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Cowhide: Top 10 players to watch, projected starting lineups

Vongni Yang, Visalia Times-Delta
·3 min read

The 68th annual Cowhide rivalry game between Mt. Whitney (6-3, 4-0) and Redwood (6-3, 4-0) on Friday night at Mineral King Bowl will feature two teams who are undefeated in East Yosemite League play.

The winner will capture an outright EYL title and will also clinch the Sid Hosking Trophy city championship (trophy awarded to top Visalia public school team).

This year's rivalry game will mark the first time since 1997 that both programs roll into their regular-season finale with a perfect record in conference action.

Tickets are now on sale online only at GoFan.co. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Gates open at 5 p.m. Game time is 6:30 p.m. The Rangers are the home team this year.

Here are 10 players to watch in the 2023 Cowhide game (five from each team):

Mt. Whitney's Israel Briggs scampers in for a touchdown against Monache during their high school football game at the Mineral King Bowl in Visalia, Calif., Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.
Mt. Whitney's Israel Briggs scampers in for a touchdown against Monache during their high school football game at the Mineral King Bowl in Visalia, Calif., Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

Mt. Whitney

  • Israel Briggs, receiver/defensive back: At 6-foot-4, Briggs is a matchup nightmare in the end zone and one-on-one. He has 20 catches for 312 yards and three touchdowns in league competition. He is projected to start both ways in the Cowhide.

  • Carter Myers, receiver: When opposing defenses are keying in on Briggs, Myers has proven he can deliver. The 6-foot Myers has been strong in EYL action, hauling 11 passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns.

  • Mario Rodriguez, linebacker: Rodriguez leads the Pioneers in tackles. He had one of his best individual performances against Tulare Western where he racked up 11 stops.

  • Micah Rodriguez, quarterback: The junior has been a difference-maker in his first season as a full-time starter. In four EYL games, he has thrown for 724 yards with nine touchdowns and only four interceptions.

  • Kysen Sing, running back: One of the top players at his position in Tulare County, Sing has posted three 100-plus rushing yard games and has run for more than 700 yards with six rushing touchdowns, five of those coming in EYL play.

Redwood's Alec Harrold makes a tackle against Tulare Western in a non-league high school football game at Mineral King Bowl on September 8, 2023.
Redwood's Alec Harrold makes a tackle against Tulare Western in a non-league high school football game at Mineral King Bowl on September 8, 2023.

Redwood

  • Jimmie Burk, running back: Burk emerged as the Rangers' featured back during the EYL season. In his past four games, Burk has rushed for a team-best 346 yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging nearly seven yards per carry during that stretch.

  • Chase Dempsey, defensive end: Dempsey is one of the top defensive players in Tulare County. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior has a team-leading nine sacks with 33 tackles.

  • Evan Galley, receiver: The senior is the Rangers leading wideout with 29 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns. He is a three-year varsity player.

  • Kai Preisendorf, defensive end: Preisendorf has been one of Tulare County's best defensive players since breaking out as a sophomore. In three seasons, he has 21.5 career sacks, including six this season, and has two career defensive touchdowns.

  • Alec Harrold, linebacker: Harrold leads the Rangers in tackles with 59 — 16 more than the next-best tackler on the team.

Projected starting lineup

Mt. Whitney

Offense

  • QB: Micah Rodriguez, junior

  • RB: Kysen Sing, junior

  • WR: Tallen Xiong, senior

  • WR: Xavier Soto, junior

  • WR: Carter Myers, senior

  • WR: Israel Briggs, sophomore

  • LT: Adam Casas, senior

  • LG: Chris Oseguera, senior

  • C: Robert Ordonez, junior

  • RG: Thomas Avila, junior

  • RT: Jacob Barney, senior

Defense

  • DE: Jaylen Allen, sophomore

  • DE: Issac Seechan, senior

  • NG: Bryce William, senior

  • LB: Jose Cantu, junior

  • LB: Mario Rodriguez, junior

  • LB: Michael Sanchez, senior

  • DB: Israel Briggs, sophomore

  • DB: Matthew Townsend, sophomore

  • FS: Elijah Mendez, senior

  • SS: Adrian Huerta, sophomore

  • FS: Noah Murillo, senior

Redwood

Offense

  • QB: Luke Sanchez, sophomore

  • FB: Alex Perch, senior

  • TB: Jimmie Burk, sophomore

  • WR: Evan Galley, senior

  • WR: Moses Burk, senior

  • TE: Nathan Kinser, senior

  • LT: Cristian Carlos, junior

  • LG: Samuel Ortega, sophomore

  • C: Hunter Pruitt, senior

  • RG: B.J. Wainwright, senior

  • RT: Jordan Nguyen, senior

Defense

  • DE: Chase Dempsey, senior

  • DT: Moses Saulsbury, junior

  • DT: Jesse Bautista, senior

  • DE: Kai Preisendorf, senior

  • OLB: Xavier Perez, senior

  • LB: Enrique Segura, sophomore

  • LB: Alec Harrold, senior

  • CB: Dallas Harris, senior

  • CB: Ronald Walsh, senior

  • FS: Isaiah Galaviz, senior

  • SS: Cash Rico, junior

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Cowhide: Top 10 players to watch, projected starting lineups