Butte College Football Kicks Off CCCAA Playoffs Against DVC

The Butte College football team is set to begin its journey in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) playoffs, facing Diablo Valley College (DVC) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Pleasant Hill. The Roadrunners, having secured the NorCal Conference title with an overall record of 8-2 and a conference mark of 4-1, enter the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the NorCal Regional bracket.

The playoff bracket features 12 teams, divided evenly between the northern and southern regions. The champions of each bracket will compete for the CCCAA championship on December 13. Should Butte emerge victorious against DVC, they will face the No. 2 seed, Modesto, which has an overall record of 8-2 and received a bye in the first round.

The NorCal bracket also includes No. 1 San Mateo (9-1), No. 4 San Francisco City College (7-3), and No. 5 Fresno City (6-4). In the latest Junior College Athletic Bureau Football Coaches Poll released on November 10, 2023, Butte is ranked No. 10, while DVC holds the No. 6 position. Modesto is currently ranked No. 8.

Despite not having faced each other during the regular season, both teams share five common opponents. Both Butte and DVC recorded victories against American River College, Shasta, Laney, and San Francisco City College. However, Butte lost a closely contested game to College of the Redwoods, while DVC triumphed over Redwoods by a score of 54-28.

Familiarity extends beyond the teams to their coaching staff. DVC head coach Jimmy Collins is in his second season with the Vikings after previously coaching at San Francisco City College from 2015 to 2023.

The Roadrunners have experienced numerous tight matches this season, with seven games decided by a single score. This trend emphasizes the importance of every possession in the upcoming playoff clash.

All-NorCal Conference Honors

In preparation for their playoff game, Butte College received recognition for its players in the All-NorCal Conference honors. The following players were named to the All-Conference First Team:

– RB: Niall Raby
– Offensive MVP: Amare Cooper
– DL: Jeremiah Johnson, Defensive MVP
– TE: Ben Wheeler
– OL: Quamire Jones (2nd selection)
– OL: Braden Illingworth
– DL: Kai Baugh
– DL: Quinten Beamon
– LB: Jonah Flowers
– DB: Nakeel Lawrence
– DB: Ojani Gray
– DB: Ty Williams
– K: Lane Garner
– P: Ashton Carr
– Coach of the Year: Robby Snelling (2nd selection)

With the playoffs now upon them, the Roadrunners aim to leverage their successful season and continue their pursuit of a CCCAA championship. As they prepare for this crucial matchup, the team looks to build on their strong performance and capitalize on the experience gained throughout the season.