COLUSA, CA (MPG) – After seeing their squad decimated by injuries and finishing out of the playoff picture in 2024, albeit due to no lack of effort on their part, the RedHawks are looking to get back on track with a healthy team and new head coach.
Mason Niccum takes the helm this season in what is his first head coaching job after putting in stints as an assistant at both Marysville and Yuba City.
Since taking over last spring, Niccum has been very pleased with his team’s approach in its preparation for the upcoming season and that he is building trust in the process.
“These are very good kids. They are fun to be around and they are very coachable,” said Niccum. “I also think what they have learned about me is how much I care for them and have their best interest at heart.”
That mutual respect is going to be essential for the RedHawks this year as they adapt to new systems on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, Colusa will implement the veer, featuring a trio of seniors in David Belmontes, Eric Gonzalez and Chris Ruiz in the backfield.
Belmontes opens the season as QB1, having impressed Niccum and his staff with his work ethic and leadership despite not starting a game at the position in 2024.
Gonzalez and Ruiz both suffered injuries last year and as a result did not play a full slate of games, but have the potential to gash opposing defenses with a combination of speed and power.
In five games a season ago, Gonzalez averaged 5.1 yards per carry, with Ruiz going 5.5 yards a pop.
Now back at full strength, Gonzalez is looking forward to his final season in Colusa saying, “We are a healthy team and have put in the work. We are all friends and push each other.”
For Niccum, the three seniors provide a strong foundation for the offense as he explained, “These guys are tough kids who want to get downhill and will scratch and claw for tough yards. That’s just something you can’t teach, so we’re excited to see those three run the ball for us.”
Of course, Colusa will also need strong play from its offensive line to open up the lanes in the quick-hitting and hopefully explosive scheme.
While the RedHawks would love to get Ulises Campos, a lineman who played on the state championship team as a sophomore in 2023, back from injury at some point, they will look to seniors Hunter Purvis, Henry Jewett and Jayden Soto to be key factors.
Thus far Purvis believes that the squad is progressing nicely and will be a good one if they can stay healthy this season.
“We’re solid,” said Purvis. “We have guys that want to come out and work. Of course, we want to stay away from injuries, but this team has a good connection. We practice hard, but we still have fun.”
On the other side of the ball, Niccum praised the effort that juniors Haiden Parnell and Emi Guzman have put in preparing for the upcoming season.
Parnell will play on the defensive line, while Guzman will patrol the secondary in Colusa’s 3-4 defense.
Another player that should figure prominently for the RedHawks is senior Asher Amsden, one of the teams’ captains, a defensive end, who will also play tight end.
Given the difficult schedule Colusa faces wins will not come easy, but Niccum sees one area for improvement that could help the RedHawks as the season progresses explaining that, “If we can be really good at special teams it will be a huge deal for us. Not everyone realizes when you’re good on special teams, but they are huge for the field position battle and allows us to create opportunities offensively whether that is scoring points or stealing an extra possession.”
Colusa opened its season last Friday night at home against Colfax, then heads to Yreka and Williams before hosting Gridley to end their non-conference schedule.
However, things don’t get much easier when Sacramento Valley League play commences and the RedHawks face Pierce, Winters and Durham on consecutive weeks.
Still, as Niccum and his squad begin their journey together, the first-year head coach is optimistic that it the team “will compete for all four quarters every Friday night.”
Sacramento Valley League
2024-25 record: 2-8 Overall, 1-5 League
Playoffs: None
Offense: Veer
Defense: 3-4
Facility: Larry Yeghioan Field
Head coach: Mason Niccum, 1st season (0-0)
Assistant coaches: John Ithurburn, Zach Troughton, Eric Niccum & Fielding Uhland
2025-26 Schedule
Aug. 22 Colfax
Aug. 29 @ Yreka
Sept. 5 Bye
Sept. 12 @ Williams
Sept. 19 Gridley
Sept. 26 Pierce*
Oct. 3 Winters*
Oct. 10 @ Durham*
Oct. 17 Paradise*
Oct. 24 Bye
Oct. 31 @ Willows*
Nov. 7 @ East Nicolaus*
* denotes Sacramento Valley League game
2024-25 Results
L Colfax 27-28
L Yreka. 18-38
W Williams 18-0
L Gridley 0-27
L Pierce* 8-20
L Winters* 0-48
L Durham* 7-36
L Paradise* 18-21
L Willows* FF
L East Nicolaus*. 7-38
* denotes Sacramento Valley League game