St. Joseph Wins Bakersfield 7-on-7, Sets Up Big Week 1 Test for Garces
BAKERSFIELD, CA — St. Joseph made the trip to Bakersfield for the second straight year and once again left with the Bakersfield 7-on-7 tournament championship.
The Knights, who are scheduled to face Garces Memorial in Week 1, showed why they will be a major early-season test for the Rams. St. Joseph came in with a roster full of talent, led by quarterback Jack Heaslet, one of the most intriguing young quarterbacks in California.
Heaslet looked the part throughout the tournament. The St. Joseph quarterback was calm, accurate and in control, finding ways to keep drives alive and deliver in key moments. No matter how tight the games got, the Knights found a way to finish.
St. Joseph also got a big showing from Vonshay Azziz, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound receiver who recently committed to Cal Poly. Azziz came up with big catches when St. Joseph needed them most and showed undeniable chemistry with Heaslet. With his size, length and ability to win downfield, he accounted for a major part of the Knights’ production and was one of the toughest matchups in the tournament.
While St. Joseph came in with the big recruiting attention, Bakersfield talent made its own statement.
Foothill’s Jordan Neilson was one of the local standouts. The rising sophomore continues to turn heads this summer with a bigger frame, strong catch radius and the look of one of Kern County’s top young targets. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Neilson is quickly building a name as a player to watch.
Foothill also got a strong showing from Mike Hanks, who played both ways throughout the day. Hanks made his presence felt defensively, and teams appeared hesitant to test his side of the field. Frontier, in particular, avoided throwing in his direction, a clear sign of the respect he commanded in coverage.
Shafter also had plenty to be excited about. Gunnar Cunningham, an incoming junior running back who transferred from Ridgeview, looked explosive and athletic. He brings speed, strength, route-running ability and pass-catching talent, giving Shafter another dangerous weapon once he becomes available after the first five games.
Quarterback Collyn Gillies also stood out for the Generals. Outside of Heaslet, Gillies looked like one of the most poised quarterbacks at the tournament. He stood tall in the pocket, delivered the ball well and gave Shafter another reason to believe it can compete this season, especially with the addition of Cunningham.
Bakersfield High was also missing two of its top players over the weekend, with Dee Lee and Damir Lomax attending an out-of-town football camp. Both are considered among the best players in town, and their absence was worth noting as BHS competed without two major pieces.
St. Joseph may have left Bakersfield with the trophy, but the weekend also showed something important: Bakersfield football is not a walk in the park. Local programs competed, produced standouts and showed that Kern County talent can line up against anyone.
Now the attention turns to Week 1.
Garces will travel to St. Joseph on Aug. 21 in one of the most anticipated early-season matchups on the Rams’ schedule. Garces enters the season with talent all around the field and momentum under third-year head coach Grant Campbell, who helped lead one of the area’s biggest turnarounds last season, taking the Rams from 0-10 to 9-2.
This year, Garces adds even more firepower with 4-star safety Jackson Parker and 4-star running back Carter Hanson, both recently featured on ESPN’s Top 300 watchlist. The Rams also return what many consider the best offensive line in the area, giving them the size, physicality and protection needed to match up with a team like St. Joseph.
St. Joseph showed Bakersfield what kind of challenge it can be. Garces has the talent to answer.
Get your popcorn ready for Week 1.
