Drillers deliver in rout of Clovis West; Garces' Gomez accounts for 7 TDs

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Bakersfield High football coach Cody Stone calls it the “relief syndrome.” It's the feeling one has by passing a tough test on the field. Stone, as he’s stated each week after a Drillers' victory, doesn’t believe in that kind of thinking.

So it’s no surprise that BHS’ 46-14 victory over Clovis West last Friday continued that approach. But scoring 46 points against a top five team in the CIF Central Section makes it harder to downplay.

“I was happy, not just with our kids, but our entire coaching staff,” he said. “I was pleased with the way the kids executed the game plan. Our coaches held the kids to a high standard.

"Clovis West is a very historic program. They have a great coach, great talent, but our kids came out and got on them pretty quick. What I think our coaches liked most was that our kids came out and never let up.”

He and his staff also enjoyed seeing players support each other. More than once on a long touchdown run, teammates escorted each other and celebrated in the end zone.

“They were happy for their teammates' success. We preach the idea of selflessness. About giving your best. The fact we had a sophomore cornerback (Genesis McKethan) do an excellent job when he was challenged, our kids being excited for him was great,” Stone said.

Even in a victory Stone said there are things to work on or “clean up,” as all coaches call it, as his team prepares for challenger Tulare Union this Friday.

He said that his Athletic director Matthew Ornalez and BHS Principal Ryan Geivet said that the non-league portion of BHS’s schedule warranted tough tests to build the Drillers’ stock, including preparation for the new South Yosemite River League and for postseason play.

Of course, Stone isn’t concerned with that too much as that will come soon enough. It is week-to-week, day-to-day thinking right now.

Quarterback Elon Mackey, running backs Damariae Lee and Damir Lomax, receivers Kaiden Hastings and Eric Benn and an interception return for a TD by Keon Bolden were among the players who contributed to the Drillers' victory. Clovis West came in as the fifth-ranked team in the section according to MaxPreps.com — BHS was second in the same ranking — but some of the shine on Clovis West wore off for now when Bakersfield Christian had a 28-7 victory on Sept. 4.

The 3-0 Drillers, who’ve had their bye, beat Clovis and Paraclete. Stone’s focus was right where it was supposed to be during those weeks. During the bye, it was about working harder to get better each day and not let a week without a game have any less importance.

Stone, his staff and the players are showing that the Drillers, a team that has reached the section final the last two years and has its own historic pedigree, is doing things right.

Garces 49, San Joaquin Memorial 13: Quarterback Mark Gomez and his receiving crew connected for six touchdowns and running back Carter Hanson had 13 carries for 136 yards to send the Rams home from Fresno with a second straight Holy Bowl game victory against SJM (0-4) on Saturday.

Garces (3-1) receivers Colby Dilly and Treson Wallace both had two touchdown receptions. Dilly had a game-high eight catches for 172 yards. Both of Wallace’s catches for 64 yards were for scores. Isaiah Flores and Alex Savage each had a TD reception. Gomez, who was 17-of-23 for 344 yards through the air, also had one rushing touchdown. The seven touchdowns for Gomez set a single-game school record.

Mira Monte 19, Boron 18: Records can be deceiving, but Mira Monte finally got its first victory, edging the Bobcats. Mira Monte (1-2) started the game with a 90-yard, nine-minute drive for a touchdown and led 13-6 at halftime. But penalties and turnovers — Boron got touchdowns on an interception return and a fumble return — kept Mira Monte from doing more damage. The Lions made a defensive stand late to hold off Boron and hand them their first loss.

Mira Monte, which had a bye in week 2, has played three non-league games and those teams, Foothill (now 4-0) and Ojai Nordhoff (4-0) combined have an 11-1 record.

“We stacked our preseason schedule pretty tough. Foothill’s really good, Nordhoff was really good. We’re excited, we’re on the way up. Still finding ourselves, but getting better each week,” Mira Monte head coach Christian Johnson said. “Our defense was great. We controlled the time of possession, had turnovers that were costly, but it was a gritty win.”

Foothill 52, Delano 16: The Trojans moved to 4-0 on the season with a performance that started after Delano (1-3) briefly led 8-7 in the opening quarter. The game, which was moved to R.F. Kennedy’s stadium due to unplayable field conditions at Delano High’s field, turned quickly. Foothill quarterback Ismael Ramirez threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score and Michael Hanks had both a rushing touchdown and interception return for another score. Rolando Correa kicked a 41-yard field goal to make it 31-8 at halftime. Ramirez threw a second TD pass in the third quarter to Cash McAfee, who also had a rushing TD. Delano’s second touchdown, which came in the fourth quarter, cut the lead to 38-16, but Foothill had two more scores before the game concluded. This is the Trojans’ best season start since going 7-0 in 2021.

Ridgeview 23, San Luis Obispo Mission College Prep 6: The Wolf Pack got a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown from quarterback Darryon Casteel (6 of 13 for 90 yards passing, 53 yards rushing), Rigo Castro Vergara had 19 carries for 97 yards and a score and Travion Stocker had 107 yards rushing. It all helped keep Ridgeview undefeated after four games. The game, which was played at Cal Poly SLO’s field, saw host Mission College Prep limited to a pair of field goals. The second one made it only a 9-6 halftime lead for Ridgeview. One second-half score was a Casteel TD pass to Alfonso Garibay to put the game out of reach.

East 46, West 13: The Blades went to the Vikings’ field and took care of business in this rivalry game that used to be a battle in the South Yosemite Mountain League. East High senior quarterback Maximus Hull passed for 240 yards and three touchdowns and Lorenzo Thomas and Jaime Fernandez each had a rushing touchdown to move the Blades’ record to 2-2 under second-year head coach Nick Romero. Jacory Wright scored a late touchdown and it came after he recovered a West fumble on the Vikings’ 25. West fell to 0-4 and has been outscored 156-41 against Rosamond, Delano, Chowchilla and now East.

Independence 40, Stockdale 6: Quarterback Joseph Millan threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns to lead the host Falcons to their second straight victory in three games, beating the Mustangs. Jason Flores had four catches for 88 yards. Independence (2-1) scored all of its points before Stockdale (0-4) got a rushing touchdown from quarterback Kruz Corona to avoid the shutout. The Mustangs have been outscored 168-72 in losses to North, Highland, Monache and now Independence.

Shafter 52, Porterville 7: The Generals remained unbeaten, the offense had a productive game and the defensive unit gave up a first quarter touchdown to the visiting Panthers, but that’s all that stood in the way of Shafter recording a third straight shutout. Quarterback Collyn Gillies threw for 182 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score. Luis Santana ran for 125 yards and had a touchdown. Receivers Adrian Garcia and Isaiah De La Mora each caught two touchdowns and Kyle Pitter had one. Nelson Tostado blocked a punt and Guillermo Verdugo recovered it for a TD. Isaac Cruz made a 42-yard field goal. Defensive standouts included Isaiah Monreal, Verdugo, Tostado and Jayden Gonzalez.

“It means a lot (going 4-0),” Shafter head coach Jerald Pierucci said. “These kids have had a lot of pressure put on them because of past success. They have continued to work hard and learn. We have improved a lot, but they know we have a long way to go.”

Shafter has allowed only 21 points in four games, 14 of those coming in a week one victory over South.

South 34, Monache 30: Junior quarterback Michael Solis completed 19 of 24 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores to lead the Spartans (1-2) to their first victory of the season, beating Porterville Monache on the road. Monache led 23-20 at halftime, but South’s Beto De Haro ran the second-half opening kickoff back for a touchdown and 27-23 lead. Monache regained the advantage, but Solis had another TD pass to finish the scoring. Among Solis’ productive receivers were seniors Emiliano Gallegos, who had seven catches for 72 yards and Uriah Tingling with four receptions for 62 yards.

Defensively, South got some turnovers, including a strip of the football from Monache’s quarterback when the Marauders were driving late for a potential go-ahead score. South Coach Cary Mills praised linebackers Dakota Lopez, Zyon Ball, lineman Issac Meza and De Haro, who also plays safety.

Other Week 4 scores

Clovis Buchanan 49, Liberty 7 (Thursday)

R.F. Kennedy 34, Tehachapi 6 (Thursday)

Taft 49, Arvin 0 (Thursday)

PAL Academy 28, Valley Oaks Charter 22 (Thursday)

BCHS vs. Sacramento Charter, game canceled

Immanuel Christian 43, Mojave 8

Alpaugh 68, Maricopa 0

California City 42, Vasquez 6

Desert 30, Frazier Mountain 6

Rosamond 12, Knight 6

Ridgecrest/Burroughs 37, Bishop Union 13

Santa Maria 40, Del Oro 0

Northgate 28, North 14

Hanford 42, Frontier 7

Chavez Collegiate 35, Golden Valley 21

Paso Robles 35, Highland 21

Roosevelt 33, Wasco 32

Granite Hills 28, McFarland 21

Byes: Centennial, Kern Valley.

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