SBLive Central Section Fab 15 power football rankings, Aug. 29: Liberty trounces Ridgeview, braces for Santa Margarita

The top four ranked teams from last week held strong, only No. 2 Clovis North getting a bit of a scare at Redwood-Visalia in a 21-6 road win.

Fifth-ranked Central impressed with a 40-13 pounding at San Joaquin Memorial and how about those Bullpups from Hanford? After defeating Bullard 71-7 in its opener they kept the pedal to the metal with a 70-0 home drubbing of out-of-section Buhach Colony.

Seventh-ranked Sanger impressed in a 33-21 win at former No. 5 Clovis and is now ranked No. 8 and Lemoore cracks the Top 15 at No. 10. The Tigers travel to No. 4 Clovis West this week.

A couple of big ones this week to keep an eye on: No. 1 Liberty hosts state ranked Santa Margarita and No. 7 Sanger travels to No. 3 Clovis East.

1 (1). Liberty-Bakersfield (2-0)

Last week: Defeated Ridgeview 49-14

Next game: Home against Santa Margarita

Mehki Delouth rushed for three touchdowns in the first half as the Patriots raced to a 42-7 halftime lead in an easy win over their crosstown rivals. Tre Fulton returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown and senior quarterback Cole O’Brien tossed TD passes to Brock Wattenbarger and Jace Nixon.

2 (2). Clovis North (2-0)

Last week: Defeated Redwood 21-6

Next game: Home against El Diamante

Down 3-0 after the first quarter, the Broncos scored 21 unanswered to defeat a tough Ranger team on the road. Senior quarterback Mario Cosma threw a touchdown pass to Vincent Cordoba just before half and Jackson Cinfel (62 yards) and Andrew Chavez (4 yards) rushed for touchdowns in the third and fourth quarter respectively.

3 (3). Clovis East (2-0)

Last week: Defeated Arroyo Grande 35-7

Next game: Home Thursday against Sanger

Junior quarterback Ty Miller accounted for four touchdowns — all in the first half — to lead the Timberwolves to a 35-7 win on the road. Miller’s touchdowns went to Harold Duvall (2-125) and Tommy Nix (4-57). The defense held the Eagles to 125 total yards and Donyell Booker added a rushing touchdown.

4 (4). Clovis West (1-1)

Last week: Defeated Turlock 56-16

Next game: Home against Lemoore

The Golden Eagles scored on passing plays of 80, 61, 52 and 48 yards, two each thrown by senior Tyler Patrick (9-17, 232 yards) and sophomore Tyler Franklin (2-4, 133 yards) to lead the Golden Eagles to a huge road win. Landon Wright caught three of those TD passes with 180 yards. Johnavon Darrington scored on a 55-yard fumble recovery.

5 (6). Central-Fresno (2-0)

Last week: Defeated San Joaquin Memorial 40-13

Next game: Home against Turlock

Earl Riley passed for four touchdowns and 327 yards on 19-25 passing as the Grizzlies avenged two losses to the Panthers last season in a 40-13 road win. Noey Felix II (5-84) caught two of Riley’s TDs and Braylen Hall (6-158) hauled in one. Brandon Smith and David Marquez each rushed for a touchdown.

6 (7). Hanford (2-0)

Last week: Defeated Buhach Colony 70-0

Next game: At Golden West

Junior Kordey Glass rushed for four scores on six carries for 83 yards and added a TD reception as the Bullpups crushed the visiting Thunder. Hanford has outscored its first two opponents 141-7 to start the season. Daniel Gomez passed for 147 yards and two touchdowns and Albert Richardson rushed three times for 73 yards and two scores.

7 (9). Sanger (2-0)

Last week: Defeated Clovis 33-21

Next game: Thursday at Clovis East

Carlos Young returned an interception 94-yards for a TD in the first quarter and added another interception in the 4th as the Apaches beat the Cougars for the first time since 2007. Senior Isaiah Robles rushed for touchdowns of 10 and 8 yards in the 4th quarter and Jaden Chanthalangsy threw a 17-yard TD pass to Jacob Niemeyer. Connor Bohklen added a 3-yard TD run.

8 (5). Clovis (1-1)

Last week: Lost to Sanger 33-21

Next game: At Whitney-Rocklin

Tied at 14 at half, the Cougars were outscored 19-7 in the second half at home to Sanger in a 33-21 loss. Roman Moreno, Jake Saldate and Noah Luginbill each scored a TD on the ground.

9 (10). Frontier (2-0)

Last week: Defeated Bakersfield 41-0

Next game: At Bullard

The Titans defense held the Drillers to 174 yards of total offense as they cruised to a 41-0 shutout at home. Alec “Cowboy” Hatcher had a 20-yard fumble recovery and Frontier scored three TDs on the ground.

10 (NR). Lemoore

Last week: Defeated Washington Union 49-0

Next game: At Clovis West

The defending D2 Central Section champs used seven different ball carriers to amass 309 yards on the ground and four TDs in a shutout win at Washington Union. Elijah Daley rushed 83 yards and two scores on three carries and Johnny Cunha tossed a 32-yard TD to Kiontre Harris and rushed for a TD.

11 (11). Kingsburg (2-0)

Last week: Defeated Sunnyside 20-15

Next game: Home against Dinuba

Max Warkentin threw touchdowns to Wyatt Boyd and Kalvin Voyles and Denis Gagnon had a scoop and score as the Vikings held off Sunnyside 20-15 at home. The Kingsburg defense held the Wildcats to 80 yards passing with an interception.

12 (14) Central Valley Christian (2-0)

Last week: Defeated Edison-Fresno 41-12

Next game: Home against Bakersfield Christian

Bryson Donelson rushed for 183 yards and four TDs on 12 carries and added a 16-yard TD catch to lead the Cavaliers to a 41-12 win over Edison-Fresno. Brett Kroeze threw two touchdowns, including a 78-yard pass to Cayden Ritchie.

13 (NR) St. Joseph (1-1)

Last week’s result: Defeated Bakersfield Christian 14-0

Next game: Home against Newbury Park

The Knights shut out the Eagles at home, holding the offense to eight first downs and 193 total yards. Carter Vargas scored twice on the ground to go along with 133 yards on 25 carries.

14 (9). Centennial (1-1)

Last week: Lost to Newbury Park 25-0

Next game: At Independence

The Golden Hawks couldn’t get their offense going as they were shutout at home. Centennial’s defense allowed 200 yards passing and three TDs and the visiting Panther’s were penalized zero times.

15 (12). Buchanan (1-1)

Last week: Lost to Paraclete 23-21

Next game: At Rocklin

A field goal as time expired upset the Bears at home, falling to the defending CIF D5-AA champs. Logan Sanchez passed for two TDs including a 20 yarder to Nolan Niznak late in the fourth quarter to take a 21-20 lead the Bears couldn’t hold.

Dropped out: No. 11 Garces, No. 15 Kennedy