Auburn football 2017

Football 2017 High School

Special supplement of Auburn Journal, Colfa x Record

Preview

Pl acer Hillmen | Colfa x Falcons | Bear River Bruins | Foresthill Wildfires

||||||||||| 2017 team roster |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Placer Hillmen

# Player Positions Grade 2 Jonny Callahan DB, QB Sr. 3 Brad Bishop LB, RB Jr. 4 Chase Laguana Scott LB, OL Jr. 5 Andrew Garza LB, RB Jr. 6 Michael Stuck QB Jr. 7 Travis Warren WR, DB Sr. Jr. 8 Ryan Arnel RB, DB WR, DB Sr. 9 Ethan Lowery Jr. 10 Marshall Chapman RB, LB Jr. 11 Carson Espedal DB, WR 12 Ian Howes DB, WR Jr. WR, CB Jr. 13 Kane Martin WR, CB Jr. 14 Carson Styron Jr. 15 Jorge Maldonado RB, DB Jr. 16 Chandler Dakin DE, TE K Sr. 18 Ryan Meyer 21 Anthony Kerrigan RB, CB Sr. 23 Kameron Bemis DE, WR Sr. 24 Mario Perez DE, FB Sr. 32 Trey Curtis RB, DE Jr. Jr. 33 Colin Wright DB, RB Jr. 34 Ethan Crawford DE, TE Jr. 47 Louis Fudge TE, OLB 50 Isaiah Clayborn T, DT Jr. 52 Bryan Romero DL, OL Jr. 53 Zaeron Fuller LB, OL Jr. Jr. 56 Austin Mader DE, OL 58 Jacob Hall T, DT Jr. 60 Anthony Trull DL, OL Jr. 62 Paul Banks DL, OL Sr. Jr. 63 Fernando Molina OL, DL Jr. 64 Blake Baughman T, DT 66 Daniel Vasquez T, DT Jr. 70 Zach Schafer OL, DL Sr. 72 Haydon Hanson OL, DL Jr. Jr. 74 Joey Capra DL, OL Jr. 77 Colton McElroy OL, DL Evan Robinson Josh Cocreham OLB Jr.

Kyle Christensen C, DE Sr.

2

Colfax Falcons

# Player Positions Grade 2 Wil Besler LB, RB Sr. 4 Nick Van doorn Sr. 5 Mason Ahrens RB, FS Sr. 6 Ryland Heimann QB Sr. 7 Dylan Owens LB, RB Jr. 8 Jack Watts DB, WR Jr. Jr 9 John Mccann LB, TE WR, DB Jr. 10 Colton Reeves Jr. 11 Zach Fejes DB, WR 14 Vic Edwards DB, WR Sr. 15 Anthony Lundberg DL, RB Sr. WR Jr. 18 Jake Green WR, DB Jr. 21 Maxx Wolff Jr. 22 Tucker Klopotek LB, RB 23 Garren O’Keefe TE, OLB Sr. 24 Alex Weir QB, DB Jr. Jr. 26 Troy Little RB, LB 37 Daniel Frye CB Sr. 50 Jared Ljubi C, ILB Sr. Jr. 52 Michael O’Neill OL, DL 53 Gage Ashlock OLB, RB Sr. 54 Angelo Margherita DL, OL Jr. Jr. 55 Spencer Chriss DL, LB 56 Jacob Schwartz DL, OL Jr. Jr. 57 Parker Sullivan DL, OL Jr. 58 Jacob LaHaie T, OLB Jr. 62 Tyler Austin OL, DL 75 Andru Tejada DL, OL Sr. 76 Trevor Searcy C, G Sr.

Jordan Hill Jr.

Bear River Bruins

# Player Positions Grade 1 Alex Bohn K, P So. 7 Dylan Scott WR, FS Jr. 9 Chad Bucher WR, CB Jr. 11 Logan Jenkins Jr. 13 Josiah Cregar WR, FS Jr. 17 Jake Leonard DE, TE Sr 20 Jordan Elliott WR, CB Sr. Jr. 21 Austin Slining RB, OLB 22 Stephen Taylor RB, WR Sr. 23 Calder Kunde WR, CB Jr. 24 Tre Maronic RB, FS So. 27 Clayton Anderson RB, CB Jr. FB, DT Sr. 29 Austin Baze FB, OLB Jr. 34 Hunter Daniels 53 Travis Carpenter C, OLB Sr. 54 Zane Beaton T, DT Jr. 55 Jacob Thomason G, DT Sr. 57 Jonny Carrillo T, DT Jr. 58 Jared Baze G, DT Jr. 59 Sam Davis G, DT Jr. 62 Alex Dewsen T, DT Jr. 66 Trae Nix C, DT Jr. 68 Garrett Pratt DT, DE Jr. 76 Kaden Ahlberg T, DE Sr. 84 Jayden Vigil CB Sr. 85 Collin Hill WR Sr. Aaron Sasville T, DT Sr. Collin Kliver T, DT Jr. Damon Turner Jake Rogers Sr.

Jr. Shelbi Beghetti T, DT

Foresthill Wildfire roster not available as of press time.

2017 Football Preview | Placer Hillmen | Colfax Falcons | Bear River Bruins | Foresthill Wildfires

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4 Placer Hillmen season schedule 6 Placer Hillmen preview 8 Colfax Falcons season schedule 9 Colfax Falcons preview 11 Bear River Bruins season schedule 12 Bear River Bruins preview 14 Foresthill Wildfires preview 15 Foresthill Wildfires season schedule

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||||||||| 2017 Varsity Game schedule |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Placer Hillmen When Opponent where 7 p.m. Aug. 25 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) Placer High School 7 p.m. Sept. 1 Nevada Union (Grass Valley) Nevada Union High School 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 Aptos (Aptos) Placer High School 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 Laguna Creek (Elk Grove) Placer High School 7:15 p.m. Sept. 22 Vista del Lago (Folsom) Vista del Lago High School 7 p.m. Oct. 6 Colfax (Colfax) Placer High School (rivalry game) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 Center (Antelope) Center High School Foothill (Sacramento) Foothill High School 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 Bear River (Grass Valley) Bear River High School 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 Lincoln (Lincoln) Placer High School

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Placer’s all-purpose senior running back Anthony Kerrigan is coming off a stellar 2016 campaign.

He ran for 1,042 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games and added 32 catches for 705 yards (22 yards per catch) and five more scores. (Michael Kirby / Auburn Journal)

The pads are popping on Placer’s football practice field, school is underway, and the heat is on. Heading into Placer’s final season in the Pioneer Valley League, the Hillmen are seen by many to be the favorite for the PVL title. With a record low 10 seniors on the squad, head coach Joey Montoya is not sure what the fuss is all about.

“Look at Colfax, Lincoln, Center, Bear River,” Montoya said. “There’s tons of talent and coaches who have 200 wins. The PVL may have lost some enrollment, but it’s a tough football league.”

Placer’s success will rely heavily on the 29 juniors on the squad. Some of these juniors, like fullback Mario Perez, quarterback Michael Stuck and lineman Joey Capra, played varsity last year as sophomores, but this remains a young Placer team.

So if Placer is expected to be the team to beat, it may have something to do with its own coaching staff, which cobbled together a 7-6 won-loss record after an 0-3 start, a share of the PVL title with Lincoln, and an improbable run to the section finals. It was an overachieving bunch of players who battled through four season-ending injuries to starting players. Star halfback Anthony Kerrigan missed nearly four games with a foot injury.

So with three section finals in nine years, and an unprecedented five straight PVL championships, picking Placer to repeat as PVL champs is not a huge gamble.

To win a sixth straight title, the Hillmen will have to find leaders on and off the field. Montoya and his veteran staff have been spending a lot of time developing leadership with a program he calls the “Senior Cabinet.”

“Our seniors have a meeting before the season starts, they get a leadership packet, and we work on leadership. They help bring everyone along,” Montoya said.

“If we had to rely on the coaches to motivate the entire

2017 Football Preview | Placer Hillmen | Colfax Falcons | Bear River Bruins | Foresthill Wildfires

Special supplement of the Auburn Journal

team, we’d be in trouble. This is about the student athlete, it’s their time to shine, their memories.”

As an example, senior Kerrigan approached Montoya and noted that one of his teammates did not have internet access and wondered if he could borrow a TV monitor after practice to break down video from last season.

“That’s what I’m talking about right there, perfect example,” Montoya said. “That’s a senior looking out for a junior.”

Placer should be more explosive this year with the addition of speedster Travis Warren at wide receiver. Warren, who did not play football last year, runs the 40-yard dash just a tick over 4.5, maybe a step faster than Kerrigan.

With bruising fullback Mario Perez and strong armed Stuck at QB, the Hillmen look very solid in the offensive backfield. Placer lost some experience on the offensive line, but Capra and company are showing promise as a unit.

Tight end Louis Fudge is a bruising blocker with good hands and 4.7 speed. Safeties Collin Wright and Johnny Callahan return on defense, where the Hillmen will try to fill the void left by Morgan Rein-Robinson, the PVL’s defensive player of the year, who had 13 sacks and 79 tackles in his senior year. Junior linebacker Andrew Garza is turning heads.

“With mostly juniors, I think this is a team that will hit its stride mid-season,” said Montoya. “They are working hard.”

Placer opens its season at August 25 home against former D-I Power Pleasant Grove, which is rebuilding with new head coach Matt Costa. The Hillmen will visit Nevada Union Sept. 1 to try and avenge last year’s 16-12 loss to the Miners, where NU scored all their points in the fourth quarter.

Central Coast Section powerhouse Aptos, with Randy Blankenship at the helm, comes calling Sept. 8. Aptos has won six straight Santa Cruz Coast Conference titles and three section championships in the last four years. Laguna Creek and Vista del Lago fill out a formidable preseason. ◆

Placer head coach Joey Montoya will be in search of his 100th victory at the helm of the Hillman this year. He goes into is 11th season with a 96-35 overall record. (Michael Kirby / Auburn Journal) Johnny Callahan, seen here bringing down a Bear River receiver in action from last season, will return to the Hillmen’s secondary this year.

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||||||||| 2017 Varsity Game schedule |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Colfax Falcons When Opponent where 7 p.m. Aug. 25 Golden Sierra (Garden Valley) Golden Sierra High School 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 Winters (Winters) Colfax High School 7 p.m. Sept. 8 Argonaut (Jackson) Colfax High School 7 p.m. Sept. 15 Bella Vista (Fair Oaks) Colfax High School 7 p.m. Sept. 22 Wheatland (Wheatland) Colfax High School 7 p.m. Oct. 6 Placer (Auburn) Placer High School (rivalry game) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 Lincoln (Lincoln) Colfax High School 7 p.m. Oct. 20 Bear River (Grass Valley) Bear River High School 7 p.m. Oct. 27 Center (Antelope) Center High School 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 Foothill (Sacramento) Colfax High School

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will colfax Have another strong season? by mike ray, For the Journal

Confidence is a key word in the Colfax High football camp this season.

On the surface, one-year after posting a nine-win season and reaching the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Div. V championship game, the Falcons looked prime to have another strong season in 2017.

However, Colfax coach Tony Martello, ready to embark on his 22nd season at the reins of the Falcons, remains coy about his team’s outlook.

“Yes we have some key players back but we’ll still be young in a lot of positions,” said Martello. “A lot of our success this season will depend on how quick our new players step up and of course being able to stay healthy.”

A year ago, Colfax posted a 9-4 overall mark and finished tied for third in the Pioneer Valley League continued on next page

Garren O’Keefe, left, picks up a block from teammate Colton Reeves after making a catch in Aug. 18’s scrimmage with Marysville. (Courtesy)

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Colfax Falcons |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| “We have some experience.

It’s now all about if we can blend it with our new players.”

— Tony Martello , head coach continued from previous page

with a 3-2 slate. One of Colfax’s PVL wins last season came against league co-champion Lincoln.

In the playoffs, the Falcons turned into road warriors going on the road to defeat Hilmar, 42-21, and Marysville, 41-38, before falling to a powerful Capital Christian squad in the CIF finals, 42-14.

“I thought we over achieved last year,” said Martello. “Every team is different but last year’s squad stepped up and did a great job.”

This season, Martello welcomes back eight starting players from an offensive unit that averaged just a shade under 35 points an outing. On defense, six starters are back. Five of Colfax’s returnees earned all-PVL first or second team honors a year ago.

The juniors coming up to the varsity level were 9-1 as JVs and earned a piece of the PVL JV title.

“We have some experience,” said Martello. “It’s now all about if we can blend it with our new players.”

Here’s a position-by-position look at the Falcons this season: Quarterback: Ryland Heimann, a 6-3, 185-pound senior, started eight games and earned second team all-PVL honors in 2017. Heimann connected on 60 per cent of his passes for 1,434 yards and eight touchdowns. Alex Weir, a junior, will be backing up Heimann.

Running Back: Colfax will feel the loss of Marc Avila (990 yds., 16 TDs) but the ground game should be in good hands. Senior Mason Ahrens, who was an all-PVL choice on defense, returns after gaining 978 yards, averaging 6.9 yards a carry and scoring 15 touchdowns. He’ll be joined by the top two rushers from last season’s JV squad, Troy Little and Dylan Owens.

Receivers – Senior Garren O’Keefe (6-5, 225), an all-PVL pick at tight end

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Colfax defensive lineman Anthony Lundberg brings down a Marysville ball carrier in last Friday’s scrimmage. (Courtesy) who lined up at several different positions in 2017, is back after leading the Falcons in receptions with 51. O’Keefe, who is being recruited by several Div. I-AA schools, totaled 733 yards and four scores. Another key returnee in the pass catching corps is junior Jake Green. As a sophomore, Green (6-3, 175) caught 21 balls for 386 yards and averaged nearly 20 yards a reception. Others expected to be in the mix at receiver include junior speedster Colton Reeves, six-foot six inch Max Wolff and Owens.

Offensive Line: The Falcons return four starters up front in the form of center Jared Ljubi (6-0, 215, 1st team all-PVL), guard Jacob Lahaie (5-11, 225) and tackles Tyler Austin (6-1, 195) and Trevor Searcy (6-1, 255, 2nd team allPVL) .Up from the JVs to add depth to the line is Mike O’Neil.

Linebackers: Ljubi, Owens and Lahaie, all received varsity experience at the linebacker posts a year ago. Wil Besler, a senior who was injured last season, will also see action as will junior Tucker Klopotek.

Defensive Line: The Falcons look to have some dept up front provided by returnees O’Keefe, Andru Tejada (5-11, 260) and Gage Ashlock. Newcomers John McCann, Anthony Lundberg, Parker Sullivan and Angelo Margherita will add depth.

Defensive Back: All-PVL pick Ahrens leads this group. He’ll be joined by Zach Fejes, Owens, Reeves, Jack Watts, and Vic Edwards, a transfer from Nevada Union.

Kicking Game: Look for Weir to handle the punting chores and O’Keefe the kicks from placement. ◆

2017 Football Preview | Placer Hillmen | Colfax Falcons | Bear River Bruins | Foresthill Wildfires

Special supplement of the Auburn Journal

||||||||| 2017 Varsity Game schedule |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Bear River Bruins When Opponent where 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25 Orland (Orland) Bear River High School 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 Union Mine (El Dorado) Union Mine High School 7 p.m. Sept. 8 Pershing County (Lovelock, NV) Bear River High School 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 Marysville (Marysville) Marysville High School 7:15 p.m. Sept. 22 El Dorado (Placerville) Black Out / Military Appreciation 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 Lincoln (Lincoln) Lincoln High School 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 Foothill (Sacramento) Foothill High School 7 p.m. Oct. 20 Colfax (Colfax) Bear River High School (rivalry Game) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 Placer (Auburn) Bear River High School 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 Center (Antelope) Center High School

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BEAR RIVER BRUINS ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

FRESH START FOR BRUINS by mike ray, For the Journal

Bear River receiver Calder Kunde heads up field after making a catch in Saturday’s Nevada Union scrimmage.

(Courtesy/obfoto.com)

The memories of the 2016 football season are a distant past for the Bear River Bruins.

In Bear River’s storied grid annals, not since Ronald Reagan was the President (1987), had the Bruins suffered a losing football campaign before last season’s 3-7 mark.

“We’re basically wiping the slate clean,” said Bear River cocoach Terry Logue who is starting his 31st season as a head coach including 28 at Bear River. “We went 26 years without a losing season here. Hopefully we can start a new streak.”

While declining enrollment and low player numbers have forced the Bruins to drop their freshman football program for a second straight year, spirits are high at the varsity level.

“The kids have a good attitude and are working hard,” Logue said. “We don’t have a whole lot of bodies but the ones out there are doing a good job.”

This season Bear River looks to build its core around five or six key returning players and then fill voids with seniors who were back-ups a year ago and junior newcomers.

“We may have five or six guys going both ways to start,” said Logue who co-coaches the Bruins with Scott Savoie.. “We lost a couple of kids to off-season injuries and we’re hoping to get Baze (Austin) back in week three or four.”

Logue was referring to Baze, Bear River’s 6-1, 230-pound running back-defensive lineman who will be starting his fourth season playing varsity football but is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Bear River will open the season Aug. 25 hosting Orland.

Here’s a look at the Bruins this season: Offensive Line: The Bruins have some experience up front with center Travis

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Carpenter, a CIF state meet wrestling qualifier, moving to guard and senior Kaden Ahlberg (5-11, 210) starting at tackle. Other players to watch include guard Josue Hurtado, junior center Trae Nix and junior tackle Jonny Carrillo.

Tight End: Garrett Pratt, a 6-3 215 pound junior, moves to tight end after starting at tackle last season.

Receivers: The Bruins will be athletic at the receiver spots with versatile all-Pioneer Valley League pick Stephen Taylor (5-11, 175) returning along with junior Calder Kunde, who saw time playing time last season as a sophomore.

Quarterback: All-PVL safety Luke Baggett will be at the reins of the Bruins offense. Baggett, who played some receiver a year ago, knows the playbook and looked good during summer drills.

He has played quarterback at the lower levels.

Running Back: Until Baze returns to the line-up, senior Josh Zimmer and junior Hunter Daniels will handle the ground game chores. Taylor will also be used on a variety of fly sweeps and reverses.

Defensive Line: Baze, who had 77 tackles, four fumble recoveries and a sack in just seven games last season, will headline the Bruins defense when he returns. Jake Leonard, at defensive end, Nix, Carrillo and Hayden Becker also are in the mix.

Linebackers: Pratt is expected to move into a linebacker’s role this season. He’ll be joined by Carpenter, Lukas Brodie and Daniels for the Bruins on the inside and outside.

Secondary: All-PVL pick Baggett and Zimmer return as safeties for the Bruins. The corners should be Kunde and sophomore Tre Maronic.

Kicking Game: Logue is excited about sophomore soccer player Alex Bohn. “He has a powerful leg,” said Logue. “He has legitimate 40-45 yard range.” ◆

Senior running back Josh Zimmer looks for running room in last Saturday’s scrimmage against Nevada Union.

(Courtesy/obfoto.com)

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FORESTHILL WILDFIRES ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Wildfires snag Colfax high’s assistant coach by mike ray, For the Journal

Elias Estrada looks up field after grabbing a pass in a recent Foresthill practice session.

(Michael Kirby/ Auburn Journal)

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After posting a 3-7 record in 2016, the Foresthill Wildfires football team will have a new look in 2017.

The Wildfires welcome former Colfax High assistant coach Steve Collier as the school’s new head man. This season Collier will implement both a new offensive and defensive look.

“The kids have picked up the new stuff pretty well,” said Collier. “They’re working hard and have a great attitude.”

A year ago, Foresthill had 49 players in its program, both varsity and JV. Of those players on the roster a year ago, just three were seniors.

“We have a lot kids back that were able to get Steven Collier is the new head on the field last year as underclassmen,” Collier football coach at Foresthill this said. “In one sense that’s good because we don’t season.

(Michael Kirby/Auburn Journal) have a whole lot of holes to fill.”

This season, Foresthill will field just a varsity squad. With the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section having a new “14-year-old waiver rule,” all players this season, regardless of grade, will be on the varsity team.

In past seasons, a player had to be 15-years of age to play varsity football in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section. The new “14-year-old waiver rule”, brings the section in line with CIF state regulations.

As far as the Wildfires’ early looks on the field, Collier was pleased what he saw in last week’s scrimmage action at Incline which included skirmishes with Silver Stage of Nevada and Valley Christian from Roseville.

“We made some mistakes but that’s going to happen early in the year,” said the Foresthill coach. “I thought we more than held our own.”

Foresthill’s pistol offense will be keyed by quarterback Blaise Roper, dive back Santiago Napoles and halfback Angel Napoles.

At the receiving spots, Roper will be throwing to Nick Lechner and Elias Estrada.

Up front, Collier wil be counting on the blocking of center R.J. Napoles, guards Mitch Finkland and Jerad Vculek and tackles Casey Baldwin and Matt Lee. Defensively, Foresthill’s “Eagle” look will consist of Finklang, Vculek, Santiago Napoles ad R.J. Napoles on the line.

At linebacker, Foresthill will go with Angel Napoles, brody Johnston and Roper.

In the secondary, Lechner, Estrada, Kaiden Pennington and Caleb Westrom have all looked good in early drills.

Foresthill opens its season hosting Portola on Friday night at 7 p.m. ◆

2017 Football Preview | Placer Hillmen | Colfax Falcons | Bear River Bruins | Foresthill Wildfires

Special supplement of the Auburn Journal

||||||||| 2017 Varsity Game schedule |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

FORESTHILL WILDFIRES When Opponent where 7 p.m. Aug. 25 Portola (Portola) Foresthill High School 7 p.m. Sept. 1 Turlock Christian (Turlock) Foresthill High School 7 p.m. Sept. 8 Maxwell (Maxwell) Game Details: Varsity only 7 p.m. Sept. 15 Biggs (Biggs) Biggs High School 7 p.m. Sept. 22 Incline (Incline Village, NV) Foresthill High School 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 Quincy (Quincy) Feather River College 7 p.m. Oct. 14 Valley Christian (Roseville) Highlands High School Foresthill High School 7 p.m. Oct. 20 Delta (Clarksburg) 7:05 p.m. Oct. 27 Western Sierra Collegiate Academy (Rocklin) Mahaney Park 7 p.m. Nov. 3 Woodland Christian (Woodland) Foresthill High School

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2017 Football Preview | Placer Hillmen | Colfax Falcons | Bear River Bruins | Foresthill Wildfires

Special supplement of the Auburn Journal