Central California Conference outlook, coaches’ picks, schedules

▪ ATWATER FALCONS

Head coach: Bob Valladao

Year/record: 9th, 33-51

Key returners: QB Frank Cocio (6-2, 215); RB/DB Noah Torres (5-10, 185); RB/DB Nate Gilmore (5-10, 175); WR/DB Josh Wilson (6-3, 185); WR/DB Javi Valencia (6-0, 185); RB/LB Michael Vargas (5-10, 205); WR/DL Avery Smith (6-3, 220); OL/DL Cameron Adams (5-10, 235); OL/DL Haden McRae (6-2, 295); OL/DL Ivan Avalos (6-1, 305); RB/LB Christian Maravilla (5-9, 195).

Key newcomers: OL/DL Jared Del Real (6-2, 245); RB/LB Efrain Perez (5-10, 210); Mason McRae (5-10, 175).

Key losses: DB/WR Sal Duran; DE Josh Rogers; C Issac Perez.

Stadium: Falcon Field at Dave Honey Stadium (3,000)

Rivalry: Bloss Bowl vs. Buhach Colony

▪ BUHACH COLONY THUNDER

Head coach: Kevin Navarra

Year/record: 2nd, 5-5

Key returners: RB/ILB Kory Woods (5-10, 210); TE/OLB Jace Alcazar (6-0, 215); RB/DB Brandon Muse (5-8, 185); OL/DL Hunter Stefani (5-10, 255).

Key newcomers: QB Andrew Morris (6-4, 174); RB/DB Pardeep Dhillon (5-9, 185); RB/DB Alex Andrade (5-9, 165); OL/Dl Troy Smith (5-10, 195); RB/DB Chris Meneley (5-10, 195); OL/ILB Robert Garcia (5-10, 225); RB/DB Robert Askew (6-0, 195).

Key losses: RB/DL Justin Stefani; RB/DB Aundre Sherman; RB/DB Roy Gutierrez.

Stadium/capacity: Falcon Field at Dave Honey Stadium (3,000)

Rivalry: Bloss Bowl vs. Atwater

▪ GOLDEN VALLEY COUGARS

Head coach: Dennis Stubbs

Year/record: 22nd, 130-11-1

Key returners: RB Isaih Montanez (5-10, 175); QB Armando Muzquiz (6-3, 180); DL Myles Houston (6-2, 225); WR Brandon Reyes (5-8, 170).

Key newcomers: WR Cadrian McDaniel (6-2, 170); DB/WR Rudy Aramburu (5-8, 170); OL Cortland Morse (6-3, 220).

Key losses: TE Michael Souza

Stadium/capacity: Veterans Stadium (4,000)

Rivalry: Mayor’s Cup vs. Merced

▪ MERCED BEARS

Head coach: Rob Scheidt

Year/record: 20th, 127-75

Key returners: WR A.J. Stewart (6-2, 190); OL Christian Lopez (6-4, 270); OL Joe Moraga (6-4, 291); RB/DB Ulonzo Gilliam (5-9, 170); DE John Becerra (6-2, 215); C Manuel Ramirez (5-10, 250); WR/DB Brandon McKinney (6-2, 185); LB Anthony Wilson (5-8, 210); WR Tim Miranda (5-8, 160); WR Kaiser Fink (5-10, 160).

Key newcomers: QB Jake Foss (6-0, 175); RB/DB Paul Scoggins (5-9, 165); RB/DB Rayveon Slaton (5-9, 170); S/RB Tanner Pellissier (6-0, 175); DL David Perales (6-2, 210); LB Dustin James (5-9, 205).

Key losses: RB/DB Jabar Byrd; QB Tyrone Williams; MLB Jermon Cook; WR Nick Camper; S Jamar Turner; DE Kenneth Hamel; DE Robby Huddleston; WR Josh Taylor.

Stadium/capacity: Veterans Stadium (4,000)

Rivalry: Mayor’s Cup vs. Golden Valley

▪ PITMAN PRIDE

Head coach: Tom Tyler

Year/record: 3rd, 14-7

Key returners: LB/TE Micah Millentree (6-3, 210); RB/LB Blake McBay (5-9, 200); RB/DB Devan Bass (6-1, 185); OT/DT Art Hernandez (6-2, 290); RB/DB Titus Schammel (6-0, 185); DB/TE Sinue Cortez (5-10, 180); LB/FB Quinton Coelho (5-9, 185); OT/DT Chris Martinez (6-2, 255); OG Diego Basulto (5-9, 210); C Richard Yates (6-0, 220); NG Rylan Boutelle (5-10, 220); DL Lorenzo Carrera (6-0, 210); DL Cristian Cooley (6-1, 230); LB David Fox (5-11, 200).

Key newcomers: QB/DB Jacob Perez (5-9, 180); LB Brandon Pacheco (5-9, 180); DB Brendon Patterson (6-0, 170); LB/FB Matt Parker (5-10, 185); LB Trenton Brock (6-0, 200).

Key losses: LB Jason Foglia; RB Quinton Hernandez.

Stadium: Joe Debely Stadium

Rivalry: Harvest Bowl vs. Turlock

▪ TURLOCK BULLDOGS

Head coach: James Peterson

Year/record: 7th, 30-30

Key returners: RB/Safety Danny Velasquez (6-0, 180); TE/OLB Mustafa Johnson (6-2, 255); FB/MLB Jereicho Taamu (6-0, 245); RB/CB Brandon Booz (5-10, 175); TE/OLB Allen Padilla (6-3, 215); Center/DT Nicolas Berry (6-0, 280); OT/DE Alex McKeon (6-3, 260).

Key newcomers: OG/MLB Breck Jeffus (5-10, 230); RB/Safety Dustin Grein (5-10, 165).

Key losses: QB Anthony Moreno; OLB Andy Jennings; C Robert Martinez.

Stadium/capacity: Joe Debely Stadium (3,500)

Rivalry: Harvest Bowl vs. Pitman

▪ COACHES’ POLL: 1. Merced. 2. Turlock. 3. Pitman. 4. Buhach Colony. 5. Atwater. 6. Golden Valley.

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Central California Conference outlook, coaches’ picks, schedules."