Red flags were raised last week at Bullard and Tulare, not that they necessarily mean anything.
Regarding Bullard, I wondered why the Knights were tied, 28-28, near halftime to a Reedley team that was beaten 46-0 by Edison a week previous. Bullard would win, 52-42, while playing without its best defensive player, linebacker Daniel Snelling, for disciplinary reasons.
At Tulare, I observed Porterville running back David Ali carry 19 times for 211 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown -- IN THE FIRST HALF! Yes, the Redskins won 56-21. And, yes, they, too, were playing without their best defensive player in the first half, linebacker Jacob Guerrero (bad ankle).
Here's the problem: Bullard is ranked No. 2 and Tulare No. 4. For teams bent on winning Central Section Division I and II championships, you'd think their defenses would be tightening up the screws in late October. And should one player, regardless of ability, make that much difference?
I wouldn't think so, particularly against Reedley and Porterville teams that will post no threat in the postseason.
This is the modern day of high school football with spread offenses and schemes to exploit weeknesses in the defense. You can't use transitive logic to conclude that Bullard should have shut out Porterville because Edison did.
I think Bullard is overrated and I think they get such a high ranking partly for being in Fresno. They'll be lucky to make it to the semifinals (unless they do byes in DI again).
Why does Clovis West continue to be ranked higher than every team under them who all have better records?
How at 2-5 can they even still be in the top 20?
David,
Because Clovis West has beaten ranked teams in Liberty-Bakersfield and Edison, and the Golden Eagles' five losses have come to teams with a combined record of 31-4 -- all of whom are ranked in either the state or Central Section.
The better question to ask is who would you rank above them? And, when you answer that question, you're saying that team would beat Clovis West on a neutral field.
I'm curious to know who you have in mind.