That Frontier vs. Centennial game should be a good one! Really would like to see how the Titan D goes up against Myron Moore and Cody Kessler. Also, good job to the local Volleyball teams!

I know I've been critical of Taft's offense -- but this week vs. Shafter was, for the most part, a beautiful display of offensive balance & explosiveness.

Great use of the short pass to open the run. Also, great recognition to see that when the corners / safety's would jump the short routes, Taft then turned to Seam / Go / Hitch & Go / Fade routes. I know passing isn't the Wildcats' bread & butter, but hey, sometimes you want straight buttered toast (running game), sometimes you may want a little cinnamon sugar, too (passing game)...

Congrats Coach Sprague on opening it up -- keep it up and you'll be a force come DIV playoff time...

I feel that South and West will be duking it out for the top spot next year in the new league Ridgeview will be in a close third followed by GV then the 2 new teams on the block rounding it out.

The Frontier kids played their hearts out!  Had their coach not have gone for that fake field goal in the 1st half,  they would have won !!  What was Cornford thinking?  he was up 7-0 at the time and he has one of the top rated kickers in the nation - why not go for the sure 3 points and go up 10-0??   foolish move IMO ...  shame shame

Only one more week of regular season high school fb is left.  If you missed most of this season's games I am sorry for you.  Here comes your final chance to watch some of these exciting Kern County FB teams this year.   I hope more of you will be able to come cheer on your favorites this week and on into the playoffs.   If Fridays are too busy then have you considered watching your favorite high school's Frosh/Soph team play?   The games are on Thursday and are always fun.  The cost is $3.  All of the excitement (and parent drama)  of Varsity games with smaller crowds and closer parking spots.  I'm making plans to go this week, I hope to see you guys there.   

As far as the (South of 58 League) I would pick Golden Valley.   They will have eight returning offensive starters which include: QB Darrik Martin, Entire Offensive line, and two wide receivers.   On defense they will have 6 returning starters.

If you haven't noticed, the bulldogs are 3-1 vs D3 teams this season and can end up 4-1 if they can beat a much improved Foothill squad this Friday.   

One of my favorite pure athletes, Chris Brown is back for GV and Martin found him for the first TD of the game last week vs Ridgeview.   That should be a great duo for the rest of this year and next year for sure.

Also, I think Frontier wins by 20 against the Kessler Ghawks.

The Titans were vicious against the Mustang run-forcing them to go to the air-so I don't think Frontier will have much trouble containing the G-Hawks Myron Moore (taking nothing away from Moore). Cornford ought to take a hard look at the tape of what the MUSTANGS did against the the G-Hawks-cutting off Kessler's throwing lanes. If the Titans can do the same, pin4's prediction is quite probable. If the Titan D does that, I predict  Frontier 28 Centennial 10. Centennial D will manage to keep Frontier under 30. If Frontier takes care of business against CHS, I think they should be, at lowest a 2 seed. I'm going to speak from my heart to say that if the Titans get lower than a 3 seed in D II, there is clearly a North of Bako bias in playoff seeding. Actually, I think TU is the only school that can arguably be seeded higher than Frontier in D-II.

What's deal with your sports editor... specifically the one who let the story about Highland getting demolished by Liberty titled "Liberty's fast start too much for EB" be published!? Hello, it was HIGHLAND, not East Bakersfield, or EB, that was beaten. It's been widely know that the city barely exists east of union, Garces being the exception, sports wise in the Californian's coverage. But for a story to be published with that little oversight is really bad form! 

 I do have to say  - You Zach, have had a nice, and new,  perspective that's been quite balanced, and pretty accurate in the Bako HS football arena.

I will admit, the error was a little embarrasing for TBC, however...

Sportsnut-with all due respect, there hasn't been much to report east of Union Avenue this year. Highland, East, Foothill, and GV are all having sub-par years this year. Last year and even earlier on this year, everybody jumped on Highland's bandwagon despite the fact that they were not very good and benefitted from  a powder-puff pre league schedule. Foothill is below average and East is somewhat improved over last year, but none of those eastside teams are really legit playoff contenders other than Garces. Trust me; I can speak with authority on this being a North High grad. The only coverage we get is our player either getting creamed and fumbling or the other team running for a TD with just a smudge of a silver and red helmet giving chase, barely staying in frame. When your WINNING, you make headlines-plain and simple.

I saw that Saturday morning and cringed. It's a mistake that shouldn't be made, but keep in mind that we're trying to put together all of our high school football coverage in about an hour and a half on Friday nights. That includes writing, editing, layout, captions, headlines and everything else. Sometimes things slip through the cracks.
And, for the record, I live in east Bakersfield. I wouldn't forget my neighbors.

Patrick319 — Before we get into allegations of bias, keep in mind what the Central Section's criteria are. Teams that are league champions normally get seeding precedence over those who aren't — and Tulare Union, Visalia-El Diamante and Fresno-Memorial will all be league champions barring major upsets next week. Frontier won't, unless West upsets Stockdale.

Whether that's fair is another discussion. But that's what the rules are, and as we know from last year, the seciton adheres quite strictly to those rules. It's entirely possible Frontier could get stuck with a No. 4 seed and a possible quarterfinal game with a team like Fresno-Edison.

Ok-the rules-so the bias is institutionalized. What I mean is the rules 'coincidently' favor teams north of Bako. Most of the leagues up north (the TRAC for instance which consist of mostly D-1 schools) are more homogeneous in terms of divisions. In Bakersfield, we have D1's, D2's, and D3's all playing for the same league title. I mean, whose to say Tulare Union  or El Diamante would have a CHANCE at a league title if they played in the TRAC?  I, for one CAN'T WAIT to see the new power league set-up (although Frontier doesn't benefit being the only D-II team). A league title means you have beaten DIVISIONAL PEERS-not teams from which there has been notable historic win-loss disparities (ie; BHS vs East).

Ok, maybe not a bias. How about saying that D-II's and III's in Bakersfield are at a natural disadvantage when it comes to competing for a league title-therefore competing for a high seed? Then we get into the whole strength in schedule argument...which is practically a non existant factor in the sections seeding.

I agree with you — the league setup in Bakersfield doesn't mesh with what the section's seeding rules. I don't think that's bias; it's just the way it works. But next year, a lot of that will change.

>>If Fridays are too busy then have you considered watching your favorite high school's Frosh/Soph team play?   The games are on Thursday and are always fun.  The cost is $3.  All of the excitement (and parent drama)  of Varsity games with smaller crowds and closer parking spots.

sys_mom:  I agree with you!  I, being a Centennial fan, go to frosh/soph and JV games for all sports all the time.  I enjoy watching those games just as much as varsity games.  I enjoy leading cheers and even running the wave with the cheerleaders and the crowd at a Centennial frosh/soph, JV, or varsity game.

I'd like to encourage more students, alumni, and parents to attend more games at their favorite school and show some support for the athletes and the cheerleaders!

Also, just a reminder to all.  Garces Girls Water Polo have a home game on Tuesday November 10 at 5:00 at McMurtrey Pool against Hanford West who they beat in a tournament 4-2.  Shoudl be a great game!  They are ranked #3 behind Fresno sister school SJM. 

Frontier will destroy Edison if they meet in the playoffs.

Patrick319 - I don't disagree with you on any given point. SO true...If your winning - it's all good.

And Zach, thanks for the explanation, we're all human. 

Keep up the great coverage, and hopefully next year the east side will be more worthy of coverage. :0

Is it basketball season yet?

What are the KHSD rules concerning teams with losing seasons competing in playoff games?   I was in a meeting last night where someone said that the KHSD frowns on teams with less than a .500 season going to the playoffs.  In the same meeting someone stated they heard that Highland plans to go to the playoffs.  Highland so far is 2-8-0 with wins against Arvin and Independence. Their last regular season game is against BHS on Friday.   Are there actual rules or are they more like guidelines?   When teams travel to playoff games who pays that expense?  Do visiting teams get a split of the gate receipts?   Or does playoff income go to the districts?

In regards to Highland going to the playoffs- Really? No, really?

How in the world would that happen? This has to be PC run amok.  No team with a losing record should ever see post season play, period.

That team is so done mentally , and physically, it's a complete waste of time and resources.

I agree that it's ludicrous that just anyone can let themselves into the playoffs, but I wouldn't say HIghland would have no chance if they entered the bracket. Ridgeview went to the playoffs as a 2-8 team last year and gave Tehachapi its best game until the championship. Three years ago Foothill was 4-6 and made it to the championship game in Division III. My real problem is that losing teams can enter the playoffs and consistently do damage. It's a surefire sign that the divisions are too watered down.

Sys_mom, you raise an interesting point. If I can make a little time, I'll look into some schools' different regulations for a story here in the next couple of weeks.

There was a big controversy in Fresno a couple of years ago because Coach Arax didn't do the necessary paperwork to put Bullard with a losing record in the playoffs.  The parents were upset but he didn't feel his team was a playoff team.

Thank you for checking on that information Zach.  I look forward to reading your story.     Does anyone know for sure about Highland and the playoffs?   Just because I hear about them going to the playoffs while I'm at a meeting does not mean it is true.   I do have a  story about playoffs games and their revenue.  For the 2006 D III Valley title game  Foothill @ Garces the powers that be would not let Garces host the game at Garces.   Seems that stadium didn't hold enough people.  So the game was moved to Liberty.   The home side of the Garces stadium had just been remodeled and had  nice new seats but the visitor side was concrete benches only three rows deep.  Even if Garces brought in rented bleachers there were not enough places for visiting fans to sit.   Did you happen to notice that right after the end of the 2007 football season Garces tore out their old visitor side seating and put in a huge mega bleacher?   Garces is not going to miss out on hosting any more football playoff games ever again.  

I still am interested in just how the playoff revenue is split up.  Do only the participating teams share in the revenue or do the districts spend the money to make improvements wherever they are needed?