Uncertainty will reign in CCC

If you're looking for certainties this fall, it would be best to avoid the Central California Conference: The only certainty is that the CCC will be the Stanislaus District's most uncertain league.

Graduation cut deeply into rosters, the defending champ moved to a new league and a potential MVP is sidelined at least half the season.

It should produce an entertaining race, with traditional powers Merced and Turlock battling upstarts Buhach Colony and Pitman for the title.

Los Banos would have been there, too, but the defending champ now is in the Western Athletic Conference. LB's enrollment will decline since Pacheco High, the city's second high school, has opened.

Turlock went 0-10 last year, the worst record in its 90-year history, but Kevin Kramer is going to have more talent and larger linemen around him in the spread offense this fall.

Merced and Pitman each return a prolific runner in Eric DeAnda and Dominick Walker, respectively, and are solid on defense. The best backfield in the CCC, however, is playing for Buhach Colony.

Even with running back Corey Chapman out at least half the year, BC is potent so long as Dallon Muse and Jarrell Davis are lining up alongside quarterback Ben Watkins.

Four of the six CCC teams have won the title in the last seven years, with Merced taking three straight before 2009.