The road the Hanford High School football team took to reach Friday's showdown against El Diamante is not the same as it was last season.

The Bullpups were 8-0 going into last year's game against the Miners.

El Diamante outscored Hanford 17-0 in the second half to break a 14-14 tie at half en route to the 31-14 victory and the Miners' second straight West Yosemite League title.

This year, there have been speedbumps along the way for the 'Pups.

After beginning the 2009 season with a win, Hanford lost three straight games, including the WYL opener to Redwood.

Since then, the Bullpups have won four straight and have improved to 5-3 overall, 3-1 in the WYL.

El Diamante is 7-1, 4-0.

With a win, Hanford will jump into a tie for first place with El Diamante and possibly Redwood. Also winning next week's Milk Can game against Lemoore would give Hanford at least a share of its first WYL title since 1993.

"The path we took was a little different," said Hanford head coach Josh Young. "But we're at the same place we were last year playing for the same thing."

El Diamante, the two-time defending WYL champions, enter the game having won its past 21 games in league.

The Miners can clinch at least a share of the WYL title with a victory over the Bullpups. Another win next week against Golden West in their traditional "Battle for the Saddle" would give El Diamante the title outright for the third straight year.

Hanford has lost four straight to El Diamante and hasn't beaten the Miners since 2004.

The Miners stronghold on the WYL started almost immediately after the newest Visalia school opened in 2002 and started fielding a varsity team in 2004.

"They're well coached," Young said. "Not only do they have a good football team, they have a good football program."

Since 2005, the Miners have gone 50-10 overall, winning at least 10 games in the past four seasons with one Central Section championship and two runner-up finishes.

"It seems like every year they're top dog," said Hanford lineman Beau Felder. "If we want to be top dog, we have to go through them.

"We're in the same situation but the atmosphere is different. We're going to have to play our best football to beat them."

The Miners lost a dozen all-WYL players from last season's team that finished second in the Central Section Division II playoffs but still find themselves in first place in the WYL.

Aaron Sing has filled in nicely for the Miners as the newest threat in the backfield.

Sing is one off the Central Section's leading rushers, running for 11.64 yards so far in eight games for El Diamante.

He also has scored 18 touchdowns overall.

"They're just able to plug in players," Young said. "They pound you. We're going to have to limit our mistakes and hopefully make a few big plays.

"Hopefully we can continue to control the clock and keep their offense off the field."

Redwood at Hanford West

When: Thursday, 7 p.m. at Neighbor Bowl

Hanford West finishes its regular season by hosting Redwood tonight.

The Huskies (3-6 overall, 1-4 WYL) come in after winning late in the fourth quarter at Golden West last week in Visalia 41-34.

Anthony Hicks rushed for 277 yards and four touchdowns.

Redwood is looking to keep pace in the WYL after losing 37-21 last week to El Diamante.

If the Rangers (3-5, 3-1) can win their final two games of the regular season, against Hanford West and Mt. Whitney, and El Diamante also loses to either Hanford this week or Golden West next week, Redwood can clinch at least a share of the WYL title.

With Golden West at 0-8 on the season and 0-4 in the WYL, the Rangers' best bet is to win out and have Hanford knock of the Miners.

Dillon Root has led Redwood this season with 799 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

KC Pearce has 21 catches for 520 yards and six touchdowns.

Quarterback Joaquin Murillo is averaging 125.6 yards per game with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Lemoore at Golden West

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Community Stadium

Lemoore is in good position to win its second straight game, visiting the 0-8 Blazers.

Last week, the Tigers (2-6 overall, 1-3 WYL) beat Monache 25-22 in Porterville with Luke Schuh hit the game-winning field goal with four seconds left in the nonleague game.

Golden West (0-8, 0-4) lost 41-34 to Hanford West, with fullback Kevin Seeger rushing for 292 yards on 43 carries. He also scored three touchdowns.

(Nov. 5, 2009)