Local Football – 10/23

Last week, eight of the teams we have been tracking this season posted victories, five went down to defeat, and one had a bye week. Now, here are details about these games and outlooks for this week’s contests:

Bear River Bruins: Unable to arrest the balanced rushing and passing attack of the visiting Colfax Falcons, the Bruins were upset last Friday night, losing by a score of 34-45. Now, the Bruins have a week off to prepare for their final game of the regular season, when they travel to Antelope, CA, to play the relatively weak Center Cougars.

Chester Volcanos: As we expected, given the Hayfork Timberjacks’ unbeaten record for this season, the Volcanos were handed a brutal, 0-62, loss last Friday night. Tomorrow night, the Volcanos will again be the underdog when they host the Tulelake Honkers.

Colfax Falcons: Last Friday, the team traveled for a game against the Bear River Bruins, and for the second week in a row, led by the stellar play of sophomore quarterback Adam Amatangelo, junior running back Graeson Howard, and senior pass receiver Josiah Rubidoux, the Falcons upset their higher-ranked opponent, this time with a 45-34 victory. Tomorrow at 7:15 pm, the Falcons will host the Lincoln Raging Rhinos, another team with a much superior win-loss record. To win this game, the Falcons’ offense will need to extend its excellent performance for a third consecutive week..

Herlong Vikings: It was a struggle, but the Vikings closed their regular season at home with a 30-28 victory over the Big Valley Cardinals of Bieber, CA.

Lassen Grizzlies: In their game in Redding against the University Prep Panthers last Friday, the favored Grizzlies prevailed, 35-6, for their third consecutive win and a tie with the Yreka Miners for first place in their conference. This week, the Grizzlies will be at home for a game against the West Valley Eagles (Cottonwood, CA). Although the teams have identical 5-2 win-loss records, the Grizzlies are ranked significantly higher by MaxPreps.com than the Eagles. So, the odds for the Grizzlies extending their win streak to four games are good.

Loyalton Grizzlies: Last Saturday, at home, the Grizzlies upset the favored Tulelake Honkers with a convincing 38-8 victory, and the team is now tied for second place in their conference. This Saturday afternoon, the Grizzlies will host the Burney Raiders, and, if the MaxPreps.com rankings are accurate, the Grizzlies will be victorious.

Modoc Braves: Last week, at home, the Braves romped to a 64-14 victory over the winless Weed Cougars. Tomorrow, the Braves travel to play the Mt. Shasta Bears, a team with a better record but a lower MaxPreps.com ranking than the Braves. The Braves will definitely have a more competitive contest this week in Mt. Shasta City.

Nevada Union Miners: After last Friday’s 72-42 victory over the visiting Del Campo Cougars, the Miners travel to Auburn tomorrow night for a game against the Placer Hillmen. Given the Miners’ 3-5 won-loss record and the Hillmen’s 5-3 record, a victory for the Miners will rank as an upset.

Placer Hillmen: The Hillmen edged out a 49-48 road victory over the Yuba City Honkers largely thanks to a 92-yard kick-off return by senior Danny Sanchez-Harlow. Tomorrow, at home, the Hillmen, ranked significantly higher by MaxPreps.com than their opponent, the Nevada Union Miners, are favored to maintain their second-place standing in the Foothill Valley conference.

Plumas Charter Warriors: The Warriors’ record fell to four wins and four losses when they were beaten, 20-34, by the Burney Raiders last Friday. This week, traveling to play against the unbeaten Hayfork Timberjacks, the team has little chance to improve its season record.

Portola Tigers: As the MaxPreps.com rankings indicated, the visiting Biggs Wolverines were too much for the home team to handle, and the Trojans lost, 8-42. The Tigers’ woes are unlikely to change this week when they travel with a 2-5 season record to play the 5-2 Maxwell Panthers tomorrow.

Quincy Trojans: After a bye week, the Trojans are hosting the Williams Yellowjackets tomorrow night. To stop their four-game losing streak, both the Trojans’ offense and defense will need to improve significantly against the Yellowjackets.

Truckee Wolverines: Last Friday, the Wolverines posted their second straight shutout while visiting the weak Sparks Railroaders, 41-0. This week, on Saturday, 10/25, at 1:30 pm, the Wolverines, with a 5-2 conference record, are definitely favored to beat the 2-5 South Tahoe Vikings and close their regular season in second-place within their conference.

Westwood Lumberjacks: A week after a tough, 32-34, loss at home to the Butte Valley Bulldogs of Dorris, CA, the Lumberjacks are traveling to Dorris for a rematch. The game promises to be, once again, a close, highly competitive contest.