SBLive's CIF Northern Section Preseason Football Rankings: Pleasant Valley opens at No. 1

NORTHERN SECTION TOP 10 PRESEASON TEAMS

Without perennial football power Sutter and Wheatland in the way, the path to Northern Section championships got a little easier. Both moved to the Sac-Joaquin Section starting in 2022-23.

That said, many of the teams that dominated in 2021 once again should share in success in 2022. The football season begins Friday throughout the 71-team section.

Defending champions are Chico (D2), Sutter (D3), University Prep (D4), Fall River (D5) and Redding Christian (D6).

SBLIVE’S NORTHERN SECTION PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Pleasant Valley-Chico (7-4 in 2021)
Head coach: Mark Cooley
Record since 2004: 127-86-1
Season opener: Friday at Corning
The Vikings aim to erase last season’s disappointing first-round Northern Section Division 2 loss and they have the players to do it. Among the preseason All-NS players selected by CalHiSports are wide receiver/defensive back Bryson Snelling, tight end Luke Alloway, offensive lineman Thatcher Damon (6-4, 300), running back Matthew Kinoshita and three defensive linemen, led by Gabe Garretson.

2. Foothill-Palo Cedro (9-4)
Head coach: Ross Griffith
Record since 2004: 125-91
Season opener: Friday vs. Edison-Stockton
Dual threat quarterback Davis Smith (6-2, 180) accounted for more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. He and two-way standout Hudson Edwards hope to help turn around a section D2 championship 27-23 loss to Chico. The Cougars have plenty more with CalHiSports preseason All-Section players lineman Cameron Vallelunga and running back/linebacker Caiden Williford. The Cougars might have the section’s best talent but it might take some time for Griffith’s system to take shape. He replaces Joey Brown who stepped aside after last season.

3. Chico (9-4)
Head coach: Jason Slvistur
Record since 2004: 118-92
Season opener: Friday at Sutter
The Panthers defeated Foothill for the section D2 title last year and return 1,000-yard rusher Dion Coleman (5-foot-8, 185 pounds), arguably the section’s most dynamic player. Now a junior. Coleman rushed for 1,366 yards and 23 touchdowns in just over five games before being lost to injury. Other top players are wide receiver Troy Sommer, two-way linemen Travis Dobson and Giovanni Phanor and wide receiver Carlos Zepeda.

4. University Prep-Redding (13-1)
Head coach: Dustin Fortenberry
Career record since 2008: 66-72
Season opener: Friday vs. Fortuna
The defending Division 4 champions are led by linebacker-running back Ryan Dyab (5-11, 185) and defensive back-running back Jaxson Meyer. The Panthers reached the state Division 5-A title game but were shut out by Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton 20-0. To that point they had outscored opponents 515-113.

5. Durham (6-5)
Head coach: Jason Slightom
Record since 2004: 125-84
Season opener: Saturday vs. Willows
With 13 starters back, there’s plenty for Slightom to be excited about. The best of his returners are 6-3, 215-pound quarterback Ryan Doyle, running back Gavin Keene (5-9, 210) and fullback Andrew King (6-1, 200). All three are seniors. Keene and King also lead the team on defense as linebackers.

6. Enterprise-Redding (9-3)
Head coach: Chris Combs
Record since 2004: 125-89
Season opener: Friday at Franklin-Stockton
The Hornets feature one of the most interesting players in the section in sophomore quarterback Jaylen Johnson. He replaces star quarterback Demarreya Lewis-Cooper and has the talent, speed and accurate arm to step right up. Other top players include offensive lineman Braden Thomas (6-0, 275), running back Davion Welch and placekicker Santiago Rodriguez.

7. Fall River-McArthur (13-0)
Head coach: Wes Wadsworth
Record since 2004: 164-46
Season opener: Friday vs. Ferndale
The defending section D5 champion and defending state 7-11 champion simply can’t do any better than last season when they outscored opponents, 517-92, including 43-13 over Morro Bay in the state finals. The Bulldogs return 13 starters including offensive linemen Remington Blue (6-5, 275) and Josh Kroschel (6-3, 175). The line play bodes well for 5-9, 175-pound junior tailback Cannon Oilar.

8. Pierce-Arbuckle (9-4)
Head coach: Michael Barber
Record since 2004: 122-84
Season opener: Friday vs. Orland
The Bears return the section’s second leading rusher in Manuel Lopez, who piled up 1,692 yards and 15 touchdowns. Pierce lost in the D4 finals to University Prep, 27-7. Pierce has gone a combined 33-20 the last five seasons.

9. Paradise (9-2)
Head coach: Bryson Baker
Record since 2004: 163-50
Season opener: Friday vs. Williams
The Bobcats lost 34-31 in the D3 finals to Sutter, which has since moved to the Sac-Joaquin Section. Paradise returns defensive back Brady Bettencourt (5-11, 170) and kick returner Lonnie Pearson, but little else on a team dominated by seniors. Among those who were lost to graduation were 1,000-yard rushers Tyler Harrison and Daquan Lamar-Simmons, who combined for more than 2,800 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns. Baker takes over for longtime coach Rick Prinz. 

10. Shasta (3-7)
Head coach: Aaron Richards
Record since 2004: 118-91
Season Opener: Friday vs. Lassen
The Wolves return only seven starters, but three of them are very good in Mason Stankey (6-1, 220), Braxton Flemming (5-10, 165) and Ryder May (6-0, 180). Leadership at the quarterback spot is good as is experience in the offensive line and secondary.

On the bubble: East Nicolaus (4-7), Orland (9-3)