I cringe when I hear high school coaches say, "You've got to have the players."

True, to win championships, you've got to have talent. But let's not fool ourselves here. Coaching separates programs.

Consider girls volleyball on the D-I level in the Central Section:

Buchanan won 7 titles in 11 seasons from 1997-2007. Why? Talent, dedication, athletes from homes with resources and, oh, let's not forget -- coach Marian Battles.

Why, then, did neighbor Clovis West -- with virtually identical demographics and resources -- not win a section title in 29 years until the past two? Simple: Rhonda DeRuiter.

I'm having a little trouble with Clovis and Madera choosing not to participate in the Division I playoffs.

The section playoff format allows everyone to compete in the postseason. The weakest of the weak generally choose not to, avoiding not only a rout, but one also on the road.

Clovis (3-7) and Madera (4-6) don't qualify as the weakest of the weak. Weakest in the Tri-River Athletic Conference? Yes. But that's no embarrassment, given the league's No. 1 status in the section.

Had they joined the postseason pool, Clovis, as a No. 10 seed, would have played at No. 9 Clovis East, and Madera, as a No. 11 seed, would have visited No. 8 Centennial.

I'm getting mixed reports on the health of Clovis West running back Kendal Brock.

Some say he has a high ankle sprain and is questionable for the Golden Eagles' quarterfinal game against unbeaten Bullard Nov. 27 at McLane.

But his own coach, Coby Lindsey, says he's fine, that he ran with the team today and that "nothing" will keep him out against the second-seeded Knights.

What's not in question is this: I've had several sources not associated with Clovis West, including Bullard coach Donnie Arax, who say Brock is the finest running back in the Central Section.

The Tri-River Athletic Conference, which has routinely won 70% to 80% of all Central Section Division I championships in this decade, is as dominant as ever to begin the 2009-10 school year.

The league is 6-for-6 in D-I title opportunities in the fall, led by Buchanan's four.

The TRAC has swept boys (Buchanan) and girls (Clovis West) water polo, swept boys (Buchanan) and girls (Buchanan) cross country, and also won both girls golf (Clovis West) and girls tennis (Buchanan).

Further, the TRAC is also favored to capture the final two fall D-I titles, with Buchanan top-seeded in football and volleyball.

Key facts for the Central Section seeding process for football that's just about to begin in Porterville:

D-I: Has to be Buchanan (10-0) over Bullard (10-0) for several reasons. Buchanan won the TRAC, which has wins over the Southeast Yosemite League's top teams in Liberty (Clovis West) and Bakersfield (Buchanan). And Clovis West placed third in the TRAC. ... Bullard went 3-0 against the TRAC but didn't play the top teams in Buchanan and Central. ... In comparitive scores, Buchanan has a 3-2 edge over Bullard. The Bears defeated Clovis (28-7), Clovis East (20-7), Clovis West (38-14), Sanger (50-7) and Edison (22-12). The Knights beat Clovis (48-14), CE (52-12), CW (28-21), Sanger (20-14) and Edison (17-14, 2 OT).

D-II: The nod in the section's deepest divison goes to defending champion Tulare

It's Buchanan 28-20 at half in a game that has produced 688 total yards -- 367 by the Bears and 321 by the Grizzlies. This is exceeding the pace of the near-state record 1,279 total delivered in Buchanan's 56-41 win over Bakersfield Sept. 25.

Buchanan's Lance Orender is 13 of 18 passing for 267 yards and 3 TDs.

Central sophomore Michael Baker is 15 of 19 for 231 and 1 TD

Roosevelt is well on its way to retaining the Pig trophy and earning another week to practice with the pigskin.

Needing a win to be put into the Division II playoff bracket, according to the Central Section web site, Roosevelt has pulled out to a 14-0 halftime lead over host Fresno in the 81st "Little Big Game" and Battle for the Pig.

**A few weeks ago, I criticized Central's lack of road following here at Veterans Memorial Stadium in a game the Grizzlies rocked Clovis West 24-3. Only about 400 Grizzlies fans showed for one of the biggest wins in program history. Not tonight against top-ranked Buchanan. They've nearly filled the north bleachers to the tune of about 3,000 fans.

** Central's turnout was rewarded with an electrifying 76-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Baker to B.J. Kelly on the Grizzlies' second play from scrimmage.

** With running back Nigel Simmons (broken ankle) and wide receiver Jake East (hairline leg fracture) out, Buchanan has lost 44% of its total offense and 57% of its touchdowns.

We're about 45 minutes away from kickoff for the 81th annual "Little Big Game," the Battle of the Pig between host Fresno and Roosevelt highs here at Ratcliffe Stadium, and the Warriors have a nice crowd despite the fact their team is 1-8 and playing out the string tonight.

Roosevelt's crowd is easily outnumbered at this point approximately 5-1 despite the fact the Rough Riders are playing tonight to earn a spot in the Central Section playoffs. According to the CIF Central Section web site, Roosevelt will be entered into the playoff bracket in Division IV only if it wins tonight.

Playoffs often deliever the tie-breaker for Bee All-Star Player of the Year winners, but here's a list of candidates entering Week 10:

** Rykeem Yates, offensive guard/defensive nose tackle, Edison: Most dominant player I've seen this season.

** Tyler Bray, quarterback, Kingsburg: If Vikings run the D-IV table behind a quarterback going to Tennessee, well . . .

** Lance Orender, quarterback, Buchanan: If Bears run the D-I table behind a quarterback lighting it up against the section's best competition, well . . .