Sports Monster Power Rankings Week 2
SPORTS MONSTER ESPN 1230, KERN COUNTY POWER RANKINGS
Welcome to the first of several Sports Monster ESPN 1230 Kern County High School Football Power Rankings.
We took into consideration leagues, divisions, school sizes and more and ranked the top 15 programs in and out of the greater Bakersfield Area.
Enjoy.
1. Bakersfield Drillers
--After just one game (a 43-7 drubbing of Southern Section Canyon) the Drillers will compare themselves to local competition when rival Stockdale comes to Griffith Field on Friday night. Canyon may be experiencing a down year, but down or not, a Central Section win over the Southern Section scores points in my book.
2. Ridgeview Wolfpack
--I know what you’re thinking, “he’s nuts!” But with two wins now under their belts, the Dennis Manning led Wolfpack improved upon their week one struggles against upstart Independence to take it to the SEYL’s Highland Scots 35-7. Ridgeview might slip in these rankings as other schools win more games, but for now, they gotta be near the top with a 2-0 record.
3. Tehachapi Warriors
--Save the “Tehachapi Homer” emails. Like the Wolfpack, the Warriors are 2-0. They first went down to Santa Ana Segerstrom, endured a holiday weekend marathon bus ride and won 21-20. They then turned around to go to Garces and while fighting through some more struggles, managed to outscore the Rams 23-0 in the second half to win 26-3. Homer or not, they’ve won two tough games on the road to start the season. They’ll be tested Friday Night against Frontier on the mountain.
4. Frontier Titans
--61-0 over a Southern Section squad (Antelope Valley). I like it. The Titans opened their first home game in their new stadium with a bang. Rich Cornford might be building something out there at Frontier. He’ll get a big test on the road at aforementioned Tehachapi this week. But credit to Frontier for defending their home field in their first opportunity.
5. Centennial Golden Hawks
-The best thing about having a sophomore QB last season…he became a junior. Brian Nixon told me that Cody Kessler would be the real deal, he wasn’t fibbing. After going to Redwood, a traditionally tough game and a place where Centennial has struggled and winning 45-20, Kessler is living up to the preseason hype even noticed by Sports Illustrated who recently compared him as one of the top multi-sport athletes in the country. Thanks to the exposure lent to the football/basketball athlete given by Syracuse’s Greg Paulus.
Kessler has a big time arm and is the perfect guy to run the Centennial spread. Look for a great game against Liberty this week.
6. Liberty Patriots
--I’m not a fan of “moral victories” especially when they are at the expense of real ones. The Patriots might feel better about barely losing at top-ranked Clovis West two weeks ago, but it’s about time Liberty win for real up there, but that will have to wait until the playoffs.
Tony Mills has a solid group, but they’ll need to step up big Friday night in the ‘Freedom Bowl’ against Centennial to avoid dropping to 0-2. But talk about a tough schedule, big props for going to Clovis West and returning for Centennial.
7. South Rebels
--I love the fact that I get to list Ridgeview and South in these rankings. I don’t know how long either will last but I am impressed with Jon Wren’s philosophy he’s been building for a few seasons at South, and the end results of late.
A 21-0 win over Golden Valley is nice for that program. Throw in some extremely talented athletes with size and speed and South looks like they might shock some people in the SWYL this year.
8. Stockdale Mustangs
--The only reason Mike Snow and company are this low is I’m not sure if they are that good or their Week 1 opponent East was that bad. Big time credit to the Mustangs who seem to be accepting coach Snow’s Wing-T style just fine these days putting up 48 in a 48-0 win over East last Friday. Can’t wait for the clash with BHS this Friday night. Could be an offensive explosion for both teams.
9.West Vikings
--0-1 to start the season but El Diamante is no joke. Will get the chance to even up this week against East.
10. Bakersfield Christian
--Why are the Eagles after 0-1 West, because BCHS hasn’t played anybody. Sorry, but I can’t believe the team that is the defending Valley champions (I don’t care how many players you lost) is playing the likes of hapless Avenal and first year varsity Kennedy of Delano. Competition and a chance to move up in these rankings presents itself this week against Central Valley Christian and next week against Maranatha of Pasadena.
Others:
11-Wasco (2-0)
12. Delano (1-0)
13-Taft (1-0)
14- North (1-1)
15-Cesar Chavez (2-0)
Welcome to the first of several Sports Monster ESPN 1230 Kern County High School Football Power Rankings.
We took into consideration leagues, divisions, school sizes and more and ranked the top 15 programs in and out of the greater Bakersfield Area.
Enjoy.
1. Bakersfield Drillers
--After just one game (a 43-7 drubbing of Southern Section Canyon) the Drillers will compare themselves to local competition when rival Stockdale comes to Griffith Field on Friday night. Canyon may be experiencing a down year, but down or not, a Central Section win over the Southern Section scores points in my book.
2. Ridgeview Wolfpack
--I know what you’re thinking, “he’s nuts!” But with two wins now under their belts, the Dennis Manning led Wolfpack improved upon their week one struggles against upstart Independence to take it to the SEYL’s Highland Scots 35-7. Ridgeview might slip in these rankings as other schools win more games, but for now, they gotta be near the top with a 2-0 record.
3. Tehachapi Warriors
--Save the “Tehachapi Homer” emails. Like the Wolfpack, the Warriors are 2-0. They first went down to Santa Ana Segerstrom, endured a holiday weekend marathon bus ride and won 21-20. They then turned around to go to Garces and while fighting through some more struggles, managed to outscore the Rams 23-0 in the second half to win 26-3. Homer or not, they’ve won two tough games on the road to start the season. They’ll be tested Friday Night against Frontier on the mountain.
4. Frontier Titans
--61-0 over a Southern Section squad (Antelope Valley). I like it. The Titans opened their first home game in their new stadium with a bang. Rich Cornford might be building something out there at Frontier. He’ll get a big test on the road at aforementioned Tehachapi this week. But credit to Frontier for defending their home field in their first opportunity.
5. Centennial Golden Hawks
-The best thing about having a sophomore QB last season…he became a junior. Brian Nixon told me that Cody Kessler would be the real deal, he wasn’t fibbing. After going to Redwood, a traditionally tough game and a place where Centennial has struggled and winning 45-20, Kessler is living up to the preseason hype even noticed by Sports Illustrated who recently compared him as one of the top multi-sport athletes in the country. Thanks to the exposure lent to the football/basketball athlete given by Syracuse’s Greg Paulus.
Kessler has a big time arm and is the perfect guy to run the Centennial spread. Look for a great game against Liberty this week.
6. Liberty Patriots
--I’m not a fan of “moral victories” especially when they are at the expense of real ones. The Patriots might feel better about barely losing at top-ranked Clovis West two weeks ago, but it’s about time Liberty win for real up there, but that will have to wait until the playoffs.
Tony Mills has a solid group, but they’ll need to step up big Friday night in the ‘Freedom Bowl’ against Centennial to avoid dropping to 0-2. But talk about a tough schedule, big props for going to Clovis West and returning for Centennial.
7. South Rebels
--I love the fact that I get to list Ridgeview and South in these rankings. I don’t know how long either will last but I am impressed with Jon Wren’s philosophy he’s been building for a few seasons at South, and the end results of late.
A 21-0 win over Golden Valley is nice for that program. Throw in some extremely talented athletes with size and speed and South looks like they might shock some people in the SWYL this year.
8. Stockdale Mustangs
--The only reason Mike Snow and company are this low is I’m not sure if they are that good or their Week 1 opponent East was that bad. Big time credit to the Mustangs who seem to be accepting coach Snow’s Wing-T style just fine these days putting up 48 in a 48-0 win over East last Friday. Can’t wait for the clash with BHS this Friday night. Could be an offensive explosion for both teams.
9.West Vikings
--0-1 to start the season but El Diamante is no joke. Will get the chance to even up this week against East.
10. Bakersfield Christian
--Why are the Eagles after 0-1 West, because BCHS hasn’t played anybody. Sorry, but I can’t believe the team that is the defending Valley champions (I don’t care how many players you lost) is playing the likes of hapless Avenal and first year varsity Kennedy of Delano. Competition and a chance to move up in these rankings presents itself this week against Central Valley Christian and next week against Maranatha of Pasadena.
Others:
11-Wasco (2-0)
12. Delano (1-0)
13-Taft (1-0)
14- North (1-1)
15-Cesar Chavez (2-0)
posted by Corey Costelloe at
2:57 PM
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