Tulare and Visalia high school football teams kick off league play this week.
Here is a breakdown of each league:
EAST YOSEMITE LEAGUE
Defending champion: Mt. Whitney (2-3)
Mt. Whitney won its first league championship in nearly 25 years last season, running through EYL play with a perfect 5-0 record.
Can the Pioneers repeat that success?
Head coach Nathan Chamberlain has one of the top players in the Central Section this season. Junior receiver Israel Briggs, a four-star college recruit by 247sports.com, has 18 reported scholarship offers, including one most recently from Ole Miss of the SEC. He had two touchdown catches in Mt. Whitney’s non-league finale — a 14-7 win over Reedley (3-2).
The Pioneers also have a 48-0 win over Morro Bay (2-3).
Golden West’s Isaac Oceguera takes a pass under pressure from North Bakersfield’s Jacob Sanders in non-league high school football on Thursday, September 12, 2024.
The top challenger: Golden West (4-1)
Golden West is Tulare County’s highest-scoring team this season.
The Trailblazers have won four straight behind an offense averaging nearly 45 points per game.
Sophomore quarterback Jayden Najera (1,340 yards passing, 18 touchdowns) leads that attack. Najera’s 18 passing touchdowns are tied for the Central Section lead and his 1,340 yards passing is the second-most in the section.
Running back Case Anders (304 yards rushing, five touchdowns; 14 catches, 243 yards receiving, three touchdowns) may be the top running back in Visalia.
Can anyone slow down the Trailblazers’ high-powered Air Raid offense in the EYL?
Watch out for: Porterville (5-0)
Porterville rolled during non-league play, beating Wasco (2-3), Chavez-Delano (0-5), Selma (3-2), Highland-Bakersfield (3-1) and Exeter (3-2). During that five-game winning streak, they outscored their foes a combined 156-46.
The Panthers are just one of…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/league-previews-favorites-win-eyl-091240851.html
Author : Visalia Times-Delta | Tulare Advance Register
Publish date : 2024-10-03 09:12:40
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
