The No. 11 Grizzlies, in a statement that leaves no doubt as to their arrival as a Tri-River Athletic Conference and Central Section force, throttled No. 4 Clovis West 24-3. And it wasn't that close.

"It's a steppingstone," Central defensive end Dustin Jackson said.

Steppingstone? The statement was the only time Jackson fell short on a night he dominated the league opener at 5-feet-11 and 175 pounds.

"It's a major moment in our young program," said Grizzlies second-year coach Casey Quinn, who left Clovis West to inherit a west-side program loaded with students (4,000) and athletes, but short on football history (the Grizzlies hadn't beaten the Eagles since 2002).

Much has been said about Central's speed a year after it went 1-9 and lost 38-7 to the Eagles, the section's defending Division I champions.

And, yes, it was a huge factor, evident in Bigelow's dash and a final 41-yard scoring pass from sophomore Michael Baker to B.J. Kelly.

But the Grizzlies (4-2) were also superior in defense, special teams and, perhaps most important of all, toughness.

All this against a Clovis West program that has won eight section titles since 1985. But, perhaps, never have the Eagles (2-4) been so embarrassed by a section foe.

And they contributed to their own humility with premature snaps from center, a high snap in punt formation, a blocked punt and most futile of all -- two pass completions in 12 attempts for 11 yards.

So inept was the aerial game that Clovis West was running up the middle, down by 14 with 7 minutes to go.

No surprise, then, that Central wasn't overwhelmed by the Eagles on film.

"I did come in to win," said Bigelow, who rushed for 116 yards on 10 attempts. "That's all I was thinking about. But, oh my gosh, I'm speechless."

Baker, generally poised in the biggest pressure game of his young career, completed 11 of 16 passes for 168 yards as Central outgained the Eagles 311-134.

The Grizzlies offensive line, a key to their season, made it happen behind tackles Caleb Harrington (junior) and Brandon Feagamaallii (sophomore), well representing the youth on a 45-man roster that has only 19 seniors.

Clovis West had beaten No. 6 Edison 28-14 and lost in the final minutes to No. 2 Bullard 28-21. So what does that say about Central?

To say Matt Lea was in the right place at the right time would be selling the Central High special teams dynamo way short.

The 5-10, 175-pound sophomore blocked not one but two kicks - each returned for touchdowns - as the sixth-ranked Grizzlies pulled away from No. 16 Clovis East for a 20-7 Tri-River Athletic Conference victory Friday night at Deran Koligian Stadium.

Central (5-2, 2-0) remains tied for the TRAC lead with Buchanan, which beat Clovis West 38-14.

"I'm always trying to go my hardest on special teams," said Lea, who blocked both a punt (his third of the season) and a field goal. "I'm thinking of blocking the kick every time. It's the greatest feeling after you get it to hear the crowd cheer."

Lea's second block wiped out James Ovalle's potential go-ahead 33-yard field goal attempt for Clovis East. The ball bounced into the hands of Nathan Delsid, who returned it 75 yards to put Central ahead 13-7 in the third quarter.

"The ball landed in my hands and I heard a teammate say 'Go, go, go,' " Delsid said. "So I ran. It's a wonderful feeling to help your team win a game."

Lea's heroics came in especially handy considering Clovis East's double-wing offense had the ball most of the night, limiting Central to seven possessions.

"We spend a lot of time on special teams and try to be aggressive," Central coach Casey Quinn said. "Matt takes good angles and reads blocks real well. Plus, the other guys do their jobs to free him up."

Held to 93 yards through the first 42:36 of the game, Central put this one away when Brendon Bigelow took a quick inside run 41 yards for a touchdown with 5:28 left, giving the Grizzlies a 20-7 lead.

Clovis East outgained Central 323-148.

Grizzlies quarterback D.J. Tate and offensive lineman Joe Cisneros were the first readers recruited by Janet Melikian, teacher librarian at Central High School East in northwest Fresno.