Sutter High's Nathan Ahlers runs the ball away from the fray during a game against Wheatland High in Wheatland on Friday, September 21, 2012. (Appeal-Democrat/Nate Chute) Nate Chute
DECEPTION makes the wing-T offense go. So, expect the wing-T-fueled Sutter High offense to have a few tricks up its sleeve when it clashes with Marin Catholic for the Division III NorCal final Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Oroville.
"We saw some stuff on film we can take advantage of ? but not much," said Sutter's senior quarterback Trent Little, a three-year starter for the 13-0 Huskies. "(Marin Catholic) has a pretty good defense."
In case you've never met anybody from the tiny farming community of Sutter, population 2,904 and located 8.8 miles west of Yuba City, show up at Saturday's game and take your pick from the crowd. Most of the town
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In Sutter, they take their football seriously.
"Our fans are fanatical about it," said Sutter head coach Ryan Reynolds. "It's about the only thing to do on a Friday night."
For Sutter, playing a Bay Area opponent the caliber of Marin Catholic (12-1) is the kind of thing dreams are made of.
"We're anxious for Saturday," said Little, who has engineered the wing-T offense since he was in sixth grade playing youth football in Sutter. "We want to show what we can do against a big school. But they're a great team ? very disciplined."
The Huskies aren't bad, either. They feature a pair of 1,000-plus yard rushers in fullback Nathan Ahlers (1,369 yards, 25 touchdowns) and halfback Mat Sanders
(1,014 yards, 10 TDs). Little has thrown for 1,369 yards with 16 touchdown passes.Sutter, the North Section D-II champion, has undoubtedly played a softer schedule than Marin Catholic, although the Huskies did defeat Enterprise of Redding, the North Section D-I champ, 34-27 on Oct. 19.
Still, Reynolds said his team has not faced the likes of Marin Catholic.
"Marin Catholic is no doubt the toughest team we've played this season ? without question," Reynolds said. "But my team is not intimidated. They're going to show up and compete and leave it on the field. That's what they do. That's how they're made."
Reynolds said his team played an offense similar to Marin Catholic's spread style in the D-II title game against West Valley of the Redding area. The Huskies prevailed 38-31.
"But West Valley does not have the passing game of Marin Catholic," he said.
Of course, the Wildcats' offense is led by Cal-bound senior quarterback Jared Goff.
Reynolds has some experience against top-notch quarterbacks. His team faced Aaron Rodgers and Pleasant Valley in 2001. That team was also undefeated and finished the season 12-0.
"Aaron Rodgers is the best high school quarterback I've ever seen,"
Sutter High's Ryan Staas raises his arms after his team scored their first score of the game off of a fumble by Orland High during the semifinals of the Northern Section Division II football playoffs in Sutter on Friday, November 16, 2012. (Appeal-Democrat/Nate Chute) Nate Chute
Reynolds said. "But this kid (Goff) is the next best I've seen."Reynolds is impressed by Goff's quarterbacking composure.
"He seems so poised and confident when he drops back," Reynolds said. "And the fact that he's fast and can run the football, too, is a real bummer."
Reynolds said his defense, which is led by Butte View League defensive co-MVPs linebacker Ryan Staas and strong safety Phillip Robledo, will try its best to confuse Goff and disrupt his timing.
"We'll run multiple fronts on defense," Reynolds said. "We have a pretty complex scheme with a lot of different looks. We'll try to throw and lot of different things at him and get after him with some pressure."
The Sutter defensive line is anchored by nose tackle Trevor Carr (11.5 sacks) and defensive end Garrett Wallace (16.5 sacks).
"They have a really good defensive line and some good linebackers," Goff said. "They've got some big boys up front."
Reynolds said he and his coaching staff watched Marin Catholic's 31-28 victory over previously undefeated El Cerrito in the D-III North Coast Section.
"We were impressed," he said. "They don't have any weak spots on the field. They're well coached and very disciplined. I was very impressed with their offensive line. When they get off the ball they're not messing around. And they're big."
Contact Tim Menicutch via email at tmenicutch@marinij.com
SATURDAY'S GAME
Northern Regional Division III Championship
? Marin Catholic (13-1) vs. Sutter (13-0) at Harrison Stadium in Oroville, 7:30 p.m.
? Tickets: Priced at $12 for adults and $8 for seniors, high school students and children, they are on sale from 7 a.m. to noon Friday at the Marin Catholic book store and will be available Saturday at Harrison Stadium beginning at 5:30 p.m.
? Radio/TV: PlayOn Sports live audio stream available at www.marinij.com
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