11 weeks of high school football have come and gone and now set the stage for a few local teams chase of a valley championship.
Southwest Yosemite League
Aside from a 45-42 affair with Garces, Bakersfield relatively cruised to a Southwest Yosemite League title thanks to Friday's 44-17 win over Liberty. The Drillers finished 5-0 in league had just two early season losses to Valencia and Chaminade, numbers 18 and 20 in MaxPreps CA state rankings respectively. BHS earned the 2 seed and a first round bye. They will play the winner of Bullard/Buchannan.
Liberty finished the year 7-3 (4-1 SWYL) and picked up #3. Their quest to defend the D-I title will start with a first round bye followed by the winner of Clovis West and #11 Frontier.
Garces' season looked to be in question after senior quarterback Conor Bruce went down to a season ending injury in week 5 against Edison. But the Rams finished third in the SWYL (3-2) and their 7-3 record was enough to earn a 2 seed in Division II. They'll play host to #7 El Diamante on 11/18.
South Yosemite League
There was a three way tie in the SYL between Ridgeview, Independence and Tehachapi. The Wolf Pack stumbled through the preseason 1-4 and struggled to field all of their playmakers in one game thanks to suspensions and injuries. Ridgeview earned the 6 seed and will travel to play #3 Redwood in Division II after both teams get a first round bye.
Steve Denman's Warriors started the same way but have caught fire of late. After picking up career win number 300 against West, Denman will lead #7 Tehachapi against #10 Delano in Division III.
East started the year 7-0 but finished 8-3. The Blades (#9) will travel to play #8 Fresno. Independence finished 5-5 and with the 9 seed will travel to face #8 Dinuba. The winner will move on to play the #1 seed in D-II, Sanger.
Southeast Yosemite League
South picked up another SEYL title finishing 8-2 (4-0 SEYL) and will play host to Hoover in the #4 v. #13 matchup in Division III. North finished second in league thanks to a 28-21 win over Highland on Friday and at 4-6 will travel to #5 San Joaquin Memorial. If both the Stars and Rebels can win they will renew their rivalry in the quarterfinals.
Highland (#11) at 6-4 will play #6 Kingsburg with the winner moving on to face #3 Hanford..
South Sequoia League
Bakersfield Christian continues to be the team to beat in the SSL. The 9-1 Eagles one loss was to Garces in week 1 and have since breezed past their opponents. A #1 seed in Division III gives them a first round bye and sets them up to face the winner of East/Fresno.
Wasco made it 10 straight wins over rival Shafter and will play Kerman in Division IV. Chavez will play the winner of #5 Taft and #13 Roosevelt. Kennedy will chase a three peat in Division VI. The Thunderbirds get the 3 seed and will play California City in the quarterfinals.
Other teams
Kern Valley will travel to play Dos Palos in D-V and McFarland will travel to Sierra Pacific on 11/18.
