For the third straight week, the East Nicolaus High football team battled an out of the area team from a different section. 

The River Valley High girls volleyball team answered its first test in defense of its Capital Valley Conference title Thursday with a three-set victory at home over rival Yuba City, 25-13,  26-24, 25-11. 

Game of the week: Hamilton (0-2) at Live Oak (1-1)

The Sutter and East Nicolaus volleyball teams faced off on Wednesday night down in Nicolaus. Having just lost to top-ranked Pioneer, Sutter was out for revenge and unfortunately for the Spartans, they were the target. 

It seems that a lot of the time we view leaders as the loud and proud athlete on the team. However for the Sutter volleyball program, this isn’t necessarily the case. With the season just two weeks in, Sutter’s Maddie Kunkle has proven that she can lead by example on and off the court. 

The East Nicolaus Spartans made the long trip out to the Bay Area for a showdown with Galileo. Fortunately for the East Nic faithful that made it out, the Spartans routed their opponent, 42-0. 

It’s finally here. The main slate of games for Week 1 of the NFL season kicks off today and fantasy football owners everywhere will be griping non-stop about the bench players they should have started. 

With offensive line coach Andy Hopper recovering from a health condition in a Reno hospital, the Paradise High School varsity football team used a dominant running attack to beat Gridley High 28-6 Friday night.

The Live Oak Lions grabbed the school’s first victory of the season on Friday as they hung on in a down to the wire game against University Prep, 16-13. 

The Yuba City offense flocked the field on Friday night at Honker Stadium as the boys in gold came out of the gate firing on all cylinders defeating Fairfield by a final score of 70-7.

With a host of capable ballcarriers, including one of the best early stars in the Northern Section in Tariq Parker, the Wheatland High football team came in to Olivehurst on Friday with the firepower to score quickly and in bunches. 

Whether it’s a long history, a close proximity between the two schools or competitive equity between the two teams, a rivalry game can intensify game preparation throughout the week, players’ mindsets on game day and community spirit. 

The Indians welcomed the Sutter Huskies in for a non-league match on Wednesday night, but Marysville would fall in four sets as Sutter won by scores of 26-24, 25-8, 25-23 and 25-18. 

Most coaches love to be tested early against formidable opponent like a defending a state champion. 

Under the bright lights at Wayne Gadberry Field on Friday night, the Sutter Huskies kicked off their 2019 season against Cardinal Newman. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the Huskies lost in a dog fight, 21-7. 

Game of the Week: Pleasant Valley (0-1) at Yuba City (1-0)

The River Valley Falcons squared off against McClatchy on Wednesday night and defeated the Lions in a three-set sweep by scores of 25-14, 25-20 and 25-19. 

After having recently faced off in the West Valley tournament last weekend, Yuba City and Sutter pressed the rewind button as they dueled it out on the hardwood Wednesday night. Fortunately for the Husky fans in attendance, Sutter won in straight sets, 3-0. 

The Marysville Indians volleyball team took to the court on Tuesday night at home for a showdown with the East Nicolaus Spartans. Unfortunately for the Indians they would fall in a five-set thriller to East Nicolaus by scores of 25-17, 18-25, 15-25, 25-22 and 4-15. 

As an advocate for the great sport of football, I’m sure you’ve heard by now: Football is back. 

There are a lot of moments in a high school football coach's career that he will remember. His first win as a head coach is one of them. 

After all of the hard work and countless hours of football training in the excruciating heat this month, it was finally time for River Valley to showcase its product on Friday night. The Falcons opened up their season in the win column as they held on late to defeat Woodland by a final score…

We made it. The 2019 high school football season is finally here. Week zero will showcase a few Sac-Joaquin section matchups with schools from Yuba-Sutter. Both River Valley and Marysville will open up their seasons at home tonight.

As a safety precaution for both the game of football and its players, the state recently passed yet another version of the concussion bill, this one geared toward youth football, which is set to go into effect in January 2021. 

Editor’s Note: With the NFL preseason kicking off this week, it’s once again time for the good ole’ fashioned head slamming and touchdown-making folks to get it going once more. To kickoff the season, we asked local high school football players if they bleed Raider black or 49er red? Here’s …

The Sutter shotgun shooting team made the trip out to Las Vegas last week for the YSSF U.S. Open Nationals where they finished out the season with a few notable accolades. 

The Sutter shotgun shooting team had great accuracy last weekend at the CYSSA state championships in Stockton. Both Sutter’s junior varsity and varsity teams took second place in their divisions respectively. 

The path to professional baseball for a lot of players is usually one with many obstacles to overcome. For former Sutter Union High School baseball player Brad Bonnenfant it was just that and more. 

The Major League Baseball draft continued its Day 2 coverage on Tuesday as a familiar name was called in the sixth round by the Toronto Blue Jays: Former Yuba City Honker, Cameron Eden. 

With an eager crowd of 1,687 in attendance on Friday night at Colusa Casino Stadium, the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox kicked off their 2019 season with a tally in the win column as they bested the Sacramento Heat by a final score of  7-6.

Last weekend the River Valley High School track and field team was well represented at the California State Championships in Clovis when the Falcons’ own John Kroeger finished in third place overall with a long jump mark of 23’ 6.25”. 

Editor’s Note: In honor of Memorial Day tomorrow, the Appeal-Democrat sports department decided to feature a military person who exemplifies excellence in both their career and athletics. 

The Sutter Union High School softball team took down Yreka on Wednesday to capture it’s third consecutive section title. 

Earlier this month, Marysville golfer Rex Rollins competed at the 2019 CIF boys golf masters tournament at The Reserve in Stockton. While his team may not have placed high, he finished in the top 10 of all individuals. 

The Sutter baseball team secure its ninth section title in the past 13 seasons on Wednesday night as it bested Corning by a final score of 8-1. 

Once again the East Nicolaus Spartans are NSCIF Division V softball champions after routing the Etna Lions 10-0 in five innings on Monday. 

Despite the cold, rainy weather last weekend, River Valley junior John Kroeger won the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters meet long jump title with a leap of 23’3.75”. The Masters meet consists of all Sac-Joaquin Section Schools (193) and Divisions.

The 49ers women’s track and field team competed at the NorCal Championship last weekend and came away with an underdog finish as the team took home third place. 

Moms are the single greatest creation known to mankind. They give you unconditional love, support and always believe in your ability. 

The East Nicolaus Spartans baseball team took down its playoff opponent in Mt. Shasta on Friday night by a final score of 5-3.