2016 Central Section Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Highlights of Clovis' Quinn Vosmera
Watch the defensive end in action for the Cougars


1. Hanford
Head coach: Josh Young
2015 record: 14-1
Team preview

The Bullpups are coming off a historic 14-win season that featured section, regional and state championships.

They return starting quarterback Ryan Johnson, who completed 214 of 346 passes for 3,085 yards and 35 touchdowns. The team's 2,000-yard rusher Joseph McDaniel graduated, but junior Tyrace Richardson should fill in nicely. He had nearly 500 yards to go along with nine touchdowns last year as a sophomore. Johnson is also a strong runner with 680 yards and nine scores last year. Look for Christopher Cano (39 catches, 479 yards) to be Johnson's go-to receiver.

Hanford lost its top two tacklers, but 5-foot-11, 210-pound linebacker Will Pepe should lead a strong defense. Overall, the team returns 11 starters, seven on offense.

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2. Clovis
Head coach: Rich Hammond
2015 record: 11-2
Team preview

With 12 returning starters, six on both sides of the ball, the Cougars figure to build off last year's stellar 11-2 campaign that ended in a 56-21 loss to Liberty in the Division I section final.

Hammond is especially high on this team with eight returning three-year starters, including senior tight end and defensive end Clayton Alexander (6-3, 235), senior defensive end Quinn Vosmera (6-3, 215) and senior linebacker Trevor Hartmann (6-2, 200). Defense should be the team's strength.

On offense, senior running backs Christian Copeland and Nash Vidmar lead the way. They combined for almost 1,000 rushing yards last year.

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3. Bullard (Fresno)
Head coach: Don Arax
2015 record: 9-3
Team preview The Knights reached the section semifinals last year but could do even better with the return of quarterback Jack Taylor, who threw for 1,641 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. He threw just five interceptions for a QB rating of 104.5.

The team's defense should be its strength with the return of top two tacklers Ben Baker (116 tackles) and Cameron Lamanuzzi (96).

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4. Ridgeview (Bakersfield)
Head coach: Dennis Manning
2015 record: 13-1
Team preview

The Wolf Pack have gone 57-12 over the last five seasons and figure to make another strong state title push after winning a section Division II title last year with a 45-19 victory over Lemoore.

Ridgeview lost in the regional finals to eventual champion Narbonne (Harbor City) last year, but with second-leading rusher Jamar Moya (791 yards, 14 touchdowns) and leading receiver Jaleyn Prevost (34 catches, 719 yards, nine touchdowns) returning, Manning should have his team in the thick of it.

Leading sacker Ricky Leung-Wai also returns.

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5. Buchanan (Clovis)
Head coach: Mike Jacot
2015 record: 7-4
Team preview

The Bears return leading rusher Trevor Ervin (859 yards, eight touchdowns), second-leading receiver Blake Wells, top sacker Logan Fogg and interceptor Zach Presno. The team hopes to reach its first double-digit win season since 2009 when it went 10-1.