COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Last year at this time the Colusa RedHawks were basically starting from scratch. With a new coaching staff along with unfamiliar offensive and defensive schemes, while the team played hard, success wasn’t always measured in wins. However, this season the outlook is far brighter.
With a full year in the system and having had a productive offseason, second-year head coach Mason Niccum is pleased with the direction the team is headed saying, “I learned last year about the importance of a year-round strength and conditioning program. We had a great offseason and we are looking forward to seeing that translate.”
On offense, Colusa will run the veer/triple option again this year, but perhaps a truer version of it with some new wrinkles added in as it looks to move the ball more effectively and improve upon the 193.7 yards of total offense per game it averaged in 2025.
Something that will help the RedHawks accomplish their goals is increased depth, starting at quarterback position where a battle between senior Ayden Rico and junior Carson Cain is so tight that Niccum, who will call the offensive plays, says it may boil down to the pair sharing the duties depending on the play and/or matchup.
For his part Rico has the edge in varsity experience, having attempted 36 passes in 2025 for 231 yards and three touchdowns, while Cain threw for 720 yards in his two junior varsity seasons.
Junior Nick Alvarez, who in six games a season ago averaged 7.5 yards a carry, is a player to watch at wing back, although Colusa can turn to seniors Asa Selover and fullback Ben Baker along with junior Caleb De La Torre as well.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Selover has the most familiarity in the offense, being the teams’ second leading receiver averaging 13.6 yards per catch, while also rushing a smattering of times at 9.2 yards per clip.
As one of the teams’ captains Selover says there is a different attitude in the RedHawk camp this season in addition to a greater cohesion among the players commenting that, “One of the biggest differences over last year is that the guys have more drive. Every rep is competitive. Also, we all played youth football together, so there is good chemistry.”
In addition to Selover, Colusa expects big things from senior Emi Guzman at wide receiver, where it also has junior Dante Santana as an option.
Colusa is well-stocked on the line as well, but is counting on senior Aidan Vega to be the anchor on both sides of the ball.
Despite the relatively new group that the RedHawks have in the trenches, Vega says they are playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulders which he believes is beneficial to the team.
“We are a little undersized but that’s okay because it makes us work and has helped us develop toughness. Our new guys got called up for the playoff game last year, so they know how it all works.”
In addition to Vega, fellow senior Haiden Parnell along with juniors Diego Bedolla, Dane Codorniz, Charlie Faris and Edwin Manjarrez are likely to pull double duty on the line as well.
Parnell is one of the other battled tested defensive linemen having averaged 4.3 tackles per game in 2025.
Alvarez, Baker and Selover head up a linebacker crew that also includes Gio Velasquez, while De La Torre will be featured in a hybrid outside linebacker/strong safety position.
To round out the RedHawk defense senior Benji Mata and junior Noah Castro will help patrol the secondary.
Overall, Niccum likes his teams’ chemistry and feels that its speed will also be an asset, but certainly one of the areas where the RedHawks want to see improvement is in taking care of the football given they were -13 in the turnover/takeaway ratio.
Nonetheless, a softer preseason schedule this year should help Colusa gain some early confidence before facing the gauntlet of some tough Sacramento Valley League competition.
COLUSA REDHAWKS
Sacramento Valley League
2025-26 record: 3-8 Overall, 2-4 League
Playoffs: Lost to Durham in 1st Round of NSCIF D4 playoffs
Offense: Veer/Triple Option
Defense: 3-4
Facility: Larry Yeghioan Field
Head coach: Mason Niccum, 2nd season (3-8)
Assistant coaches: Marco Garcia, Eric Niccum, Fielding Uhland & Preston Salmans
2026-27 Schedule
Aug. 28 Bye
Sept. 4 @ Mt. Shasta
Sept. 11 Williams
Sept. 18 @ Hamilton City
Sept. Winters*
Oct. 2 @ Durham*
Oct. 9 @ Paradise*
Oct. 16 Willows*
Oct. 23 @ East Nicolaus*
Oct. 30 @ Pierce*
Nov. 6 Upper Lake
* denotes Sacramento Valley League game
2025-26 Results
L Colfax 14-34
L Yreka 12-43
W Williams 23-0
L Gridley 7-27
L Pierce* 7-24
L Winters* 0-46
W Durham* 29-14
L Paradise* 24-35
W Willows* 37-6
L East Nicolaus*. 13-54
L Durham** 0-18
* denotes Sacramento Valley League game
**denotes NSCIF D4 playoff game