SBLive's Northern Section Top 10 football rankings: All 10 in tact with three weeks left in regular season

After huge battle — and loss — in the Almond Bowl to Pleasant Valley, No. 7 Chico battles top-ranked Foothill

After evening the all-time series score in the Almond Bowl at 25-25-1 with a win against Chico, Pleasant Valley returns to the top-3 in this week’s SBLive Northern Section rankings. 

The top-2 teams remain the same for a second straight week as Foothill and Enterprise look to be the two teams to beat atop the Northern Section and the Division-2 Eastern Athletic League. D-3 Orland drops one spot to No. 4. Despite remaining undefeated, the Trojans strength of schedule simply does not match up to the Vikings.

Chico running back Dion Coleman returned to the end zone for the first time in two games following a nearly year-long injury. The Panthers get their shot on Friday to take down the top team in the section. 

The No. 5 through 10 teams remain the same. Shasta’s record is just 2-5, but the Wolves have had one of the toughest schedules amongst teams and thus remain on the top 10 ahead of 7-0 Fall River.

Two Northern Athletic League teams highlight this week’s games to watch, as West Valley looks to hand University Prep its first loss.

SBLive's Northern Section Top 10 football rankings (records through Oct. 15)

1. Foothill-Palo Cedro (6-1 record)
Last week rank: No. 1
Last week game: Beat Red Bluff 35-14
Next game: Friday vs. Chico
Foothill entered the season as the No. 2 team in the preseason rankings and have lived up to the hype, losing their only game to D-1 Buchanon. The Cougars have won five straight, including on Oct. 7 when they lost starting QB Davis Smith to a separated shoulder. Foothill athletic director Stephanie Ahluwalia confirmed Monday that Smith (49-of-84 passing, 832 yards, 13 TDs, one interception, 45 carries, 250 yards, two TDs) did not play against Red Bluff due to a shoulder injury. He's questionable for Friday's game. 

2. Enterprise (7-0)
Last week rank: No. 2
Last week game: Beat Shasta 41-14
Next game: Friday vs. Red Bluff
Enterprise entered the season No. 6 in the preseason rankings, but the Hornets have relied on QB JJ Johnson (1,131 passing yards, 19 TDs, 1 interception, 311 rushing yards and 3 TDs) and RB Davion Welch (87 carries, 632 yards, 8 TDs) and proven to be one of the top teams to beat in the Northern Section. Johnson has connected with three different receivers for 100-or-more yards, including Holden Matthews (27 catches, 594 yards, 8 TDs) and Elijah Gross (11 catches, 234 yards, 6 TDs). The Hornets have outscored opponents 346-44.

3. Pleasant Valley (4-3)
Last week rank: No. 4
Last week game: Beat Chico 28-14
Next game: Friday vs. Shasta
Pleasant Valley scored 28 unanswered points Friday in the 51st Almond Bowl, and head coach Mark Cooley said the key to the second-half success was the execution of the blocking schemes on offense. The Vikings are still working with sophomore QB Joseph Garcia, but three different rushers combined for four second-half rushing TDs against Chico led by senior Matt Kinoshita (17 carries, 143 yards, two TDs). Kinoshita had just five carries for 22 yards at halftime. The Vikings will look to continue to utilize their historic run-by-committee attack.

The Vikings celebrate Friday's Almond Bowl victory. Photo: Mark Jones

4. Orland (7-0)
Last week rank: No. 3
Last week game: Beat Paradise 35-0
Next game: Friday vs. Las Plumas
The Trojans continued to impress with their second straight shutout to begin Butte View League play. Their continued ground-and-pound attack led them to 347 rushing yards and five TDs on 35 carries between seven different rushers, completing just one pass for 19 yards. After struggling to score early to start the season, the Trojans have outscored their opponents 120-0 in the first half in their last three games.

5. East Nicolaus-Nicolaus (6-1)
Last week rank: No. 5
Last week game: Beat Winters 54-28
Next game: Friday at Pierce
The Spartans continued to show they are one of the top teams in the Sacramento Valley League. The 2019 Mid-Valley League and D-4 champions are looking to get to the top of the SVL for the first time since moving leagues in 2021, when they finished fourth. QB Tyler Grigsby (59 carries, 657 yards, 6 TDs) and RB Ryan Risse (70 carries, 675 yards, 12 TDs) lead a run-heavy attack.

6. University Prep (7-0)
Last week rank: No. 6
Last week game: Beat Anderson 38-0
Next game: Friday vs. West Valley
The Panthers face a team with a winning record for just the second time this season. They recorded their second straight shutout last week and now the two teams atop the Northern Athletic League face off. Spencer Hokanson (53-of-87, 903 yards, 13 TDs) and RB Ryan Dyab (163 carries, 949 yards, 6 TDs) lead the offense.

7. Chico (2-5)
Last week rank: No. 7
Last week game: Lost to Pleasant Valley 28-14
Next game: Friday at Foothill
The Panthers led 14-0 last week but penalties and mistakes led to the loss. Coleman returned for his second game and ran 11 times for 57 yards and one TD. Coleman’s return should open up the offense more with play action type plays and standout sophomore RB Jaden Neugebaur can carry the duties with Coleman. A positive for the Panthers is that the things that are costing them wins are fixable, according to coaches. Two of their final three games are against the top two teams in the EAL, Foothill and Enterprise.

8. West Valley (4-3)
Last week rank: No. 8
Last week game: Beat Lassen 48-7
Next game: Friday at University Prep
Last week’s win was the second straight for the Eagles by at least 40 points, and third time this season. Assistant coach Tanner Donaldson came to West Valley from Butte College, where he was the wide receivers/defensive backs coach, and seems to have helped the passing game leading to a balanced offense. QB Noah Mason (1,163 yards, 12 TDs), Niall Raby (713 yards, 15 TDs), and four different receivers have at least 10 catches and two touchdowns. 

9. Colusa (7-0)
Last week rank: No. 9
Last week game: Beat Durham 35-0
Next game: Friday vs. Live Oak
The Redhawks remained undefeated and atop the SVL standings after their second shutout. Aiden Selover (21 carries, 91 yards, 2 TDs) led the RedHawks against Durham. They'll need to continue to lean on standout QB Bo Coronado (1,300 yards, 15 touchdowns) to make a deep playoff run. Live Oak is 3-4.

10. Shasta (2-5)
Last week rank: No. 10
Last week game: Lost 41-14 to Enterprise
Next game: Friday at Pleasant Valley
Shasta’s offense has not been shutout this season despite having one of the toughest schedules in the Northern Section, and the Wolves have a win against No. 8 West Valley. After facing the top two teams in the EAL to open league play, they now face the bottom three teams.

On the bubble: Fall River (7-0), Esparto (5-2)

Top Games of the Week
No. 10 Shasta (2-5) at No. 3 Pleasant Valley (4-3), Friday: The two EAL teams face off with both teams needing a win, as Shasta looks to stay in contention for playoffs and the Vikings continue to chase a top spot. Both teams have similar strengths of schedule. 

No. 8 West Valley (4-3) at No. 6 University Prep (7-0), Friday: West Valley has won four straight and played a tougher schedule than the Panthers, who have lost just one game since entering the newly formatted Northern Athletic League in 2021. 

Winters (3-4) at Durham (4-3), Friday: Durham, once firmly in The Top 10, has lost three straight. Both teams have a very similar strength in schedule.  

Follow Chico Enterprise-Reporter staff writer Justin Couchot on Twitter at @JCouchot_Sports