Down to the wire

With the prep football season nearing its end, five local Northern Section schools have opportunities to solidify their playoff positions with one week left in the regular season.

Sutter (8-1) and Wheatland (8-1) enter Friday night's huge Butte View League contest with identical 4-0 league records and are ranked No.1 and No. 2 in the Northern Section Division II rankings.

The winner of the game will not only capture the league title, but will also earn the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason when the section playoffs kick off on Nov. 14.

"What it comes down to is whoever wins is the No. 1 seed throughout the tournament, while the loser hosts a game and then gets to travel," said Wheatland coach Javier Lopez.

The Northern Section utilizes its own formula to determine playoff seedings. The formula is based on three separate, but equal, criteria: overall finish, league record and strength of schedule.

Aside from Div. V, six teams from each division gain entry into the postseason, with the top two seeds receiving byes and the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds hosting first-round playoff games.

"There's so much emphasis on league finish, which is good — winning the league title should matter," Lopez said. "Teams should be rewarded for winning out."

Playing at home is something Lopez and the Pirates want. Wheatland is undefeated at John Sohrakoff Jr. Field this season and has been eliminated the last two years against West Valley on the road in Cottonwood.

West Valley (7-2) is ranked No. 3 and ends its regular season at Yreka (4-5), where a loss could leave Wheatland and Sutter in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. "It could be a repeat of a few years ago when Sutter was No. 1 and we were No. 2, but a lot of it depends on what West Valley does and I don't really see them losing," Lopez said.

In Div. III, both East Nicolaus and Live Oak have worked their way up near the top of the pack with strong league play.

The Spartans (5-4) shook off their 0-3 mark in the preseason to storm to a 5-1 record in a tough Mid-Valley League.

"We're in pretty good shape and looking forward to playing a home playoff game," said East Nicolaus coach Mark Varnum.

Willows (8-1) sits atop the Div. III rankings after its 42-26 victory over previously unbeaten Rio Vista (8-1) on Friday. Rio Vista is ranked No. 2, followed by Hamilton (7-2), which is East Nicolaus' opponent Friday in its season finale.

The Spartans are ranked No. 4 according to the Northern Section Web site.

"Hopefully we can take care of business this Friday and get a home game," said Varnum, who added that both Willows and Live Oak have come on strong at the end of the season.

Live Oak (4-5) is currently ranked No. 5 after its narrow 26-21 victory over winless Pierce and, if things stay the way they are, will travel to Wahl Field to play the Spartans when the playoffs begin.

Maxwell (4-5, 2-1 Evergreen League) is ranked No. 3 in Div. V, in which just four teams gain entry into the postseason, and may clinch a home playoff game with a victory over No. 2 Hayfork in its season finale Friday.

Contact sports reporter Andy Arrenquin at aarrenquin@appealdemocrat.com or at 743-0512.