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SBLive's Final Central Section Fab 15 football rankings: Liberty stands tall

After winning second Division 1 section title in a row, there's no question which CS program stands tallest

The dust settled, jubilation ensued and the Central Section crowned six new division champions Friday.

And while it’s always fun to follow rankings and barbershop-talk who can beat who, there is little movement in our final Fab 15 football rankings.

But, there is a new top dog.

Despite being seeded No. 3 in the D1 the Patriots of Liberty-Bakersfield successfully defended its title by defeating upstart San Joaquin Memorial 29-13 and earn our No. 1 final ranking.

In D2 the hottest team in the section kept the pedal to the metal as Lemoore took down previously undefeated Central Valley Christian 62-46 in a barn burner.

And the Thunderbirds from Kennedy enter the Top 15 for the first time this season after defeating Sunnyside 40-20 to win D3.

Yes, we understand there are still state championships to be chased after, but below are the final Central Section rankings after an incredible season of football.

State title games in 15 divisions begin Friday at 7:30 p.m. and continue 6 p.m. Saturday. Only section title teams advanced.

FINAL 2022 CENTRAL SECTION FAB 15 FOOTBALL RANKINGS

1. Liberty-Bakersfield (10-2)

Last week rank: No. 2

Last week result: Defeated San Joaquin Memorial 29-13

Next game: 6 p.m. Saturday at Yorba Linda in D1-A

The Patriots made it back-to-back Central Section D1 titles by defeating San Joaquin Memorial 29-13 at home and are undeniably the No. 1 team in the section. Although seeded No. 3, many around the section thought Liberty had the most balanced team and they displayed it throughout the playoffs. In the championship game against the Panthers, Kresean Kizzy returned a punt 62 yards for a TD in the first quarter and caught an 80-yard TD pass from backup QB Jace Nixon in the third to give Liberty a 26-13 lead. Kicker Grant Meadors booted field goals of 25, 23 and 20 yards and starting QB Cole O’Brien ran for a 3-yard TD just before half. The defense held San Joaquin Memorial in the second half to zero points and 67 total yards and will face Yorba Linda in the Southern Division 1-A Saturday at 6:00.

2. San Joaquin Memorial-Fresno (10-3)

Last week rank: No. 4

Last week result: Lost to Liberty-Bakersfield 29-13

Next game: Season complete

The Panthers led Liberty 13-9 late in the second quarter but a costly fumble by star running back Brandon Ramirez in his own territory turned into a 16-13 deficit they would never recover from. Ramirez sent oohs and aahs among the crowd with two electrifying runs: a 62-yard burst in the first quarter and a bruising 20-yarder in the second and finishes his career with 1,967 yards and 31 TDs as a senior. The Patriot defense buckled down in the second half, shutting out San Joaquin Memorial in the second half. It’s been quite a rise for the Panthers since winning D3 in 2018 and D2 in 2019 but the Panthers, besides replacing Ramirez, will look to fill holes left by 16 graduating seniors off a roster of 35.

3. Buchanan-Clovis (9-3)

Last week rank: No. 3

Last week result: Season complete

Looking for their first section title since 2000, the Bears’ season ended at the hands of eventual champion Liberty. Now, they must replace a bulk of offensive production left behind by QB Jayden Mandal (2,844, 23 TDs), RB Michael Runnels (1,287, 21 TDs) and WR Colton O’Toole (62-919, 10 TDs). Initially committed to Fresno State for baseball, Mandal will enroll early to play football at Fresno State in January and participate in spring practice. Buchanan will return a solid defense led by linebacker Logan Studt, who has a multitude of D1 offers including his hometown Bulldogs. The quarterback position could fall to the class of 2025 Torin Wolf.

4. Clovis West-Fresno (10-2)

Last week rank: No. 1

Next game: Season complete

Although the top seeded Golden Eagles lost 30-20 in the D1 semifinals to San Joaquin Memorial, the future looks bright as they return most of their production next season. The trio of junior receivers in Marshel Sanders, JoJo Pierro and Landon Wright combined for 2,224 yards and 25 TDs and will bring a lethal lineup next year. In addition, they’ll return QB Tyler Patrick, who threw for 333 yards and three TDs in a playoff win against Clovis filling in for the suspended Ryan Markarian. Linebacker Tytus Khajavi returns as well. The program is in good hands with Eric Brown, who inherited a program that went 11-27 from 2016-2020.

5. Lemoore (12-1)

Last week rank: No. 6

Last week result: Defeated Central Valley Christian 62-46 in D2 final

Next game: 7:30 p.m. Friday at McClymonds-Oakland in State Division 2-AA

The Tigers continued their offensive onslaught, defeating previous unbeaten and top seed Central Valley Christian 62-46 to capture its first Central Section title since 2005. Down 21-7 after one quarter, senior QB Ty Chambers and his senior classmates exploded to outscore the Cavs 55-25 the rest of the way. Chambers was 9-16 passing for 290 yards and six TDs and Kobe Green caught five passes for 111 yards and three TDs and returned a kickoff 81 yards for a score. Senior RB Andrew Moench rushed for 113 yards and a score and junior linebacker Jace Silva recorded 18 tackles. Through 13 games Chambers has a 36:5 TD to INT ratio. They head north to face McClymonds (11-1) in the NorCal D2-AA finals.

6. Central Valley Christian-Visalia (12-1)

Last week rank: No. 5

Last week result: Lost to Lemoore 62-46 in D2 final

Next game: Season complete

The Cavs saw their dream season come to an end at the hands of Lemoore in a wild 62-46 home loss in the D2 championship game despite leading 21-7 after the first quarter. A huge loss on defense was Oregon commit Jaeden Moore, who was unable to play due to illness. Junior running back Bryson Donalson turned in another monster performance with 258 rushing yards on 27 carries with three TDs and a 66-yard TD pass from QB Max Bakker. The future looks bright for a program that boasts over a hundred strong in their high school program and the return of Donalson, the 3-star RB who rushed for 1,205 yards and 15 TDs in seven games.

7. Clovis North-Fresno (7-5)

Last week rank: No. 6

Next game: Season complete

The good news for the Broncos is they return all 11 starters on defense and their top two rushers, McKay Madsen and Jackson Cinfel, are sophomores. A couple of juniors will return as well in quarterback Mario Kosma running back Andrew Chavez. In addition, expect big things from linebacker Ricky Manning, the son of NFL vet Ricky Manning Jr., who will be a junior next season. They’ll be a top contender in the Central Section next season.

8. Central-Fresno (7-5)

Last week rank: No. 7

Next game: Season complete

For the first time since 2016, the Grizzlies did not play in the D1 Central Section championship game. The main question going into next season is who will replace quarterback Dayton Tafoya’s 4,114 total yards and 41 TDs. However, junior receivers Braylon Hall (1,090 yards, 7 TDs) and Noel Felix (470, 12 TDs) return as does sophomore WR Daylon Scott (530 yards, 6 TDs) and talented running back in sophomore David Bell (113-956, 5 TDs). Central seems to always reload.

9. St. Joseph-Santa Maria (10-2)

Last week rank: No. 9

Last week result: Season completed

The Knights made the jump from the No. 16 in D2 in 2021 to the No. 6 seed in D1 before losing to eventual champion Liberty in the playoffs. Senior quarterback Darian Mensa took every snap this season and his production and leadership will be tough to replace. However, they return leading receiver Colin Fasse’s 1,221 yards and 19 TDs and leader rusher Carter Vargas, who rushed for 1,321 and 17 TDs.

10. Hanford (9-4)

Last week rank: No. 10

Last week result: Next game: Season complete

The Bullpups were happy to be back in D2 this season after being placed in D1 in 2021 but had their season end at CVC in the semifinals. They lose QB Cayden Muir but waiting in the wings is strong-armed junior-to-be Daniel Gomez. They also return a pair of talented sophomores in Kourdey Glass and Albert Richardson who combined for 2,026 and 36 TDs.

11. Frontier-Bakersfield (8-5)

Last week rank: No. 11

Last week result: Lost to Lemoore 56-21

There’s no shame in losing to eventual champion Lemoore 56-21 in the quarterfinal like Frontier did after shocking No. 2 Kingsburg. Next season they return quarterback Malakhi Statler’s 3,325 yards and 28 TDs but lose top receiver Devin Cockren.

12. Clovis (5-7)

Last week rank: No. 12

Last week result: Season complete

The future looks good for Cougarland as freshman Degean Rose turned in an excellent year with 2,429 passing yards and 26 TDs. They also return running backs Tyler Marquez and Roman Moreno and receiver Jake Saldate who came on strong towards the end of the season to record 12 TDs and 771 yards. Also returning is linebacker Noah Luginbill who tallied 152 tackles.

13. Kingsburg (9-2)

Last week rank: No. 13

Last week result: Season complete

The season ended at home to No. 7 Frontier but the Vikings will be strong next season despite the loss of QB Ethan Winslow, RB Trace Jackson and WR Connor McFall. Like Clovis North, all 11 defensive starters return next season led by ballhawks Kenyon Simpson and Gavin Jensen who totaled 10 INTs.

14. Centennial-Fresno (8-3)

Last week rank: No. 14

Last week result: Season complete

The Golden Hawks started off winning their first seven games of the season then fell off, losing three of their last four including a 40-7 loss to Clovis North in the first round of D1 playoffs. The quarterback and receiver duo of Adam Copus (2,436, 22 TDs) and Jaxton Santiago (49-983, 13 TDs) return for their senior seasons.

15. Kennedy-Delano (11-2)

Last week rank: Not ranked

Next game: Friday 7:30 vs Northwood in South Division 4-AA

The smallest public school in our Top 15 next to Kingsburg, the Thunderbirds from Delano jump into the Top 15 rankings for the first time this season after their 40-20 throttling of Sunnyside in the D3 finals. Controlling the clock, they ran 53 times for 390 yards led by freshman running back Jace Demacabalin’s 149 and a score. The stingy defense held the Tigers offense, which had averaged 40 ppg in its last seven, to a single touchdown through three quarters. They host Northwood in the South Division 4-AA game at 7:30 this Friday.

More from around the section …

  • It was quite a comeback for No. 8 Shafter in their defeat of No. 3 Caruthers to win the D4 title, rallying down 35-14 in the third quarter. But the play of the game belonged on defense when Rafael Roman-Amador ran down star running back Hunter Babb at the 5-yard line and punched the ball out, landeding out of the end zone for a touchback. The Generals would go on to kick two field goals in the 4th quarter to win 41-35, their first section title since 1955.
  • No strangers to each other, Atascadero and Pioneer Valley met for the D5 title. The Panthers struck first and led 13-0 but the Greyhounds responded by scoring the final 27 points led by the Cooks brothers. Kane Cook, the junior, rushed for two scores and passed for one and Trey, the senior, rushed for 188 yards and a score.
  • Mendota not only won its 4th section title but they found themselves already in the Division 7-AA state championship game after defeating No. 1 Hanford West 38-8. They will host Pinole Valley on Saturday, Dec 3 at 6:00 after two section winners declined to play in the state playoffs.

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