Sonora Wildcats

Coach: Bryan Craig

Career record: 24-14

Record at school: 24-14

Last year: Sonora (8-4, 5-2) would have been 9-0 going into its showdown with 9-0 Oakdale, if not losing to Manteca and Modesto by a combined three points. An impressive 42-20 win over Bear River opened the playoffs, before Escalon dominated the Wildcats 28-7 in Division 4 quarterfinals.

Last league title: 2005

Last playoff berth: 2011

Coaching staff: Kirk Clifton, Josh Kroeze, Ed Pelfrey, John Canepa, Jordan DePaoli. JV: Jeremy McDonald, Jon Abernathy, Dan McHoul, Jed Malone. Frosh: Jim Mele, Mike Suess, Rocco Pallante, John Stoy.

Top returners: RB Brandon Camera (6-0, 220), LB Steve Lawrence (6-0, 200, jr.), FB Christian Lapertche (5-8, 150), OL Jesse Ahrenholtz (6-2, 205), WR Casey Holman (6-1, 170).

Top newcomers: QB Andrew Nessi (5-10, 170, jr.), RB Ryan Puou (5-9, 150, jr.).

Outlook: The Wildcats return their top three RBs from 2011, including Camera (1,400 yards rushing). Lawrence and Laperteche will provide plenty of depth, and the top kids up from the JV team also play in the backfield – so the skill positions are in good hands. Nessi was the QB for the JV team last fall, leading it to a 6-4 record. … Sonora has made the playoffs nine of the last 10 years – it went 7-3 in 2008, missing the postseason under the old section format – but hasn’t won the VOL outright since 2000. … With three quality rivals in Oakdale, Manteca and Seirra, the Wildcats hope to control the ball and limit the opportunities for those explosive offenses.

Key game: Week 8 (Oct. 19) at Sierra. Playing on the road is a challenge in the VOL, and how will the Wildcats handle a dynamic runner like Anthony Cota? He was sidelined when the teams met last fall.