WSL Athletics Week 5 Review: Mendota Notches 1^st win of 2019 season, Avenal is sinking. Week 6 Preview: Can History for Dos Palos repeat itself against McLane? Will Tranquillity ever win?

Coalinga is entering this week with back to back wins under their belts (Fresno Christian & Sierra Pacific). And it seems that whatever they’ve changed during practices these past few weeks have started to finally kick in and work in their favor. But of course we’re only just past the halfways mark of the season with WSL play to begin next week so after that it’s a whole new ballgame folks. Coalinga has a bye week this week as they prep and get ready to travel for the WSL Opener against Avenal next week.

 

Avenal well what more can be said other than it’s a sinking ship week by week and loss after loss as they suffered another loss last week against Orosi 37-0 which makes the Cardinals of Orosi 2-0 against the WSL this season as they opened the year with Coalinga. It seems to be plain and simple that Avenal has been dealt a few bad hands in recent years as it looks as though Avenal are on their way to another losing season which would be their 4^th since 2016 and according to Maxpreps would be the 11^th since 2004. And I understand most people would tell me “Kevin they just got a new head coach and they need to adjust to his system”. And well I say is that Coach Josh Camp has been around Avenal football for quite some time and was around during Coach David Lewis’s tenure so more than likely Coach Camp runs a similar system. Either way Avenal at this point should maybe consider leaving the WSL and go independent, Avenal have a bye this week before they start WSL play at home against Coalinga next week.

 

Mendota finally earned their first win of 2019 last week with a 51-0 shutout victory over Pajaro Valley-Watsonville (Pacific Coast-Santa Lucia League) and now only two WSL teams are left without wins this season (Tranquillity & Avenal). Mendota took control from the beginning as if it looks as though they’ve switched to the Spread Offense and it worked as the Aztecs cruised to the win. And will look to keep it going but they have a much stout opponent this week as it’s against the Immanuel Eagles who in recent years have given Mendota problems as they lead the series 4-1 with Mendota’s last win against them being in 2016 with The Aztecs winning it at home 42-21. But since then have lost the next 3 in a row and with the exception of the game in 2017 Immanuel has recorded at least 30 points or more in the four wins. Immanuel has a new man at the helm in Coach Drew Halstead and has leaded them to a 3-2 season so far. Mendota will look to get a win as it would be a huge confidence/momentum boost before their WSL Home Opener against Cross-County Rivals Dos Palos next week at Aztecs Stadium.

 

Firebaugh seemed to have regrouped after their crushing 2 weeks ago 42-13 against Caruthers as on their Homecoming Night they hosted the Sierra Chieftains and gave their home fans and alumni an offensive show as the Eagles soared to a 56-7 win and for now maintain a 2^nd place spot in the WSL standings. Firebaugh will now have this week off as they along with Avenal & Coalinga who also have a bye week this week to get ready for WSL play which opens next week as the Firebaugh Eagles will travel to take on the Tranquillity Tigers before their Battle of 33 Duel against Mendota on Oct. 11^th.

 

Dos Palos seemed to get back to the swing of things after a rough loss to Washington Union 40-6 two weeks ago and took out all their frustrations on Chowchilla with a 42-7 win last week. And Coach Calvert and company have gotten back on track and currently lead the WSL at (3-1) and will look for a bit of history against their upcoming opponent McLane. Last year Dos Palos came into Sunnyside Stadium as underdogs and they pulled the shocker of the year with a win and will look to repeat this year but at the friendly confines of Ike Franklin Field at Bill Hume Stadium this week.

Tranquillity had the week off last week as they continue their 17 game losing streak and well it will get tougher from here on out. Their opponent this week Sierra has also yet to record a win so on Friday somebody will finally win their first game of 2019. The Question is who will it be Tigers? Or Chieftains?

 

Twitter: @Kromero21 | Read all of his articles HERE.