Chico High and Red Bluff squared off at Red Bluff Spartan Stadium on Friday night in the season finale, with the No. 2 seed in the Northern Section Division II playoffs on the line, and the Panthers made too many mistakes to defeat the Spartans.

With the 31-19 win, the Spartans (3-2 in Eastern Athletic League play, 8-2 overall) staked a claim for the second Division II playoffs, a spot they should have earned last year except for a seeding error.

Despite the loss, the Panthers ended the season with a remarkable bounce-back campaign, finishing tied for second in the league 3-2 and overall 8-2.

This, just one year after they finished 1-9 overall in 2024 — a season where the seeds for growth were first planted.

“We’ve made a huge turnaround. You know, a lot of it, our seniors have really

See Full Page