FRESNO COUNTY – Now that teams throughout the Central Section are getting their rosters and equipment ready for a new season of high school football, one team in the Northwest Sequoia League is craving the chance to flex their muscles.
The Fowler Redcats head into 2025 hungry to prove that last season’s play wasn’t an aberration. Last season, Fowler (8-3/4-2) fielded a veteran unit that put together their best overall season since 2022. The Redcats finished tied for second in the NWSL with Liberty (Madera), and wound up back in the postseason for the third consecutive year.
“Last year, our football team did really well, we ended up doubling our win total from the year before,” said Fowler Head Coach Dave Muro. “We were a heavy senior class, which, you can see throughout the games, that we’re able to rely on those guys.”
Muro is expecting another tight, league race in 2025. According to the second year head coach, this league is up for grabs to anyone.
“I think teams like Chowchilla, Liberty and Caruthers do a great job for us to kind of get ready for the postseason,” said Muro.
Muro is looking forward to guiding a roster in transition that still has the potential to grow even more. The Redcats return a younger roster; but the potential is still there to contend once again for the NWSL title and possibly more.
“We had some juniors that played a big part, who are coming back,” said Muro. “But like I said, last year was a pretty good start for my first year of coaching at Fowler. We’re hoping to build off that.”
This season, the Redcats will have to find a way to replace the leadership and abilities of former quarterback and team leader Jerod “Bubba” Smith. Smith was the focal point of Fowler’s attack last season. According to stats on Max Preps, Fowler averaged 31.8 points per game with Smith under center.
Sophomore passer Joaquin Galindo will now orchestrate the Redcats offense. And a nice, small sample of running from Jesse “J.J.” Michel III could still give the Redcats a potent one-two punch on the offense.
“You’ll see Joaquin Galindo, who’ll probably be a three year quarterback for us,” said Muro. “Last year, we ended up bringing J.J. Michel, and he was able to get some reps in that tailback to get him ready for this year.”
Chowchilla won the NWSL outright at 6-0; but the Tribe will have to find a way to replace the production of dual threat playmaker Davian Stephenson.
The Parlier Panthers had nothing to growl about last season, finishing 0-10 overall. And while the Panthers figure to squeeze out some wins this season, it might not be enough to leap frog above Caruthers, Minarets and Riverdale.
