Where does your team rank?

Where will your favorite team finish this year in the race for a Northern Section championship?

Here’s a look at the top team in each division in the Northern Section.

Division 1

1. Paradise Bobcats

There is no clear-cut favorite among the Northern Section Division 1 teams as there was last year with Foothill. The Cougars have sustained heavy losses due to graduation, so we’ll go with an old standby here in the form of the Paradise Bobcats. Coach Rick Prinz and his team missed the playoffs by the slimmest of margins last year, but word is that the Bobcats have a strong group of juniors and a solid returning cast to propel them back into the hunt for a Division 1 title this year.

2. Shasta Wolves

The Wolves have the most returning talent in the form of QB Brooks Beaudette (1,654 yards passing), RB Evan Taylor (1,216 yards rushing) and all-section offensive lineman Richard Stevenson.

3. Pleasant Valley Vikings

Coach Bill Haley’s team came close last year, falling to Foothill in the finals. The Vikings have enough talent back this year, including RB Brandon Nickas, to make another run.

Division 2

1. Sutter Huskies

The senior class at Sutter has never lost a high school football game. They are 32-0 over three years. That could end this year because the Huskies have amped up their schedule to include a trip to Texas, a game in Oregon and a Saturday contest with Central Catholic of Modesto, a team that reached the California Division 3 Bowl Game last year. The Huskies are still the clear favorite to win Division 2, however, thanks to the return of all-section QB Jon Garcia.

2. West Valley Eagles

The Eagles are always in the mix and they have a solid group of defenders that includes LBs Nick Johnson and Bobby Guyton.

3. Wheatland Pirates

Andrew McCleary, one of the section’s all-time leading rushers, is gone, but plenty of talent remains, including Malcolm Webb, who ranked as one of the state leaders in interceptions last year with 11.

Division 3

1. Willows Honkers

The Honkers reached the Division 3 semifinals last year and have nearly everyone back, including LB Matt Candelaria, who sat out all of last year with knee injury. The Honkers have a new coach in Jim Ward, but he has been a part of the Willows coaching staff for more than a decade, so don’t expect any dropoff.

2. Hamilton Braves

The Braves posted the best record in school history last year at 13-0 and won the school’s first ever Division 3 championship. The bulk of that squad is gone, but plenty of talent returns. The JV team was 9-1 last year meaning a healthy crop of juniors move up to the varsity. The Braves also have Ryan Schimke, one of the top linebackers in the Northern Section.

3. East Nicolaus Spartans

The Spartans move into Division 3 this year after ruling Division 4 for most of the past decade. East Nicolaus won the Division 4 title last year under coach Matt Ray, however he has left the program for a coaching job in Roseville. The Spartans return one of the best pass-catch combinations in the section in QB Andrew Rubalcava and WR Brian Johnson.

Division 4

1. Portola Tigers

The Tigers are expected to be the surprise team of the section this year. Just three years removed from not even finishing the season, Portola has an excellent group of juniors that won the Sacramento Valley League title as JVs. The Tigers have plenty of speed and that may be enough to win the Division 4 crown.

2. Esparto Spartans

The Spartans lose Suavae Cook to graduation, but still return some solid players, including LB Sam Foster. With East Nicolaus moving up to Division 4 and Delta moving to the Sac Joaquin Section, different teams have the opportunity to battle for the section title this year.

3. Williams Yellowjackets

The Yellowjackets move down to Division 4 this year, replacing East Nicolaus. Williams has a solid group of skill players, including WR Ema Martinez, QB David Covarrubias and mercurial sophomore running back Jesus Camarena.

Division 5

1. Fall River Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are the heavy favorite after going undefeated last year and knocking off undefeated Maxwell in the finals. Fall River returns many of last year’s stars, including FB Nick Lakey and QB Taylor Sloat.

2. Maxwell Panthers

The Panthers may not post double-digit win totals this year as they have the past four or five years, but they will still be a team to contend with in Division 5. A strong sophomore class will have to make up for a lack of numbers at the junior and senior level.

3. Hayfork Timberjacks

There are only seven teams in Division 5 this year now that Bishop Quinn has dropped its program and Dunsmuir, Westwood and Greenville have moved to 8-man football. The Timberjacks are low in numbers due to a drop in enrollment, but coach Randy Harrison always has his team ready to contend.

8-Man

1. Princeton Eagles

The return of most of last year’s league championship team, including high-scoring Guillermo Rodriguez, make the Eagles the favorite again.

2. Champion Christian Mustangs

The Mustangs lost the league championship to Princeton, but won the section title. Many of the key palyers from last year’s team returning, meaning it could be another battle between Princeton and Champion for the section crown.

3. Westwood Lumberjacks

The Lumberjacks move down to eight-man this year. Westwood had a solid squad last year, but lacked in numbers. The move to 8-man could help solve that problem.