Local teams dominating in youth football

Six of the top youth football teams in Northern California will make their way to River Valley High this weekend, all of them with championship aspirations.

And once the ball is teed up, half of the squads competing for Northern California Federation of Youth Football and Cheer (NORCALFED) titles will be from the same neck of the woods.

Indeed, youth football is strong in the Yuba-Sutter area, and on Saturday local talent will be on full display when the Sutter Jr. Huskies take on the River Valley Jr. Falcons in the junior midget championship game at 2 p.m., followed by the River Valley midget team's title contest against West Valley.

The Shasta Wolves and the Chico Jaguars will battle for the pee-wee title at noon.

River Valley is the host of all three championship games due to the strength of its midgets, which wrapped up the Southern Conference title and homefield advantage after an 8-0-1 regular season record. The Jr. Falcons then topped Foothill 24-22 in the first round before bouncing Enterprise 12-8 in last week's semifinals.

The win over Enterprise was especially sweet for the Jr. Falcons, who avenged a 6-6 tie to Enterprise in the opening game of the season. It also gave the same group of kids and coaches a small bit of payback after losing to Enterprise in the junior midget title game the previous year.

However, River Valley will have a battle in the title game when it takes on Northern Conference champion West Valley, which is a perfect 11-0 on the year.

"They've always been a thorn in our side, so it was big for us to get over that hump. The kids wanted that one badly," said River Valley coach Mike Pinkston of Enterprise, before turning his attention to West Valley. "We're both undefeated so it's going to be one of those battles." But before the midgets take the field, local fans will be treated to an all Sutter County affair when the younger Jr. Falcons take on an undefeated Sutter team for the junior midget crown.

Sutter, which claimed the Southern Conference title as well, opened the playoffs with a 29-0 win over Shasta and advanced to the championship with last week's 24-0 victory over West Valley. Through 11 games, the Jr. Huskies have won by an average score of 32-5 and have seldom been tested.

River Valley, which won the pee-wee title just last year, advanced to the championship game following a 27-0 win over Paradise and a 25-8 victory over Chico in the semis. River Valley varsity head man Brandon Asher is the coach for the Jr. Falcons, while Wheatland High coach Javier Lopez is an assistant for Sutter.

When the teams met on Oct. 10 in the annual "Battle of the Buttes," the Jr. Huskies came away with a 20-6 victory, handing the Falcons their lone setback of the year. This time, it will be for the title.

NORCALFED is comprised of 26 organizations ranging from Winters in the south to Yreka in the north. River Valley, Sutter and Marysville are all classified as Division I teams, while Yuba City, Wheatland, Colusa and Gridley each fall into Division II. Every local organization saw at least one of its teams reach the postseason.

In another sign of local dominance, the three Division II title games were close to being held in Yuba City as well. The midget Jr. Honkers finished their season at 8-1, the only loss coming to River Valley, and would have hosted the D-II championship game if it wasn't for a 28-22 loss to Corning in the semifinals a week ago.

And although in a different league, Lindhurst's youth program, the Twin Cities Jr. Blazers, saw its Mighty Mites advance after a 28-6 win over Central Marin last week. They will play Lathrop in the semis this Saturday.

NORCALFED Championships

PEE-WEES

• Shasta Wolves vs. Chico Jaguars, noon

JUNIOR MIDGETS

• Sutter Jr. Huskies vs. River Valley Jr. Falcons, 2 p.m.

MIDGETS

• West Valley Eagles vs. River Valley Jr. Falcons, 4 p.m.

All games at River Valley High on Saturday