MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: Another season in the books

When the lights on the scoreboard dimmed and Orland High's football team held up its Northern Section championship banner on Wednesday night, football season officially ended in the Mid-Valley.

From spring ball to hell week in August to this month's playoff games, football season is a 12-month process.

What most people see over the span of three months on Friday nights is just a snippet of what these athletes and coaches go through.

Film sessions, practice, scouting reports, homework, full-time jobs, players and coaches are juggling these elements while trying to win football games.

It's why all 16 local teams should be commended for their accomplishments this season, no matter what their final record was.

All sports have their own unique niche in an athletic program, but there's just something special about football season, especially in the Mid-Valley.

After a summer without much action in local sports, it's a welcome sight on Fridays to drive on Highway 20 and see the lights of Wayne Gadberry Field glowing at the base of the Buttes like a beacon.

For now we say farewell to the gridiron and welcome the warmth of gyms for basketball and wrestling season.

Here's one final edition of this weekly recap of local prep football. Here's look at what teams did this season and what to look forward to in the fall of 2012.

SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION

DIVISION III

River Valley Falcons

• Final 2011 record: 4-6, 2-3 in Tri-County Conference

• Playoff result: Did not qualify

• Potential key returnees: Mark Nelson, QB; Jordan Noall, WR; Dewey Maxham, RB

• The skinny: The Falcons earned the biggest win in program history with a victory over Yuba City in the Mayor's Cup.

Nelson gained valuable experience at the quarterback position and became the first R.V. quarterback to win two TCC games in one season.

With Maxham, Noall and dynamic playmaker TJ Dove as weapons, the Falcons could make the next step in 2012 and earn the program's first playoff bid.

Yuba City Honkers

• Final 2011 record: 3-7, 1-4 in TCC

• Playoff result: Did not qualify

• Potential key returnees: Nate Van Dusen, RB; Taylor Elkins, QB; Anthony Fleenor TE/LB

• The skinny: It was a tough season for the Honkers, but the future looks bright.

Both the freshman and JV teams won league titles this year, which means tons of talent is working its way through the ranks.

Nearly every playmaker will be back for Yuba City next season, including Elkins and Van Dusen.

DIVISION IV

Marysville Indians

• Final 2011 record: 4-7, 3-2 in Golden Empire League

• Playoff result: Lost to Escalon 49-7 in first round.

• Potential key returnees: Cole Hannum, RB; Owen Sparks, RB/LB; Daniel Duncan, TE/LB

• The skinny: The biggest question for next season: Will Hannum be able to outdo himself again?

He's rushed for more than 1,000 yards his first two seasons with the Indians.

No doubt he will continue to shatter the records at Marysville his senior year.

Lindhurst Blazers

• Final 2011 record: 2-8, 2-3 in GEL

• Playoff result: Did not qualify

• Potential key returnees: Anthony Finuf, QB; Tim Westberg, OL/DL

• The skinny: Lindhurst's football program will have to move forward without Mike Mason at the helm.

Mason, who led the Blazers to back-to-back section championships in 2006-07, announced his retirement following the final game of the season.

With a new coach running things in Olivehurst, the Blazers will try to navigate their way back to the postseason for the first time since 2009.

NORTHERN SECTION

DIVISION II

Sutter Huskies

• Final 2011 record: 10-2, 3-1 in Butte View League

• Playoff result: Lost to Orland 14-0 in section championship game.

• Potential key returnees: Trent Little, QB; Philip Robledo, LB; Ryan Staas, LB

• The skinny: The Butte View League just keeps getting more and more competitive.

In 2010, it was Wheatland's year, this year it was Orland's. Sutter hopes it's the Huskies' turn in 2012.

They return a bevy of talent next season and the JV team won the BVL championship.

Also waiting in the wings is a freshman team that went undefeated this year.

Gridley Bulldogs

• Final 2011 record: 4-7, 2-2 in BVL

• Playoff result: Lost to Lassen 52-21 in first round.

• Potential key returnees: Emery Haddy, QB; Mat Scott, TE/P; Mike Stohlman, LB

• The skinny: Gridley has something to build on this offseason after reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Haddy showed tremendous poise this season as a sophomore starting at quarterback. He returns to run the show next season.

Wheatland Pirates

• Final 2011 record: 5-6, 1-3 in BVL

• Playoff result: Lost to Corning 53-14 in first round.

• Potential key returnees: Justin Bragg, QB; Garrett White, WB/DB; Michael Robinson, WB/DB

• The skinny: A year removed from playing in the section championship game, the Pirates stumbled a bit in 2011, losing six of their final seven games.

Injuries took their toll as key players were sidelined down the stretch for Wheatland.

Next season, the Pirates will have a solid group of seniors that gained plenty of experience.

DIVISION III

Pierce Bears

• Final 2011 record: 9-2, 5-1 in Sacramento Valley League

• Playoff result: Lost to Willows 29-15 in section semifinals.

• Potential key returnees: Andy Corona, FB/LB; Nate Smith, DB; Andrew Diaz, TE/DE

• The skinny: In only his second season as head coach, Scott Burnum led the Bears to a league championship.

Senior running back Isaiah Garcia set school records and flourished in Burnum's triple-option offense.

Next season, Corona will try to carry the torch. As the No. 2 option behind Garcia, Corona rushed for 787 yards this season and five touchdowns.

Pierce's early playoff exit stung, but 2011 was a great building block.

Live Oak Lions

• Final 2011 record: 8-3, 4-2 in SVL

• Playoff result: Lost to Trinity 42-8 in first round.

• Potential key returnees: Romario Acosta, QB/FS; Tyler Raymond, RB/DE; Aaron Pamma, TE/DE

• The skinny: The Lions' lopsided loss to the Wolfpack in the first round was a far cry from the 2010 season when Live Oak made it to the title game.

As disappointing as the end of the season was, the emergence of Acosta this year has everyone feeling optimistic.

He turned the Lions' tradition of run-first offense on its head with his passing ability this season. He's also a force at safety on defense.

Raymond also made a statement this season after taking over for the injured Justyn Harned.

The tandem of Acosta and Raymond should bring Live Oak back to prominence in 2012.

Colusa RedHawks

• Final 2011 record: 1-9, 1-5 in Mid-Valley League

• Playoff result: Did not qualify

• Potential key returnees: Andrew Rodriguez, RB; Conner Herrick, WR; Kevin Buenorostros, OL/DL

• The skinny: After a winless 2010, the fact that Colusa picked up a win this season is a big accomplishment.

This program is taking baby steps toward becoming competitive again.

Rodriguez rushed for 912 yards and six TDs this season and Herrick had 25 receptions for 382 yards.

Having these playmakers back next season is huge for the RedHawks.

Williams Yellowjackets

• Final 2011 record: 1-9, 0-6 in MVL

• Playoff result: Did not qualify

• Potential key returnees: Tony Boites, RB/LB; Diego Rivera, LB

• The skinny: Dwindling player numbers due to ineligibility and injuries did in the Yellowjackets this season.

After making the playoffs and a 7-4 record in 2010, Williams struggled in 2011, losing nine straight games to finished the year.

The focus for this program should be in the classroom for now.

DIVISION IV

Maxwell Panthers

• Final 2011 record: 8-3, 5-1 in Mountain Valley League

• Playoff result: Lost to Portola 33-21 in first round.

• Potential key returnees: George Barajas, QB/DB; Blake Vierra, WR/DB; Luis Rolon, LB/RB

• The skinny: With all of the talent the Panthers lost from the 2010 section championship squad, the fact they were so competitive this year is a good sign.

First-year starting quarterback George Barajas provided a dual-threat option in Robert Wilson's spread offense and led Maxwell to a co-Mountain Valley League championship.

The biggest shoes to fill next year will be Brett Cabral's, who's a force at running back and linebacker.

With Barajas back under center, this offense will only get better.

East Nicolaus Spartans

• Final 2011 record: 5-6, 3-3 in Mid-Valley League

• Playoff result: Lost to Hamilton 28-14 in first round.

• Potential key returnees: Zach Schuler, RB/DB; Drew Orr, WR/QB

• The skinny: The first thing this program needs to figure out is who will be running things going forward.

Despite off-field controversy, the Spartans still managed a .500 regular season and playoff berth.

This is a program used to winning section titles and needs to figure out how to re-establish its identity as a Northern Section powerhouse.

Bigg Wolverines

• Final 2011 record: 4-6, 1-4 in Mountain Valley League

• Playoff result: Did not qualify

• Potential key returnees: Chance Felkins, RB/LB; Randy Stanley, RB/LB; Greyson Milburn, TE/LB

• The skinny: Wolverine football looks like its headed in the right direction.

The Biggs JV team won the league title this season. Couple that with the two-headed backfield of Felkins/Stanley and Biggs could challenge Maxwell and Chester in 2012.