Seven area teams fighting to earn playoff berths

With just one week remaining on the regular season schedule, no less than seven local Northern Section football teams have a chance to either secure or solidify their playoff positions when they tee the ball up this Friday night.

The biggest battle will take place in Wheatland where the Pirates play host to rival Sutter in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.

Six teams from each division qualify for the Northern Section playoffs with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes, No. 3 and 4 seeds hosting first-round games and 5 and 6 seeds traveling for their playoff openers.

Wheatland (8-1) is currently the top-seeded team in the Division II rankings while Sutter (7-2) sits back at No. 3, one spot behind second-ranked Lassen (6-3).

And just like last year's contest, the game will decide much more than the Butte View League title.

A Pirates' win would lock up the top seed, give them a first-round bye as well as homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, in important factor when you consider Wheatland has been bounced in the section finals on the road the previous three seasons.

A win by the Huskies could lift Sutter into the No. 1 slot if Lassen were to lose its season finale against No. 4 Central Valley (7-2) in a battle up North.

The Division III title chase is wide open with Pierce, Colusa and Live Oak all in the running. Pierce (6-3) and Colusa (6-3) currently stand as the No. 3 and 4 seeded teams, respectively, while Live Oak has dropped out of the top six and would miss out on the playoffs if they were to start today.

The Bears, who finished last season 0-10, can earn a first-round bye with a victory over Willows coupled with a Trinity loss to Mt. Shasta. The Redskins are all but assured a first-round home playoff game, while the Lions (4-5) need a win over Rio Vista and either Mt. Shasta or Willows to lose in order to qualify for the postseason.

Fourth-seeded East Nicolaus (6-3) looks to be locked into a first-round game with No. 5 Quincy (6-3) in Division IV — the only question is where the game will be played.

Maxwell (6-3) enters Friday's finale against Tule Lake (4-4) as the No. 2 seed in Division V behind top-ranked Fall River (7-2). Only four teams qualify for the postseason in Division V, meaning Maxwell will no doubt host Tule Lake when the playoffs begin a week later.