With high school football beginning this month, we’re previewing each Northern 5A and 4A team. Today’s team: North Valleys High School.

North Valleys

Nuts and bolts

Mascot: Panthers

Colors: Black, teal and silver

League: 4A

Last season: 5-7 overall, 2-3 league (fourth out of six teams in the Northern 5A-III)

Coach: Brad Rose (Fourth season, 10-22 overall, 4-11 league)

Season overview

All-region players lost: Ezzard Teats (DL), Zach Clarke (WR/ST), Chase Busick (LB), Sione Fonohea (DB)

Returning all-region players: Mikole Almond (QB), Mason Baker (DL)

In short: There are reps to be won at North Valleys after the loss of a massive 36-player senior class. In Brad Rose’s three years at the helm, the Panthers have went from two wins in 2022 to three in 2023 and five in 2024. To continue that upward trajectory, North Valleys will need strong production from the limited number of returners and instant impacts from the players moving up. This year’s senior class went 7-2 as sophomores on junior varsity, which gives the Panthers reason for optimism as they look to make a splash in the new 4A. Returning an all-region player on each side of the ball, North Valleys will have some veteran pillars to lean on. Rose said he’s also spent extra time on the mental aspect of the game in order to keep his group mindful and grounded as it heads into the year. Experience will be the best teacher for this group, which should get better as the year goes on.

Players to watch

* Mikole Almond (QB): It’s the third and final year on varsity for the Panthers’ senior quarterback. Last season, Almond competed 65 percent of his passes (148-of-226) for 2,024 yards, throwing 24 touchdowns to just six interceptions en route to a second-team all-region selection. He said North Valleys will be looking to air it out even more in 2025.

* Benjamin Morello (LB): The junior will lead the defense after seeing significant time as a sophomore on varsity, playing in eight of the Panthers’ 12 games. Morello finished with 69 tackles, good for second on the team and ninth in all of the Northern 5A-III. Five of those tackles went for a loss in yardage, impressive numbers considering he missed 25 percent of the season.

* Orion Maniscalco (LB/TE): The senior last saw the field as a sophomore during North Valleys’ 2023 playoff game before tearing his ACL during preseason camp in 2024.

Quote to note

“I want them to have pride in the North Valleys. A lot of times we’ve been around, there’s a lot of negativity out here. Usually from the outside, not from within. We’ve embraced ‘Valleys Tough.’ We’ve embraced some characteristics that I think have always been embodied in this school. But it’s now showcasing it to them and letting them know wherever they’re at it doesn’t matter; you can be what you want to be as long as you put the work in.” — Head coach Brad Rose

Schedule

8/14 at South Tahoe

8/22 vs. Churchill County

8/29 vs. Galena

9/5 vs. Wheatland (Calif.)

9/12 at Douglas

9/25 vs. Carson

10/3 at McQueen

10/17 vs. Wooster

10/24 at Hug

10/30 at Reno

You can watch the full preview below.