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.
Junior quarterback Alec Trujillo of Fresno San Joaquin Memorial tied his own school record by passing for six touchdowns and scored on a 32 yard run in a 49-7 win over visiting Bakersfield Christian in the Division III semifinals. Trujillo was 14 of 18 for 331 yards and a total offense of 377 yards on the night as the Panthers moved on to this week’s title game vs. Tulare Western. Trujillo now holds two more school records after that game for TD passes (37) and passing yards (3,233) in a season. His season, of course, is still going.
In the loss to Memorial, quarterback Braden Wingle of Bakersfield Christian finished his varsity career on a downer, but it was a great career nonetheless. Wingle passed for 7,285 yards, sixth best in section history, and 78 touchdowns, seventh best.
Junior quarterback Nathan Lamb of Tulare was outstanding Friday night by passing for 251 yards on 10 of 14 and had three touchdown passes in a 49-21 win over Dinuba that clinched the Division II section title. Kazmeir Allen also rushed for 257 yards on 17 carries and scored four touchdowns on runs of 2, 38, 26 and 91 yards.
RECORD WATCH: Allen now has 70 touchdowns and counting for the season, a Cal-Hi Sports state record and 119 career touchdowns, which is second most in section history and a new school record, which was held by Dominique Dorsey 1998-2000. Dorsey and Kenny James of Dos Palos 1999-2001 both had 118 career touchdowns.
Even more from Tulare, head coach Darren Bennett is approaching 200 wins on the field with a record of 197-103-1 in 27 years of coaching. Bennett started coaching at Central Valley Christian from 1991-1994 (4 yrs) and has been at Tulare since then 1995-2017 (23 yrs). The most games Bennett can win this season is two more so he’ll be getting his 200th win next season.
Senior Joseph Garcia helped keep Strathmore unbeaten (13-0) as the Spartans edged a tough Rosamond team 42-32 in the Division VI championship. Garcia rushed for 183 yards on 35 carries and scored three touchdowns, which pushes his career total to 98 touchdowns, fifth best in section history. He also has 5,517 career yards and will get more in this week’s CIF D6-AA NorCal play-in game against Hilmar. If Strathmore wins that game, Garcia would perhaps get two more games after that.
Junior quarterback Trent Tompkins of Fresno Central passed for 260 yards on 17 of 26 and four touchdowns, which matched his season high, in a hard fought game against visiting Bakersfield in the D1 semifinals that the Grizzlies won 35-27. Wide-receiver Tahj Wright had two touchdowns on receptions.
Buchanan of Clovis won the other D1 semi 30-28 over Clovis West to avenge an earlier loss and had two players both rush for 200 yards or more. Sophomore Kendall Milton ran for 225 yards on 26 carries and scored twice while Trevor Ervin went for 204 yards and two TDs on 24 carries.
