Kern County is 3-0 in ranked matchups against Fresno and Clovis-area teams, with Liberty and Bakersfield getting two more opportunities in Week 4. BSN previews the biggest games and makes its picks across the local slate.

Liberty High graduate Tre Fulton earned Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week honors after a standout performance for UNLV against Hawai‘i.

Week 3 delivered statement wins across Kern County as Liberty, Ridgeview, Shafter, Foothill and Kennedy stayed unbeaten, while Bakersfield Christian rolled past Clovis West.

Week 3 brings some of the biggest matchups of the young high school football season, highlighted by undefeated showdowns between Ridgeview and North, and Shafter and Highland. Liberty heads south to face Oaks Christian, while Bakersfield Christian hosts Clovis West in another major test.

Week 2 brings a full slate of local high school football matchups, including Kennedy at Tulare Union, Liberty hosting Menlo-Atherton, Foothill at Chavez and more. BSN breaks down what to watch, key storylines and predictions for every game.

Liberty Pulls Off Overtime Thriller

Bakersfield High erased a 14-0 deficit to beat Clovis 17-14, powered by big plays from Elon Mackey, a huge all-around night from Damir Lomax, and a late game-winning field goal from Jackson K’Miller.

Two Bakersfield baseball standouts are taking the next step in their careers after hearing their names called in the 2026 MLB Draft. Frontier High graduate Hudson Barrett and Highland High alum Alejandro Garza were selected on Day 2, marking the first Bakersfield products drafted since Cutter Coffey and Austin Charles in 2022.

Centennial has hired Megan Langenfeld as its new head softball coach, bringing one of Bakersfield’s most decorated athletes back home after a national championship playing career at UCLA and Division I coaching experience.

Purdue commit Jenna Bartlett has already built a standout career at Bakersfield Christian, but the incoming junior will not play her final two seasons of high school soccer. Instead, she is taking a nontraditional path focused on elite club competition, national exposure, and long-term goals that include playing professionally and one day representing the USWNT in a Women’s World Cup.

Garces water polo standout Eden Coughran has been selected to represent Team USA at the U18 World Championships in Tenerife, Spain. The Class of 2027 Cal Berkeley commit, BSN Water Polo Player of the Year, Garces MVP, CIF Division II MVP, and 2025 Central Section champion is one of just 15 athletes in the nation chosen for the roster.

St. Joseph returned to Bakersfield and won the 7-on-7 tournament behind QB Jack Heaslet and Cal Poly commit Vonshay Azziz. Local standouts Jordan Neilson, Mike Hanks, Gunnar Cunningham and Collyn Gillies also made strong statements, while BHS was without Dee Lee and Damir Lomax.

Before CSUB was Division I, Kebu Stewart helped put Bakersfield basketball on the national stage. Now part of the 2026 CSUB Athletics Hall of Fame class, Stewart’s legendary Roadrunner career is a reminder to today’s young athletes that greatness has come from here time and time again.

BSN releases its preseason local football Top 10, with Bakersfield Christian opening at No. 1 after a state title run and several key additions. Garces, Bakersfield, RFK, Independence, Ridgeview, Centennial, Liberty, Foothill, and Wasco round out a loaded preseason list filled with returning stars, rising talent, and major storylines heading into the season.