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So, I went to lunch yesterday in Bakersfield.. and our server said that her son (who plays for a local high school) asked her if it was alright if he started taking steroids.  Since one of the guys we were eating with played football in college, the mom felt like she needed to bounce it off a few people. 

So, my question is.. do any of the kids in high school ever have to worry about getting tested for steroids, or p.e.d.'s???

Tobin Phillips 6'4 275lb DE has transferred from Clovis north to SJM,
That gives memorial an even bigger line than they already had.

Who cares!!!!! Good luck to the kid. 

Well - the Liberty coaches must have thought the transfer was better then the other guy.

Ya think?  Whatever.. I'll just drop it.  Apparently, a kid can just transfer schools for 3 months, if he is a better athlete, and return to his school after that sport is over... and it is no big deal.  I guess I am a little old fashioned.... never mind my original post. 

I understand, and agree with, giving the best player the spot.. and, I understand that the rules around athletically-motivated transfers have changed.  Also, I have no problem with kids transferring schools.  However, this is a case where a kid played an entire football season with his team of 4 years in Delano.  After that team went like 0-10, he transfers to Liberty.. and starts for their football team during the post-season schedule.  All the while.. the kid was openly telling people that the was going to go back and graduate with his real classmates back in Delano after he finishes playing basketball for Liberty. 

So, I am guessing that his parents would not transfer him for such a short time in his last semester of his senior year IF they had not spoken to coaches at the new H.S.. and been assured that, not only would he be able to play, but that he would play a significant role.

Now, if I were the Liberty kid and parent who had that spot since summer practice, I would be a little upset.  Especially since I spoke to kids at other schools who said that the transfer player wasn't that good when they played against him. 

So, Liberty's basketball team took in 3-4 transfers last year (some in the middle of basketball season..and they all got a majority of the play time).. and they still got spanked.  One kid was from Delano.. he played football with his team in Delano, and then finished the post-season at Liberty.  Meanwhile, there were several, die-hard kids who had more-than-enough skill, drive and potential that the Liberty coaches just sat on the bench in place of these transfers.  IMHO, Liberty is going to suffer from this win-at-all-costs culture they have fostered at that school.

It did mention that he had something happened with a coach & that he needs to improve academically. It didn't mention the expulsion or his gpa.

That coach/teacher that he had a problem with (reported, he wanted to fight the coach) also happens to be the one in charge of the NCAA eligibility requirements for the kids who want to be considered for recruiting.  With the new NCAA minimum GPA at 2.3 now, instead of 2.0... maybe the coach was only trying to look out for the kid's future.  The player is also, reportedly, planning to return to BHS for his senior year (similar to another BHS player who was expelled his sophomore year, and returned the following year).

How come the "deacon" always seems to be loosely connected to these sketchy deals?  Hmmmmm

Anybody know if the BHS-Central game is going to be live-streamed? 

One observation I made last Friday vs Stockdale was that there are a few of those BHS players starters that look pretty beat up.  Williams was limping throughout the whole game.  If he is in at QB, I would double-team on Wright.. because I doubt CW will be looking to run the ball much.  There was a CB wearing a knee brace... and he was limping through the whole game as well.  The dynamic that i see with this year's Drillers is that they have some very athletic kids... just maybe not enough of them.  With Jones still out, and several of those very-athletic kids limping on the field, the team is forced to rely on even fewer play-making options... and that makes it easier for the other team to defend.

I don't think it will be as easy as you make it out to be for Liberty to stop the Drillers, when they have faced teams with better than average team speed Liberty has not fared well. It is still a game of match ups and the Liberty defense doesn't match up well with the Drillers speed. If Liberty stacks the box, I'm sure no DC has ever thought of that against the Drillers, they leave themselves vulnerable to the pass and although the Drillers qbs aren't the most accurate all they can throw it up and let the Drillers faster kid go get it.

From watching the Stockdale game, this year's Driller offense relies too much on the "big play" to score.  They don't seem to be able to move the ball down the field, run time off the clock, get the first downs... it is the long-bomb-pass big plays and the strong defense that scores points this year.  I watched Stockdale's defense wait until the Driller's QB made his read, then they shifted... and jumped the play.  I am sure Liberty's defensive coach will have a good plan to do something similar.  It was pitch left, pitch right, and dive.. over, and over, and over for hardly any positive yards.  Then, Stockdale's defense got sloppy in the 4th quarter, and let Wright get open for the long pass.  If Liberty's defense can stay disciplined on the big-play receivers for four quarters, Drillers will have a tough time scoring points. 

I think Liberty is the stronger team this year. 

Garces over Stockdale

Frontier over Centennial

Liberty over BHS:  Any defensive coach worth his salt can shut down this BHS offense. 

I did make one prediction that was right.. finally..  back on 8/22:  "So, our only win is against Edison... who, interestingly enough, is losing to Garces right now.  I think at this point, Garces just may beat BHS.. and all of their passing-league-playing studs.  Garces seems to be getting their stuff together, and getting better... and BHS seems to be getting nothing together.  Coaching staff vs coaching staff is what this year's contest will come down to.. because BHS' players don't have what it takes to get the job done on a higher level."

I am turning this game off at the half... again, very disappointed with BHS.  Although Garces is up 14-7 at this time, I do believe BHS will win it in the 4th qtr.  However, BHS is NOT an impressive team.. for all of the D-1 talent they have on this squad. 

half-time score:  0-5 Garces leading 14-7 over the defending, Central-Section-Champion Drillers. 

I think I am done watching Drillers for this season.  Adios!

This is a easy one.  Drillers by 25

You would think.. however, they look horrible on offense.  I thought the whole point of the triple option was to read the defense; however, neither Williams nor Ochoa seem to be able to tell when the box is stacked on defense.. or not.  Williams went to his standby play of long-bomb to Taj Wright.. and got lucky.  Ochoa is probably at -67 yards of offense.  At this point, the defense is the only thing holding the Drillers together.. and that isn't good.

Heard from a pretty good source, the BCHS players did not sit. Just as I expected they would not.

If you are willing to ride the razor's edge on "recruiting", why would you sit those players out... when they can help a team win a game?   

Now that the bloom is off the rose on hoping that the Drillers could put up a respectable performance against a powerhouse team, I guess you are right... it is now time to start looking inward at league play.  So, this year, we are looking at SWYL crop of teams that is looking, at this time, just average.  Out of that group, I do think BHS still gets the nod for league.  I thing that BHS will beat Frontier... and Frontier beat Ridgeview.. ergo, BHS will beat Ridgeview.  I think it will be close.. like most of the SWYL scores should be this season. 

Drillers MUST win this game!!! No if's, and's,or but's about it. 

BHS 21 - Ridgeview 17

Well, although I don't see the Drillers as a state-bowl championship-level team.. it seems the SWYL will be fun to watch.  The playing field is as level this year as I have seen in a while.  Should be some competitive, close games week-in and week-out. 

I am completely disappointed with BHS' level of play.  We have, supposedly, many D1 athletes... however, we can't score points to save our life.  So, our only win is against Edison... who, interestingly enough, is losing to Garces right now.  I think at this point, Garces just may beat BHS.. and all of their passing-league-playing studs.  Garces seems to be getting their stuff together, and getting better... and BHS seems to be getting nothing together.  Coaching staff vs coaching staff is what this year's contest will come down to.. because BHS' players don't have what it takes to get the job done on a higher level.

Valencia - no need to pile on BHS when they are down... but they are just not up to this level of competition yet. 
Liberty - no more Moya's left in the line-up.
Frontier - I like what they have going on this year
Stockdale
Clovis - coin toss
Edison - Just my opinion.. but, I think the problem/challenge with Garces is that they usually don't play best players both ways.  I think they will need to start doing just that if they want to get at least one win this season.  Look at Cam Roberson up at BC.  He only played defense in high school.  He never (or very rarely) ran the ball at Garces.. and now, in JUCO, he is all over the sports page as a RB.  Garces only has a limited number of legit, talented athletes this year (not like the stacked team they had last year).. and, to keep them on only one side of the ball for the entire game is going to hurt their chances of winning.  They should have beat BCHS, Tehachapi.. and, in my opinion, SJM.  I would love to see Martin playing some LB... I bet he would deliver some big blows. 

Watching this game.. playback on BVarsity Facebook Live (because the other link is not working)... not liking what I am seeing from the Drillers.  Lots of trash talking... and the late-hit (targeting) penalty???  Shows a lack of discipline on this year's Drillers squad.  I hope the Deacon is happy.. because these are all his passing-league players.

Bakersfield.com website.. it is Zach Ewing's final farewell.  Starts at 7 p.m.