I just feel like giving a little more love to some other teams playing well, like Frontier, West and South. But this really ought to be a good game. It's a must for either team if they want a chance at a top-four seed in the playoffs after last week's losses in league openers. Centennial has to be hopeful about its passing game's chances after what Buchanan did to BHS a couple of weeks ago, but I have a feeling this is the week the Drillers put together a complete game — limit the mistakes and tighten up the defense, and this can still be the best team around. And they have to show it sometime, don't they?
Prediction: Bakersfield 42, Centennial 28

HIGHLAND (2-3, 0-1 SEYL) AT GARCES (2-2, 1-0) — For a team desperate for some wins after dumping a home game to East last week, the Scots' schedule doesn't set up well. They still have trips to Frontier, Liberty and Bakersfield after this one, which isn't exactly an easy game. I sense there might be a "circle the wagons" mentality on the Rams team after all that David Fanucchi controversy. And the team is plenty good to get that done. The Wing T should hum through this one and set up a no-lose situation for the Rams at home against BHS next week.
Prediction: Garces 27, Highland 10

LIBERTY (2-2, 1-0 SEYL) AT FOOTHILL (1-3, 0-0) — The Trojans showed some life in the first half last week against South before wilting, and they won the week before, albeit against Kennedy and its seniorless team. So are they up for setting a trap for Liberty, which is coming off an emotional, crucial victory against Bakersfield and gearing up for another biggie with Stockdale next week? I don't think so. Even if the Patriots are sluggish, their defense should be more than enough to keep Foothill at bay long enough to give Dillon Meadows and the spread offense to continue to find itself.
Prediction: Liberty 31, Foothill 0

RIDGEVIEW (4-1, 0-1 SWYL) AT NORTH (1-3, 0-1) — Here's an interesting test for the Wolf Pack. Fresh off a disappointing (probably, that's putting it mildly) fourth quarter at home against West when they lost a chance to be 5-0, Dennis Manning's boys have to refocus and figure out how to stop North's Wing T. Lucky for Ridgeview, the Stars have been hurting themselves with turnovers for much of the year and haven't had a whole lot of success defensively. I think Tyler Dogins has another big night, and I think the Wolf Pack outrushes North — that's usually a recipe for success against a Wing-T team.
Prediction: Ridgeview 33, North 14

GOLDEN VALLEY (1-3, 0-1 SEYL) AT EAST (1-3, 1-0) — It's funny how one game can change your outlook on everything. East wins at Highland, with a shutout no less, and all of a sudden the Blades probably see three or four more possible wins sitting in their schedule. Especially at the high school level, the confidence you can get from that first one can go a long way. Of course, Golden Valley's outlook probably changed after each of the past two weeks: The Bulldogs beat 3-0 Chavez two weeks ago before losing 49-0 to Garces last Friday. Will things change again? I'm going to say East keeps it rolling behind QB Joe Pearson and an offense that can get things done.
Prediction: East 30, Golden Valley 24

INDEPENDENCE (2-2) AT CLOVIS NORTH (3-1) — These are clearly the best two first-year teams in the Central Section; it's no fluke that they've combined for five wins and the other three (Mira Monte, Kennedy, Mission Oak) have none. But there might just be another gap between them. The Broncos decided it was a good idea to enter the Division III playoffs and the County-Metro Athletic Conference before they even had a senior class; that alone should tell you that Clovis North is no normal first-year team. Plenty of wins are coming in the South Central Sequoia League for the Falcons, but I don't think they're up for a road win here.
Prediction: Clovis North 34, Independence 16

SUN VALLEY-VILLAGE CHRISTIAN (4-1) AT BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN (2-2) — The Eagles' loss to Pasadena-Maranatha bothered me a lot more than their previous defeat to Visalia-Central Valley Christian because Maranatha was so easily able to make BCHS one-dimensional. Then they shut down that dimension. In a 28-2 loss, Bakersfield Christian had just 100 yards of offense, and quarterback Arend Bos, who had been very productive in each of the first three games, was just 2-of-20 for 33 yards. Ick. The good news is that Village Christian has surrendered more than 100 passing yards and a TD per game, so Bos and company should be able to find their timing. The bad news is the Crusaders look like the kind of team that can chew up a lot of yardage on the ground — just like CVC.
Prediciton: Village Christian 28, Bakersfield Christian 20

PORTERVILLE (3-1) AT TAFT (3-1) — I really need to get out and see a game at Taft at some point, because word is the Wildcats have one of the best home-field advantages around. It should be at full strength here, against a Division III team and with a three-game winning streak on the line. Taft's biggest games after this — Tehachapi and Wasco — are on the road, which doesn't bode particularly well. But Steve Sprague has his team rolling right now, and I don't expect it to end this week.
Prediction: Taft 31, Porterville 21

PORTERVILLE-MONACHE (2-2, 1-0 EYL) AT DELANO (4-0, 0-0) — Speaking of home-field edges, the Tigers enjoy one too, or so I hear — this is another place I need to get out to. This week Delano faces its toughest test yet, a Monache team that was 5-5 last year and gave Visalia-Mt.Whitney a scare in a 41-40 loss. This still is a team Delano ought to be able to handle, especially at home, setting up a nice little showdown at Porterville next week.
Prediction: Delano 35, Monache 20

ROSAMOND (1-3) AT TEHACHAPI (3-1) — As I begin to realize more and more how good Frontier is, it'd be wise not to forget that Tehachapi's resume looks better and better too. That blowout loss to Frontier is one a lot of teams would have suffered, especially in Division III. Because they get Taft at home, I still think the Warriors have the goods to win the SSL again. Rosamond and Shafter in the next two weeks offer a couple of good opportunities to tune up for the bulk of the league run.
Prediction: Tehachapi 40, Rosamond 7

CHAVEZ (3-2, 0-1 EYL) AT TULARE WESTERN (1-3, 0-1) — Forget the Tulare Union blowout loss — those aren't the types of teams Chavez is ready to compete with. But this tricky road test is exactly the sort of game the Titans need to win if they're to get that elusive first winning season in school history and get a decent seed in the Division III playoffs. It's a road game, and the Mustangs are a similar type of ball control/defense team, but it's a winnable game. Gut-check time for Chavez, and I'll say they pass.
Prediction: Chavez 20, Tulare Western 12

LINDSAY (4-1) AT McFARLAND (3-2) — Here's a perfect example of what I was talking about with East: One win for the Cougars, even though it was against seniorless Kennedy, sparked something, and McFarland was able to turn that into quality victories against Mojave and Cambria-Coast Union. This is a team that has three running backs averaging better than 6 yards a carry, so it's a threat in the East Sierra League. This week, McFarland probably is in over its head a bit, but it's still a good measuring stick before the league season. Just don't lose that momentum.
Prediction: Lindsay 49, McFarland 9

ARCADIA-RIO HONDO PREP (4-0) AT DESERT (1-3) — It's obviously taking the Scorpions some time to get over the graduation of Terrence Wells. They've scored just 47 points in four games and now face a team that's given up only 13.3 points a game. The Kares (don't know what the heck that is, but it's cool) also beat Boron, who handled Desert easily last week.
Prediction: Rio Hondo Prep 37, Desert 13

LA HABRA-WHITTIER CHRISTIAN (3-1) AT KERN VALLEY (4-0) — If you want excitement, Kern Valley is the team to watch. After a couple of ho-hummers to start the season, the Broncs have won back-to-back overtime thrillers against Boron and Piedmont, with the scores of both games well up in the 30s. Now another quality team comes to town. I've picked against KV each of the past two weeks and come out on the wrong end; but I feel like if I change my ways, I might miss the week that the Broncs' luck turns against them. So you're welcome, Kern Valley fans; my anti-jinx is in effect again.
Prediction: Whittier Chrisitan 33, Kern Valley 27, OT

FRAZIER MOUNTAIN (4-0) VS. PANORAMA CITY-ST. GENEVIEVE (5-0) AT SUN VALLEY-POLY — Something obviously has to give in this battle of unbeatens, and while I hate to predict that three of the county's five unbeaten teams will see their runs come to an end in the same week, I've just got a feeling the Falcons are the underdogs here. I think St. Genevieve's dual-threat QB, Chris Navarro, goes over 200 yards of offense and leads the Valiants to another victory. But it'll be close.
Prediction: St. Genevieve 28, Frazier Mountain 24

BURROUGHS (2-2) AT HESPERIA (2-2) — You can say one thing about the Burros: They like to challenge themselves in the non-conference schedule. There are no gimmes, and they're always heading to Tehachapi or Bakersfield or Lancaster to play another good-sized school, and they usually give 'em hell, if not a loss to go with it. I think that attitude is rewarded more often than not, and so after a comeback fell short against Tehachapi last week, this week's effort will be enough to get into Desert Sky League play with a winning record.
Prediction: Burroughs 31, Hesperia 23

Saturday, Oct. 10
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN (2-2, 1-0 CVSSL) AT CLOVIS CHRISTIAN (1-2, 0-0) — This will be a hotly contested rematch of a game from last year when Clovis Christian stormed off the field in the fourth quarter, accusing Lighthouse of stealing play calls with the help of a chain-gang member on a cell phone. I did some investigating, and while the chain-guy apparently was talking to somebody (welcome to 8-man football!), I don't think any info was being exchanged. That'd be a little too suspicious, wouldn't it? More likely is that Clovis Christian was getting surprised by a rebuilding Lighthouse team. Good karma (and the fact that the architect of that upset is now the Guardians' head coach) says Lighthouse wins another one.
Prediction: Lighthouse Christian 31, Clovis Christian 28

MARICOPA (3-1) AT SANTA MARIA-VALLEY CHRISTIAN (2-1-1) — While it probably won't be as well attended as Bakersfield College's juco showdown with Allan Hancock in Santa Maria the same day, this one also has some league title implications. Al Allen's Indians have the goods to win the Coast Valley League, and with two winless teams around, it looks like it'll come down to these two teams and Shandon, which visits Maricopa next week. I'll trust coach Allen and say Maricopa takes a big step towards that title.
Prediction: Maricopa 38, Valley Christian 25

BAKER (2-0) AT IMMANUEL CHRISTIAN (2-2) — I think I'm finally on the same page with the Crusaders on their scheduling now that we're into Hi-Lo League play. Now the problem will be getting a beat on the team. Immanuel Chrisitian looks fairly young and is playing for a new coach. Baker is undefeated. Seems like enough reason to go with the Mad Greeks, er, I mean, Braves.
Prediction: Baker 39, Immanuel Christian 31

Last week: 16-4 (.800)
This year: 77-29 (.726)