Here are a couple of the top Tulare County games to watch in Week 4 (all games are Friday unless noted), plus the Times-Delta‘s predictions.
Mission Oak (2-2) at El Diamante (0-4), 7:30 p.m., Visalia Community Stadium
This is the first meeting between the two programs on the football field.
Mission Oak is fresh off a 29-13 win at Mt. Whitney. Freshman quarterback Royal Cox accounted for three total touchdowns in that victory, throwing two touchdowns and running in another.
The Hawks won the 2023 Central Section Division III championship last season, and are led this year by Cox (379 yards passing, three touchdowns; 159 yards rushing, touchdown), senior running back Achilles Sierra (215 yards rushing, touchdown; six catches, 85 yards, touchdown), senior receiver/defensive end A.J. Jackson (14 catches, 279 yards receiving, two touchdowns; three sacks) and senior linebacker Nick Retiz (19 tackles, sack, interception return for touchdown).
El Diamante has lost four straight games but have played one of the toughest schedules in Tulare County this season.
The Miners have fallen to Tulare Western (3-1), Tulare Union (3-0), Lemoore (3-1) and Hanford (4-0) — who are a combined 13-2.
El Diamante’s last victory on the football field came nearly a year ago when the Miners defeated Monache 24-14 on Oct. 6.
Times-Delta prediction: Mission Oak 21, El Diamante 20
More: Tulare football teams continue winning ways; performances of the week, power rankings
Ridgeview (0-4) at Tulare Union (3-0), 7:30 p.m., Bob Mathias Stadium
Tulare Union is coming off its bye week.
The undefeated Tribe have victories over St. Joseph (0-3), El Diamante (0-4) and Redwood (0-4) and enter Friday’s non-league showdown averaging nearly 40 points per game.
Tulare Union has yet to play a team that has won a game this season.
The Tribe have talent and speed all over the field, led by junior quarterback Jordan Crisp (756 yards passing, nine touchdowns; 47 yards rushing, three touchdowns), junior running back Rashawn Hayes (350 yards rushing, two touchdowns), junior running back Brayden Stevenson (127 yards rushing, touchdown; 13 catches, 291 yards receiving, four receiving touchdowns), sophomore wideout Demaje Riley (eight catches, 133 yards receiving, three touchdowns) and senior linebacker Dominic Wilson (35 tackles).
Tulare Union and Ridgeview last met in 2019 in the Central Section Division I playoffs. The Wolf Pack won that game 40-21 in a first-round postseason showdown.
Ridgeview has not won a game this season with losses to South Bakersfield, Wasco, Sunnyside and Grace-Simi Valley.
Times-Delta prediction: Tulare Union 48, Ridgeview 14
Times-Delta overall season predictions record: 12-2
More: Tulare County football: Everything you need to know for the 2024 season
Eight more Tulare County games to watch
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Farmersville (1-2) at Orosi (0-3), 7:15 p.m.
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Granite Hills (3-0) at Corcoran (1-2), 7:15 p.m.
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Strathmore (2-1) at Orange Cove (1-2), 7:15 p.m.
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Woodlake (2-1) at Lindsay (2-1), 7:15 p.m.
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Hanford West (0-4) at Monache (3-1), 7:30 p.m.
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Porterville (3-0) at Highland-Bakersfield (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
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Washington Union (1-2) at Dinuba (1-3), 7:30 p.m.
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Redwood (0-4) at Hanford (4-0), 7:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare County Football: Week 5 top games to watch, predictions
