Bitter on the field, friendly off

A year ago, the outcome decided the Golden Empire League championship.

While there might not be quite as much at stake when Marysville and Lindhurst High tangle tonight in Olivehurst, it's still a rivalry game with huge postseason implications.

The winner will advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI playoffs while the loser will see its season come to an end, adding a little more drama to what has been one of the Yuba-Sutter area's most bitter rivalries over the years.

And whether one refers to it as "The Backyard Brawl" or the "Battle for the Bell," one thing is for certain, the Indians and Blazers will leave nothing to chance once they hit the field at Dean Miller Stadium.

"Losing to Marysville twice last year — to the community — that's unacceptable. And if there's one game that you win every year, that's Marysville," said Lindhurst High senior quarterback AZ Sutton. "Defensively, we're just trying to punch them in the mouth this week, just hard-nosed football."

Marysville defensive leader AJ Paul has the same mindset.

"A lot of us have played together from the Chiefs all the

way up through high school. We've kind of built a friendship, but I think we're all gonna go out there and hit each other in the mouth," Paul said. "But after the game we'll all be friends again."

The Yuba County schools have combined to win each of the previous three section titles, but both stumbled out of the gate this season.

Lindhurst (3-6, 3-2 GEL) got off to a slow start while adjusting to first-year coach Dan Crabtree, as well as a new staff and new philosophy. And while it took some time, the Blazers hit their stride once GEL play began and ripped off three straight wins before falling to league-champion Capital Christian a week ago.

Offensively, Lindhurst has relied on the relentless running style of Angel Vega, who enters tonight's game just five yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark and has five touchdowns on the year. Sutton, who took over for the injured Kahlan Robinson six weeks ago, has passed for 590 yards and two TDs, while rushing for an addition 275 and a pair of scores.

Should Sutton go to the air he will no doubt look for wideout Stephen Paxton, who leads the club with 26 receptions while hauling in four touchdowns.

Linebackers Edgar Guzman and Joey Soto lead the Blazers' defensive unit, which got a big lift when hard-hitting backer Rickey Dalton returned from injury two weeks ago.

Much like the Blazers, Marysville (3-6, 3-2) dropped its first three games and found its groove once league play began. The Indians won three in a row before a rash of injuries to several key players led to two straight losses.

With their top three rushers out of the lineup, the Indians will depend on quarterback Chant DeForest to carry the load once again. The senior did a bit of everything in a tough 26-20 loss to Highlands a week ago by picking up more than 150 total yards and scoring two touchdowns.

Defensive lineman Paul, linebacker Brad Black and defensive backs Karndeep Johl and John "Taddy" Coleman lead a Marysville defensive unit that comes in banged up but ready to play.