Preview and predictions: Week 3 games of 2026 high school football season in Kern County, Bakersfield

September 3, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Welcome back one and all to the third installment of 17 Scoreboard Plus Preview and Predictions.

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Amazing that after Friday night, the regular season will be a third of the way complete and we are starting to get a good feeling of the landscape around Kern County.

This week we have a home opener for the defending state champions Kennedy on Thursday night and a family rivalry game on Friday night at Foothill.

Let’s dive right in.

Thurs, Sept 3

Tulare-Mission Oak (0-2) at No. 10 Kennedy (2-0)

Previous
RFK d. Fresno-San Joaquin Memorial 30-7; RFK d. No. 16 Tulare Union, 36-35 (OT)
No. 17 Tulare Union d. Mission Oak, 48-17, San Luis Obispo d. Mission Oak, 35-13

When I say Kennedy’s overtime win over Tulare Union last week in overtime was one of the best games I’ve covered in some time, I am not being hyperbolic. It was sensational.

Isaiah Feathers (17-154), Jordan Palomo (4-111-1) and Jorge Avila (22-107-1) all rushed for more than 100 yards and Nathan Hernandez had 58 yards and scored twice on the ground for the T-Birds.

Kennedy did all they could to slow down Fresno State commit Demaje Riley, but the dude is explosive. But Kennedy did what they needed to do, and that’s grind the down markers and pulled out another overtime stunner over a Central Section Division I-based program with a two-point conversion after beating Hanford in 2025 in the same fashion.

Mission Oak lost to San Luis Obispo last wee 35-13 and as a true test of what this could end up as is Tulare Union beating the Hawks 48-17 in the season opener.

First time for Kennedy at home since beating Independence for the section D-III title last season.

It’s party time in east Delano.

Trevor’s pick: Kennedy 49, Mission Oak 13

No. 14 Garces (1-1) at Tehachapi (0-2)

Burroughs d. Tehachapi, 26-13; No. 24 Shafter d. Tehachapi, 29-0

Garces’ offense got off to a slow start last week at home against Wasco with a 14-7 lead at the half before scoring 21 unanswered in the third quarter.

Markus Gomez was 15-20 passing for 208 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover. Carter Hanson led the way on the ground with 94 yards on just eight carries, scoring twice.

Bryce Hanson had an interception and Brody Letourneau led the Rams with eight tackles.

Tehachapi managed just 29 total yards on 33 offensive plays in the 29-0 loss to Shafter.

Another old South Sequoia League matchup for both squads.

Trevor’s pick: Garces 42, Tehachapi 6

Chowchilla (2-0) at West (0-2)

Rosamond d. West, 36-14; Delano d. West, 20-14

Chowchilla scored eight rushing touchdowns last week in the 55-14 blowout win over Yosemite. While Jamarr Price (231 rushing yards, TD) has been productive on the ground, the Vikings haven’t scratched the win column in the first two weeks.

Trevor’s pick: Chowchilla 42, West 13

Friday, Sept 4

Wasco (0-2) at Foothill (2-0)

Foothill d. Mira Monte, 49-9; Foothill d. Chavez, 45-15

The Wedel War, in so many words, is here and I’m all for it. Not only is Foothill’s third-year head coach Chris Wedel going up against his nephew, Wasco’s second-year head coach Kyle Wedel, but he is also going up against all three of his brothers who are on staff for Wasco, and two of his childhood best friends. It’s going to be a fun pregame for all of them, but this will be a battle.

Yes, Wasco is 0-2, but the offense is still there, just some points scored (85 points in two games).

Aiden Hulsey leads Kern County with 384 rushing yards in the first two games and will need every bit of that 192-yard average against a Foothill team that has the makings of something special.

The Trojans’ offense has been adding up big chunk plays in the first two weeks and the defense and special teams have been opportunistic with Michael Hanks, Jr. returning a fumble for a touchdown, Braden Holford scoring on a kickoff return and Cory Hunter, Jr. taking a punt return back last week against Chavez.

This will be a battle. And a fun one.

Trevor’s pick: Foothill 35, Wasco 27

No. 2 Clovis West (2-0) at No. 8 BCHS (0-1)

Faith Lutheran (Nev.) d. BCHS, 28-27

How good is Clovis West through the first two weeks of the season? Well, the defeated Reno-Bishop Manogue, the 8th-ranked team in Nevada handily then beat La Costa Canyon, ranked in the top-25 in the state going in, by two touchdowns. Junior quarterback J.J. Howard is one of the top recruits in the state and running back Major Lee is averaging 210 yards a game on the ground. The Golden Eagles are rock solid.

Colton Michael looked great in the season opener for BCHS with 267 passing yards and three total touchdowns but the Eagles fell 28-27 to Faith Lutheran, the 12th-ranked team in Nevada, after attempting a go-ahead two-point conversion with 30 seconds left.

Again, I like the thought process because a loss to an out-of-state team by a point isn’t much different than a one-point win in that instance, other than how it looks in the overall record.

The Eagles had a bye last week and will be fresh. But Clovis West really looks good right now.

Trevor’s pick: Clovis West 42, BCHS 28

No. 9 Liberty (2-0) at Woodland Hills-Oaks Christian (0-2)

Mission Hills-Chaminade d. Oaks Christian, 18-0; Rancho Cucamonga d. Oaks Christian, 44-14

Liberty has really been impressive the first two weeks of the season despite losing four big-time starters in the offseason to transfers.

Sophomore quarterback Luke Valverde looks the part of a seasoned veteran through the first two weeks of the season with 566 passing yards and six touchdowns without a turnover.

Gavin Williams, after missing last fall with an injury, is now showing he is one of the best two-sport athletes in the Central Section.

And a defense led by senior linebacker Brody Stevens and sophomore defensive end Piece Buckey, the Patriots look ready to go and do some damage off the 101 against a perennial Southern Section powerhouse. Hey, remember when Will Smith (the actor, not the Dodger), Wayne Gretzky and Joe Montana all had sons on the team that played at BCHS in 2008?

Doesn’t matter now, just a fun memory. Patriots will go to 3-0.

Trevor’s pick: Liberty 21, Oaks Christian 14

No. 24 Frontier (0-2) at Walnut Creek-Northgate (1-0)

Northgate d. Mill Valley-Tamalpais, 44-6

It’s been an obviously difficult start to the season for Frontier with nearly identical losses to two teams both ranked in the top-10 in the section. Northgate isn't either of those two programs in St. Joseph and Clovis North. The game has likely slowed down to first-year varsity players like sophomore running back Nathan Tetzschner and company and will only help the Titans earning the first win for head coach Jim Arneson.

Trevor’s pick: Frontier 21, Northgate 20

No. 25 Shafter (2-0) at Highland (2-0)

Highland d. Porterville, 21-20; Highland d. Stockdale, 40-12

If you would have asked me my prediction of this game three weeks ago, I would have likely been completely in favor of a General win. But the more Highland plays, the more the Scots impress. R.J. Davenport is as good as advertised on offense, defense and special teams for Highland. David Farrow is a solid dual-threat quarterback and Anthony Phillips is averaging 119 rushing yards per game.

This is not a knock on Shafter. The defense is lights out, yielding just two touchdowns. And Collyn Gilles at quarterback and Luis Santana at running back have enormous shoes to fill and are doing a great job.

There is just something in my gut that can’t go against Highland, again.

Trevor’s pick: Highland 22, Shafter 21

San Luis Obispo (2-0) at Independence (0-1)

San Bernardino-Cajon d. Independence, 35-14

Much like we talked about earlier with BCHS and Garces losing early games in the season that may look bad on paper, really won’t come into play much later on. And this is another case, this time for Independence.

Cajon is a solid team with a standout sophomore quarterback. The Falcons were three hours away playing in an actual game for the first time this season and coming off the tragedy that occurred on campus during the start of the home game two weeks ago. Independence was in this game for the first half before penalties and injuries mounted.

This will be a good feeling, hopefully, for the Falcons to come home and right the ship.

Trevor’s pick: Independence 28, San Luis Obispo 21

Ridgeview (2-0) at North (2-0)

North d. Stockdale, 46-34; North d. Santa Maria-Pioneer Valley, 24-0

Boy, oh, boy, this one should be a classic. For both programs, the 2-0 start is the first since 2015. Seriously. Ridgeview was at the tail-end of that six-year run of making section championship games and scheduling some of the best teams in the section. And for North, even the league title team last fall lost to Atascadero in the second game before going on a seven-game win streak that lasted until the D-IV semifinals.

Robert Rodriguez has been a force on offense for North at running back and even taking wildcat snaps while the defense has been dominating, led by defensive back Caden Haner.

But Ridgeview has a 1-2 punch in quarterback Darryon Casteel and running back Travion Stocker (a bowling ball of a back).

This will be a slugfest and see the Wolf Pack staying undefeated in a close one.

Trevor’s pick: Ridgeview 21, North 20

Fresno-Edison (0-1) at Centennial (0-1)

No. 15 Clovis East d. Centennial, 21-14

Much like Independence, it was likely a good thing that Centennial was on the road last week and away from all of the noise in town. Yes, it was a loss on the road against Clovis East, but after a two-win campaign last fall, there is promise for the Golden Hawks. Design McWilliams had 97 total yards of offense and scored a rushing touchdown and returned an amazing tip-drill interception for a touchdown. Much like Centennial, Edison lost the opener last week, 22-19, against Clovis North. This should be a tight one with the G-Hawks celebrating.

Trevor’s pick: Centennial 21, Edison 14

Porterville-Monache (1-1) at Stockdale (0-2)

North d. Stockdale, 46-34; Highland d. Stockdale, 40-12

Really thought Stockdale would snap the losing streak last week against Highland after the Mustangs put up 36 in a loss to North in Week 1. Kudos to the Scots defense and now the road doesn’t get much easier. Monache upset Wasco in Week 1 before a home loss against Fresno-Roosevelt last week.

The on-field losing streak is at 15 for Stockdale and not sure it ends here against the Marauders. Hope I am wrong.

Trevor’s pick: Monache 28, Stockdale 21

Arvin (0-1) at Golden Valley (1-1)

Golden Valley d. Del Oro, 34-0; Atascadero d. Golden Valley, 10-0

Golden Valley looked great in Week 1 in a 34-0 win over Del Oro only to be shut out last week at Atascadero. Arvin lost to Lindsay on the road in week 1 and were off last week. Something has to give between these two offenses. Likely a low-scoring affair with the Bulldogs getting back in the win column.

Trevor’s pick: Golden Valley 17, Arvin 14

Chavez (1-1) at East (1-1)

Ridgeview d. East, 30-12; East d. Kern Valley, 38-7

East’s loss to Ridgeview isn’t bad. The Wolf Pack are playing great football right now and the blowout win on the road at Kern Valley showed the Blades are much improved after a two-win campaign last fall. And flip those games for Chavez. The Titans looked great against Corcoran but got blown out by a very, very good Foothill program.

East at home takes the victory in another close one.

Trevor’s pick: East 28, Chavez 21

Taft (2-0) at Santa Maria (0-2)

McFarland d. Santa Maria 36-21; Templeton d. Santa Maria, 49-0

The new thunder and lightning backfield in Kern County resides in Taft. Joe Weber had an offseason injury that limited his practice time in fall camp and was unable to play Week 1 due to mandatory 10 practices before a player can take the field. In his place, Garrett Massey had a a career-night in the season opener with 207 rushing yards. And then with Weber back last week, Massey had 148 rushing yards and Weber was, well, our co-player of the week on 17 Scoreboard after rushing for 168 yards, 54 receiving yards and an 85-yard kickoff return while scoring four times over Del Oro.

Look for much of the same here against a winless Santa Maria team.

Trevor’s pick: Taft 42, Santa Maria 7

Mira Monte (0-1) at Ojai-Nordhoff (2-0)

Nordhoff d. Glendale-Hoover 53-7; Nordhoff d. Woodland Hills-Taft, 59-14

You may have never heard of Nordhoff, and neither have I. But the Rangers are for real. Senior quarterback Michael Dennie is eighth in the Southern Section through two weeks with 682 passing yards with 11 touchdowns to zero interceptions. Mira Monte was on a bye last week after a big loss to rival Foothill in the season opener. The Lions offense will get back on track, but will be tough to slow down that passing attack on the other side.

Trevor’s pick: Nordhoff 35, Mira Monte 21

McFarland (1-1) at Cal City (0-2)

Lancaster-Eastside d. Cal City, 36-22; Yermo-Silver Valley d. Cal City, 38-13

A heart-breaking loss for McFarland last week against Boron at home. This week, the Cougars and standout Malachi Davis will get back on track against a Ravens team that is ranked dead-last in the Central Section by HSRatings.com.

Trevor’s pick: McFarland 35, Cal City 14

Del Oro (0-2) at Tranquillity (1-1)

Traquillity d. Riverdale, 21-0; Mendota d. Tranquillity, 49-32

Del Oro offense looks much improved last week compared to the shutout loss to Golden Valley. But Tranquillity has shown the first two weeks the ability to score points. If the Suns are behind early, this one might get away.

Trevor’s pick: Tranquillity 21, Del Oro 14

Delano (1-1) at Porterville-Granite Hills (1-1)

Fowler d. Granite Hills, 27-14; Granite Hills d. Farmersville, 43-6

Solid first win for Delano head coach Jesus Hernandez last week in the 21-20 win at home against West. Very similar this week on the road in Porterville.

Trevor’s pick: Delano 21, Granite Hills 20

Kern Valley (0-2) at Rosamond (1-1)

Rosamond d. West, 36-14; Lancaster-Eastside d. Rosamond, 16-12

Evan Moore will get the Broncs right, but just not yet.

Trevor’s pick: Rosamond 23, Kern Valley 20

Trevor’s picks last week: 12-5

Trevor Overall This Season: 25-13

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