2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 91 Central East | Top 25 Public HSFB
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2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 91 Central East
Central East enters 2026 as a defending state champion with a new season to define.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/11/20266 min read
Central East enters 2026 with the kind of continuity rarely found on a defending state champion.
The Bengals finished 14-1, won the Central Section Division I-AA championship and closed the season with a 42-28 victory over Pacifica in the CIF Division 1-A state final. It was the program’s second state championship and first since 2019.
Brandon Smith is now at Oregon, but Central East is not starting over. Fifteen starters return, led by an established senior quarterback and several Division I prospects. The Bengals have enough experience and offensive firepower to make another run deep into December.
Team Snapshot
School: Central East High School Location: Fresno, California Classification: CIF Central Section Division I League: Tri-River Athletic Conference 2025 Record: 14-1 2025 Finish: Central Section Division I-AA champion; CIF Division 1-A state champion Head Coach: Kyle Biggs T25PS Ranking: No. 91 Returning Starters: 15
2026 Outlook
The Bengals return extensive experience on both sides of the football, including eight offensive starters and eight defensive starters with at least one contributor factoring into both groups. That continuity should allow Central East to build on last year’s championship run instead of spending the opening weeks replacing most of its lineup.
Senior quarterback Jelani Dippel is the centerpiece of the offense. He completed 251 of 395 passes for 4,583 yards, 58 touchdowns and only eight interceptions as a junior. He also rushed for 557 yards and four scores. His production and experience give Central East one of the strongest quarterback situations among the teams in the back half of the T25PS Top 100.
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Dippel will have plenty of options around him. Fresno State commit Bayon Harris returns after catching 86 passes for 1,768 yards and 26 touchdowns. Fresno State commit Relando Jefferson IV adds another proven receiver after transferring from Clovis West, where he recorded 508 yards and seven touchdown receptions last season.
Junior running back Ehis Idoni should help replace Smith’s production after rushing for more than 1,700 yards at Roosevelt. Three starters also return along the offensive line, giving the Bengals an experienced foundation for a backfield that will likely divide the workload among multiple players.
Central East has similar experience defensively. San Diego State commit Xavior Jones and Jontae Della give the Bengals two proven playmakers in the secondary. Jones intercepted four passes last season, while Della finished with five interceptions.
Three-year starting linebacker Lonzo Jenkins returns in the middle of the defense, and Cameron Smith adds another experienced defensive back. The Bengals will still need to replace Smith’s impact as a two-way player, but most of the unit that helped complete last year’s championship run remains together.
Players to Know
Bayon Harris: WR, '27 - Committed to Fresno State
Harris developed into one of California’s most productive receivers last season. He caught 86 passes for 1,768 yards and 26 touchdowns, giving Dippel a big and dependable target capable of taking over games.
Xavior Jones: ATH/DB, '27 - Committed to San Diego State
Jones contributes in all three phases and should remain one of Central East’s most versatile players. He recorded 36 tackles, four interceptions and six pass breakups last season while also producing five offensive touchdowns on limited touches.
Relando Jefferson IV: WR, '27 - Committed to Fresno State
Jefferson gives the Bengals another established target opposite Harris. He caught 28 passes for 508 yards and seven touchdowns at Clovis West last season and should make an already dangerous passing attack even more difficult to defend.
Jontae Della: DB, '27 - Division I offer from San Jose State
Della returns after intercepting five passes during Central East’s championship season. His experience and ability to create turnovers will be important for a defense facing several productive passing attacks.
Schedule Breakdown
Central East will not have long to settle into the season. The Bengals open Aug. 14 in Henderson, Nevada, against Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon before returning home for one of the most important games on the schedule.
Grant handed Central East its only loss last season, making the Aug. 28 rematch an immediate measuring stick. Road games against Oak Ridge and Turlock follow before the Bengals close nonleague play at home against Liberty-Bakersfield.
League play opens Oct. 1 at Clovis North. Central East then plays three consecutive home games against Clovis, Buchanan and Clovis West before finishing the regular season at Clovis East. That closing stretch should determine whether the Bengals repeat as Tri-River Athletic Conference champions and secure another favorable postseason position.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Aug. 14: at Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon, 6 p.m. Aug. 28: vs. Grant-Sacramento, 5 p.m. Sept. 4: at Oak Ridge, 7 p.m. Sept. 11: at Turlock, 7 p.m. Sept. 17: vs. Liberty-Bakersfield, 7 p.m. Oct. 1: at Clovis North, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: vs. Clovis, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: vs. Buchanan, 7 p.m. Oct. 23: vs. Clovis West, 7 p.m. Oct. 29: at Clovis East, 7 p.m.
Biggest Question
Can Central East replace Brandon Smith’s all-around production without losing its offensive balance?
Smith was the player Central East could turn to whenever it needed a difficult yard, an explosive play or an important defensive stop. That kind of production will not be replaced by one player.
The Bengals are equipped to spread those responsibilities around. Idoni adds a proven running back, Dippel returns after throwing 58 touchdown passes, and Harris and Jefferson form an outstanding receiving combination. Central East may operate differently without Smith, but the offense still has enough playmakers to remain among the most productive in the Central Section.
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T25PS Prediction
Regular Season: 10-0 Postseason: Central Section Division I-AA champion and CIF state bowl appearance
I expect Central East to remain the team to beat in the Central Section. The schedule contains several legitimate tests, but the Bengals return too much experience at quarterback, receiver and in the secondary to fall far. A second consecutive perfect regular season may be difficult, but another section championship and state bowl appearance are realistic expectations.
Bottom Line
Central East is No. 91 because the defending state champion still has to answer the roster questions that follow a title season.
The current group has enough upperclass talent to keep the Bengals dangerous. If the younger skill players develop quickly, Central East can move well beyond this ranking.
Thanks for reading,
Alex | T25PS
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