SBLive's Central Section Fab 15 football rankings: No. 1 Clovis West, No. 2 Buchanan go down in wild week

Talk about a major shakeup. Central threw a wrench in our rankings by manhandling previously No. 1 Clovis West 45-0 at home, a game thoroughly dominated by the Grizzlies in every facet of the game. 

And not to be outdone, Clovis North defeated No. 2 Buchanan 28-21, proving once again that anything can happen in high school football.

To make things even more muddled, there’s a case for any one of the top five teams in our rankings to be No. 1. For example, Buchanan beat Liberty who beat Central who beat Clovis West who beat Buchanan. 

Talk about coming around full circle.

Oh yeah and San Joaquin Memorial beat Central but lost to Buchanan.

See what we mean?

Anyway, as we head towards the final regular season games this week, it’ll all come together and be sorted out when the playoff seeding comes out Saturday, Oct 29. Until then, we’ll be waiting with bated breath.

CS's Fab 15 football rankings (records thru Oct. 22)
1. Liberty-Bakersfield (7-2)
Last week rank: No. 4
Last week result: Defeated Frontier 45-7
Next game: Friday vs Bakersfield
Jaden Hawkins rushed for three touchdowns and the Patriots defense intercepted four passess, cruising to a 45-7 road win against Frontier to clinch a South Yosemite River League title. The defending Central Section Division I champions have a loss to Buchanan - in a game that was stopped with around 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter due to lightning - and a win against Central but our eyeball test tells us they’re No. 1. They finish the regular season with Bakersfield in a non-league game.

2. Clovis West (8-1)
Last week rank: No. 1
Last week result: Lost to Central 45-0
Next game: Friday at Clovis
All good things must come to an end and the Golden Eagles ran into a buzzsaw at Central, suffering their first loss of the season. Coming in averaging 36 points per game, Clovis West struggled to move the ball all night and now have been shutout in their last six quarters. They hold a playoff tiebreaker over Buchanan due to their 29-22 win and take on rival Clovis - who beat Clovis East 56-34 - in the regular season finale.

3. Buchanan-Clovis (7-2)
Last week rank: No. 2
Last week result: Lost to Clovis North 28-21
Next game: Friday vs Clovis East
The second major upset - at least by our rankings - was a major letdown for the Bears, who would have been in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs but fell to Clovis North. After tying the game at 21 on a Jayden Mandal TD pass to Colton O’Toole, the Broncos drove down the field for the game-winning touchdown with under two minutes left. With wins over Clovis West, Central and San Joaquin Memorial they will hold onto the No. 2 playoff seed - bearing a loss to a Clovis East team this Friday that’s decimated by injuries.

4. San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno (7-2)
Last week rank: No. 3
Last week result: Defeated Justin Garza 51-6
Next game: Friday vs Sanger
163-6. That’s what the Panthers have outscored their last three opponents after beating Justin Garza 51-6. Senior Brandon Ramirez scored two TDs on the ground, upping his season total to 20 and has scored 10 touchdowns on his last 15 carries. Their big win was in Week 2, a 23-21 win at Central but have a home loss to No. 2 Buchanan. The final regular season game is a biggie when they welcome 4-0 Sanger with a CMAC title on the line.

5. Central-Fresno (6-3)
Last week rank: No. 6
Last week result: Defeated Clovis West 45-0
Next game: Friday vs Clovis North
The Grizzlies used a smothering defense and a masterful performance from senior QB Dayton Tafoya to smash previously undefeated and No. 1 Clovis West 45-0 at home. Tafoya, who transferred from Clovis West after his freshman year, passed for 290 yards and five touchdowns, two to main target Ladanian Streets (7-115). What’s hurt Central are losses to San Joaquin Memorial (23-21), Buchanan (49-41) and Liberty (35-10). They finish the regular season at home against Clovis North who upset Buchanan 28-21.

6. Central Valley Christian-Visalia (9-0)
Last week rank: No. 5
Last week result: Defeated Washington Union 42-12
Next game: Friday vs Immanuel
The Cavaliers drop a spot but it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme. Coming off their dramatic win over Kingsburg the previous week, they scored 26 points in the second quarter to cruise to a 42-12 win against Washington Union. Senior QB Max Bakker threw four touchdown passes - three to Oregon commit Jaeden Moore - and one rushing score to remain undefeated and a lock for the top seed in Division II. Next, they have a home game against Immanuel, the alma mater of coach Mason Hughes.

7. Kingsburg (8-1)
Last week rank: No. 7
Last week result: Defeated Reedley 34-0
Next game: Friday vs Selma
The Vikings bounced back after their tough loss to Central Valley Christian last week, shutting out Reedley, their third shutout this season. Senior running back Trace Jackson rushed for 170 yards and two scores and Gavin Jensen picked off three passes, one returned 55 yards for a TD. With a win over 1-8 Selma on Friday they’ll most likely secure the No. 2 seed in Division II.

8. St. Joseph-Santa Maria (8-1)
Last week rank: No. 8
Last week result: Defeated Lompoc 48-34
Next game: Friday vs Mission Prep
Down 34-27 in the third quarter to Lompoc, the Knights scored 21 unanswered with two rushing TDs from Carter Vargas and one from QB Darian Mensah. Vargas also scored on a 90-yard kickoff return. This Friday will be a battle of league unbeatens in the Mountain League as St. Joseph takes on Mission Prep (7-2, 4-0), 27-19 winners over Righetti.

9. Lemoore (8-1)
Last week rank: No. 9
Last week result: Defeated Tulare Western 49-0
Next game: Friday vs Hanford
The Tigers are putting up points at a storied pace at 46 per game and continued the trend by beating Tulare Western 49-0 behind the play of senior quarterback Ty Chambers. Chambers, who now sports a 26:1 TD to INT ratio, completed 9-12 passes for 228 yards and three TDs, two to Demel Turner. The win sets up a whopper of a contest with Hanford (7-2, 3-1) at home for the West Yosemite league title.

10. Clovis North (5-4)
Last week rank: No. 13
Last week result: Defeated Buchanan 28-21
Next game: Friday at Central
Behind a strong running attack and timely passes from QB Mario Kosma the Broncos defeated No. 2 Buchanan 28-21 a week after losing 21-14 to Clovis West. Kosma threw two touchdown passes on 10-14 attempts for 107 yards and the three-headed running back group of McKay Madsen, Jackson Cinfel and Andrew Chavez combined for 40 carries for 263 yards and two scores. Clovis North can really shake up the rankings and seedings with a win at Central this Friday.

11. Redwood-Visalia (7-2)
Last week rank: No. 10
Last week result: Defeated Golden West 23-7
Next game: Friday vs Mt. Whitney
The Rangers defense allowed 50 passing yards and -11 rushing yards on 17 attempts and Noe Viveros scored on a pick-6 late in the fourth quarter to seal the 23-7 win over Golden West. Ty Potts scored on a 1-yard run and Jacob Perch scampered 16 yards for another in the first half. Redwood, who most likely will be bumped up to Division I for the playoffs, take on rival Mt. Whitney at the famed Mineral King bowl in Visalia.

12. Garces-Fresno (3-6)
Last week rank: Not ranked
Last week result: Defeated Centennial 24-14
Next game: Friday at Stockdale
Needing to win one of its final two games to qualify for the playoffs, the Rams took care of business and beat Centennial 24-14 behind a stout defense and a strong running game. Quarterback Jordan Gallogoz rushed 12 times for 119 yards and a touchdown and Logan Slaton rushed for two scores. Garces plays 2-7 Stockdale to finish the regular season, a 20-14 winner over Independence.

13. Hanford (7-2)
Last week rank: No. 14
Last week result: Defeated Mission Oak 56-13
Next game: Friday at Lemoore
Senior QB Cayden Muir threw for 355 yards and five touchdown passes - three to Donovan Smith - and rushed for one as the Bullpups raced to a 35-0 halftime lead en route to a 53-13 win over Mission Oak. Hanford has now scored 160 points in their last three games. A huge matchup is set for this Friday as the Bullpups travel to No. 9 Lemoore (8-1) for the West Yosemite championship.

14. Centennial-Bakersfield (7-2)
Last week rank: No. 12
Last week result: Lost to Garces 24-14
Next game: Friday at Frontier
Leading Garces 7-0 at half, the Golden Hawks were outscored 24-7 in the second half in suffering their second straight defeat after starting off the year 7-0. Adam Copus tossed a 40-yard TD pass to Jaxton Santiago and Roland Myers scored on a 5-yard run. They finish the regular season at home against Frontier, who lost 45-7 to Liberty.

15. Clovis (4-5)
Last week rank: No. 15
Last week result: Defeated Clovis East 56-34
Next game: Friday vs Clovis East
Led by the stellar play of freshman QB Deagan Rose, the Cougars scored early and often in a huge 56-34 win over Clovis East. Rose completed 14 passes for 210 yards and three TDs while senior Jaden Carillo hauled in 10 catches for 149 yards and two scores. Clovis can wreak havoc this Friday when they play long-time rival Clovis West, who suffered their first loss of the season to Central.

More from around the section …

* Despite the team’s 3-6 record, there’s a record breaking running back from tiny Orosi, population 8,908. Andrew Camarillo rushed for 436 yards on 41 carries and three TDs in a 28-14 win over Woodlake, providing nearly all the team’s offense. Out of 56 plays run by the Cardinals, 73% were for Camarillo. Currently he ranks No. 3 in the state with 1,974 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. And get this - he’s only a junior. Can’t wait for the encore.

* Here’s another monster rushing game - Caruthers’ Hunter Babb, who ran for 312 yards, 5 TDs on just 15 carries in a 49-12 win over Chowchilla. His Blue Raider squad is currently 7-2 and like Camarillo, he’s only a junior.

* Kerman has had quite a turnaround season under first year head coach Damon Jenkins and had a special guest on the sidelines during their 56-18 win over Selma. Legendary De La Salle coach Bob Ladouceur was in attendance supporting Jenkins, who played defensive back during the Spartans 151 game winning streak. The Lions are 6-3 with three losses to teams that have been in our rankings - Clovis East, CVC and Kingsburg.

Based in Fresno, Paul Meadors is the host of the Central Valley Sports Report on 1430ESPN on Saturday mornings from 10-12 and also serves as the color anyasist for high school games in the Central Section.

Twitter: @paulmeadors
Email: paulmeadors@gmail.com