THE RISE OF THE BENGALS By Ballout Sports Desk
HOW CENTRAL EAST RECLAIMED ITS POWERHOUSE STATUS AND FOUGHT ITS WAY BACK TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
INTRODUCTION: A NEW ROAR IN FRESNO
On Friday nights in Fresno, the stadium lights at Koligian Stadium shine brighter than anywhere else in the Central Valley. They carry history. They carry pressure. They carry expectation.
And in 2025, they carry something else — a resurgence.
Central East High School, rebranded as the Bengals after years of association with the historic Central Grizzlies lineage, is roaring its way back toward statewide recognition. For the second straight year, the Bengals are headed to the CIF State Championship, this time riding a wave of momentum, maturity, and hunger that has electrified the region.
The Central Valley has always produced tough football. But this year’s Bengal squad has returned the spotlight to Fresno in a way that feels bigger than a single playoff run. It feels like the start of a new era — one built on the legacy of the past, the grit of the present, and the talent that’s beginning to define the future.
Their 55–36 statement win over Pittsburg didn’t just send them to the state title game.
It announced to everyone paying attention: Central East football is a powerhouse again. And they’re not coming quietly.
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CHAPTER 1 — ROOTS OF A GIANT: HOW CENTRAL BECAME CENTRAL
Long before the Bengals began their 2025 march, long before the stadium upgrades and the regional hype, Central Fresno football built its name on toughness. It wasn’t the flashiest program. It wasn’t always the most nationally recognized. But it was consistent, proud, and fueled by the hard-working communities of Fresno’s west side.
Over the years, the district split, evolved, and reorganized. What had once been one unified program — the Grizzlies — eventually expanded into Central High School and Central East. The identity shifted, but the expectations didn’t. Both campuses inherited a legacy of competitive football and a community that demanded excellence.
The Bengals name came with a new brand, but not a blank slate.
From the beginning, there was pressure:
“Will this school live up to the Grizzlies’ legacy?”
“Can they develop the same level of talent?”
“Will the Central Valley respect them as equals?”
Those questions hovered over the program for years.
In 2025, the answers finally arrived.
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CHAPTER 2 — THE TURNING POINT
Every great season has a moment that defines everything that follows. For Central East, that moment came not during a win, but in the lingering memory of a loss.
The previous year’s state championship slipped away in the final seconds, a gut-wrenching ending that stayed with the returning players long after the scoreboard went dark. The film sessions were quiet. The offseason workouts were intense. The weight room turned into a sanctuary — part therapy, part training ground.
Players didn’t talk about “revenge.” They talked about “unfinished business.”
Head Coach Kyle Biggs and his staff saw something different in this group from day one of summer camp. They weren’t louder, but they were sharper. Focused. Veteran-like.
There were talented individuals, yes — but this time, the identity wasn’t built on stars.
It was built on purpose.
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CHAPTER 3 — THE OFFENSE THAT SHOCKED CALIFORNIA
If the Bengals have a signature in 2025, it’s their offense. Not just high scoring — explosive. Not just explosive — unpredictable.
It’s the rare mix of balance, creativity, discipline, and raw talent.
THE QUARTERBACK: JELANI DIPPEL — “THE CALM IN THE FIRE”
Jelani Dippel didn’t walk into the season with statewide hype. He built it.
Drive by drive. Week by week. Throw by throw.
He isn’t the loudest player on the field. He isn’t interested in showmanship. What makes him special is how he handles chaos. When a pocket collapses, he steps up instead ofINTRODUCTION: A NEW ROAR IN FRESNO
On Friday nights in Fresno, the stadium lights at Koligian Stadium shine brighter than anywhere else in the Central Valley. They carry history. They carry pressure. They carry expectation.
And in 2025, they carry something else — a resurgence.
Central East High School, rebranded as the Bengals after years of association with the historic Central Grizzlies lineage, is roaring its way back toward statewide recognition. For the second straight year, the Bengals are headed to the CIF State Championship, this time riding a wave of momentum, maturity, and hunger that has electrified the region.
The Central Valley has always produced tough football. But this year’s Bengal squad has returned the spotlight to Fresno in a way that feels bigger than a single playoff run. It feels like the start of a new era — one built on the legacy of the past, the grit of the present, and the talent that’s beginning to define the future.
Their 55–36 statement win over Pittsburg didn’t just send them to the state title game.
It announced to everyone paying attention: Central East football is a powerhouse again. And they’re not coming quietly.
---
ROOTS OF A GIANT: HOW CENTRAL BECAME CENTRAL
Long before the Bengals began their 2025 march, long before the stadium upgrades and the regional hype, Central Fresno football built its name on toughness. It wasn’t the flashiest program. It wasn’t always the most nationally recognized. But it was consistent, proud, and fueled by the hard-working communities of Fresno.
Over the years, the district split, evolved, and reorganized. What had once been one unified program — the Grizzlies — eventually expanded into Central High School and Central East. The identity shifted, but the expectations didn’t. Both campuses inherited a legacy of competitive football and a community that demanded excellence.
The Bengals name came with a new brand, but not a blank slate.
From the beginning, there was pressure:
“Will this school live up to the Grizzlies’ legacy?”
“Can they develop the same level of talent?”
“Will the Central Valley respect them as equals?”
Those questions hovered over the program for years.
In 2025, the answers finally arrived.
THE TURNING POINT
Every great season has a moment that defines everything that follows. For Central East, that moment came not during a win, but in the lingering memory of a loss.
The previous year’s state championship slipped away in the final seconds, a gut-wrenching ending that stayed with the returning players long after the scoreboard went dark. The film sessions were quiet. The offseason workouts were intense. The weight room turned into a sanctuary — part therapy, part training ground.
Players didn’t talk about “revenge.” They talked about “unfinished business.”
Head Coach Kyle Biggs and his staff saw something different in this group from day one of summer camp. They weren’t louder, but they were sharper. Focused. Veteran-like.
There were talented individuals, yes — but this time, the identity wasn’t built on stars.
It was built on purpose.
THE OFFENSE THAT SHOCKED CALIFORNIA
If the Bengals have a signature in 2025, it’s their offense. Not just high scoring — explosive. Not just explosive — unpredictable.
It’s the rare mix of balance, creativity, discipline, and raw talent.
THE QUARTERBACK: JELANI DIPPEL — “THE CALM IN THE FIRE”
Jelani Dippel didn’t walk into the season with statewide hype. He built it.
Drive by drive. Week by week. Throw by throw.
He isn’t the loudest player on the field. He isn’t interested in showmanship. What makes him special is how he handles chaos. When a pocket collapses, he steps up instead of