Ripon Indians

Coach: Chris Johnson

Career record: 47-37

Record at school: 47-37

Last year: Ripon (8-3, 4-2) enjoyed a landmark win over Argonaut in Week 4, but was toppled the next two weeks by Hilmar and Escalon. It recovered to win the final four against second-tier teams, before a stunning loss to Livingston in the playoff opener. Last league title: 1997

Last playoff berth: 2011

Coaching staff: Darin Higgins, Chris Musseman, Jorge Velasco, Steve Magazinivich, Glen White, Mark Duxbury, Michael Merchant, Grover Caetano, Ken Tyhurst, Loren Johnson.

Top returners: WR Cole Herrin (6-1, 165), Josh McCreath (6-1, 195), Anthony aciocco (5-8, 165), LB Tyler Swortfiguer (6-1, 200< OL/DL Kody Day (6-1, 230, jr.), QB Kyle Wengel (5-9, 175), OL/DL Andrew Carlson (6-5, 240), RB/LB Michael Morris (5-10, 180, jr.)

Top newcomers: RB/LB Michael Ysit, WR/DB Bradley Clark, RB/DB Josh Clark, OL/LB Troy Burth.

Outlook: McCreath (1,178, 6-yard avg., 7 TDs) and Baciocco (1,021, 7, 5) provide plenty of quality in the backfieldm, and Wengel (95 of 184, 1,357 yards, 20 TDs, 10 INTs) should improve his accuracy with a year’s experience. … Herrin (35 catches, 13.9, 9; 3 INTs) is a two-time all-leaguer at WR and DB, and Baciocco (22, 11.8, 8) is in the passing game. … Day (7 sacks) and Swortfiguer (8.2 tackles a game) are back on defense. Day might be the TVL’s top noseguard, but the Indians could be small and thin elsewhere on both lines.

Key game: Week 7 (Oct. 12) vs. Hilmar. Gotta beat the champion if you want to become the champion, and a win here would be an achievement for a Ripon program that often struggles against physical teams. Ripon has the better skill players here.