The haves and the have-nots.
The haves are the teams built to win, chase league titles and play other competitive teams as a chance to measure themselves and strive to get better. These teams want to see how well they can stack up when league happens and also in the postseason.
The have-nots are the teams who seem to be the opposition when the Homecoming game comes up on the schedule or, as was apparent recently, had players who’d rather stay on the sidelines, be in the crowd or perhaps join their friends on a Homecoming float rather than play on the football field. Some of these teams are struggling.
Week seven of 11 for the regular-season just passed. Playoff brackets will be out as soon as November arrives. During week one of League play, there were plenty of lopsided scores. Coaches always speak about cleaning up a few areas early in the year to get better. Eliminating penalties and staying healthy are both critically important — even some top teams struggle with that. But there are teams who continue to make the same mistakes, stay in a cycle that’s only going to remain as players choose to transfer in search of greener pastures.
Last week was a prime example of who has it good and who doesn’t. Here’s a look back at the games, including several with a running clock in place early:
Bakersfield 63, Highland 0: The Drillers did exactly that to the Scots as part of BHS’ Homecoming festivities. Sophomore quarterback Elon Mackey, filling in for senior Elijah Cavazos, completed three of four passes for 132 yards and threw two touchdown passes. He ran for two more in the South Yosemite Valley League opener. Seven different players scored a touchdown and kicker Jack Hopkins was nine-for-nine on PATs for BHS (5-1, 1-0). The Drillers shut out their third opponent this season. Highland fell to 2-4, 0-1.
Bakersfield Christian 35, Ridgeview 0: The Eagles improved to 6-0 with a Homecoming game shutout in its SYVL opening-game against the Wolf Pack (2-4, 0-1). BCHS got two touchdown passes from Lincoln Adame to Andrew Calderon and three rushing TDs from Darriyon Page. BCHS faces Highland next. Ridgeview gets Independence coming off a bye week.
Wasco 48, Chavez 0: Hammie Lopez continued his strong senior season, returning a punt for a touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown to help the Tigers rebound from its first loss of the season with a shutout victory over the Titans in the South Sequoia League opener. Jayven Hernandez and Aiden Hulsey also ran for a touchdown and Moroni Carranza and Daniel Hulsey each caught a touchdown pass as Wasco improved to 5-1, 1-0. Chavez, coming off a win two weeks ago, was shutout for the fifth time this season and fell to 1-5, 0-1.
Shafter 55, Taft 7: After Joe Weber scored a rushing touchdown for an early 7-0 Taft lead, the Generals’ Mariyon Sloan ran for four touchdowns and 140 yards, quarterback Ezekiel Osborne threw for 300 yards and two scores, Aaron Jimenez and Isaac Nazaroff each had a rushing TD and receivers Luis Santana had seven catches for 110 yards and Alex Reyna had six for 85 yards with an Osborne-thrown TD pass. Shafter is 5-1, 1-0 SSL.
Kennedy 56, Delano 6: A battle for Delano went the way of the Thunderbirds, who broke free of a 6-6 tie early in the first quarter, asserting themselves and scoring the next 50 points in the South Sequoia League opener for both teams. Kennedy had eight rushing touchdowns, led by Jace Demacabalin’s 90 yards and three scores, and Cristian Hernandez’s 155 yards and a 57-yard run for a score. Both teams now face two other strong SSL teams this week as Delano plays at Shafter and Kennedy hosts Wasco. All four teams have a 5-1 record.
Tehachapi 41, East 7: Quarterback Colton Michael and running back Walter Rubie combined for 372 yards rushing and five touchdowns to lead the host Warriors over the Blades in the South Yosemite Mountain League opener. East is still searching for its first win of the season. Maximus Hull and Jacob Borboa connected through the air for the Blades’ lone score.
Boron 46, Kern Valley 38: Boron edged Kern Valley in a high-scoring High Desert League opener. Boron quarterback Jalen York threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score, while Kern Valley got two touchdowns from Shiloh Galvan and quarterback Jackson Price threw three touchdowns and ran for another in the loss. Boron is 3-3, 1-0 while Kern Valley is 2-4, 0-1.
West 28, South 12: Solomon Harris continued his sensational season for the Vikings, running for 200 yards and two scores, throwing for over 100 yards and another score in a win over South. Deonte Butler also had a touchdown for West (4-2, 1-0) in the SYML opener. The Spartans (1-5, 0-1) got rushing touchdowns from Isreal Fuentes and Rodney Williams.
McFarland 40, Sierra 6: Quarterback Malachi Davis threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Cougars soundly defeated the Chieftains in a non-league game. McFarland, which plays as an independent, improved its record to 5-2.
Foothill 36, Mira Monte 33: The Trojans, who claimed the Highway 58 Trophy for the 11th time in 16 years, improved to 4-2 overall, 1-0 in the South Yosemite Horizon League. Mira Monte (1-5, 0-1) rallied from a 36-20 deficit with 13 points in the fourth quarter to get close. Check out full story at Bakersfield.com.
Golden Valley 38, Del Oro 31 (OT): The host Bulldogs won their second straight game last Thursday, getting a 1-2 rushing attack from Cesar Vazques and Raymond Valderrama. The two combined for 322 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the SYHL opener. Valderrama scored the game-winning TD in overtime. Bryson Raygoza had a 20-yard field goal for Golden Valley (2-4, 1-0). Del Oro (2-4, 0-1) has lost each of its four games by seven or less points.
North 34, Arvin 0: The host Stars (2-4) won their league crossover game — SYML vs. SYHL — by soundly defeating the Bears (2-4). Quarterback Bradley Dockery threw two touchdown passes — one each to Issac Lopez and Gary Oates — ran for 100 yards and North got rushing touchdowns from Mika Lencioni, Gavin Schillizzi and Robert Rodriguez.
