Jonathan Dixon is back to lead Paradise as it looks to uphold its No. 1 Fab 5 ranking.
Photo by Ralph Rath
8-4, Division I runner-up
Head coach: Rick Prinz
Team PreviewOne of the top programs in the Northern Section for the past decade, the Bobcats slipped a little bit last year as they missed out on a chance of three straight section titles with a 36-35 loss to Enterprise in the section finals. However coach Rick Prinz's team returns eight starters on offense and four on defense from a team that went 8-4 last season. The Bobcats return one of the section's top running backs in
Jonathan Dixon (6-2, 225), who rushed for just 41 yards through the first month of 2012 but finished with 1,227 yards. All-league center
Caleb Anderson (6-1, 275) returns to anchor the offensive line along with returning starter
Daniel Garcia (6-4, 250). The Bobcats have a tough preseason schedule, opening against perennial Sac-Joaquin Section powerhouse Grant on Aug. 30.
"Paradise has played for nine of the past 10 Northern Section Division I titles, winning six of them, and this time around the Bobcats will be led by possibly the most fearsome athlete in the section in running back/defensive lineman Jonathan Dixon. With Caleb Anderson – a senior center in his third year as a varsity starter who coach Rick Prinz said has a chance to be the best lineman during his successful tenure – paving the way for Dixon, expect the Bobcats to overcome the obstacles on their schedule."
- Joseph Shufelberger, Chico Enterprise-Record (@JShufelberger)See last season's Northern Section all-league teams2. Foothill (Palo Cedro)2012 finish: 8-4
Head coach: Joey Brown
Team PreviewSince Bryon Hamilton took over as coach at Foothill nearly a decade ago, the Cougars have possessed one of the most prolific offenses in the Northern Section. That won't change in 2013, even though Hamilton has left Foothill for Shasta College and has been replaced by Joey Brown. One reason is that Foothill has the top returning quarterback in the section in
Ryan Pollard. As a junior, Pollard threw for 2,522 yards, one of the highest yardage totals in section history. While his top receiver has graduated, all-purpose receiver/running back
Blake Burnett returns as Pollard's favorite target. He caught 30 passes for 452 yards and also rushed for 755 yards as a junior. The Cougars also have one of the section's top defenders in two-time all-section defensive linemen
Willie Mitchell (6-1, 275). Like Paradise, Foothill has scheduled one of the Sac-Joaquin Section's toughest programs with a Sept. 6 game at Elk Grove.
"Offensive guru Bryon Hamilton ended his 10-year regime as the Cougars’ head coach following a year where several team records were broken. Senior quarterback Ryan Pollard goes under center after breaking five school records in Foothill’s shotgun-fly offense. New head coach Joey Brown, a Foothill alumnus, inherits an inexperienced squad attempting to put together pieces of a once perennial championship-caliber program."
- T.J. Holmes, Redding Record Searchlight (@tjholmes_RS)See last season's Northern Section football rankings, presented by the Army National Guard3. Enterprise (Redding)2012 finish: 9-3, Division I champion
Head coach: Darren Trueblood
Team PreviewThe biggest hurdle for the Hornets will be replacing Northern Section MVP Brad Woods and quarterback Zach Trueblood. Woods rushed for 1,375 yards while Trueblood, the son of head coach Darren Trueblood, threw for 2,227 yards in leading the Hornets to a 36-35 win over Paradise in the Northern Section Division I championship game. Finding a leader on defense won't be a problem.
Nick Tomasin returns at linebacker for his junior season after leading the team with 152 tackles last year. The offensive line also boasts one of the top linemen in the section in
Brandon Evers (6-7, 255). The Hornets also play in a key Northern Section vs. Sac Joaquin Section showdown against Oakdale on Sept. 6.
"The reigning Division I section champion Hornets graduated key position players, including the Northern Section offensive MVP, but will attempt at defending their title with an experienced defense. Seven of eight players in their 4-4 defensive front return. Enterprise’s running game is transforming into a power offense with two bruising runners, giving it opportunities to run its normal shotgun spread or switch to a traditional I-formation pro-set. A brutal nonconference slate with road contests against NorCal bowl teams Oakdale and Sutter, along with home games against D-II section runner-up West Valley and D-II semifinalist Central Valley, test the Hornets outside of the toughest league in the Northern Section."
- T.J. Holmes, Redding Record Searchlight (@tjholmes_RS)See NFL star and Northern Section alum Aaron Rodgers talk about his final high school loss4. Sutter2012 finish: 13-1, Division II champion
Head coach: Ryan Reynolds
Team PreviewThe Huskies opened with 13 straight wins and a Northern Section Division II championship before falling to Marin Catholic 23-7 in the Northern California regional playoffs. The section title was the first since 2008 for the Huskies and the 13 wins included a victory over Division 1 champion Enterprise. Northern Section Coach of the Year Ryan Reynolds will have a bit of a rebuilding job in front of him as only six starters return from last year, including only two on offense. The Huskies will rely heavily on a junior class that went 10-0 at the JV level last year. Among the juniors expected to make an impact include tackle
Ricky Williams (6-3, 245) and linebacker
Riley Vickner (5-10, 190).
Alex Ingram is the top returning skill player with 433 yards rushing last year. The Huskies face a big challenge in week one with a home game against El Cerrito on Aug. 30.
"Although Sutter lost several big playmakers to graduation, the Huskies’ incoming junior class is one of the most highly touted in school history. This group has not lost a game in high school and has been dominating opponents since their junior pee wee days in youth football. As freshmen, they defeated teams from Placer, Jesuit and Nevada Union, all schools with significantly higher enrollment numbers. While this Sutter team will be tested in nonleague play, this young group has displayed the ability to rise up to a challenge. Add in a senior class that gained valuable experience from an appearance in last year’s Northern California Regional Championship Game and the always-optimistic Husky faithful have plenty of reasons to expect a return to the pinnacle in 2013."
- Jimmy Graben, Appeal-Democrat (@advarsitysports)See all the players from California on NFL rosters last season5. Central Valley (Shasta Lake)2012 finish: 7-5
Head coach: Matt Hunsaker
Team PreviewThe Falcons had an interesting 2012 season, losing four of their first five games before rebounding to win five in a row and claim the Northern Athletic League championship. A loss to West Valley in the second round of the playoffs put an end to a win streak that reached six games during the postseason, but 13 starters return from last season to make another run at a section title, which the Falcons last won in 2005. League MVP
Tony Penta returns after rushing for 828 yards last year. He's joined in the backfield by multi-sport athlete
Timmy Naylor at quarterback (874 yards, 12 touchdowns) and
Connor Silveria (961 yards).
"The fast are going to get faster. Central Valley football, a year after an undefeated Northern Athletic League run and a near berth in the section championship game, returns with a Wing-T offense focused on reeling off plays faster than ever before. CV has an unparalleled amount of options to run the ball, and senior Tim Naylor guides both the offense as the quarterback and defense as an all-section cornerback. The Falcons’ 4-3 defense should have a leg up on a year before, too, in the second year of tutelage from a long-time local college coordinator."
- Thomas Lawrence, Redding Record Searchlight (@tlawrence_RS)
