Friday Night Lights: Redding area football team previews, 59 players to watch and more

Friday Night Lights are back in the Redding area, and the Record Searchlight has you covered.

Here are this year's team previews for the 2024-25 football season:

Anderson Cubs

Last season: 4-6

Head coach: Casey Colwell, 0-0; first season

Key returners: Michael Manley, QB/MLB, Jr.; Jagger Johnson, WR/OLB, Jr.; Lane Redondo, OL, Sr.; Jonathan Delgado, OL, Sr.

Outlook: Colwell takes over a Cubs program that is on its seventh coach in 20 seasons. The 2010 Foothill graduate has revamped Big Blue’s offense, opting for a spread look over the double-wing, run-first look Anderson has sported for years.

“The players have shown they are capable of and have thrived over summer in this new system so we are optimistic this season aiming to end the run of losing seasons and bring back a winning culture to Anderson football,” Colwell said.

Central Valley Falcons

Last season: 5-6

Head coach: Kyle Anderson, 12-15; fourth season

Key returners: Keaton Crowell, OL/DL, Sr.; Tristan VanOrden, OL/DL, Sr.; Drason Recio, WR/DB, Jr.; Osker Trompczynski, QB/DB, Sr.; Trenton Thingpen, WR/OLB, Sr.; A.J. Johnson, S/WR, Jr.

Outlook: Anderson said he looks to build on the successes of last season, but replacing All-Section running back Deigo Recio is a tall task. Trompczynski is back under center as the Falcons start their second season in the offensive and defensive schemes they employed last year.

“We have had our highest participation in our spring and summer programs that we have ever had and we are returning three of our five starting OL from last year and they were a big reason for our success,” Anderson said.

Enterprise Hornets

Last season: 4-7

Head coach: Chris Combs, 28-44; seventh season

Key returners: J.J. Johnson, QB/DB, Sr.; Porter Fischer, WR/DB, Sr.; Domonick Hernandez, WR/DB, Sr.;  Jalen Aerni, RB/LB, Sr.; Justis Williams, OL/DE, Sr. ; Alex Pineda, Wr/OLB, Sr.; Aaron Doss, OL/DL, Sr.

Outlook: Johnson is one of the more explosive players in the Northern Section and has weapons all around in Fischer and Hernandez. Doss anchors the O-line at guard and Aerni is one the top linebackers in the section. Expectations are high for this group with 25 seniors, the biggest group the Hornets have had in years.

“We have high expectations for this team based on the amount of talent and depth we have along with the vast amount of varsity playing experience these guys have. We are also excited about our juniors coming up and getting the opportunity to contribute to this talented senior class,” Combs said.

More: Football is almost back. Here's a look at Week 1 of high school games in the Redding area

Foothill Cougars

Last season: 6-6

Head coach: Ross Griffith, 16-8; third season

Key returners: Mason Calvert, Jr.; Connor McMorris, Sr.; Ryan McNally, WR/FS, Sr.; Kingston Coates, DE, Jr.; Kadin Segrest, Jr.

Outlook: The Cougars return a nice mix of proven talent with some key transfers (Jesus Cervantes from West Valley being one). That leaves Griffin excited for 2024 as he, and many others know that the chase is to bring down Pleasant Valley for league and section supremacy.

“We are really excited about this year and the opportunity we have in front of us. We feel that we have pieces if they come together to make some type of run late into November. Our players and coaches have changed everything in regards to how we train, holding everyone accountable, and developing our brotherhood. Our league is going to be the deepest it’s ever been in my opinion. At the end of the day, we were all chasing PV and their dominance in our league,” Griffin said.

Red Bluff Spartans

Last season: 5-6

Head coach: Jacob Daricek, 13-25; fifth season

Key returners: Kayden Leaf, QB, Sr.; Zach Shaver, RB/LB, Sr.; Landon Kunau, WR/CB, Sr.; Barrett Byrne, OT/DT, Sr.; Adan Rodriguez, G/NG, So.; Christian Sylvia, OG/DT, Sr.; Jaden Bommer, CB/WR, Sr.; Cooper Gantenbein, LB/WB, Sr.

Outlook: The consensus over the summer and in passing leagues is that the Spartans will be very much improved and could play a factor in a deep EAL this season. Leaf is back running the offense after throwing for 570 yards and nine scores along with 1,225 yards rushing.

“We return 19 of 22 starters from a young team. We've developed our speed and strength this offseason,” Daricek said.

Redding Christian Lions

Last season: 2-8

Head coach: Gerald Piper, 7-16 (11-man) and 58-14 (8-man); 11th season

Key returners: Brodie Ogden, WR/CB, So.; Conner Moore, RB/OLB, Jr.; Lincoln Berlew, LT/DE, Sr.; Collin Matos, CB, Jr.; Caden Russo, RB/ILB, Jr.; Buck Kolb, LG/DL, Sr.; Quinn Lockett, RG/DL, Sr.; Raiden Sprague RT, Jr.

Outlook: The Lions have had some big wins in 11-man (Fall River being the biggest) after years of success in the 8-man ranks. They enter 2024 with youth at the skills positions, but experience on the line, which could pave the way for a good year for RC.

“We have a young team with a ton of talent (many are sophomores) who had a lot of success in JV last season. They will contribute tremendously and we are looking to turn the corner this season. Our future looks very bright,” Piper said.

More: It's finally here. Redding-area football 2024 CIF Northern Section schedule released

Shasta Wolves

Last season: 8-4

Head coach: Aaron Richards, 14-19; fourth season

Key returners: Justin Polley, QB, Sr.; Owen Boesiger, RB/WR, Sr; Jaden Welch, ILB, Sr.; Carter Hurn, C, Sr.; Arbour Duggan, TE, Sr.; J.R. Wheeler, CB/WR, Sr.; Jaxon Hollister, FS, Sr.; Nic Wilkes, WR/DB.

Outlook: The Wolves are senior-heavy and that group has had success at each level, including last season. Polley leads the Wing-T look, but has the arm and the weapons to stretch the field.

“I think Shasta will have an impact on the toughest league top to bottom (Eastern Athletic League) I have seen in my tenure here on the west side,” Richards said.

U-Prep Panthers

Last season: 10-2

Head coach: Dustin Fortenberry, 39-6; fifth season

Key returners: Aiden Bunas MLB/OG, Sr.; Devin Huegel, Edge/TE, Sr.; Asher Edwardson, NT/C, Jr.; Adam Gire, T/DL, Sr.; Noah Rodriguez, OL/DL, Sr.; Kaos Martin, QB/DB, Sr.; Cody Ries, MLB/OT, Sr; Ty Wurzer, RB/LB, Jr.

Outlook: The Panthers have been the cream of the Northern Athletic League under Fortneberry, who picked up the torch from mentor Darren Trueblood following his passing. They reached the state title game in 2021.

“We return 16 starters from a league championship team that had an early exit in the semifinals last November. We expect to compete every day in practice and prepare to be our best, every day,” Fortenberry said.

West Valley Eagles

Last season: 3-8

Head coach: Jason Weston, 11-12; third season

Key returners: Logan Rasmussen, WR/S, Sr.; Dalton Kelley, TE/DE, Sr.; Cooper Staup, HB, Sr.; Trent Nehls, OLB/G, Sr.; Rhilee Crawford, QB, Sr.

Outlook: The Eagles were plagued with injuries last season, but Weston won’t point to that as an excuse. He instead points to having a full varsity staff for the first time in three seasons and looks to build off the lessons from last year with the young players coming up and the key pieces returning.

“For the first time in my entire career (as an assistant at Corning), I have a big line that should allow us to run the ball this year, with a mobile QB for the RPO game. The defense will be big up front, and Rasmussen had great defensive numbers his sophomore year before teams stopped throwing to his side,” Weston said.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Friday Night Lights: Redding area football team previews, 59 players to watch and more