Yuba City, Lindhurst to hit the road in playoff openers

Enjoy the trip.

That's what the Sac-Joaquin Section said to both Yuba City and Lindhurst High schools following the prep football seedings meetings on Saturday evening.

Yuba City, which closed out its season with a 35-6 win over River Valley in the fourth annual Mayor's Cup on Friday, will be a No. 13 seed when it travels to Fairfield to take on No. 4 Vanden (9-1) this Friday in the Division III opener.

The Honkers (6-4) will have their hands full.

"They're good, big, fast and just real athletic," said Yuba City High coach John Ithurburn. "They throw the ball around and run, they're just huge too. We've seen some big teams, but nothing like this."

The Vikings boast a balanced offense and a defense that has allowed an average of just 11 points a game.

Quarterback Ben Scott has thrown for 1,682 yards, 24 touchdowns and just seven picks on the year.

The Vikings use up to four backs, including leading rusher Damon Treat (829 yards, 11 touchdowns), who averages more than eight yards a carry.

Chris Broadnax is the leading receiver on the team with 35 catches for 816 yards and 13 touchdowns. Two other wideouts share 40 receptions on the team.

Deone Buccannon leads the team in tackles with 107, while defensive back Sean Phillips has six interceptions on the year and Jabari Scott leads the team with 10 sacks.

Lindhurst, too, will have an uphill trip in its Div. V playoff opener.

Literally, the No. 6 Blazers (4-6) will make a six-hour roundtrip drive to face Mariposa, which sits in the chaparral of the Sierra Nevadas.

However, after the 35-18 win over Marysville on Friday, nothing, not even an exhausting bus ride, can break the spirit of the Blazers.

"Our spirits are very good right now," said Lindhurst coach Dan Crabtree. "We've been watching film and these guys (Mariposa) are big. I mean real big. We're going to have our work cut out for us."

The No. 3 Grizzlies (5-5) aren't big on passing, but that's because they don't need to be.

Cody Christopher leads the team with 1,235 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing, while three other running backs have combined for another 1,200 on the ground.

"They have three backs with good speed." Crabtree said. "They run really well, but if we come out with the same kind of intensity that we did against Marysville, we match up well with anybody."