2023 West Yosemite League Football Preview: 47 impact players to watch, team capsules
2023 West Yosemite League High School Football Preview
Dinuba Emperors
Coach: C.J. Lester, third season
Roster size: 50
Base offense/defense: Pro-style/Multiple
2022 record: 5-6 (lost to Washington Union in the Central Section Division II first-round playoffs)
Impact players: DL Julian Ramirez, DB Johnny Pena, LB Kristian Bobenrieth, DB Tariq Small, MLB Paul Huerta, OL Caleb Hernandez, OL Ricardo Ventura, WR Christian Lopez, ATH Dominique Nunez, RB Diego Tuttle
Highlights: Dinuba is one of two teams in the WYL this season that do not operate a spread offense full-time. The Emperors are a run-oriented squad and are one of the few programs in Tulare County that still utilize a fullback. That style was introduced by former head coach Kevin Scharton and has continued under third-year head coach C.J. Lester. Running back Diego Tuttle will likely handle the featured role this year. The Emperors have averaged 32 points per game since the 2021 season. One of the strengths of the team is the trenches, which is led by senior defensive lineman Julian Ramirez, a first-team All-WYL selection in 2022. Ramirez tied the team lead with five sacks during his junior year. Linebacker Kristian Bobenrieth should make an impact again this season after racking up 63 tackles, the second-most on the team, three sacks and two interceptions during a breakout sophomore campaign. Bobenrieth is coming off an All-WYL first-team season. "This team is player-led," Lester said. "They play with confidence, and have been working hard together in the weight room all summer."
Schedule
Aug. 18: at Sanger, 7 p.m.
Aug. 25: at Golden West, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1: at Kingsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: Selma, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15: at Washington Union, 7 p.m.
Sept. 29: Hanford, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5: at Tulare Western, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: at Lemoore, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: Tulare Union, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27: Mission Oak, 7:30 p.m.
Hanford Bullpups
Head coach: Cannon Sanchez, fourth season
Roster size: 42
Base offense/defense: High-tempo spread/3-3-5
2022 record: 9-4 (lost to Central Valley Christian in the Central Section Division II semifinals)
Impact players: RB Kourdey Glass, RB/S Albert Richardson, CB Atreyu Martin, WR J.C. Turner, DL Joey Munoz, OL Chase Lopez, QB Daniel Gomez
More: 2023 East Yosemite League Football Preview: 54 names to know, team capsules, schedules
Highlights: Hanford head coach Cannon Sanchez's high-octane, tempo-spread offense scored 615 points during the 2022 season, averaging 47.3 points per game, which set a school record for the most points scored in a single season. The Bullpups will be led this fall by a talented backfield of running backs Kourdey Glass and Albert Richardson and first-year starting quarterback Daniel Gomez. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Glass already has three reported scholarship offers from Colorado State, Fresno State and San Jose State. Glass, a junior, is rated as a three-star recruit by 247sports.com. Gomez, also a junior, has an offer from Toledo. Glass ran for 1,222 yards and scored 21 rushing touchdowns during his breakout season in 2022. He was an All-WYL first-team pick. Richardson finished second on the team last year with 804 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. The Bullpups graduated four of their five starting offensive linemen earlier this summer but Sanchez's squad shouldn't miss a beat. Under Sanchez, the Bullpups are a combined 19-7 since he took over the program before the 2020-21 school year.
Schedule
Aug. 18: Bullard, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26: Buhach Colony, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1: at Golden West, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: at Frontier, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: at Redwood, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29: at Dinuba, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6: at Tulare Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: Tulare Western, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: at Mission Oak, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: Lemoore (Milk Can), 7 p.m.
Lemoore Tigers
Head coach: Rich Tuman, fourth season
Roster size: 48
Base offense/defense: Spread/3-4
2022 record: 12-2 (Central Section Division II champions)
Impact players: WR/DB Kobe Green, WR Kiontre Harris, LB Jace Silva, LB Gio Quintero, LB Spencer Silva, DE Trevon Gaffney, WR/DB Damien Hernandez
Highlights: Lemoore defeated CVC 62-46 last season to win the 2022 Central Section Division II championship. The Tigers averaged nearly 48 points per game during that run to a section plaque but graduated the bulk of their starters on offense, including quarterback Ty Chambers, the WYL's offensive player of the year. Quarterback Johnny Cuhna and Aiden McDaniels have split reps behind center during preseason practices. Cuhna, a senior, will likely get the nod to start the 2023 campaign, but McDaniels should also see some game action. The heartbeat of this year's Tigers team is the defense. Head coach Rich Tuman's squad returns nine of 11 starters from last season's WYL and section championship team, including defensive back Kobe Green and star linebackers Jace and Spencer Silva, and defensive end Trevon Gaffney. Green was an All-WYL first-team pick in 2022. He led the team with 65 tackles and five interceptions during his junior year and is also a standout receiver who tallied 508 yards receiving and eight touchdowns on offense. Senior receiver Kiontre Harris is one of the top players at his position in both Tulare and Kings counties. Harris, a three-star recruit by 247sports.com, has reported scholarship offers from San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State. "I think our defense will hold us early until our offense gets moving," Tuman said. "Once we get it going, I really believe that we will be competitive."
Schedule
Aug. 18: Selma, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 25: Washington Union, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1: at Clovis West, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: Sanger, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22: at South-Bakersfield, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29: at Tulare Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6: Mission Oak, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: Dinuba, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: Tulare Western, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: at Hanford (Milk Can), 7 p.m.
Mission Oak Hawks
Coach: Marty Martin, second season
Roster size: 49
Base offense/defense: Spread/4-2-5
2022 record: 6-6 (lost to Independence in the Central Section Division III quarterfinals)
Impact players: RB/CB Kenny Jackson, WR/S Jacob Ramirez, QB Danny Gonzalez, LB Isaiah Rivera, WR/CB Cameron Azevido, OL/DL Lazaro Ortiz
Highlights: Mission Oak found immediate success under head coach Marty Martin, who was hired last June to take over the Hawks' football program. Led by quarterback Danny Gonzalez and receivers Kenny Jackson and Jacob Ramirez, the Hawks started the 2022 season with a 4-0 record before going on to post a playoff win over San Luis Obispo in the first round of the Central Section Division III playoffs. Gonzalez is the top returning quarterback in Tulare County. He led all Tulare County passers with 2,857 yards and 28 touchdowns during his junior campaign. Jackson is one of the section's premier receivers. The son of College of Sequoias track and field coach Kenny Jackson, he was the only Tulare County wideout to surpass 1,000 yards receiving in 2022, catching 72 passes for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns. Mission Oak should field one of the top offenses in Tulare County this season with Gonzalez and Jackson leading the way.
Schedule
Aug. 17: Monache, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 25: at Taft, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1: at Roosevelt, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: Mt. Whitney, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15: CVC, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29: at Tulare Western, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6: at Lemoore, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: Tulare Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: Hanford, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: at Dinuba, 7:30 p.m.
Tulare Union Tribe
Head coach: Darren Bennett, 29th season
Roster: 51
Base offense/defense: Spread/3-4
2022 record: 4-7 (lost to Sunnyside in the Central Section Division III first-round playoffs)
Impact players: QB Jordan Crisp, RB Tieler Peterson, WR Sonny Guess, WR Brayden Stevenson, WR Demaje Riley, RT Aiden Avalos, MLB Dominik Wilson, SS Jaylen Dominguez, OLB Rashawn Hayes, DT Bryson Vargas
More: Tulare County football: Find out everything you need to know for the 2023 season
Highlights: Tulare Union had one of its best summer seasons in recent memory, winning the Hanford and Redwood seven-on-seven passing tournaments while posting a 25-1 overall record. The Tribe have key returners on both sides of the ball and team speed and athleticism are a couple of strengths. The defense is being helmed by long-time offensive line and assistant head coach Phil Pineiro. During seven-on-seven action, Pineiro's defense gave up an average of only one score per game, which has instilled confidence in the unit heading into the 2023 season. Offensively, sophomore quarterback Jordan Crisp returns to lead the Tribe's spread offense. Crisp has an impressive slew of returning weapons in running back Tieler Peterson, and receivers Sonny Guess and Brayden Stevenson. Stevenson was an All-WYL first-team selection as a freshman. He caught 24 passes for 500 yards receiving and four touchdowns in just seven games. A big-play receiver, Stevenson averaged nearly 21 yards per reception. Linebackers Dominic Wilson and Jaylen Dominguez are set to lead the defense. Wilson earned All-WYL first-team honors in 2022. The Tribe concluded last year by winning three of their final four games. Head coach Darren Bennett is currently the section's active winningest head coach with an overall record of 231-121-1. "This is a really fun group of kids to be around, and I'm excited to see what the season is going to bring," Bennett said.
Schedule
Aug. 18: at Mt. Whitney, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 24: at El Diamante, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1: Redwood, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7: at Justin Garza, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22: Kingsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28: Lemoore, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6: Hanford, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: at Mission Oak, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: at Dinuba, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: at Tulare Western (Bell Game), 6:30 p.m.
Tulare Western
Coach: Derek Rosa, third season
Roster size: 50
Base offense/defense: Pistol Wing T/3-4
2022 record: 2-8
Impact players: OLB Cole Demmers, ILB Josh Harris, DL Ray'N May, RB Mikey Johnson, Wing Jaanveer Singh, TE Adrian Fuentes, QB Xavier Garcia
Highlights: After a two-win season and missing the playoffs, head coach Derek Rosa is changing things up. The Mustangs are returning to a formula that made them a Tulare County powerhouse during the Ryan Rocha era — establishing the run and playing strong defense. Rosa reintroduced the Shotgun Wing T to his players in the offseason. Tulare Western operated a spread offense during Rosa's first two seasons. Senior Cole Demmers, a four-year varsity player, returns to lead the defense at outside linebacker. Demmers teams up with last year's leading tackler, Josh Harris, to give the Mustangs a physical presence in the heart of the defense. Offensively, senior Xaver Garcia converted from receiver and is the team's new starting quarterback. Mikey Johnson, the younger cousin of former Tulare Western star Tairyn Johnson, will lead the Mustangs' backfield. Senior Jaanveer Singh is another offensive weapon to watch for the Mustangs at the wing position. Singh is a four-year varsity player.
Schedule
Aug. 18: El Diamante, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 25: Bullard, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1: at Mt. Whitney, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: at Redwood, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22: at Bakersfield Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29: Mission Oak, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5: Dinuba, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13: at Hanford, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: at Lemoore, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27: Tulare Union (Bell Game), 6:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 2023 West Yosemite League Football Preview
