SBLive's Northern Section Top 10 rankings, top 5 playoff games, keys to winning section titles

There are many questions heading into Thursday's first-round of playoffs, but No. 1 Foothill is not one of them

Justin Couchot | Nov 9, 2022

The regular season has come to an end, and the Northern Section playoffs now begin. Kickoff for all 10 games is Thursday, with teams taking Friday off to honor Veterans Day.

The top two teams in Division 2 are Foothill and Enterprise, in D3 (Orland, West Valley), D4 (East Nicolaus, Colusa) and D5 (Fall River, Portola). The top two teams in divisions 2, 4 and 5 received first-round byes.

Northern Section playoff brackets

Here is a list of the champions from 2021: Chico (D2), Sutter (D3), University Prep (D4) and Fall River (D5). Sutter moved out of the Northern Section and now competes in the Sac-Joaquin Section.

Northern Section Top 10 football rankings (records thru Nov. 5)
1. Foothill-Palo Cedro (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 1
Last week result: Beat Pleasant Valley, 35-7
Section seeding: No. 1, D2
Next game: 11/18 against the Chico/Shasta winner
Key players: QB Davis Smith (3,200 passing yards, 21 TDs, 332 rushing yards, 4 TDs), DT Jason Hardy (6-7, 320), WR Christopher Hall (30 catches, 573 yards, 10 TDs), DE Dylan Labarbera (76 total tackles, 9 sacks)
Key to winning section: The Cougars have dominated the Northern Section all season long, so staying healthy in the final weeks is key

2. Orland (10-0)
Last week rank: No. 4
Last week result: Beat Gridley, 47-13
Section seeding: No. 1, D3
Next game: Thursday vs. Live Oak
Key players: QB Grant Foster (309 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1,321 rushing yards, 19 TDs), RB Jaime Albarran (943 yards, 12 TDs), RB/DB Alex Martinez (314 rushing yards, 9 TDs, 6 catches, 208 yards, 3 TDs, 3 interceptions)
Key to winning section: The Trojans rush attack has led them to a No. 1 seed, and continuing to lean on QB Grant Foster will be key

3. Enterprise-Redding (8-2)
Last week rank: No. 2
Last week result: Lost to Chico 46-7
Section seeding: No. 2, D2
Next game: 11/18 against the Pleasant Valley/Red Bluff winner
Key players: QB JJ Johnson (1,411 passing yards, 20 TDs, 461 rushing yards, 4 TDs), RB/DB Davion Welch (884 yards, 10 TDs, 50 tackles, 2 interceptions), WR/OLB Elijah Gross (23 catches, 354 yards, 6 TDs, 54 tackles, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles)
Key to winning section: The Hornets must remain disciplined and on the field, after losing to Chico while missing starting QB JJ Johson due to a suspension.

4. Pleasant Valley-Chico (6-4)
Last week rank: No. 3
Last week result: Lost to Foothill 35-7
Section seeding: No. 3, D2
Next game: Thursday vs. Red Bluff.
Key players: TE Luke Alloway, LB/FB Gabe Garretson, WR Bryson Snelling
Key to winning section: Injuries have plagued the Vikings all season long, and with QB Hayden Rick healthy once again they must stay on the field and continue the chemistry

5. East Nicolaus (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 8
Last week result: Beat Colusa, 43-14
Section seeding: No. 1, D4
Next game: 11/18 against the Hamilton/Pierce winner.
Key players: QB Tyler Grigsby (998 passing yards, 9 TDs, 1,193 rushing yards, 19 TDs), RB Rhett Risse (1,191 yards, 18 TDs, 5.5 sacks), LB/FB Brady Amarel (72 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 219 rushing yards, 1 TD).
Key to winning section: With 30-or-more points in all but two games, the Spartans offense has been electric and must continue to be successful

6. West Valley-Cottonwood (7-3)
Last week rank: No. 5
Last week result: Beat Yreka, 56-0
Section seeding: No. 2, D3
Next game: Thursday vs. Anderson
Key players: QB Noah Mason (1,648 yards, 18 TDs, 278 rushing yards, 5 TDs), RB Niall Raby (1,055 rushing yards, 21 TDs), WR/DB Logan Rasmussen (18 catches, 403 yards, 4 TDs, 41 tackles, 5 interceptions).
Key to winning section: The Eagles have won seven straight, and with three straight shutouts to end the season their defense should continue to lead to strong play on offense

7. University Prep-Redding (9-1)
Last week rank: No. 6
Last week result: Beat Central Valley, 44-0
Section seeding: No. 3, D3
Next game: Thursday vs. Gridley
Key players: RB Ryan Dyab (1,304 yards, 11 TDS), QB Sawyer Hokanson (948 yards, 13 TDs), DL/RB Jaxon Meyer (315 rushing yards, 1 TD)
Key to winning section: The Panthers’ success starts with its defense, as it has allowed one-or-fewer touchdowns in eight of 10 games

8. Chico (4-6)
Last week rank: NR
Last week result: Beat Enterprise, 46-7
Section seeding: No. 4, D2
Next game: Thursday vs. Shasta
Key players: RB Dion Coleman, RB/WR/DB Jaden Neugebaur, TE/DE Adon Newberry
Key to winning section: Running back Dion Coleman is key to the Panthers’ offensive success, as shown by their 3-2 record since welcoming him back Oct. 7 against Red Bluff

9. Fall River-McArthur (10-0)
Last week rank: No. 7
Last week result: Beat Modoc, 46-8
Section seeding: No. 1, D5
Next game: 11/18 against the Weed/Maxwell winner
Key players: QB Brandon Brown (999 yards, 15 TDs), RB/DB Cannon Oiler (1,146 yards, 14 TDs, 56 tackles, 2 interceptions), TE/DE Devin Humphreys (18 catches, 474 yards, 8 TDs, 64 tackles, 9 sacks)
Key to winning section: The reigning D-7AA state champions have been strong once again with two straight undefeated seasons, led this year by nine rushers that combined for 2,247 rushing yards and 32 TDs

10. Colusa (8-2)
Last week rank: No. 9
Last week result: Lost to East Nicolaus, 43-14
Section seeding: No. 2, D4
Next game: 11/18 against the Durham/Willows winner
Key players: QB Bo Coronado (1,689 passing yards, 21 TDs, 90 rushing yards), RB/DB Hayden McCarty (467 rushing yards, 9 TDs, 73 tackles), MLB Dominic Salazar (82 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1 sack)
Key to winning section: The RedHawks have a balanced offensive attack that has spread the ball between various running backs and wide receivers, and coming off a loss to East Nicolaus, practice in a first-round bye week will be key

Top 5 first-round playoff games

D2: Shasta (3-7) at Chico (4-6), 7 p.m. Thursday

D2: Red Bluff (3-7) at Pleasant Valley (6-4), 7 p.m. Thursday

D3: Paradise (4-6) at Lassen (5-5), 7 p.m. Thursday

D4: Willows (6-4) at Durham (7-3), 7 p.m. Thursday

D5: Maxwell (5-5) at Weed (4-4), 7 p.m. Thursday

Justin Couchot is a staff writer with the Chico Enterprise-Record

E-mail: jcouchout@chicoer.com
Twitter: @JCouchot_Sports

Published Nov 9, 2022

JUSTIN COUCHOT