|
|
|
UPDATED, 12:24 a.m.: Sorry for the lack of updates, but things get crazy when games drag on Friday night. I told you this was stressful for us scribes. But a fun game to watch at Centennial nonetheless, with North hanging on for a 49-42 victory — its first win against CHS in school history....
|
Comments [10] - Views [416]
|
|
|
|
Check out tomorrow's print edition of The Californian for a short piece on changing — or not-so-changing — offenses in Kern County. For now, enjoy the podcast.
|
Comments [0] - Views [116]
|
|
|
|
I think I might need to see a psychologist or something: I can't even make up my own mind. This prediction blog becomes the highlight and lowlight of my week every Wednesday.
On one level, I love doing it and love going out on a limb and taking a shot at what's going on. But at the same...
|
Comments [4] - Views [482]
|
|
|
|
It's Election Day, and if you haven't voted, go out and do so before you read this. I don't care if you write in your own name, but you owe it to the country and to its people to make your voice heard.
OK, now that that spiel is out of the way, let's get to something decidedly undemocratic...
|
Comments [5] - Views [288]
|
|
|
|
Now that we're all completely confused — and yet somehow even more mesmerized — by the high school football season, it's time to gauge where we are with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
A full Central Section and Kern County score list from Friday night can be found here....
|
Comments [14] - Views [221]
|
|
|
|
The Aces are one of three Kern County Special Olympics floor hockey teams and one of 75 teams in Sothern California. These athletes come from all over Kern County and some have been playing floor hockey for over 20 years. The athletes...
|
Comments [1] - Views [32]
|
|
|
|
UPDATE, 12:13 a.m.: And I thought the football season was crazy before tonight. We had a fitting Halloween for Week 8, with the biggest upset this year to date — Golden Valley over Bakersfield — and a couple of other interesting results. All the available scores are below, and I'll...
|
Comments [5] - Views [354]
|
|
|
|
For once in my life, I don't have much to say. So re-read my rant from Monday or check out Week 8 rankings and predictions if this podcast isn't enough football for you.
|
Comments [0] - Views [111]
|
|
|
|
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...
|
Comments [9] - Views [438]
|
|
|
|
If you missed it, we've got a lively discussion going on the previous post about what is (in my opinion) a watered-down playoff system we've got going in the Central Section.
On to Central Section rankings, something that actually rewards teams for doing well instead of lumping them with...
|
Comments [5] - Views [334]
|
|
|
|
Before I get to the topic at hand (and I have a heck of a rant ready, so be forewarned), I wanted to atone for a mistake.
I realized today that I gypped my loyal blog readers of a look-ahead to next week (this week's) big high school football games in my Week 7 edition of "most...
|
Comments [11] - Views [318]
|
|
|
|
Before I get to the topic at hand (and I have a heck of a rant ready, so be forewarned), I wanted to atone for a mistake.
I realized today that I gypped my loyal blog readers of a look-ahead to next week (this week's) big high school football games in my Week 7 edition of "most...
|
Comments [11] - Views [318]
|
|
|
|
What a year it's turned out to be in Kern County high school football, with upsets galore, many teams still in contention and an intriguing playoffs coming in just about every division. Let's recap the week that was.
— Bakersfield Christian and Tehachapi provided everything you could want...
|
Comments [5] - Views [225]
|
|
|
|
UPDATED, 12:08 a.m.: Here's a quick-reflex reaction of some of tonight's key results:
Bakersfield Christian 40, Tehachapi 35: BCHS coach Doug Barnett said after the game that Derek Carr doesn't yet have a full grasp of the spread offense. That's a scary, scary thought, considering Carr was...
|
Comments [5] - Views [274]
|
|
|
|
We interrupt your regularly scheduled football programming to bring you this boys basketball note:
Very nice ceremony for Stephon Carter at Garces today, where he announced his intention to sign with Cal State Bakersfield to play for the next four years.
I've asked a few basketball people...
|
Comments [1] - Views [279]
|
|
|
|
Here's the Week 7 edition of the football podcast. Check back later today for a quick note on Stephon Carter's announcement today that he'll play basketball for Cal State Bakersfield. Pretty impressive for the Roadrunners, considering Carter had offers from Arizona State and Colorado also on the...
|
Comments [0] - Views [98]
|
|
|
|
There comes a time in every season, I like to think, when the best teams start playing like the best teams and the pretenders start to fade and/or expose themselves. I don't think there's a set point in every season where it happens — in the baseball season, for instance, is it after the...
|
Comments [2] - Views [350]
|
|
|
|
To make up for my lackadaisical weekend, I'm giving you a double post Tuesday! The rankings haven't been shaken up too much this week, but there are some juicy matchups ahead in Week 7. Let's set things up:
1. Clovis West (4-2, Div. I, last week: 1) — No problem for Golden Eagles in their...
|
Comments [4] - Views [292]
|
|
|
|
Sorry this is a couple of days late. I've been out of town and haven't had a chance to group my thoughts. With four weeks left in the regular season, the high school season is starting to take shape.
UDPATED, 2:45 p.m.: Before we get to this week's Most Important Things, a quick...
|
Comments [1] - Views [127]
|
|
|
|
Reader: I just wanted to tell you that
I was really surprised at all the nega-
tive comments that were made con-
cerning the new format.
From day one, I found the new size
totally easier to handle. The expanded
TV section is awesome, and I find the
print extremely easy to read. And...
|
Comments [0] - Views [22]
|
|
|
|
Reader: I was just reading the
fantastic coverage you have on
local high school sports today,
March 14th. And, wow, the Garces
boys tennis team scrambled for an
SEYL win the 13th. And I saw the
other day that David Carr signed a
deal to sit on the bench for the New
York Giants.
When is...
|
Comments [0] - Views [31]
|
|
|
|
UPDATED, 12:24 a.m.: A full score list (of what we have) is below, but here are some that caught my eye:
Liberty 17, Stockdale 10 — Turns out I do know jack. Or maybe I'm just lucky. But whatever the case might be, Liberty found a way to win a close game and Stockdale finally...
|
Comments [0] - Views [87]
|
|
|
|
Here is the belated edition of the Week 6 podcast. Also be sure to check out Week 6 predictions that just went up.
|
Comments [0] - Views [14]
|
|
|
|
First off, sorry for the late post; we had technical issues all last night at The Californian and I was helping out with some other things — and coaches, if you tried to call in your score from a Wednesday event, you might try back tonight, as the phone lines were affected too....
|
Comments [0] - Views [92]
|
|
|
|
It's hard to believe it's Week 6 already. By the time the games are over with Friday night, we'll be four short weeks away from knowing all of our league champions and begin a weekend of waiting on playoff seeding.
Until then, here are some shaken-up Central Section football rankings. Losers...
|
Comments [8] - Views [189]
|
|
|
|
Somehow, we still have a month before Daylight Savings Time ends (wasn't that supposed to be a summer thing?), but the weather finally is turning a little bit and the fall is moving along quite rapidly.
Know what that means? Don't look now, but the postseason for fall sports begins in...
|
Comments [0] - Views [132]
|
|
|
|
For those who were out and about this weekend (and first, a word of silence for my Missouri Tigers, who lost their perfect season in a Saturday night heartbreaker to Oklahoma State), there were a couple of notable games played a day later than usual.
First, Garces spoiled Highland's unbeaten...
|
Comments [7] - Views [137]
|
|
|
|
UPDATE, 3:30 p.m. Saturday: A quick halftime update from Highland, where Garces has more or less controlled action and leads 20-7 in its makeup game with unbeaten Highland. The Rams' Jalen Sykes, just a sophomore, has been the star, rushing nine times for 101 yards and a TD, plus opening the...
|
Comments [3] - Views [266]
|
|
|
|
Forgive me for the bad analogy at the beginning of this podcast. I wonder aloud whether it's the greatest or worst metaphor of all time, and I think I've settled on the worst. Luckily, fellow reporter Simon Samano and copy editor/Kern County football guru Todd Camps pick up my slack. Enjoy...
|
Comments [0] - Views [109]
|
|
|
|
I can't seem to shake this feeling that this week is going by soooo slowly. I even took Monday off, and yet it feels like it should be Friday afternoon already. I almost don't have the energy to go through all of these predictions.
Nah, I take that back. I can always get up for some...
|
Comments [3] - Views [574]
|
|
|
|
You could read these rankings ... or you could just throw all the Central Section teams in a hat and pick a few winners each week.
No, seriously, read them. And it's not like there were that many upsets last week. But when Stockdale — No. 5 in last week's rankings — can't put away...
|
Comments [1] - Views [209]
|
|
|
|
October is the most wonderful time of the sports year, with baseball playoffs beginning (we have a certain staffer at The Californian, who shall remain nameless, who says the baseball season doesn't begin until October), basketball and hockey season getting ready to go, and of course...
|
Comments [4] - Views [194]
|
|
|
|
UPDATED, 12:04 a.m.: The full score list is below, but I'll pull out a couple you might be interested in:
Stockdale 45, Centennial 44 — The Mustangs remain unbeaten by the skin of their teeth in what Californian staffer Simon Samano calls the best game he's ever seen. Stockdale scored...
|
Comments [6] - Views [303]
|
|
|
|
Ladies and gentlemen, your Week 4 high school football podcast — the three-pronged version, with myself, fellow reporter Simon Samano and copy editor/designer/Kern County football guru Todd Camps.
We'll have full coverage of Week 4 games in the paper tomorrow and Saturday, plus a...
|
Comments [1] - Views [123]
|
|
|
|
I did a little better in my picks last week, getting exactly two-thirds of the games right. Still not great, but I'm working on it, and at least I'm not in chicken-peck territory.
I'll steal a feature from one of my favorite college football bloggers to recap last week's picks: the...
|
Comments [5] - Views [381]
|
|
|
|
If Bakersfield teams are going to win either the Division I or II Central Section football titles this year, it's going to be an upset. The Fresno area, while perhaps not as deep as Kern County, has a monopoly on the top teams in the section thus far.
That could change, of course, and it...
|
Comments [3] - Views [260]
|
|
|
|
We'll be back to football on Tuesday with the newest Central Section rankings, but tonight I'd like to give a little love to the other fall sports, which, like football, are in full swing and rapidly approaching (or already zipping through) league play.
VOLLEYBALL — League play started...
|
Comments [2] - Views [126]
|
|
|
|
Another exciting week means there's plenty to talk about again. And we can do it with a distinct look ahead to the league races that are coming to stadiums near you everywhere next Friday.
First, if you need a handy guide to some Week 3 scores, look no further.
— I don't know...
|
Comments [2] - Views [117]
|
|
|
|
UPDATED, 12:18 a.m.: Scores keep rolling in (check for them below), but here are a few important ones:
Clovis-Buchanan 41, Bakersfield 34
Stockdale 29, Clovis 26
West 23, Liberty 21
Centennial 41, East 21
Bakersfield Christian 41, Madera Ranchos-Liberty 3
Corona-Centennial 42, Clovis West 7...
|
Comments [3] - Views [360]
|
|
|
|
Who am I to tell you how to spend your time, but if you like what you hear on this Week 3 podcast, you can tune in to the KRAB morning radio show on 106.1 FM tomorrow morning to listen to Francis, Meathead and I discuss some high school football goings-on. The segment should...
|
Comments [1] - Views [138]
|
|
|
|
As exciting as last week was, I took a big hit in my predictions. Going .500 isn't exactly the point — after all, a coin flip or a chicken pecking at one team's name or the other would go .500 over the long run, and I'd like to think I do more research than either. No, we have...
|
Comments [8] - Views [412]
|
|
|
|
Well, at some point, I've got to quit being so surprised at what happened in Kern County football's Week 2 and start to try to make some sense of the carnage.
That means answering questions like: What does Stockdale's victory against Bakersfield High mean? Is Stockdale better than...
|
Comments [0] - Views [220]
|
|
|
|
This past Sunday there are a couple of surprising winners and losers in the NFL. Let’s begin with a dominating performance by the Miami Dolphins on the road against the New England Patriots. The last time New England lost a regular season game was December 10, 2006 against the Dolphins....
|
Comments [1] - Views [48]
|
|
|
|
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the Wringling Bros. newest attraction! It's Kern County high school football!
Now, just kidding, we haven't gone into circus mode quite yet. But what a wild and crazy week it was in Kern County high school football. Let's see if we can decipher...
|
Comments [8] - Views [208]
|
|
|
|
UPDATE: I'm not a big Chris Berman fan, but the longtime ESPN anchor has one saying that's perfect for Valley football tonight: "That's why they play the game."
Kern County has been turned on his head as far as I'm concerned. You can check out the list of scores below...
|
Comments [7] - Views [350]
|
|
|
|
Ladies and gents, your Week 2 podcast. A quick note you might have seen commented on in the last post: Looks like Clovis East and Fresno-Edison, two of the premier football programs in the Central Section are either already in some recruiting trouble (Clovis East can't have home...
|
Comments [0] - Views [151]
|
|
|
|
Before we begin, there's some gravely sad news to report out of Riverside. Boron sophomore Vinnie Rodriguez, who was taken to the Loma Linda Medical Center in Riverside after sustaining apparent head injuries in the Bobcats game Friday, died last night.
It's a shock any time this happens, but...
|
Comments [22] - Views [556]
|
|
|
|
Whether it’s major league sports or your little brothers Pop Warner football league, everyone these days seem to be tough on many of our sports officials. Some that are top paid professionals, and many who do not receive any indulgences for their service, and worse yet a lack of respect...
|
Comments [0] - Views [16]
|
|
|
|
Lots of big games this week in the Central Section resulted in surprisingly little movement at the top of this week's rankings.
1. Bakersfield (1-0, Div. I, last week: 1) — Is Edison's win against Compton-Dominguez better than BHS' 38-32 Week 0 triumph over Canyon? Hard to say....
|
Comments [0] - Views [200]
|
|
|
|
Sorry this is late. I've been out of town for the weekend recharging the batteries a little bit, but here are your Week 1 most important things. Check back tomorrow for new Central Section power rankings.
— Statement of the week goes to Stockdale, which made me look like a fool with a huge...
|
Comments [4] - Views [187]
|
|
|
