CIF Central Sec: 1,163 yds for 2 teams

Here’s some record updates and highlights of top players & teams from the recent week as reported to us from CIF Central Section historian Bob Barnett of Fresno. Bob has done phenomenal work on behalf of CIF Central Section schools, athletes and coaches for more than 40 years.

Note: We were able to see a lot of highlights of these games on Fresno TV while stuck at Madera hotel last Friday night. We say stuck because the car was totaled in an accident on 99 at around 4 pm while heading to Tulare to see that team and Kezmeir Allen play. At least nobody was hurt and it wasn’t our fault.

FOOTBALL

Quarterback Elijah Burrell of Tulare Western passed for 262 yards on 13 of 19 and had four touchdowns as Western beat Madera 66-48 in the D3 playoffs. Junior quarterback Colton Nelson led Madera by passing for a game high of 408 yards on 25 of 35 and had four touchdowns. The two teams amassed 1,163 total yards for the game

Junior quarterback Nathan Lamb of Tulare had an outstanding Friday night by passing for 265 yards on 10 of 15 and had two touchdowns with one TD run in a 42-12 win over Garces of Bakersfield in the D2 semifinals. Kezmeir Allen also rushed for 192 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 4, 62 and 18 yards.
RECORD WATCH: Allen now has 66 touchdowns for the season, a new state record, and 116 career touchdowns. Allen needs three more touchdowns to move into 2nd place in section history.
Sophomore Peter Deis kicked two field goals for Garces, which upped his season total to 13, the most by a sophomore in Central Section history.

Senior Joseph Garcia kept Strathmore unbeaten (12-0) as the Spartans edged Orosi 28-20. Garcia rushed for 164 yards on 27 carries, scored two touchdowns and pushed his career total to 95 touchdowns, 5th best in section history. Garcia also has 5,334 career rushing yards.

Chris Acosta & Sean Chambers led Kerman to a come from behind 39-34 win over visiting Monache of Porterville in a Division IV playoff game. Acosta rushed for a career high of 267 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns on runs of 17, 69, & 19 yards. Chambers rushed for 207 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns on runs of 1, 19, & 78 yards and had 100 yards passing.
Quarterback Antonio Andrade of Monache passed for 268 yards and four touchdowns for his team.

Finally, Caden Ochoa of Bakersfield rushed for a game high of 200 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 41-6 win over Liberty of Bakersfield. That helped the Drillers advance to a D1 semifinal matchup this week vs. top-ranked Central of Fresno.