A as in the Askew brothers, Robert and Treyvon. As in the newest weapons in the Golden Valley attack. The former Stone Ridge Christian standouts have transferred schools, giving coach Jon Betschart playmakers on both sides of the ball.
B is for (blasted) budget cuts.
While every city, county and school district in the state has been affected, no athletic program has probably felt the crunch more than Mariposa. Coach Bob Kelly had his teaching position cut, and the team's non-league transportation budget is built almost exclusively on money raised through fundraisers.
C is for reigning champs. Merced (Central California Conference), Mariposa (Southern League) and Chowchilla (North Sequoia League) all won league titles last season, but only Chowchilla went on to win a section title (Central Section, Division III). Hilmar, a No. 2 seed, sent shockwaves across the state when it rolled over Central Catholic for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V crown.
D is for Mr. Dudley Do-Right himself, Kevin Schofield.
The Dos Palos junior is a straight-A student, perfect attendance honoree and was voted Sophomore of the Year in the NSL in 2008, when he led the team in rushing and tackles.
Did I mention he played varsity basketball and baseball as well?
E is for early interest.
Merced tight end/defensive end Marques Barron has already received an offer from UC Davis.
F is for stadium food.
Every booster club will tell you that their menu is second to none, but only one makes the Sun-Star's belly growl in anticipation.
Los Banos, home to the chili verde burrito and juicy linquica sandwich.
Others try, but no one serves up a halftime treat quite like the folks at Loftin Stadium.
G is for "The Gamble."
Fourth-and-goal from the 1. Fourth quarter, trailing by five, maybe six points. Crowd at the edge of their seats. Players on their knees, hands interlocked. Coaches sweating puddles the size of Lake Yosemite.
It's these moments that make football the pinnacle of high school sports.
H is for home games.
Golden Valley will host three games at its campus this season, meaning it will save upwards of $7,500 -- the amount Merced College would have charged the school in rent. As any good real estate agent would say, "Make your money work for you."
I is for Julio Iglesias, Los Banos' middle linebacker. The senior had 102 tackles last season, including 78 solo stops and five games of 10 or more tackles.
J is for Jarrod Pimentel, who will rejoin the Atwater varsity staff this fall as quarterbacks coach.
Heed his advice, kids.
The former Atwater signal-caller was CCC MVP in 1997, led Atwater to back-to-back section final appearances in 1996-97 and holds all of the school's passing records.
K is for killer instinct. Games are often won in the second and fourth quarters. How you finish halves and games is often an indicator of how you'll finish a season. Remember that.
L is for lights. Every school in the Merced Union High Schools District has been outfitted with stadium lighting. Thank the voting public, who passed the Measure M school bond back in November.
M is for must-see games: Merced at Bullard, Sept. 4; Los Banos at Dos Palos, Sept. 18; Buhach Colony at Escalon, Sept. 25; Modesto Christian at Chowchilla, Sept. 25; Merced at Los Banos, Oct. 9; Buhach Colony at Atwater, Oct. 9; Mariposa at Le Grand, Oct. 23; Hilmar at Central Catholic, Oct. 23; Chowchilla at Dos Palos, Nov. 13; Pitman at Merced, Nov. 13.
N is for new chapter.
Coach Frank Marques and the Hilmar football program plan to celebrate their 2008 Division V section title by...
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