MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: The big picture

A facemask couldn't shield Thomas Aiono's frustration, the bars only added to the impact of his glare. Under the Wheatland linebacker's helmet was a portrait of shattered expectations, one that became more vivid each time the victors let out another cheer. His cheek muscles clenched, his eyes welled, his nostrils snarled.

It was postgame of his team's letdown, and he stood with disgust at midfield, ripping trainer's tape off his hands and tossing it to the turf. In the far end zone, the Colfax Falcons huddled and posed, whooping-it-up and preening for the local NBC affiliate as the scoreboard displayed their dominance in the background and a cameraman recorded a segment for the 11 o'clock news.

This was their night, at the expense of Aiono and his Pirates.

At first it shocked, as the visitors jumped out to a 42-0 halftime lead. By the time it ended, you could tell it stung for Aiono, the burly defensive leader of a team that took John Sohrakoff Jr. Field with high hopes and departed with a 49-12 loss.

Homecoming was spoiled. The undefeated start was upended. The defense was exposed on passing plays and the offense learned their stud running back can be slowed down.

But that's not what you saw when you peered beneath the blue bars in front of Aiono's face. You saw the type of player who treats every game like it's his last. You saw a kid who was taking the whole thing to heart, like every single one of those Colfax points was solely on him. You saw a face projecting that hope is lost.

But it's not. It's OK.

Sure, homecoming lost some luster. Sure, not starting undefeated is a disappointment. Sure, the bluntness of the Falcons' reality check was a little jarring.

It happens. Last year's Wheatland team — the one this squad can't escape the comparisons to — didn't start 5-0, either. No Pirates team has reached that mark since 2003, when these kids were in elementary school and driving a Hummer was chic. Times change. Competing for accolades with teams of the past serves no purpose.

But what transpired on the field Friday night did have one. The Pirates' defense and offense got served a whole film session's worth of areas where they'll need to improve — and isn't that the point of games like this?

Wheatland played up. The Pirates took on the Sacramento Bee's No. 18 team and a squad that was fifth in the Northern California Division III State Bowl Rankings. A week before entering Butte View League play, they learned what playing a power is like. It's a good experience to have when it comes time to prepare for a dominant-looking Sutter and a way-up Orland. They'll start BVL play this week (vs. Winters) with a new outlook and the knowledge that it's never easy.

For teenagers like Aiono, losing big can hurt. It can make forlorn looks appear under facemasks and flip emotional switches that make cheek muscles clench and eyes well and nostrils snarl. It can lead them to think that hope is lost.

But it's not. It's OK.

There's still five more weeks of football for the Pirates.

WHAT WE LEARNED:

WEEK FIVE

The Undefeateds

With Wheatland falling from the ranks of the unbeaten, only two Mid-Valley area football programs remain unscathed — Sutter and Pierce.

The A-D's No. 1 teams in the large and small school rankings respectively, both schools cruised on Friday night.

Sutter trounced lowly Oakland 54-8 with 485 yards of total offense and a defense that didn't allow a first down until late in the second quarter.

The Huskies (5-0) conclude nonconference play this week at Anderson, a fellow Northern Section Division II program.

Sutter came into last weekend ranked tenth in the Cal-Hi Sports Division III bowl rankings for Northern California, the only ranked D-III program from the Northern Section.

Butte View League play begins on Oct. 14 for the Huskies at Winters.

Pierce handed county rival Colusa its 16th consecutive loss with a 35-8 victory.

The Bears (5-0) resume Sacramento Valley league action on Friday at Mt. Shasta, which is coming off a 41-0 loss to Live Oak.

The real stretch of games to pay attention to for the Bears begins on Oct. 14. Pierce will play Durham, Trinity and Willows three consecutive weeks.

That slate will be the real gut check for Pierce and decide the SVL champion.

Fool's gold

Two local Golden Empire League teams are struggling through the first half of the season.

Marysville (1-4) dropped its fourth straight game, a 41-32 loss at home to Argonaut. Fellow MJUSD school Lindhurst (0-5) is still seeking its first victory of the year after losing at Amador 34-28.

Believe it or not, both of these teams still have strong chances to make the postseason.

In the six-team GEL, three teams are 0-5, two are 1-4 and one (Capital Christian) is 2-3.

Marysville gets Capital Christian at home this Friday for the GEL opener. The Indians beat the Cougars 15-14 last season in Sacramento.

Lindhurst will host Dixon in a battle of winless teams.

Let the TCC begin

In the other Sac-Joaquin Section league with local representation, Yuba City opens Tri-County Conference play at Honker Stadium with Natomas this week.

The Honkers (2-3) overcame 16 penalties to top Summerville (Tuolumne) 27-6 on Friday night.

Taylor Elkins played through an injured ankle to rush for more than 100 yards. Junior Nate Van Dusen had 144 yards and two touchdowns, while big brother James totaled 133 yards on the ground on five carries.

Y.C. will get the winless Nighthawks (0-5), but after that comes the make or break portion of the season.

After Natomas, four-time defending TCC champion Inderkum (4-1) comes to town. That matchup with the Tigers will be followed by consecutive trips to Woodland to face Pioneer (4-1) and Woodland (4-1).

After last week's bye, River Valley will open TCC play at Woodland.

The Falcons (2-3) haven't won a league game since the 2008 season and have never defeated any team in the TCC besides Natomas.

QUICK HITS

• Earth, Wind and Fire was back in full force in Live Oak's 41-0 win over Mt. Shasta Friday night.

Luis Velasquez, Kirk Thao and Justyn Harned each scored two touchdowns to even the Lions' SVL record to 1-1.

• Williams' woes continued on Friday night.

After only losing four games all of last season, the Yellowjackets are 2-4 through six games and 0-2 in the Mid-Valley League following a disheartening 35-27 loss at Esparto.

• East Nicolaus still can't quite figure out its Quincy problem.

The Trojans defeated the Spartans for the fifth consecutive time, winning Friday's MVL matchup 33-18.

E.N. has been eliminated by Quincy in the first round of the postseason the last two years as well.

• Not only is Lake Almanor a superb vacation spot, the local high school's football team isn't too shabby either.

Chester is 5-0 this season and ranked No. 1 in the latest Division IV Northern Section Media Poll.

Now the Volcanoes will face defending section champion Maxwell. The Panthers defeated Chester in both meetings last year.

If any team has a chance to knock off Maxwell in the Mountain Valley League it's Chester.

• Gridley held off Las Plumas with a 21-7 victory in Oroville on Friday night.

Now comes the real test — Orland, at home, this Friday to open BVL play.

HELMET STICKERS

Offense: Sutter's Elijah Smith, senior, running back — He only needed to carry the ball five times to amass 160 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Defense: Live Oak's Joe Dollins, junior, linebacker — Dollins led the Lions with 13 tackles (nine solo) and helped blank Mt. Shasta on Friday night. The Lions' defense forced four turnovers.

Special Teams: Pierce's Taylor Cabral, senior, kicker — Cabral was 5 for 5 on PATs in the Bears' 35-8 victory over Colusa.