Hometown Sports

Football Guide

In the world of local television sports coverage,

a thirty year legacy like that of Greg Kerrs is
almost unheard of. Im aware of only a handful of
Sports Directors across the country who have been
covering one community for this length of time
with the kind of commitment he demonstrates
every week during football season. When the
KBAK/KBFX team realized we were celebrating a
major anniversary in 2016, we brainstormed ways
to mark a milestone.
Since 1986, a lot has changed in how we cover
sports. We have two local stations (CBS and Fox),
the top local news website (bakersfieldnow.com),
along with social media and mobile platforms.
In the end, we decided to go old school
with a printed publication. We wanted to
give loyal Hometown Sports fans something they
could hold in their hands, bring to a friend,
or leave on the coffee table as a resource
throughout the end of December. We made this
a station-wide effort and learned some new skills
along the way. We hope you enjoy the first edition
of the Hometown Sports Football Guide!
-Teresa Burgess, General Manager

CONTENTS

30 Years of Hometown
Hometown by the Numbers
Hometown Memories
2016 High School Schedule
Players to Watch
Fresno State Footbal Season Preview
Bakerseld College 1988 National Championship
BC Preview and Schedule
NFL Schedule
The LA Rams Rising 50
PAC 12 Schedule
Shafter vs Wasco Rivalry
NFL Pre Season Schedule
New Rivalry; BCHS vs Garces
Making the Call Behind the Scenes with Ofcials
UCLA vs USC
Oakland Raiders

6
8
9
10
14
17
18
19
20
24
26
28
31
32
35
36
38

FUN FOR THE

WHOLE FAMILY

Brian Cross

Brian Cross

BA K ER S F I EL D S ZO O & G A R DEN

Open Daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(661) 872-2256
10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy., Bakersfield, CA

www.CALMzoo.org
Brian Cross

Math problems have him stumped?

FREE expert math help on the TV, web or

phone! Games, prizes and guest appearances!

From Bakersfield: 636-HELP (4357)

TOLL-FREE: (866) 636-MATH (6284)
Broadcast on Bright House Networks Ch. 15
Email: dothemath@kern.org
Live Stream at www.ketn.tv & www.dothemathonline.net
Broadcast from KETN - Kern Educational Telecommunications Network

TUE. & WED. 3:30-5:30 P.M.

LIVE ON AIR 4:00-5:00 P.M.

Live tutors available beginning September 13th.

Now on your favorite social media:

Hometown Sports
Contributors
GREG KERR
JON DOSS
KYLE HARVEY
AMBER FRIAS
TERESA BURGESS

a.k.a Editor in Chief

30 Years

of Hometown

ur very first show aired September, 5th 1987,

but the impetus for a show like this came years
earlier. In 1983, I was working for WNCT-TV, in
Greenville, N.C., doing what I have done so
many Friday nights in the fall, shooting a high
school football game. At the time, we showed
our highlights that evening and our week was
done, returning to work the next Monday. In
my mind something was missing, we had so much material
at our disposal, so many highlights from so many games, but
given the quick turnaround from the end of the game to our
Friday night show most of it never made it to the airwaves. I
was young, I was eager, and I felt we were wasting a lot of
time and effort so I went to management and proposed a
one hour weekend show, which we called Saturday Sports
Extra. (As you can tell, we didnt spend a lot of time and
effort coming up with a name.) it was met with a lukewarm
response, people were watching but North Carolina is very
rural, opposing schools were thirty to forty miles apart. Upon
arriving in Bakersfield in February of 1987, I saw about 12
schools in close proximity to each other, shopping the same
mall, so I pitched a similar show to management at KBAK.
The premise was simple, a tight knit community like Bakersfield, would support a show which featured their very own
children and friends on television.
A common question in the early years was, How did you
come up with the name Hometown Sports? The answer,
we had a meeting and our former director, Steve Williams,
now at KTTV in Los Angeles came up with it and we thought
it was a good fit since covering our hometown teams was
the essence of our show. The first year with my co-host
Charlie Adams was memorable, the show was a first of its
kind in Bakersfield, and the response was overwhelming,
with signs in the crowd, along with feedback from coaches
and players alike. Remember, I was new to Bakersfield in
1987, so when Arvin defeated BHS, I didnt realize the
magnitude of the win. North beat the Drillers that season as
well. (They havent beaten them since.) Ill always remember
interviewing Jet Churchman after the game , the excitement
in his voice, the energy, I knew we were onto something.
Garces and BHS were dominant in the early years, the Rams
won four straight valley championships under head coach,

By Greg Kerr
@GKerr29sports

John Fanucchi. The Drillers were in the midst of putting

together a 39-game win streak with future college stars
like Jason Oliver, Jeff Buckey, Chad Provensal and Bryan
Adams. Foothill was thriving, first with Joey Porter, followed
by Rashaan Shehee. The 90s brought in record setting
BHS running back, Steve Wofford, (107 career TDs), Hernan
Santiago in Arvin, David Carr of Stockdale, just to name
a few. Obviously, we would see much more of David in
college and in the NFL, but it was another local quarterback,
Jeff Dover of Highland who was our offensive player of the
year that season. Other great players would follow, Derek
Carr at BCHS, Ryan Mathews at West.
There were plenty of road trips, following Tehachapi to
Mammoth, one of the coldest nights of my life. To Hawaii,
with BHS, no complaints there, and of course, taking my
soon to be wife, Shauna to Boron on a Saturday night in
December, Denzel Washington was in town to watch his son
play for the opposing team. It was so cold, Shauna, stayed
in the car near the end zone and never saw Denzel. We
talk about it to this day every time we pass through Boron.

Big games, there were plenty. BHS vs West in front of 18,000

fans at Memorial Stadium. Taft College vs Bakersfield College
in a pair of Potato Bowls in the 90s, in front of standing
room only crowds. New schools would arrive on the scene,
Centennial and head coach Jan Stuebbe, (I still remember
the mustache.) followed by Stockdale, Liberty and Frontier,
the list goes on.
The past 30 years has seen its share of great coaches as well,
John Fanucchi at Garces, Pat Preston at BHS, Kevin Sneed at
West, Ned Permenter at Foothill. The late Al Baldock at Taft
College, and the long line of coaches at Bakersfield College,
Carl Bowser, Dallas Grider, and the Renegades current coach,
Jeff Chudy. Other coaches still making their mark, Bryan
Nixon at Liberty, Dennis Manning at Ridgeview, Paul Golla
at BHS (winning a state championship behind the leadership
of quarterback Asauni Rufus), Rich Cornford at Frontier, and
of course, Steve Denman at Tehachapi. He was coaching
the Warriors before I even came to town, and hes still going
strong. Some memories come in the form of loss, Osbaldo
Orozco of Delano, Arvin running back Chad Yarbrough, and
former South coach, John Wren. They left us far too soon.

summer) I work often, and I am blessed to do something

I have a true passion for. I am now covering children of
players I once covered during their own playing careers,
it doesnt make me feel old, it brings me joy. I hope you
will continue to embrace our endeavor to bring you the
very best we have to offer. Finally, another question which
pops up from time to time, When are you going to retire?
Retire from watching kids play games? Witness the human
dynamic of competition? Make friends along the way?
Not anytime soon.

30 years later, now what? Every season we try to take a step

back and see what we can do to improve our product, this
publication is proof of that. The advent of social media has
certainly played a big role in some of the changes, and will
continue to do so. One thing however, hasnt changed, our
approach to our work. We dont just show up to games and
say we were there, we cover games for four quarters, we
never leave a close game. We also try to serve our entire
community, that means Bakersfield and beyond. Who else
can say they have been dedicated to serving the outlying
communities EVERY WEEK OF EVERY SEASON for 30 years.
That means you, Boron, Kern Valley, Taft, Wasco, Shafter,
Delano, McFarland, Arvin and Tehachapi. My belief has
never changed, kids are kids, no matter if they go to a big
school or a small one, everyone wants some kind of
recognition. On the flip side, it has always been my directive,
that we never name a player who throws and interception
or fumbles the ball by name, instead, we choose to highlight
the player who made the interception or recovered the
fumble. I dont believe 15, 16, or 17 year old kids need to
be called out by name on television and then have to go
to school on Monday. Our 30th season is upon us, our
Road to Hometown previews of each and every school
will begin in early August, followed by the kickoff of season
number 30 in late August, running through December. It has
been my distinct pleasure to be a small part of this sports
community over the past 30 years, blessed to have a wife
and family who understand how my job can sometimes be
inconvenient. I am quick to point out, I dont work hard, (Im
not digging ditches in the middle of a Bakersfield

I
am
blessed
to
do
something
I have a true passion for

The rst edition of

HOMETOWN SPORTS
aired on September 5th,1987.

10

Ten schools had yet

to open when
HOMETOWN SPORTS
debuted in 1987.

Stockdale-1991

Cesar Chavez-2003

Ridgeview-1994

Frontier-2006

Centennial-1999

Independence-2008

Liberty-2003

Mira Monte-2008

Golden Valley-2003

Robert F. Kennedy-2008

27

406

12

Co-anchors alongside
Greg Kerr since its debut in 1987.
Charlie Adams
Todd Karli
Fred Beck
Dan Tudor
Rich Weintraub
Kelly Carr

Rick Pike
Josh Green
Aaron Levine
John Franchi
Jon Tritsch
Jon Doss

Johnny G. Watson, longest tenured contributor

and photographer to HOMETOWN SPORTS.
Currently a teacher at Arvin high school, Johnny
joined HOMETOWN SPORTS in 1989.

The number of HOMETOWN SPORTS

shows since 1987 (knock on wood,
Greg has yet to miss a show.)

2,532

Longest road trip in miles. BHS travels

to play St. Louis High school of Honolulu.

HOMETOWN SPORTS rst aired after

Monday Night Football, back when KBAK-TV was
an ABC afliate. HOMETOWN SPORTS moved to Sunday when
KBAK-TV became a CBS afliate in 1996. HOMETOWN SPORTS,
currently airs on Sunday, now on KBFX FOX-58.

HOMETOWN BY THE

NUMB3RS

18 & 7,308
The average 60-minute HOMETOWN SPORTS
program features highlights from 18 different
games each week. Meaning, for over
30 years HOMETOWN SPORTS has
covered approximately 7,308 games.

By Greg Kerr

Hometown

Memories

Adam Miller Garces Memorial High School

Clint Tobias and his huge hits in 1996 and 1997,
including a huge one against BHS on the opening
kickoff. The dude could lay down the smack.

Jet Churchman North High School

1987, when North beat BHS. Thank you, Greg,
for all you have done over the years.

Aaron McDonald Bakerseld High School

1990 vs. Lemoore. I scored ve touchdowns, and the North
game I rushed for 312 yards.

Brian Johnson Garces Memorial High School

2006 at BHS, and we created a human tunnel on the eld
at halftime on their eld. In 1991, Tony Baker ran all over the

By Greg Kerr

Caspar Lopez Wasco High School

2012, Wasco Tigers, 13-0 league and Valley

champions. There were too many memories that
season to pick just a few favorites.

Kevin and Jennifer Altenhofel

Josh Altenhofel making a defensive touchdown, or

him kicking eld goals (he was a lineman), but the
kickers were hurt.

Freddie Franco Contributor/photographer for

Hometown Sports

Interviewing Terry Dill of Boron after they beat Morro Bay for
the selection title in 1994 and asking him which was better:
Winning the Lotto earlier that year or winning the title?

Jim Damian Tehachapi High School

eld goal, dj vu! Hometown Sports truly is a big part of

Racing home after the game to see who got Hit of the
Week. Sal Murguia, aka The Greatest Warrior of All Time
and his Hits of the Week in 1992.

my sports history, and I cant wait to see if my boys make it

Henry Benavidez Arvin High School

Drillers, and in 2006 Tony Baker kicked the game-winning

on there eventually.

Dan Calvin Bakerseld High School

Arvin vs. BHS in 1987, defeating the Drillers 27-18.

Justina Cruz-Howell

2005, when the Drillers won the Division I Valley

Taft College 1990-1991 football games, Potato Bowl.

Championship with Terrell Young, Chris Ventura, Derek

Cody Shirreffs Taft High School

John Reddick Jr., Adam Levinson, Adam Krause, Billy

Wayne Ross, Justin DeWayne Cheadle and Justin Jackson.
We won (on) the road in Fresno, against Bullard.

Tim Wilson East High School

Seeing myself win Hometown Sports Hit Man of the Week

in 2005 was an awesome feeling.

David Brust Contributor/photographer for

Hometown Sports

Driving to three games in one night, trying to get the

best highlights. Rushing back to the games. What people
should know is how crazy, demanding and fun putting on
Hometown Sports is.

Taft Union High School, 2010.

Will Apostolos Contributor/photographer for

Hometown Sports

Cameraman, editor, 1995-1999, and the fun we had

when the show was over.

Felix Calzado Bakerseld High School

1991, BHS vs. West. Aaron McDonalds kickoff return for

a touchdown to start the second half sealed the deal.

Robin LewisVales

2011, BHS vs. Centennial in the playoffs. BHS comes

back from a huge decit to win the fourth quarter.
Best comeback game ever.

Steve Acosta Tehachapi

1993, the Tehachapi Warriors were 12-0 and Valley champions.

Rashaan Shehee Foothill High School

The big showdown, Foothill vs. BHS. Both teams were undefeated. The town shut down
and we play a regular season game at Bakerseld College in front of 18,000 crazed fans.
The battle of running backs, Steve Wofford for BHS, Rashaan Shehee for Foothill. We thrilled
the fans for four quarters with the Drillers edging us out. The good old days.

2016 High School

SOUTHEAST YOSEMITE LEAGUE

SOUTH YOSEMITE LEAGUE

East Bakerseld High School

Ridgeview High School

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent
Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:30p vs Delano

8/26

7:30p vs Stockdale

8/26

7:30p vs Kennedy

8/26

7:30p @ Independence

9/2

7:30p vs North

9/2

7:30p @ Liberty

9/2

7:30p @ Arvin

9/2

7:30p @ East

9/9

7:30p @ Mira Monte

9/9

7:30p @ Frontier

9/9

7:30p vs Shafter

9/9

7:30p vs Wasco Union

9/16

7:30p vs Highland

9/23

7:30p vs Central

9/16

7:30p @ West

9/16

7:30p @ Delano

9/30

7:30p @ Foothill

9/30

7:30p vs BHS

9/23

7:30p vs Delano

9/23

7:30p vs Monache

10/7

7:30p vs West

10/7

7:30p @ Golden Valley

9/30

7:30p vs East

9/30

7:30p @ Tehachapi

10/14

7:30p @ Tehachapi

10/14

7:30p vs West

10/7

7:30p vs Highland

10/7

7:30p @ South

10/21

7:30p vs Ridgeview

10/21

7:30p @ East

10/14

7:30p @ North

10/14

7:30p vs Foothill

10/28

7:30p @ Independence

10/28

7:30p vs Tehachapi

10/28

7:30p vs South

10/21

7:30p vs Mira Monte

11/4

7:30p @ Golden Valley

11/4

7:30p @ Independence

11/4

7:30p @ Mira Monte

11/4

7:30p @ Highland

Foothill High School

Highland High School

North High School

South High School

Golden Valley High School

Tehachapi High School

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:30p @ Taft Union

9/2

7:00p @ Burroughs

8/26

7:30p @ Arvin

8/26

7:30p vs Chavez

7:30p vs Shafter

9/2

7:30p @ Delano

9/2

7:30p vs Chavez

9/9

7:30p @ Garces Memorial

9/2

9/9

7:30p @ Centennial

9/16

7:30p @ Bakerseld Christian

9/9

7:30p vs Kennedy

9/9

7:30p vs Arvin

7:30p @ East

9/16

7:30p @ Shafter

9/23

7:30p vs Paraclete

9/16

9/16

7:30p @ Independence

9/23

7:30p vs Highland

9/30

7:30p vs North

9/23

7:30p @ Golden Valley

9/23

7:30p vs Tulare Western

10/7

7:30p vs Ridgeview

10/7

7:30p vs Independence

9/30

7:30p vs Hoover

9/30

7:30p vs West

10/14

7:30p @ Independence

10/14

7:30p vs East

10/7

7:30p @ Foothill

10/7

7:30p vs North

10/21

7:30p vs Tehachapi

10/21

7:30p @ Golden Valley

10/21

7:30p vs South

10/14

7:30p vs Mira Monte

10/28

7:30p @ West

10/28

7:30p @ Ridgeview

10/28

7:30p @ Mira Monte

10/21

7:30p @ Highland

11/4

7:30p vs East

11/4

7:30p vs West

11/4

7:30p vs North

10/28

7:30p @ Foothill

Independence High School

West Bakerseld High School

Mira Monte High School

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:30p vs North

9/2

7:30p vs Porterville

8/26

7:30p vs Shafter

9/2

7:30p @ Stockdale

9/9

7:30p @ Chavez

9/2

7:30p @ Kennedy

9/9

7:30p @ Arroyo Grande

9/16

7:30p vs Foothill

9/9

7:30p vs East

9/16

7:30p vs South

9/23

7:30p vs Stockdale

9/16

7:30p vs Arvin

9/23

7:30p @ Tulare Union

9/30

7:30p @ South

9/23

7:30p @ California City

10/7

7:30p @ Tehachapi

10/7

7:30p @ East

9/30

7:30p vs Rosamond

10/14

7:30p vs Golden Valley

10/14

7:30p @ Ridgeview

10/14

7:30p @ South

10/21

7:30p @ West

10/21

7:30p vs Independence

10/21

7:30p @ North

10/28

7:30p vs East

10/28

7:30p vs Golden Valley

10/28

7:30p vs Highland

11/4

7:30p vs Ridgeview

11/4

7:30p @ Tehachapi

11/4

7:30p vs Foothill

Football Schedule

*Game times and locations

are subject to change.

SOUTHWEST YOSEMITE LEAGUE

Bakerseld High School

Garces Memorial High School

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/27

5:00p @ Pleasant Grove

8/26

7:30p vs Bakerseld Christian

9/2

7:30p vs Bear Creek @ Cathedral (TRNY)

9/2

7:00p @ Arroyo Grande

9/15

7:00p vs Chaminade @ BC

9/9

7:30p vs Tehachapi

9/23

7:00p vs Valencia @ Centennial

9/17

7:30p vs San Joaquin Memorial

10/30

7:30p @ Ridgeview

9/30

7:00p @ Edison

10/7

7:30p vs Garces Memorial @ West

10/7

7:30p vs BHS @ West

10/14

7:30p vs Frontier @ BC

10/14

7:30p vs Centennial

10/21

7:30p @ Centennial

10/21

7:30p @ Liberty

10/28

7:30p @ Stockdale

10/28

7:30p vs Frontier

11/4

7:30p vs Liberty @ West

11/4

7:30p @ Stockdale

Centennial High School

Liberty High School

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

8/27

8:00p @ St. Bonaventure

8/26

7:30p @ Clovis West

9/1

7:30p @ Clovis West

9/2

7:30p vs Ridgeview

9/9

7:30p vs Golden Valley

9/9

7:30p vs Central Valley Christian

9/16

7:30p @ Bullard

9/16

7:30p vs Buchanan

9/23

7:30p @ Clovis

9/23

7:30p @ Cathedral Catholic

10/7

7:30p vs Stockdale

10/7

7:30p @ Frontier

10/14

7:30p @ Garces Memorial

10/14

7:30p @ Stockdale

10/21

7:30p vs BHS

10/21

7:30p vs Garces Memorial

10/28

7:30p @ Liberty

10/28

7:30p vs Centennial

11/4

7:30p vs Frontier

11/4

7:30p @ BHS

Frontier High School

Time/Opponent

Stockdale High School

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:00p vs Cabrillo

8/26

7:30p @ Ridgeview

9/2

7:00p @ Paso Robles

9/2

7:30p vs Independence

9/9

7:30p vs Ridgeview

9/9

7:30p @ Atascadero

9/16

7:30p @ Central

9/16

7:30p vs Clovis

9/23

7:00p vs Mission Oak

9/23

7:30p @ West

10/7

7:30p vs Liberty

10/7

7:30p @ Centennial

10/14

7:00p @ BHS

10/14

7:30p vs Liberty

10/21

7:30p vs Stockdale

10/28

7:00p vs BHS

10/28

7:30p @ Garces Memorial

11/4

7:30p vs Garces Memorial

11/4

7:30p @ Centennial

11

Schedules Continued
SOUTH SEQUOIA LEAGUE
Arvin High School

Robert F. Kennedy High School

Date

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:30p vs Highland

9/2

7:30p vs Foothill

9/9

7:30p @ South

9/16
9/23

Wasco Union High School

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:30p @ Foothill

8/26

7:30p vs Coalinga

9/2

7:30p vs Mira Monte

9/9

7:30p @ North

9/9

7:30p @ Highland

9/16

7:30p @ McLane

7:30p @ Mira Monte

9/16

7:30p vs Kerman

9/23

7:30p vs Bakerseld Christian

7:30p vs Taft Union

9/23

7:30p @ Shafter

9/30

7:30p vs Delano

9/30

7:30p vs Shafter

9/30

7:30p @ Bakerseld Christian

10/7

7:30p @ Kennedy

10/14

7:30p @ Kennedy

10/7

7:30p vs Wasco Union

10/14

7:30p vs Chavez

10/21

7:30p @ Bakerseld Christian

10/14

7:30p vs Arvin

10/21

7:30p @ Taft Union

10/28

7:30p vs Wasco Union

10/21

7:30p @ Chavez

10/28

7:30p @ Arvin

11/4

7:30p @ Chavez

10/28

7:30p vs Taft Union

11/4

7:30p vs Shafter

Bakerseld Christian High School

Shafter High School

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:30p @ Garces Memorial

8/26

7:30p @ Mira Monte

9/2

7:30p vs Central Valley Christian

9/2

7:30p @ Highland

9/9

7:30p @ Mission Oak

9/9

7:30p @ Foothill

9/16

7:30p vs Tehachapi

9/16

7:30p vs Golden Valley

9/23

7:30p @ Wasco Union

9/23

7:30p vs Kennedy

9/30

7:30p vs Kennedy

9/30

7:30p @ Arvin

10/7

7:30p @ Chavez

10/7

7:30p @ Taft Union

10/14

7:30p @ Shafter

10/14

7:30p vs Bakerseld Christian

10/21

7:30p vs Arvin

10/28

7:30p vs Chavez

11/4

7:30p vs Taft Union

11/4

7:30p @ Wasco Union

Cesar E. Chavez High School

Date

Taft Union High School

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:30p @ South

8/26

7:30p vs Golden Valley

9/2

7:30p @ Golden Valley

9/2

7:00p @ Monache

9/9

7:30p vs West

9/9

7:30p @ Porterville

9/23

7:30p vs Central Valley Christian

9/16

7:30p vs Exeter

9/30

7:30p @ Taft Union

9/23

7:30p @ Arvin

10/7

7:30p vs Bakerseld Christian

9/30

7:30p vs Chavez

10/14

7:30p @ Wasco Union

10/7

7:30p vs Shafter

10/21

7:30p vs Kennedy

10/21

7:30p vs Wasco Union

10/28

7:30p @ Shafter

10/28

7:30p @ Kennedy

11/4

7:30p vs Arvin

11/4

7:30p @ Bakerseld Christian

Watch Hometown Sports

Sundays @ 5pm on FOX58
to keep track of all games!

#hometownsports

BAKERSFIELDnow.com/Sports

Access the 2016 Football Guide online.

OUTLIERS
McFarland High School

Kern Valley High School

Desert High School

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:30p vs Avenal

8/26

7:00p @ Boron

8/26

7:00p @ Immanuel

9/2

7:30p @ Tranquillity

9/2

7:00p vs Silver Valley

9/2

7:00p vs Oak Park

9/16

7:00p @ Kern Valley

9/9

7:00p @ Morro Bay

9/9

7:00p @ Barstow

9/23

7:30p vs Frazier Mountain

9/16

7:00p vs McFarland

9/16

7:00p vs Lancaster

9/30

7:30p vs Granite Hills

9/30

7:00p vs Corcoran

9/23

7:00p vs Boron

10/7

7:30p @ Riverdale

10/7

7:00p vs Bishop

10/7

7:00p @ Cal City

10/14

7:30p @ Orosi

10/14

7:00p @ Desert

10/14

7:00p vs Kern Valley

10/21

7:30p @ Orange Cove

10/21

7:00p vs Frazier Mountain

10/21

7:00p @ Bishop

10/28

7:30p vs Laton

10/28

7:00p @ Rosamond

10/28

7:00p vs Frazier

11/4

7:30p vs Farmersville

11/4

7:00p @ Cal City

11/4

7:00p @ Rosamond

Delano High School

Porterville High School

Frazier Mountain High School

Time/Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent
Opponent

Date

Time/Opponent

8/26

7:30p @ East

9/2

7:30p @ West

8/26

7:15p @ Granite Hills

9/2

7:30p vs South

9/9

7:00p vs Taft Union @ Granite Hills

9/2

7:00p @ Desert Christian

9/16

7:30p vs North

9/15

7:00p vs @ Hanford

9/9

7:00p vs Excelsior Christian

9/23

7:30p @ Foothill

9/23

7:00p vs Dinuba @ Granite Hills

9/23

7:30p @ McFarland

9/30

7:30p @ Wasco

9/30

7:00p @ Buchanan

9/30

7:00p @ Silver Valley

10/7

7:30p vs Tulare Western

10/7

7:00p vs Mission Oak @ Tulare Union

10/7

7:00p @ Rosamond

10/14

7:30p vs Tulare Union

10/14

7:00p vs Tulare Western @ Granite Hills

10/14

7:00p vs California City

10/21

7:30p @ Monache

10/20

7:00p @ Tulare Union

10/21

7:00p @ Kern Valley

10/28

7:30p vs Porterville

10/28

7:30p @ Delano

10/28

7:00p @ Desert

11/4

7:30p @ Mission Oak

6:30p vs Monache @ Granite Hills

11/4

7:00p vs Bishop

Date

11/4

Boron High School

Date
Time/Opponet

Monache High School

Date
Time/Opponet

8/26

8/25

7:00p vs Kern Valley

7:00p vs Golden West @ Granite Hills

9/2

7:00p vs Brethren Christian @ Ocean View

9/2

7:00p vs Taft @ Granite Hills

9/9

7:00p vs Cal City

9/9

7:00p vs El Diamante @ Golden West

9/16

7:00p vs Rio Hondo Prep @ Arcadia

9/16

7:00p vs Kingsburg @ Granite Hills

9/23

7:00p vs Desert @ AF Base

9/23

7:30p @ North

9/30

7:00p @ Saddleback Valley

10/7

7:00p vs Tulare Union @ Granite Hills

10/8

4:00p @ Pasadena Poly

10/14

7:00p vs Mission Oak @ Tulare Union

10/21

7:30p vs Mammoth

10/20

7:30p vs Delano @ Granite Hills

10/28

7:00p vs Vasquez @ Acton

10/27

7:00p @ Tulare Union

11/4

7:00p vs Desert Christian

11/4

6:30p vs Porterville @ Granite Hills

13

BHS DRILLERS: HEAD COACH PAUL GOLLA

DANIEL SCHOENE/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

COACH GOLLA SAYS: A 6-foot-7 senior, he is a three-year
starter, first-team all-league, and is being recruited by major
Division I colleges.
SHANE JONES:/WIDE RECEIVER/RUNNING BACK
COACH GOLLA SAYS:Maybe one of the best athletes in
the valley, would have been a starter for us last year but
was unable to play.
CAMERON WRIGHT/QUARTERBACK
COACH GOLLA SAYS:Quarterback for undefeated freshman team. Started at safety for us in the playoffs last year,
he has been offered to play quarterback at Arizona State.
CAIDEN OCHOA/SAFETY/RUNNIG BACK
COACH GOLLA SAYS:Two-way starter for us last year, is the
leader of our defense.

TEHACHAPI WARRIORS:
HEAD COACH STEVE DENMAN

KEYRON SCOTT/RUNNING BACK

COACH DENMAN SAYS: Keyron has great speed, strength
and work ethic.
TANNER HERMAN/LINEBACKER
COACH DENMAN SAYS: Tanner is very smart, a three-year
starter who runs our defense.
CARSON BETHANY/SAFETY/RECEIVER
COACH DENMAN SAYS: Carson has great range and
ability to get to the ball.

INDEPENDENCE FALCONS:
HEAD COACH LUCAS LUCERO

TARYN YOUNG/RECEIVER/DEFENSIVE BACK

COACH LUCERO SAYS: Returns as leading receiver in
catches and touchdowns, speedy and shifty.
DAMARIS HERRON/RECEIVER/DEFENSIVE BACK
COACH LUCERO SAYS: Great hands, valley qualifier in high
jump. He is explosive offensively and defensively.

RIDGEVIEW WOLF PACK:

HEAD COACH DENNIS MANNING

RICKY LEUNG-WAI/DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

COACH MANNING SAYS: Dominant defensive lineman with
explosive get off. Has offer from San Diego State and
interest from Oregon and Washington State.
JAMAR MOYA/RUNNING BACK/QUARTERBACK/RECEIVER/
DEFENSIVE BACK
COACH MANNING SAYS: Very versatile playmaker and
great leader.
JALEYN PROVOST/RECEIVER/DEFENSIVE BACK
COACH MANNING SAYS: Freakish athlete with great
combination of size, speed and power.
AMIR KNOX/RECEIVER/LINEBACKER
COACH MANNING SAYS: Very versatile and great tackler on
defense. Covers sideline to sideline, very smart.
ANTHONY ALCAIDE/TIGHT END/DEFENISVE END
COACH MANNING SAYS: ... a big, physical and dominating
blocker as a tight end.
NORMAN CRAMER/RUNNING BACK
COACH MANNING SAYS: Plays much bigger than he is.
Tough and determined runner.
CADEN COX/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
COACH MANNING SAYS: (Hes) 6-foot-5, 280 pounds. Big
and athletic with good feet. Huge potential.
JEREMIAH THOMAS/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
COACH MANNING SAYS: (Hes) 6-foot-4, 310 pounds. Battled
injuries last year but is a dominant run blocker.
KEONTE GLINTON/QUARERBACK/DEFENSIVE BACK
COACH MANNING SAYS: Lockdown corner and extremely
smart. Great leadership and touch as a quarterback. Think
Lawrence White Jr.
DAMON DEGRAFFENRIED/RUNNING BACK/SAFETY
COACH MANNING SAYS: Big-time hitter and playmaker at
safety.

SHAFTER GENERALS:
HEAD COACH JERALD PIERUCCI

NICK PEREZ/RUNNING BACK

COACH PIERUCCI SAYS: Nick is a returning starter and a very
powerful runner. He is one of our leaders off the field and has a
3.0-plus GPA. He will be our primary running back and our staple
at inside linebacker.
STEVE PEREZ/RECEIVER/DEFENSIVE BACK
COACH PIERUCCI SAYS: Steve is one of the purest receivers I have
ever coached. He is becoming a great route runner and his hands
are becoming more consistent. He is easily a 50-plus catch receiver
in our offense.

LIBERTY PATRIOTS:
HEAD COACH BRYAN NIXON

KURTIS BROWN/DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

COACH NIXON SAYS: He is a dominant defensive lineman, very
athletic and has football savvy. Hard worker and leader. Committed
to UCLA.
JOHNNY BALDERAS/RECEIVER/DEFENSIVE BACK
COACH NIXON SAYS: Very athletic and a big playmaker. Very long
defensive back with good cover skills.
LUKE FRINGER/SAFETY
COACH NIXON SAYS: Very smart football player with great instincts.
Takes great angles and is always around the football.
ZACH GRIFFIN/LINEBACKER
COACH NIXON SAYS: Great leader with a nose for the ball, plays
very hard, a hard worker.
SAM STEWART/RUNNING BACK/LINEBACKER
COACH NIXON SAYS: Runs hard with vision, catches the ball well
out of the backfield. Very good instincts on the defensive side of the
ball, covers well and is a big physical linebacker.
CAMERON MEEKS/RUNNING BACK
COACH NIXON SAYS: A big physical back with good speed and
great vision, a 1,500-yard back last year.
GRANT BICE/DEFENISVE BACK
COACH NIXON SAYS: Fast and good cover guy. Plays running back
and slot on offense with big play capability.

HIGHLAND SCOTS:
HEAD COACH MIKE GUTIERREZ

JOSHUA YUBETA/OFFENISVE LINEMAN/LINEBACKER

COACH GUTIERREZ SAYS: Josh started both ways as a sophomore
and finished with 109 tackles. Hes a big body with good feet that
should be a force again this season.

KENNEDY THUNDERBIRDS:
HEAD COACH DENNIS MOODY

ROMAN PRIETO/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

COACH MOODY SAYS: Hes 6-foot-3, 280 pounds. Big, strong and
quick. Strong enough to move you, quick and agile enough to pass
block or get to the next level.

Players
toWatch
By: Greg Kerr

STOCKDALE MUSTANGS:
HEAD COACH BRETT SHELTON

ELISHA ORTIZ/RUNNING BACK/SAFETY

COACH SHELTON SAYS: Versatile athlete, combination of
speed and strength, explosive with great field vision.
NICK MAIDEN/RUNNING BACK/LINEBACKER
COACH SHELTON SAYS: Sideline-to-sideline player, in on
every play. Powerful runner, fearless.
JALEN SMITH/RECEIVER
COACH SHELTON SAYS: Hes 6-foot-2, a technician on the
field, excellent route runner, great hands.

BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN EAGLES:

HEAD COACH DARREN CARR

AUSTIN GAINES/QUARTERBACK
COACH CARR SAYS: Intelligent on and off the field
(4.5 GPA) rocket arm, first one in and last to leave, a
leader.
JEREMIAH FOSTER/RECEIVER
COACH CARR SAYS: Tall, long arms, huge catch radius.
(Won the Valley in high jump) Will block, has good hands
and a great sense of humor. Loves to compete.
STEPHEN FIGURES/RUNNING BACK
COACH CARR SAYS: Athletic, tough, can play all over
the field on offense and defense. Big-play threat, smooth
runner, tough, mentally and physically.

SOUTH REBELS:
HEAD COACH CARY MILLS

ARIES HARRIS/QUARTERBACK/RECEIVER/PUNTER
COACH MILLS SAYS: Can do it all, great young man, great
leader. Three-year starter, getting serious looks as a receiver
at the next level.

EAST BLADES:
HEAD COACH DAVID FANUCCHI

RAYMOND MARQUEZ RUNNING BACK/DEFENSIVE BACK

COACH FANUCCHI SAYS: Raymond is one of the most
explosive players in the area. He was a state qualifier in
the 100 meters.
DAVID CEJA/TIGHT END/LINEBACKER
COACH FANUCCHI SAYS: David is big and athletic.
Returning varsity basketball player and member of our
Valley Championship tennis team.

MIRA MONTE LIONS:

HEAD COACH DAVID COLDIRON

CRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ/LINEBACKER
COACH COLDIRON SAYS: Will be a senior this year, as a
sophomore we brought him up to varsity in week seven and
he made an immediate impact. Last year he led our team in
tackles. He was first-team All-SEYL.
JESSE RODRIGUEZ/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
COACH COLDIRON SAYS: Also called up to varsity as a
sophomore, Jesse will be a senior and he has the experience
to be a very good offensive lineman. He has worked hard in
the weight room this past off season.

CENTENNIAL GOLDEN HAWKS:

HEAD COACH CHAD BROWN

COLE BEATY/RECEIVER/DEFENSIVE BACK/KICK RETURNER

COACH BROWN SAYS: Explosive player that has great vision.
Always a threat to score on special teams. PLAYMAKER.
GABE CHERRY/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN/DEFENISVE LINEMAN
COACH BROWN SAYS: Big and strong, gets off the ball well
with great power. Controls the line of scrimmage and puts
great pressure on the opposing quarterback.

NORTH STARS:
HEAD COACH NORM BROWN

MARLEY GARNETT/QUARTERBACK/PUNTER
COACH BROWN SAYS: A team captain, he is 6-foot-4, and in
addition to playing quarterback, he was first-team punter as well.

FRONTIER TITANS:
HEAD COACH RICH CORNFORD

GREG YOUNGBLOOD/QUARTERBACK
COACH CORNFORD SAYS: Three year starter as a duel-threat
quarterback, may be the best in town.
LUCAS BUSHNELL/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
COACH CONFORD SAYS: (Hes) 6-foot-3, 280 pounds. He is our best
kid up front.
MARCUS CORNFORD/RECEIVER/SAFETY
COACH CORNFORD SAYS: (Hes) 6-foot-3. He went to state this year in
track and will play this season after taking a year off.

GARCES RAMS:
HEAD COACH A.J. GASS

JEREMIAH JOHNSON/SAFETY
COACH GASS SAYS: Has great ability to read routes and get into
position for interceptions. Led team in interceptions last year and looks
to lead our secondary.
CAMERON ROBERSON/SAFETY/RECEIVER
COACH GASS SAYS: Cameron is one of the fastest kids in town and
we will utilize his speed on both sides of the ball.
CONOR BRUCE/QUARTERBACK/RECEIVER
COACH GASS SAYS: Conor will continue to be featured on the
offensive side of the ball. Whether playing quarterback or receiver,
he is a threat any time he touches the ball.
MICHAEL GEORGINO/TIGHT END/DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
COACH GASS SAYS: Michael is the strongest player on our team, he
will look to anchor the defensive line as a pass rusher and run stopper.

TAFT WILDCATS:
HEAD COACH GEORGE FALGOUT

CAMERON GINN/TIGHT END/DEFENSIVE END

COACH FALGOUT SAYS: A returning all-league player, he will be a
captain and one of the top leaders for our team. He will play a key
role in our offense this year. On defense, he will also play at one of our
defensive end spots, making big plays on the line of scrimmage.
CODY McCALEB/QUARTERBACK
COACH FALGOUT SAYS: Another captain, Cody will be the driver of
our offense, taking on the role Tevin Howell did for us last season. He will
also see some work in our secondary at a corner spot.
HOLDEN WILLIAMS/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN/DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
COACH FALGOUT SAYS: Returning all-league player, Holden will be
one of our top offensive linemen. He is quick and strong making big
holes for us up front.
MAINO MAINO/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN/DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
COACH FALGOUT SAYS: Moving from center to guard, Maino will use
power and strength (he squats 495 pounds). He will also be playing on
the defensive side of the ball, making big plays for us.
ROBERT COZINE/RUNNING BACK/DEFENSIVE BACK
COACH FALGOUT SAYS: Robert can be another great one like Josh
Sailor was for our offense. He will give us that breakaway speed and
have the power to explode through defenders. At the corner spot, his
speed will help us cover the great receivers we have in our league.

FOOTHILL TROJANS:
HEAD COACH JASON OLIVER

HUGO SANTANA/QUARTERBACK
COACH OLIVER SAYS: Hugo has a great arm and work ethic.
ANDREW VINEGAS/SAFETY
COACH OLIVER SAYS: Andrew is one of our best tacklers, a ball hawk.
He may lead our team in tackles this season.
JAMES EOFF/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
COACH OLIVER SAYS: James is 6-foot-5, 290 pounds and he is still
growing.

ARVIN BEARS:
HEAD COACH EDGAR MARES

RAFAEL VELASQUEZ/RUNNING BACK

COACH MARES SAYS: A team captain, he is a returning three-year
starter, first team All-SSL running back, works hard, very coachable.

15

FRESNO STATE

FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

From KMPH

To call last season disappointing for the

Bulldogs is an understatement. They won
just three games, finished 2-6 in Mountain
West play and were soundly blown out in six
games.
So, the only direction to go is up. Just how
much of an improvement Fresno State can
make, however, is a good question.
While Tim DeRuyter returns for his
fifth season as head coach, there
are six new position coaches. That
includes a new offensive coordinator Eric
Kiesau and defensive coordinator Lorenzo
Ward. Kiesau comes from Alabama, where
he was an offensive analyst for Nick Saban.
Kiesau says his offense will look mostly similar to what fans saw in the Dave Schramm
era, but with more pistol and under-center
formations that could feature multiple tight
ends and a stronger run game.
For the third year in a row since Derek
Carrs departure, the Dogs do not
know who their starting quarterback

will be when the season begins. After

back-to-back
QB
carousels,
the
expectation is the coaching staff would
want to stick with one guy. In spring ball,
the leading candidate to be that guy was
redshirt freshman Chason Virgil, who started
against Utah last season before suffering a
season-ending injury. Kiesau also suggested
Ford Childress would be in the mix for the
starting job. Childress, a former West Virginia
transfer, also started in a game last season
and then left with a season-ending injury.
Elsewhere on the offensive side of
the
ball,
the
Bulldogs
return
two
linemen, tight end Chad Olsen and four
wide receivers. There will be another
question
mark
at
running
back.
Junior Dontel James received most of the
first-team reps during Spring Ball, while former
Bullard Knight Dejone ONeal is an explosive
option whenever he touches the ball, but
neither have much game experience.
Defensively, Ward comes from South Carolina
to join a staff that is otherwise intact. Former

defensive coordinator Nick Toth slides into a

full-time role of coaching the inside linebackers. Ward suggests there wont be major
changes in scheme, but there is hope he
can shore up a secondary thats had major
issues the last few years. Ward has coached
16 defensive backs who played in the NFL.
The
Dogs
lost
five
defensive
starters who were picked up by NFL
teams as undrafted free agents, but there
is some young talent. Nela Otukolo
and
James
Bailey
are
sophomore
linebackers who saw major playing time as true
freshmen
and
could
be
special.
Five
returning
starters
with
some
experience
are
cornerbacks
Jamal
Ellis and Tyquwan Glass, linebackers
Jeff Camilli and Tobenna Okeke, and
defensive lineman Nathan Madsen.
The 2016 season begins in one of college
footballs legendary venues - Memorial
Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. Theyve sold
out every game there since 1962, which is
an ongoing NCAA record. The next three
nonconference games are much more
manageable than a year ago, with home
games against Sacramento State and
Tulsa sandwiching an away date at Toledo.
There is no Boise State on the conference
schedule, and there is no one else in the
Mountain West who is a convincing favorite
to make the championship game.

BC Renegades: 1988 National Champions

Winning the national championship at Bakersfield College
was the best thing that ever happened to me.

By
KerrKerr
By Greg
Gregg

18

Im running the play through my head, what if?

Sykes says, and the moment I am thinking what if,
the ball is snapped. I wanted Lionell Sykes to be
the primary receiver, Bowser said, because hes
big, hes strong and fast and he had really good
hands, he was a savvy guy, a gamer. As the play
developed Greene couldnt believe what he saw,
I remember seeing Sykes break open kind of on an
angle and I remember looking at him like wow, no
one is covering you. I remember consciously thinking
I need to throw this to him like Im throwing him a
newborn baby, there was no way it was going to be
short or long, it was going to be in the air because
he was that wide open. Sykes hauled in the pass,
stepping out of bounds for a first down. Moments
later, now in Fullerton territory, the Renegades were
faced with another big decision. It was third down
and twelve, already in range for a potential but
difficult game winning field goal, Greene made one
final plea to his coach. I said, coach let me throw
t was a bright December afternoon in Bakersfield, a pass to Sykes, I promise I wont take a sack, and
the sun dipping behind Memorial Stadium, creating put us out of field goal range. Bowser, going against
a chill in stark contrast to the game on the field. The grain earlier in the drive with a fourth and one pass
year was 1988, a national championship riding on play, called a timeout. Ive always felt when people
the outcome. Visiting Fullerton College had just
talk about this game, Bowser said, this play was
scored a touchdown with 4:41 to play to take
a bigger play to execute than the fourth and short
a 24-23 lead over Carl Bowsers undefeated Bakersfield yardage. Once again, Greene recalls his pass to
College Renegades. We had enough time on the clock Sykes, we get to the line of scrimmage and I throw
and two timeouts. Bowser said. we didnt have to rush a thirteen yard out to Lionell to get the first down,
ourselves.
a couple of more run plays and we score a touchdown with about thirty seconds to play. Honestly,
Needing only a field goal to win, the ensuing drive hit
Bowser says, I was more happy for the players than
an immediate roadblock, the Renegades facing fourth
myself, it was definitely fun because it kind of puts
down and a yard to go for a first down. Bowser elected
an exclamation point by your team. For Sykes, it
to go away from the ground and pound running game, was a moment of a lifetime, Winning the national
a foundation of Renegade football through the years.
championship at Bakersfield College was the best
With quarterback Stan Greene at the controls, Were all thing that ever happened to me. Almost 30 years
expecting were going to get in the wishbone, Greene
later, Greene says, You never really get a chance
recalls, and were going to hand the ball to one of our
to sit down and just celebrate it to the degree that
big backs and were going to get a first down and conyou want to, maybe its just your gift over the course
tinue this drive. Bowser had another idea, We go tight of your lifetime, which, quite frankly Ive been pretty
right, which is two tight ends and a full house backfield
blessed with a career that really would have never
which indicates youre going to slam the ball off tackle
happened if I didnt play football at Bakersfield
with a bunch of lead people, and instead we run a play College. For Bowser, the Renegades head coach
action pass. What could go wrong? The only thing
for eleven years, this was the mountaintop. I rethat worried me was Stan wasnt really a runner, more
member getting into the locker room and that great
of a thrower, Bowser said, he was a smart quarterback, feeling of success that you get, you know, it doesnt
one of the smartest we ever had. I kind of get chills
happen very often that you go undefeated at any
now even thinking about it , Greene said, because
level, and to be able to do that and kind of take a
it was so cool to have that moment happen. So, I get
deep breath and say son of a gun we got it done, it
in the huddle and call the play and they all just kind of
was a thrill, it really was, still is.
looked at me like, wow this is it. Greene would go
under center, the play designed to go to tight end
Lionell Sykes. We walk up to the line of scrimmage and

BC PREVIEW
By: Jon Doss
@JonDossBAK
The lights above Bakersfield Colleges
Dean and Adah Gay sports complex
buzzed and flickered as they warmed
up in the mid winter sunset.
BCs softball team was on its way
to an early-season home rout of
Ventura College, the first win of its
2016 campaign.
Off in the distance, visible through
the chain-linked fencing in center
field, another group of Gades were
starting their season too, some five
months before their schedule even
said so.
They were begging me to get out
and throw, said sophomore Dalton
Gallis. Weve got a lot of guys that
are hungry this year.
Gallisa second-year quarterback
for the Gades football team
couldnt blame his receivers for their
not-so-subtle pestering because like
them, he knows BCs bounce back
could hinge on those early February
passing sessions.
Losing is tough for me, I hate it more
than anything, the Kern Valley High

School product admitted. Weve got

to rebound. Just because we had one
down year, thats not what its going
to be like (this season).
This year, Gallis will be charged
with leading a BC offense that
finished near the bottom of the
California Community College
Athletic Association in just about
every meaningful category in
2015, for a team that at 2-8 had
arguably its worst season in its
nearly century-long program history.
You lose some games and it gets
in your head, said Gallis. It wasnt
a lack of effort, it just took a while
for us to start meshing.
Hence this years early winter
warm up. And perhaps even
more important than the aheadof-schedule bonding is who Gallis
was bonding with.
After missing all of the 2015 season
following wrist surgery, former
Bakersfield High School standout
receiver Derrick Vickers-a 2014 Junior
College All-Americanhas returned
to the Gades roster. It was hard

Just because we had one

down year, thats not what its
going to be like (this season).
sitting out for a year and watching my
team play without me, said Vickers,
whose 11 touchdowns paced BC two
seasons ago. We just wanted to get out
there early, just so we could build this
connection and get on the same
page. I feel like (people) dont feel well
bounce back. Im ready to just show
them different.
So far the Gades passing attack seems
to be on track, five months in advance.

Bakerseld College Schedule

Date

Time/Opponent

9/3

3:00p vs Allan Hancock College @ Santa Maria

9/10

6:00p vs Chaffey College

9/17

6:00p @ Riverside City College

9/24

6:00p vs LA Harbor

10/1

6:00p @ El Camino College

10/15

6:00p @ Moorpark College

10/22

6:00p vs Cerritos College

10/29

6:00p @ Santa Monica

11/5

1:00p vs Ventura College

11/12

1:00p vs College of the Canyons

WEEK 1
PRO FOOTBALL

17 WEEK
SCHEDULE

*All times are Pacic. Game Times

and locations are subject to change.

9/8/16
Thursday, 5:30pm
Carolina at Denver
9/11/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Cleveland at Philadelphia
Cincinnati at NY Jets
Buffalo at Baltimore
San Diego at Kansas City
9/11/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
Chicago at Houston
Green Bay at Jacksonville
Minnesota at Tennessee
Oakland at New Orleans
9/11/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Miami at Seattle
9/11/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
NY Giants at Dallas
Detroit at Indianapolis
9/11/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
New England at Arizona
9/12/16
Monday 4:10pm
Pittsburgh at Washington
Monday 7:20pm
Los Angeles at San Francisco

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

9/15/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
NY Jets at Buffalo

9/22/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
Houston at New England

9/18/16
Sunday, 10:00am
New Orleans at NY Giants
Dallas at Washington
San Francisco at Carolina

9/25/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Washington at NY Giants
Detroit at Green Bay
Minnesota at Carolina
Arizona at Buffalo

9/18/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Tennessee at Detroit
Miami at New England
Baltimore at Cleveland
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Kansas City at Houston

9/25/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Denver at Cincinnati
Cleveland at Miami
Baltimore at Jacksonville
Oakland at Tennessee

9/18/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Tampa Bay at Arizona
Seattle at Los Angeles

9/25/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Los Angeles at Tampa Bay
San Francisco at Seattle

9/18/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Indianapolis at Denver
Atlanta at Oakland
Jacksonville at San Diego

9/25/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
NY Jets at Kansas City
San Diego at Indianapolis

9/18/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Green Bay at Minnesota
9/19/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Philadelphia at Chicago

9/25/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Chicago at Dallas
9/26/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Atlanta at New Orleans

WEEK 4
9/29/16 Thursday, 5:25pm
Miami at Cincinnati
10/2/16
Sunday, 6:30am
Indianapolis at Jacksonville
(London)
10/2/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Cleveland at Washington
Buffalo at New England
Oakland at Baltimore
Tennessee at Houston
10/2/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Detroit at Chicago
Carolina at Atlanta
Seattle at NY Jets
10/2/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Denver at Tampa Bay
10/2/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Dallas at San Francisco
Los Angeles at Arizona
New Orleans at San Diego
10/2/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Kansas City at Pittsburgh
10/3/16
Monday, 5:30pm
NY Giants at Minnesota
BYES: Green Bay, Philadelphia

WEEK 5

WEEK 6

WEEK 7

WEEK 8

WEEK 9

10/6/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
Arizona at San Francisco

10/13/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
Denver at San Diego

10/20/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
Chicago at Green Bay

10/27/16 Thursday, 5:25pm

Jacksonville at Tennessee

11/3/16 Thursday, 5:25pm

Atlanta at Tampa Bay

10/9/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Philadelphia at Detroit
Washington at Baltimore
Chicago at Indianapolis

10/16/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Baltimore at NY Giants
Jacksonville at Chicago
Pittsburgh at Miami
Cincinnati at New England
Cleveland at Tennessee

10/23/16 Sunday, 6:30am

NY Giants at Los Angeles
(London)

10/30/16
Sunday, 6:30am
Washington at Cincinnati
(London)

11/6/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Philadelphia at NY Giants
Detroit at Minnesota
Dallas at Cleveland

10/9/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Houston at Minnesota
Tennessee at Miami
New England at Cleveland
NY Jets at Pittsburgh
10/9/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Atlanta at Denver
10/9/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Cincinnati at Dallas
Buffalo at Los Angeles
San Diego at Oakland
10/9/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
NY Giants at Green Bay
10/10/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Tampa Bay at Carolina

BYES: Jacksonville, Kansas City,

New Orleans, Seattle

10/16/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Philadelphia at Washington
Los Angeles at Detroit
Carolina at New Orleans
San Francisco at Buffalo

10/23/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Minnesota at Philadelphia
Washington at Detroit
New Orleans at Kansas City

10/16/16
Thursday, 1:05pm
Kansas City at Oakland

10/23/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Buffalo at Miami
Baltimore at NY Jets
Cleveland at Cincinnati
Oakland at Jacksonville
Indianapolis at Tennessee

10/16/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Dallas at Green Bay
Atlanta at Seattle

10/23/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Tampa Bay at San Francisco
San Diego at Atlanta

10/16/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Indianapolis at Houston
10/17/16
Monday, 5:30pm
NY Jets at Arizona

BYES: Minnesota, Tampa Bay

10/23/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
New England at Pittsburgh
10/23/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Seattle at Arizona
10/24/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Houston at Denver
BYES: Carolina, Dallas

10/30/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Oakland at Tampa Bay
New England at Buffalo
NY Jets at Cleveland
Kansas City at Indianapolis
10/30/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Green Bay at Atlanta
Seattle at New Orleans
Detroit at Houston
10/30/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
San Diego at Denver
10/30/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Arizona at Carolina
10/30/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Philadelphia at Dallas
10/31/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Minnesota at Chicago
BYES: Baltimore, Los Angeles,
Miami, NY Giants, Pittsburgh,
San Francisco

11/6/16
Sunday, 10:00am
NY Jets at Miami
Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Jacksonville at Kansas City
11/6/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Carolina at Los Angeles
New Orleans at San Francisco
11/6/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Indianapolis at Green Bay
Tennessee at San Diego
11/6/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Denver at Oakland
11/7/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Buffalo at Seattle
BYES: Arizona, Chicago,
Cincinnati, Houston,
New England, Washington

WEEK 10
11/10/16 Thursday, 5:25pm
Cleveland at Baltimore
11/13/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Kansas City at Carolina
Denver at New Orleans
Houston at Jacksonville
11/13/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Atlanta at Philadelphia
Minnesota at Washington
Chicago at Tampa Bay
Los Angeles at NY Jets
Green Bay at Tennessee
11/13/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Miami at San Diego
11/13/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Dallas at Pittsburgh
San Francisco at Arizona
11/13/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Seattle at New England

WEEK 11
11/17/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
New Orleans at Carolina
11/20/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Chicago at NY Giants
Arizona at Minnesota
Buffalo at Cincinnati
Tampa Bay at Kansas City
11/20/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Baltimore at Dallas
Jacksonville at Detroit
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Tennessee at Indianapolis
11/20/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Miami at Los Angeles
11/20/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Philadelphia at Seattle
New England at San Francisco
11/20/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Green Bay at Washington

11/14/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Cincinnati at NY Giants

11/21/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Houston at Oakland
(Mexico City)

BYES: Buffalo, Detroit,

Indianapolis, Oakland

BYES: Atlanta, Denver, NY Jets,

San Diego

WEEK 15

WEEK 16

12/15/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
Los Angeles at Seattle

12/17/16 Saturday, 5:25pm

Miami at NY Jets
12/18/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Tampa Bay at Dallas
Detroit at NY Giants
Green Bay at Chicago
Philadelphia at Baltimore
12/18/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Indianapolis at Minnesota
Cleveland at Buffalo
Jacksonville at Houston
Tennessee at Kansas City
12/18/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
New Orleans at Arizona
San Francisco at Atlanta
12/18/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
New England at Denver
Oakland at San Diego
12/18/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
12/19/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Carolina at Washington

12/22/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
NY Giants at Philadelphia

12/24/16
Saturday, 10:00am
Miami at Buffalo
NY Jets at New England
San Diego at Cleveland
Tennessee at Jacksonville
12/24/16
Saturday, 10:00am
Washington at Chicago
Minnesota at Green Bay
Atlanta at Carolina
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
12/24/16
Saturday, 1:05pm
Indianapolis at Oakland
12/24/16
Saturday, 1:25pm
Arizona at Seattle
San Francisco at Los Angeles

12/24/16 Saturday, 5:25pm

Cincinnati at Houston

12/25/16 Sunday, 1:30pm

Baltimore at Pittsburgh
12/25/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Denver at Kansas City
12/26/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Detroit at Dallas

WEEK 12
11/24/16
Thursday, 9:30am
Minnesota at Detroit
11/24/16
Thursday, 1:30pm
Washington at Dallas
11/24/16
Thursday, 5:30pm
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis
11/27/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Arizona at Atlanta
Los Angeles at New Orleans
San Francisco at Miami
NY Giants at Cleveland
11/27/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Tennessee at Chicago
Jacksonville at Buffalo
Cincinnati at Baltimore
San Diego at Houston
11/27/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Seattle at Tampa Bay
11/27/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Kansas City at Denver
Carolina at Oakland
11/27/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
New England at NY Jets
11/28/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Green Bay at Philadelphia

WEEK 17
1/1/17
Sunday, 10:00am
New England at Miami
Buffalo at NY Jets
Baltimore at Cincinnati
Cleveland at Pittsburgh
Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Houston at Tennessee
1/1/17
Sunday, 10:00am
Dallas at Philadelphia
NY Giants at Washington
Green Bay at Detroit
Chicago at Minnesota
New Orleans at Atlanta
Carolina at Tampa Bay
1/1/17
Sunday, 1:25pm
Oakland at Denver
Kansas City at San Diego
1/1/17
Sunday, 1:25pm
Arizona at Los Angeles
Seattle at San Francisco

TBD

5:30pm

WEEK 13

WEEK 14

12/1/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
Dallas at Minnesota

12/8/16
Thursday, 5:25pm
Oakland at Kansas City

12/4/16
Sunday,10:00am
Houston at Green Bay
Kansas City at Atlanta
Miami at Baltimore
Denver at Jacksonville

12/11/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Pittsburgh at Buffalo
Cincinnati at Cleveland
Houston at Indianapolis
Denver at Tennessee

12/4/16
Sunday,10:00am
San Francisco at Chicago
Detroit at New Orleans
Los Angeles at New England
Philadelphia at Cincinnati

12/11/16
Sunday, 10:00am
Washington at Philadelphia
Chicago at Detroit
San Diego at Carolina
New Orleans at Tampa Bay
Arizona at Miami
Minnesota at Jacksonville

12/4/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
Buffalo at Oakland
12/4/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
NY Giants at Pittsburgh
Washington at Arizona
Tampa Bay at San Diego
12/4/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Carolina at Seattle
12/5/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Indianapolis at NY Jets
BYES: Cleveland, Tennessee

12/11/16
Sunday, 1:05pm
NY Jets at San Francisco
12/11/16
Sunday, 1:25pm
Seattle at Green Bay
Atlanta at Los Angeles
12/11/16
Sunday, 5:30pm
Dallas at NY Giants
12/12/16
Monday, 5:30pm
Baltimore at New England

23

The LA Rams

Four Players make the

NFLPA Rising 50 List
Provided by the Rams

The NFL Players Association (NFLPA)

has unveiled their NFLPA 2016
Rising 50, its second annual list
identifying players best positioned
to rank among top-sellers of all
officially licensed merchandise
and become future retail stars.
LA Rams running back Todd Gurley
tops the list, followed by No. 1 pick
Jared Goff (at No. 4), two-time Pro
Bowl DT Aaron Donald (at No. 20)
and the lightning fast WR Tavon
Austin (at. No. 41).
The NFLPA Rising 50 rankings takes
into account on-field performances
during the 2015 season, fantasyleague popularity, early demand
from current sponsors and licensees,
and new faces in strong markets
as factors determining potential
future sales popularity. To be

considered for this ranking, players

must not have appeared in previous
NFLPA Top 50 Player Sales quarterly
lists. The NFLPA Rising 50 is updated
annually.
Gurley follows in the footsteps of
Odell Beckham, Jr. who topped
last years rankings, and moved
to the NFLPAs Top 50 Sales list
(ranked No. 6 on the season-end
2015 list). Behind Gurley is the
top-ranked quarterback, Kirk
Cousins. Highlights from the list
include:
Ten members of the 2016 NFL
Draft appear on the list including the
first four picks: Jared Goff (No. 1),
Carson Wentz (No. 2), Joey Bosa
(No. 3) and Ezekiel Elliott (No. 4), in
addition to 2015 Heisman Trophy
winner, Derrick Henry.

Six teams the Arizona Cardinals,

Houston Texans, Jacksonville
Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle
Seahawks, and Washington Redskins
boast at least three players among
the future marketing stars on the
list. The Redskins are represented
the most, with five players.
Eleven players from last years
Rising 50 including top-ranked
Odell Beckham Jr. ascended to
appear on an NFLPA overall Top
50 Player Sales list during the 2015
season. Others included LeVeon
Bell, Blake Bortles, Antonio Brown,
Amari Cooper, Julian Edelman,
Carlos Hyde, Alshon Jeffrey, Khalil
Mack, Marcus Mariota and Jameis
Winston.

NFLPA 2016 Rising 50:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams

Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins
Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
Josh Norman, DB, Washington Redskins
Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers
Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Tyrann Mathieu, DB, Arizona Cardinals
Jeremy Langford, RB, Chicago Bears
Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills
Paxton Lynch, QB, Denver Broncos
Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Tyler Lockett, WR/KR, Seattle Seahawks
Aaron Donald, DL, Los Angeles Rams
Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers
Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers
Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans
Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins
Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans

26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.

T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gary Barnidge, TE, Cleveland Browns
Patrick Peterson, DB, Arizona Cardinals
Joey Bosa, DE, San Diego Chargers
Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets
Jarvis Landry, WR, Miami Dolphins
Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Buck Allen, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Matt Jones, RB, Washington Redskins
Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins
Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Corey Coleman, WR, Cleveland Browns
Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Tavon Austin, WR/KR, Los Angeles Rams
Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions
Allen Hurns, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Malcolm Butler, CB, New England Patriots
Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
Myles Jack, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins
Blaine Gabbert, QB, San Francisco 49ers

2016 PAC-12
ARIZONA
Date

9/3

Opponent

Brigham Young

Location

Glendale, AZ

Time

CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
Date

Opponent

Location

Time

7:30p

8/26

Sydney cup: Hawaii Sydney, Australia

7:00p

9/10

Grambling State

Tuscon, AZ

7:45p

9/10

at San Deigo State

San Diego, CA

7:30p

9/17

Hawaii

Tuscon, AZ

7:45p

9/17

Texas

Berkeley, CA

7:30p

9/24

Washington

Tuscon, AZ

TBA

9/24

at Arizona State

Tempe, Az

TBA

10/1

at UCLA

Pasadena, CA

TBA

10/1

Utah

Berkeley, CA

TBA

10/8

at Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

TBA

10/8

At Oregon State

Corvallis, OR

TBA

10/15

USC

Tuscon, AZ

TBA

10/21

Oregon

Berkeley, CA

7:30p

10/29

Stanford

Tuscon, AZ

TBA

10/27

at USC

Los Angeles, CA

7:30p

TBA

11/5

Washington

Berkeley, CA

TBA

11/5

at Washington State Pullman, WA

11/12

Colorado

Tuscon, AZ

TBA

11/12

at Washington State Pullman, WA

TBA

11/19

at Oregon State

Corvallis, OR

TBA

11/19

Stanford

Berkeley, CA

TBA

11/25

Arizona State

Tuscon, AZ

6:30p

11/26

UCLA

Berkeley, CA

TBA

ARIZONA STATE

COLORADO
Opponent

Location

Denver, CO

5:00p

9/10

Idaho State

Boulder, CO

2:30p

9/17

at Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI

12:30p

TBA

9/24

at Oregon

Eugene, OR

TBA

Los Angeles, CA

TBA

10/1

Oregon State

Boulder, CO

TBA

UCLA

Tempe, AZ

TBA

10/8

at USC

Los Angeles, CA

TBA

10/15

at Colorado

Boulder, CO

TBA

10/15

Arizona State

Boulder, CO

TBA

10/22

Washington State

Tempe, AZ

TBA

10/22

at Stanford

Stanford, CA

TBA

10/29

at Oregon

Eugene, OR

TBA

11/3

UCLA

Boulder, CO

6:00P

11/10

Utah

Tempe, AZ

6:30p

11/12

at Arizona

Tuscon, AZ

TBA

11/19

at Washington

Seattle, WA

TBA

11/19

Washington State

Boulder, CO

TBA

11/25

at Arizona

Tuscon, AZ

6:30p

11/26

Utah

Boulder, CO

TBA

Date

Opponent

Location

Time

9/10

Texas Tech

Tempe, AZ

7:00p

9/16

at UTSA

San Antonio, TX

6:30p

9/24

California

Tempe, AZ

10/1

at USC

10/8

9/3

Northern Arizona

Tempe, AZ

7:45p

Date

9/2

Colorado State

VTime

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
UTAH
Date

9/1

Opponent

Location

Time

8:00p

OREGON
Date

Southern Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

9/10

Brigham Young

Salt Lake City, UT

4:30p

9/10

9/17

at San Jose State San Jose, CA

7:30p

9/17

9/23

USC

Salt Lake City, UT

6:00p

10/1

at California

Berkeley, CA

10/8

Arizona

10/15

9/3

Opponent

UC Davis

Location

Time

UCLA
Date

Opponent

Location

Time

Opponent

Location

Arlington, TX

5:00p

9/10

Utah State

Los Angeles, CA

11:00a

9/17

at Stanford

Stanford, CA

5:00p

TBA

9/23

at Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

6:00p

Pasadena, CA

TBA

10/1

Arizona State

Los Angeles, CA

TBA

Tempe, AZ

TBA

10/8

Colorado

Los Angeles, CA

TBA

at Washington State Pullman, WA

TBA

10/15

at Arizona

Tuscon, AZ

TBA

Utah

Pasadena, CA

TBA

10/27

California

Los Angeles, CA

7:30p

11/3

at Colorado

Boulder, CO

6:00p

Oregon

Los Angeles, CA

TBA

11/12

Oregon State

Pasadena, CA

TBA

11/12

at Washington

Seattle, WA

TBA

11/19

USC

Pasadena, CA

TBA

11/19

at UCLA

Pasadena, CA

TBA

11/26

at California

Berkeley, CA

TBA

11/26

Notre Dame

Los Angeles, CA

TBA

Eugene, OR

2:00p

Virginia

Eugene, OR

7:30p

9/10

UNLV

Pasadena, CA

5:00p

at Nebraska

Lincoln, NE

12:30p

9/17

at Brigham Young

Provo, UT

TBA

9/24

Colorado

Eugene, OR

TBA

TBA

9/24

Stanford

Pasadena, CA

10/1

at Washington State Pullman, WA

10/1

Arizona

Salt Lake City, UT

TBA

TBA

10/8

Washington

Eugene, OR

10/8

at Arizona State

at Oregon State

Corvallis, CA

TBA

TBA

10/21

at California

Berkeley, CA

10/15

10/22

at UCLA

Pasadena, CA

TBA

7:30p

10/29

Arizona State

Eugene, OR

10/22

10/29

Washington

Salt Lake City, UT

TBA

TBA

11/5

at USC

11/10

at Arizona State

Tempe, AZ

7:30p

11/12

Stanford

11/19

Oregon

Salt Lake City, UT

TBA

Los Angeles, CA TBA

Eugene, OR
TBA

11/19

at Utah

11/26

at Colorado

Boulder, CA

TBA

11/26

at Oregon State

OREGON STATE
Date

9/1

Opponent

at Minnesota

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Time

6:00p

Salt Lake City, UT TBA

Corvallis, OR
TBA

WASHINGTON STATE
Date

9/3

Opponent

Location

Eastern Washington Pullman, WA

Time

5:00p

9/3

at Texas A&M

WASHINGTON
Date

9/3

Opponent

Rutgers

College Station, TX 12:30p

Location

Seattle, WA

Time

11:00a

9/17

Idaho State

Corvallis, OR

2:00p

7:15p

9/10

Idaho

Seattle, WA

Boise State

Corvallis, OR

TBA

2:00p

9/24

9/17

Idaho

Pullman, WA

11:00a

9/17

Portland State

Seattle, WA

at Colorado

Boulder, CO

TBA

5:00p

10/1

10/1

Oregon

Pullman, WA

TBA

9/24

at Arizona

Tuscon, AZ

10/8

California

Corvallis, OR

TBA

TBA

10/8

at Stanford

Stanford, CA

TBA

9/30

Stanford

Seattle, WA

10/15

Utah

Corvallis, OR

TBA

6:00p

10/15

UCLA

Pullman, WA

TBA

10/8

at Oregon

Eugene, OR

10/22

at Washington

Seattle, WA

TBA

TBA

10/22

at Arizona State

Tempe, AZ

TBA

10/22

Oregon State

Seattle, WA

10/29

Washington State Corvallis, OR

TBA

TBA

10/29

at Oregon State

Corvallis, OR

TBA

10/29

at Utah

at Stanford

Stanford, CA

TBA

Salt Lake City, UT TBA

11/5

Arizona

Pullman, WA

TBA

11/5

at California

Berkeley, CA

11/12

at UCLA

Pasadena, CA

TBA

TBA

11/12

California

Pullman, WA

TBA

11/12

USC

Seattle, WA

11/19

Arizona

Corvallis, OR

TBA

TBA

11/19

at Colorado

Boulder, CO

TBA

11/19

Arizona State

Seattle, WA

11/26

Oregon

Corvallis, OR

TBA

TBA

11/25

Washington

Pullman, WA

12:30p

11/25

at Washington State Pullman, WA

11/5

9/10

at Boise State

Boise, ID

USC

12:30p

Date

9/3

11/5

at Alabama

STANFORD
Date

9/2

Opponent

Location

Time

Time

Kansas State

Stanford, CA

6:00p

9/17

USC

Stanford, CA

5:00p

9/24

at UCLA

Pasadena, CA

TBA

9/30

at Washington

Seattle, WA

6:00p

10/8

Washington State Stanford, CA

TBA

10/15

at Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IL

4:30p

10/22

Colorado

Stanford, CA

TBA

10/29

at Arizona

Tuscon, AZ

TBA

Oregon State

Stanford, CA

TBA

11/12

at Oregon

Eugene, OR

TBA

11/19

at California

Berkeley, CA

TBA

11/26

Rice

Stanford, CA

TBA

11/5

Shafter vs Wasco
Rivalry
By Kyle Harvey

@KyleHarvey_KBAK

Wasco vs Shafter Fall of 1989

28

very year on a Friday morning in early November,

the players and coaches from Shafter and Wasco
get together for breakfast. Its a respectable gathering
- manners are observed, pleasantries exchanged.

But its all downhill from there.

Whichever school hosts breakfast gets the
first jab during a pep-rally that locals insist
can only be described in hyperbole.
It is totally irreverent. It is total bedlam. If
there was such a thing as a sound police
theyd probably cite us, because its crazy,
said Doug Thompson, a teacher and former
athletic director at Shafter whose family has
had a player in the game for three generations.
We have a lot of former Generals who might
be administrators someplace else, and theyll
show up. Weve had other ASB groups from
other high schools come and see, because
everybody talks about it.
Forged nearly a century ago between the
children of farmers on opposite sides of
Kimberlina Road northwest of Bakersfield,
the rivalry between the Shafter Generals
and the Wasco Tigers has become one of
the most storied high school football rivalries
in California.
And the stories passed down involve more
than just memorable touchdowns. Off-the-field
antics have found their way into the history
books as well.
I heard back when I was in high school some
people went to Wasco and they diesel-oiled a
giant S in their football field and there were

times where theyd come over here, Thompson

said. When we were seniors, we slept out here
in the stadium with our dogs and there were
some gentlemen I dont know where they
were from but they happened to crawl over
the fence There was yelling and screaming
and the dogs barking. Im sure we prevented
some, you know, vandalism.
Thankfully such vandalism, Thompson said,
is rare. Gambling might not be.
Rumor has it that acres of farmland have
exchanged hands after these games, said
Wasco Coach Mike Rowland. But good luck
betting on rivalry games.
If we were 0-9 going in and Shafter was 9-0,
throw the records out, Rowland said. You never
know whats going to happen.
The schools junior varsity coach for the last
nine years, Rowland will lead the varsity team
for the first time in 2016. Shafter will also be
under the direction of a new head coach
Jerald Pierucci, a Shafter alum who most
recently coached tight ends at Bakersfield
College.
Rowlands JV team lost to Shafters last year
but the players hes coached have done well
lately at the next level. Recent history has been
written by the Tigers, who have won the last
nine consecutive contests.
cont. on pg 30

It is unclear which new head coach faces more

pressure Pierucci, to finally end Shafters
lengthy losing streak or Rowland, to push
Wascos streak to 10.
Rowland believes hes on the hotter seat.
Theres no margin of victory too wide as far
as hes concerned in his first year.
I dont think they would put the brake pedal
on for me. Well see what kind of mood Im in,
he joked.
Both men and their respective squads carry
with them the pride and memories of families
whove been involved for decades. Each
starting lineup typically features second and
third-generation players trained since childhood
to cherish the game and scorn the rival.
You could be undefeated, you lose to Wasco,
and its not a successful season, Pierucci said.
Thats all you hear walking around town,
whenever Im at any event or at the store.

Top: Ignacio Martinez Fall of 1989 during a game against Shafter

Bottom: Members of the Wasco 1943 Varsity Football Squad

&

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New Rivalry; BCHS vs Garces

By: Jon Doss

Rivalry is typically organic; it often sprouts from years of

contempt, shared district lines or stolen mascots.
But this started with a simple call.
I was actually sitting down with our Athletic Director and he
got a phone call and said, Hey, you want to play Garces?
Bakersfield Christian head coach Darren Carr said with a
chuckle. I said Are you kidding me?
Absolutely.
And just like that, for the first time in both programs histories,
a week-one matchup was born between the
Rams and Eagles.
Im really big on rivalries. I like games that have added
excitement to them, said Gass. Being the two private
schools, on opposite sides of town, I think its one of those
things we can cultivate into a big-time Bakersfield rivalry that
everyone in the city can get hyped for.

ome the final Friday of August, youll find Bakersfields

two private high schools in the same place you find so
many Kern County residents throughout the fall and
early winterat the intersection of faith and football.
I dont know what we want to call it, whether its the
Bible Bowl or something else, joked AJ Gass, second-year
head coach of the Garces football program. But its going
to give our guys a little something more to play for.

And for both individual schools, the inaugural meet-up

on August 26th carries even more significance.
For Gass and Garces, the BCHS installment is part of a
continued effort to revitalize a program thats slowly drifted
away from what made it one of Kern Countys historic athletic
institutions.
Its hard to look at a 2-9 record in 2015 and say the Rams are

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...its one of those things we can cultivate into a big-time

Bakerseld rivalry that everyone in the city can get hyped for.
trending up, but compared to a 1-9 season the year before, in
which Garces was outscored by nearly 300 points, its true.
I think last year we made some strides; obviously you might not
see those in our record, said Gass. But given the year before,
last year was a big step in the right direction.
This year, weve wanted to bring back some of the things that
weve kind of lost, especially those rivalry games. For me, those
are the type of games I want to have our guys play in week in
and week out. I want to make sure everyone knows the type
of program were running here and I think thats a good
showcase for that.
And for Bakersfield Christian, the Garces game will also serve
to deliver a message, albeit an internal one.
After rattling off six straight wins heading into the postseason
last year, the Eagles were bounced from the playoffs
by Highland in the CIF Central Sections opening round.
We went on a roll for a little while. Then I think we kind of
overlooked Highland, said Carr. Our motto this year is finish.
Just one word. We didnt handle success very well last year, and
thats going to be a big thing for us to focus on.
Clearly, both teams have much to prove when they meet for
their first installment. And thats perhaps the most important
ingredient in the creation of a budding rivalry.

MAKING THE CALL

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH OFFICIALS
By: Amber Frias

Bakersfields high school football fans are more

willing than ever to raise up against game officials
and aggressively second guess calls made against
their team. That it is making it harder for the Kern
County Officials Association to recruit new officials.

instructional chair of KCOA, officials must also be

willing to commit to at least three days a week.
Past the foul language, the insults and the training,
Laird said officiating high school football comes with
its rewards.

Steve Laird has been officiating football for eight

years. As KCOAs board president, he is familiar
with the shortage of high school game officials
not only here in Kern County, but also nationwide.

Knowing that we helped facilitate, as much as

possible, a safe game for the sake of the kids, said
Laird, thats a satisfying feeling.

There are many more hostile events occurring

at all different sports, said Laird. Its an epidemic.
Fans towards fans, coaches towards coaches. Its
all across the board.
Laird said that this type of behavior at high school
games makes the position unattractive, impacting
those who may have thought of potentially pursuing
the position, which doesnt pay much.

Guy Cook, the KCOA board treasurer, has been

officiating for seven years. He also said that while the
focus is on bad experiences, not all interactions are
negative.
By far, Ive had 100 more parents come up to me
after games and say, Thanks, you did a good job,
said Cook. Thankfully, it does happen a lot more
often.

Who wants to subject themselves to that for a

recreational activity ? Laird said.

Both Laird and Cook said their love for the game and
knowing they are doing it for the kids is what motivates
them to officiate year after year.

Availability is also a factor in the lack of officials.

Officials must complete at least 18 hours of classroom
instruction every season. According to Mark Roberts,

If you are interested in being a part of the game,

go to kcoafootball.com or call Mark Roberts at
(661) 809-6311.

UCLA
VS
USC
By Jon Doss

Bryan Adams had seen Jason Oliver make

plenty of plays throughout their prep careers
at Bakersfield High School, but this time it was
different.
I heard the roar from the other teams fans,
and by the time I looked up, he was already
ten yards away from the endzone, said
Adams, who watched from the opposing
sideline at Pasadenas famed Rose Bowl. You
dont want the other team to score, but if
someone is going to, youd rather it be your
brother.
You would think it would be hard enough
secretly cheering for someone on the
opposite side of the field to succeed, but when
one is wearing UCLAs true blue and the other
USCs crimson and gold, it seems borderline
blasphemous.
It wasnt a competitive thing with us, said
Oliver. We played together for four years (at
BHS), so we were really close. Before the games
it was always just, Man, do a great job.

It was in the late 1980s when Oliver and Adams

teamed up to help lead one of the best athletic
eras BHSand Kern County for that matterhad
ever seen.
The duo played side by side in a handful of sports,
but it was on the football field they reached their
greatest success together, culminating in an
unbeaten senior season in 1989 in which the Drillers
finished as the second-ranked team in the state.

13 miles on Interstate-10, but strongly divided by

70 years of contempt; Oliver had signed with the
Trojans, and Adams was becoming a Bruin.
I remember not talking to anyone and just
signing with USC in the kitchen, said Oliver.
Honestly, we just thought about how cool it would
be to play against each other.

We were fortunate to be a part of the rebirth of

Bakersfield football, said Adams.

Oliver got the better of their inaugural bout as

freshmen in 1990, with the interception return for a
touchdown and a Trojan win, but Adams Bruins had
the last laughs, beating USC the final three meetings
of their collegiate careers.

And that BHS renaissance drew the attention of suitors

from all around the then-Pac-10, specifically two
college football Goliaths south of the Grapevine.

But regardless of the final scores over their time on

opposite ends of Los Angeles and college football
fandom, that BHS link stayed stronger than ever.

He and I knew what we were going to do. We didnt

tell anybody else up until the day we signed, said
Adams. We wanted to play in the Pac-10 and
we were fortunate enough to go to two top-notch
universities.

We
always
put
that
first.
And
today,
we still put that first, said Adams. We have a
special bondtwo kids who competed and built a
friendship that has lasted years. Sometimes star
players dont always get along. We never had that.
We always wanted the other one to perform well,
whether we were teammates or adversaries.

Two top-notch universities separated by a mere

Oakland Raiders:
2016 Season Preview
The Raiders finished up the 2015
season with a 7-9 record, more than
doubling their win total from 2014.
New Head Coach Jack Del Rio
made his mark on the team in his first
year at the helm, installing a winning
mentality throughout the organization. With a number of key pieces in
place and many new additions to
the roster, the Raiders head into 2016
looking to take a big step forward.
On offense, the Raiders will be led
once again by QB Derek Carr.
Selected by the Raiders in the
second round of the 2014 Draft,
Carrs first two seasons rival those of

many great NFL quarterbacks. Carrs

32 TDs last year rank as the second
highest single-season total in franchise
history, and his 3,987 passing yards rank
as the third most in the teams record
books. The offense also features WR
Amari Cooper, who racked up 1,070
receiving yards and six TDs as a rookie,
and RB Latavius Murray, who topped the
1,000-yard rushing mark in 2015.
All three players earned Pro Bowl
selections last year.
Khalil Mack leads the way on defense,
as the standout defender ranked
second in the NFL with 15 sacks a year
ago. The Pro Bowler also became the

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first player ever to be named first-team

All-Pro at two different positions in the
same year, garnering honors at both
defensive end and linebacker. The
Raiders lost future Pro Football Hall of
Famer Charles Woodson to retirement,
but added exciting safety Karl Joseph
out of West Virginia in the first round of
the 2016 NFL Draft.
A stellar group of free agents, including
guard Kelechi Osemele, cornerback
Sean Smith, linebacker Bruce Irvin and
safety Reggie Nelson also join the Silver
and Black for what promises to be an
exciting season.

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