Northern Section shocker: Chico shuts out Pleasant Valley in 52nd Almond Bowl

Highly-touted running back Dion Coleman lives up to his billing by rushing for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns in surprising rout

CHICO, CALIFORNIA — Chico and Pleasant Valley faced off Friday night in the 52nd Almond Bowl, a game that dates back to 1971.

Entering Friday the two teams were tied 25-25-1 in the all-time scores, but the Panthers took the lead in the all-time scores after a 35-0 road victory. 

The win by the Panthers snapped a streak of four straight victories by the Vikings, dating back to the Northern Section championship in 2019.

Chico running back Dion Coleman entered the game with 1,075 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns, and Friday he ran for nearly 300 yards and five touchdowns. 

On the first play from scrimmage Coleman found a gap and ran right for a 67-yard touchdown, before scoring on a 74-yard rushing touchdown just before the end of the first quarter. 

At halftime Coleman had 230 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Chico celebrates Friday's victory / Photo: Justin Couchot

The Vikings got a scoring chance halfway through the second quarter, but Coleman — playing safety on defense — registered a tackle on fourth down at the 2. 

In the third quarter the Vikings got another scoring opportunity inside the Panthers’ 25-yard line after a muffed kickoff return, but Panthers’ defensive back Troy Sommer intercepted a pass by Joseph Garcia.

Chico capitalized once again, with Coleman scoring on a 2-yard rushing touchdown for his fifth of the game.

The Panthers’ defense intercepted Garcia four times, Johnny Padilla had two and Brendan Henman added one. .

“The difference in this game was teamwork,” said Chico High linebacker Logan Treanor. “We all came together like we didn’t before. That was the missing piece to the puzzle. We all worked together as a team.”

The coin toss before the game Friday.  / Photo: Justin Couchot

Takeaways

• Dion Coleman is real, and proved himself on a big stage Friday with five TDs. Pleasant Valley couldn’t find an answer for what many consider to be the best running back in the Northern Section.
• After blowing a 14-0 lead in Almond Bowl 51 in 2022, Chico fought throughout and its offense proved just as strong as its defense.
• Despite scoring 35 points, Chico’s success starts with its defense. The Panthers now have back-to-back shutouts against Red Bluff and Pleasant Valley.
• Chico’s experience with three 4-year varsity seniors led the offense. Tackle Travis Dobson led the blockers, Troy Sommer led the receivers and Coleman found the end zone.
• Pleasant Valley could not find an answer for Coleman in either half. The Vikings must find a way to stop the run game and make halftime adjustments.
• Pleasant Valley has played a tough schedule thus far, and it does not get any easier. The Eastern Athletic League has strong competition throughout, and both Chico and Pleasant Valley will get tested once more in Week 7.

Scoring plays

• Q1, 8:42 | C — Dion Coleman 67-yard rush, PAT good. CHS 7, PVHS 0
• Q1, 2:02 | C — Dion Coleman 76-yard rush, PAT good. CHS 14, PVHS 0.
• Q2, 10:47 | C — Dion Coleman 70-yard rush, PAT good. CHS 21, PVHS 0.
• Q3, 8:46 | C — Dion Coleman 8-yard rush, PAT good. CHS 28, PVHS 0.
• Q4, 10:03 | C — Dion Coleman 2-yard rush, PAT good. CHS 35, PVHS 0.

Up next (Oct. 20): Pleasant Valley at Shasta, 7:30 p.m.; Chico vs. Foothill, 7 p.m.