Count on Calaveras, Tough title, playoff run?

If there's one constant in the foothills, it's that Calaveras is heading to the playoffs: It has gone to the postseason every season since the millennium, and the Redskins reached the final in 2002 and 2010 before falling to Escalon. Expect another playoff trip this fall, thanks in part to coach Jason Weatherby's spread offense. It's a scheme that lets Calaveras get the ball to its best skill players at different spots on the field — and the Redskins return some of their top threats in QB Zack Johnson (1,100 yards, 8 TDs), RB Kellen Hodgson (975 yards, 12 TDs) and TE Bryan Golston (13 catches, 20-yard average).

Tough To Get That Title

The section Division 4 playoffs will be full of quality teams — Central Catholic, Escalon, Sonora, perhaps even Placer and Los Banos after each suffered a drop in enrollment — and that means life could be difficult again for a foothill team that is shooting for that crown. The MLL is 2-14 in finals since the playoffs began in 1971 — Bret Harte (1979) and Argonaut (2004) brought home titles — and it includes a heartbreaking loss in 2010 when Escalon threw a Hail Mary and beat Calaveras in the final minute. The Trans-Valley League, by contrast, has won 20 titles and played in 38 finals. Escalon (8-5), Hilmar (6-4) and Hughson (4-5) have led the way.

Jumping into Playoffs?

Bret Harte owns a treasure only one other MLL team can boast of — it has won a section title. But it hasn't enjoyed a playoff victory since the turn of the millennium. Its lone playoff trip since then came in 2007, though the 'Frogs came within a few points last year. Three losses by a combined six points, including 35-33 to Calaveras in the finale, left Bret Harte 5-5 and a game out of the playoffs. The schedule says it could be back in 2012: Only two of this year's 10 foes were over .500 a year ago.