WE'RE ALL IN A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN
Posted 07-21-03

Going into the playoffs blind is an unsettling feeling.  You spend a lot of time preparing for a championship in your league … then WHAMO!  Off to try and win ANOTHER championship, one week later, in the playoffs no-less, trying to string together three straight wins for a section title.

Not exactly easy.  But not impossible.

The sequoia division is rattled with talented teams from top to bottom.  Fortunately for Tehachapi … (and let’s be honest now) … most of the cream of the crop is in the small school bracket when late November / early December rolls around.  At least, that’s the way it’s been the past few years.  It’s not science that makes it this way really…it’s just luck of the draw.  Sort of like why the National Football Conference always seem to come up top in the Super Bowl, or why the Western Conference always seems to hoist the NBA Championship every year.

Just luck.  Plain and simple.

Don’t agree with the dominance in the small school bracket?  Well, ok.  Since the playoff structure was broken up in 1998, Dos Palos has won the small school championship four of the last five season’s, with Garces winning in 2002.  In the large school bracket, Sierra has won two titles, with Washington Union, Yosemite, and Liberty splitting the other three.

The way Dos Palos manhandled San Joaquin Memorial in 2000 and 2001 in the small school championship (winning 69-7 and 69-14 I believe), I doubt anyone in the sequoia ranks can refute the Broncos dominance in those years.  In 2001, DP played eventual large school champ Liberty in a week 10 showdown.  The final score?  40-17 Dos Palos, at Liberty. 

Ouch.

If you want to argue those years, I won’t even put up a fight.  All I know is I’m sure glad that DP wasn’t on the schedule for the Warriors in those seasons…

…heck, maybe any of the seasons after 1997.

In 1998-1999, Dos Palos had a firm hold on the stat book in their championship years, while also fairing better against like-opponents in large school winner Sierra.  Same goes for Garces last year, who beat the team (SJM) in the small school final that gave large school winner Yosemite the only blemish on their championship season.

It’s a numbers game.  It’s one guy’s opinion over another.  But, by in large, my nod has gone to Dos Palos from 98-01, and Garces last year.  As always, disagreements are what make prep-sports fun for fans.  I always welcome a good and spirited conversation on the topic, as I’m sure you do too.

With all this past stuff to stew over, there still is another point of interest that keens the appeal of a vaster majority … this season.  Who’s going to be on top?  Hard to say.  Yosemite looks good, Kerman should be good again…but…they’re large school teams.  The early favorite (in this writer’s humble opinion) is San Joaquin Memorial, but Taft and Garces (as a sleeper) could come into the fold.  You really don’t know until the teams play…

Highlight games for the sequoia league this season?  Ok…why not.  Of the potential contenders…here is my ‘A’ list of sequoia division games (by week) that should help dictate the flow of the season and who might stand on top in the end…

Week 1

Garces @ East – The Rams torched the Blades last year 43-6 in what was the start of a season of shock-and-awe for all who stood in Garces’s path.  Le’Andre Matthews is back for East, which should show right from the start how the Rams defense will fare against one of the best runners in the valley, and, probably one of the best teams.  A win early-on would silence the critics on the supposed down year for Garces.

Taft @ Hanford West – Losing 21-12 a season before, the Wildcats will come into their season looking to make a fast and furious start.  The Huskies, who barely missed the playoffs last year with a 7-3 record overall, will look to right the ship with solid pre-season wins to woo the selecting committee into allowing them back into the Yosemite playoff picture. 

Week 2

Woodlake @ Taft – An early-on consideration for the East Sequoia League title, the Tigers will have their hands full with the Wildcats.  Taft brings in momentum from an 8-4 record a season before and solid coaching led by Tim Mash.  A win over the Wildcats would boost Woodlake’s claim at a league title in ’03…a loss would generate no tremors.

Tehachapi @ Clovis East – How good is Tehachapi?  We’ll find out early.  Easily the David and Goliath match-up for sequoia schools in 2003.  The Timberwolves will look to notch a solid win before taking on the Southern Section’s Long Beach Poly the following week, while the Warriors hope to dish out what would be the biggest cross-divisional upset of the new century.  Tehachapi will play tough, but they will need to take advantage of big plays if they want a second week win.

Week 3

San Joaquin Memorial @ Washington Union - The Panthers vs. the Panthers.  WUHS can’t be a no-show in the playoff picture forever, especially since it seems every team makes the playoffs these days.  Can Washington’s basketball prominence carry over to the football gridiron in 2003?  Having their junior varsity football squad come off a 10-0 season in 2002, it seems likely … and this game should be a good indication if they’re ready to rumble.  I look for this game to see if WU is ready to contend again after some great runs in seasons past…and being a large school team, they should have every Warrior fans attention.

Granite Hills (Porterville) @ Corcoran – How good are the Panthers this year?  We should find out early in a pre-season test against the Grizzlies.  With Bear Pasco and Zach Brown coming back, Granite Hills is my early favorite for the East Yosemite League Title.  A win by Corcoran would be a huge confidence boost at their bid for an East Sequoia League crown.

Week 4

Selma @ Dinuba – Now, I am not trying to be condescending here, but this game often determines who makes the playoffs (or seed) in the lower half of the bracket pool.  Having the Emperors or the Bears as the #6, #7, or #8 seed could provide a huge upset for a team that draws them as one of the playoffs best.  (Remember Clovis East as a #6 seed a couple years ago?) Better watch out…no cakewalk here…

Week 5

Immanuel @ Kingsburg - Can the Vikings knock off one of the Sierra league’s elite?  The school district had a lot of rumors swirling around in Kingsburg on who would be the next head coach, but it looks as if Jim Cranford is back for more action in 2003.  I give major props to the Reedley boys for not backing down to tough competition in the sequoia ranks…and they could easily come away with a win against both Dinuba and Kingsburg if more talent like Jacob Wild can be pulled from the Immanuel bench.  Should be a great indicator of how good Kingsburg is this year if they can produce a solid game against the Eagles…

Coalinga @ Taft – The CIF runner up in the large school bracket in the Horn Toads vs. the semi-final berth Wildcats.  Coalinga thrashed Taft last year 33-7, which undoubtedly leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of the Wildcat faithful.  Brandon Carlton’s passing game was limited to only 39 yards last year, while Dee Griffith was the lone bright spot, rushing for 175 yards and a score.  Both players have graduated, so for Taft to do well they will need to conjure up some good ‘ol fashion trickery to tame the NSL foe.

Week 6

Yosemite @ Sierra - I hate to knock on schedules too much…because I know a lot of work goes into it by the athletic committee at each high school.  But Sierra, common now.  On paper, week one through five looks like sandbag-city, playing Roosevelt, Parlier, Orosi, Fresno, and Exeter, who as a group combined for an 8-44 record a year ago.  If Sierra wants to claim a stake as the top team in the large school CIF, how they play against the defending section champs in week six should serve as their first real measuring point of the season.  I would be shocked if Sierra wasn’t sitting at 5-0 going into this game…but don’t be fooled…THIS game should will show how far Sierra’s come from last year’s disappointing 6-5 record.

Chowchilla @ Dos Palos – The start of the league season for the North Sequoia League could spell disaster for the Broncos if they let another upset from the Redskins tarnish their storied prominence in the North Sequoia League.  Chowchilla arguably reeled off the biggest upset in the sequoia ranks a year ago by beating Dos Palos 12-7…to do so again would spawn another upside-down affair for all involved in the NSL…

Week 7

Taft @ Tehachapi – Bad blood is already stewing between these two teams after splitting the last four years at two games a-piece.  The Warriors have gone into this match-up confident every year, treating the last two losses as upsets to their league foe.  Tehachapi has the slight advantage playing on the mountain, but Frank Seilui, Aaron Harlan, and company will try and pull off a road win in hopes of establishing themselves as one of the SSL’s forces to be reckoned with.

Week 8

San Joaquin Memorial @ Yosemite – I didn’t beat around the bush you know...SJM is my top team.  But hey, how they do against other elite sequoia league teams should say something to everyone come playoff time.  Badgers still have something to prove…even after getting the hardware last year.  Even though Yosemite cruised to a CIF championship in 2002, the lone loss on their otherwise perfect season was to the Panthers.  For SJM, with Garces seemingly out of the mix in 2003, a higher seed going into the playoffs could help pave the way to unfinished business.  Hands down, this is the game to watch in 2003 in the central sequoia division … maybe even the entire sequoia division … should be a good one! 

Coalinga @ Dos Palos – What more can a prep-football enthusiast ask for?  Two great football match-ups in one week!  Too bad you can’t go to both.  This year’s Sprague vs. Sparks (coaches) match-up should be fun with a potential NSL title on the line along with the all important playoff seedings.  If the Horn Toads want to get back into the championship picture, they will have to deal with one of the sequoia divisions yearly powers first.  Watch this game score to see if Coalinga is ready to make some noise this year in the large school bracket…

Week 9

Yosemite @ Dos Palos – Two powers collide in a sequoia intersectional match-up late in the season.  These two teams could easily be in contention for their respective league titles, and any confidence heading into the final regular season game would be extra brownie points for either team.  I look for these two teams to be seeded in the upper-half of the playoff brackets, so the outcome here should be one to watch by Warrior faithful.  To be frank, a win by Dos Palos would help Tehachapi in their seeding, but a win by Yosemite could help swing the playoff power balance in ’03 …(wishful thinking I know)

Week 10

Dos Palos @ Kerman – The Lions are no slouch, and will feast on the fact that the Broncos will have just come off two tough match-ups against Yosemite and Coalinga.  All-star back Michael Champion has graduated, but the junior varsity will bring up a solid running attack with a 1,000 yard rusher in Ramirez.  Finishing at 9-3 in 2002, Kerman hopes to turn the corner a year later with a possible NSL title and a CIF championship berth…

Wasco @ Shafter – Two bitter rivals will meet to determine who has bragging rights for the next twelve months.  These two surprise teams could have the SSL title for the taking in their back pocket if the league clashings don’t emerge a power early.  The Generals might have the upper hand with runningback James Zrofsky coming back, but don’t think the Tigers can’t pull of an upset on the road.  Look for the winner to make a strong run in the large school playoffs.

Garces @ Tehachapi – Saving the best for last, eh Warrior fans?  Records seem to never matter when these two teams come together.  A hard fought game could provide one of the most entertaining in the SSL, and could be the difference between a playoff berth and/or a league title when it’s all said and done.  Too bad we can’t fast forward…

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Well, there you have it folks.  There are probably more sequoia division games out there that didn’t make the list, and a game not mentioned very well could decide a league title in the four sequoia leagues in the central valley.  As Chris Berman on ESPN once said “and that’s why they play the game…”.  So true.

For now, on paper, hope you like the potential of what’s above.  As always, it will undoubtedly be a heck of a season!

	Overall, teams to look out for in 2002 in the large school playoff division look to be Yosemite and Kerman again…while Coalinga could get back into the mix if they sneak into the large school bracket.  For Yosemite, the players that look to make an immediate impact in ’03 are returning players wide receiver/defensive back Fred Worstein, fullback/linebacker Casey Marr, tightend/defensive end Garrett Tompkins, and kicker Casey Lucas.  Just in case you were wondering…
	Little bit of disappointment for Warrior fans out there...July 19th highlighted the East and North Senior All-Stars in the annual Cal-Prep Bowl at Memorial Stadium, with no Tehachapi players in the line-up.  Josh Christy and Jedd Ingraham were slated as selectees, but with Christy plugging away with fire department duties and getting ready for Renegade baseball, and communication problems with Ingraham, the two talented Warrior backers were not able to attend.  However, all Tehachapi sports fans out there can have pride in knowing that two of our own were recognized as all-stars for this big game.  Congrats Josh and Jedd!  Good luck with college sports!  For pictures on the Cal-Prep game, click here. Above:  Jedd Ingraham (61) and Josh Christy (6) in their final game as Warriors in 2002.
	Oh yeah, by the way, the Warriors are close to being in full swing with their summer workouts.  Pictures of the summer training should be included on the next weekly warrior, along with some highlights of the first true test of the new year in scrimmage action in late august / early September.  I’ll also give a pre-game analysis on Burroughs…so it should be fun.  The next article will open up a new season, so weekly warriors should be what they were intended for in the beginning…weekly!  See ya at Coy Burnett Field…

For some time now, 2002 CIF Champion Yosemite has been battling off the field for a friend and teammate.  Sam Rowlett, who was a standout wide receiver and linebacker for the Badgers in their title run a year ago, was diagnosed with leukemia soon after the season ended, and has been going through intense chemo therapy in hope of putting the disease into remission.  Information on Sam’s illness and ways that you can help can be found on by clicking here.  There is also a link for a prayer page on this listed website, where you can send Sam words of encouragement on his tough battle ahead.  He periodically responds to his visitors with updated messages on his treatments and spirits on the prayer page…and I’m sure he’d love to hear from all of you…please give him all the positive energy you can give!