East Nicolaus Spartans 2025
2024 record: 7-5, lost to Winters in CIF Northern Section Division IV FinalA
Coach: Josh Appelt
League: Sacramento Valley League
EAST NICOLAUS, CA (YSBC) – The East Nicolaus Spartans enter 2025 as one of the most experienced and deepest rosters in the Northern Section.
East Nicolaus head coach Josh Appelt expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that this roster consists of multiple third-year players at the varsity level and this is the most experience roster
“They’ve had their ups and downs, we’ve dealt with the injuries and anything else you could think of,” Appelt said. “They’ve come together, they’re locked in and have an end goal.”
Appelt told YSBC that since the Spartans last played in November at Winters, they’ve been focused on this season. “They have lived, ate, hit the weight room and are ready for football,” Appelt said.
He added that the boys have set high expectations but he wants to see a lot of physicality and ball security when they open up 1025 at Colfax on Friday, August 29.
Appelt reiterated multiple times he’s never had a team like this to where they push one another to get better and hold each other accountable.
Offense
2026 Quarterback, Mason Taylor – Taylor led East Nicolaus with almost 1400 passing yards and completed 17 passing touchdowns. He added 11 more on the ground with more than 600 rushing yards.
His accuracy percentage of 49% last year is misleading as his vision down field is clear and he can hit the open man with a solid strike.
2026 Wide Receiver, Mikey Robbins – Robbins is a lengthy and big target down field for Mason to toss the ball too and capable of going up to snag a high pass out of the air.
Robbins had six touchdown grabs last season and tied for the team lead with 32 receptions. Robbins will be a focal point on the offensive passing game and will get a ton of time at defense end on the other side of the ball with 10.0 sacks.
Defense
2026 Defensive End Austin Felkins – Felkins was all over the field last season for the Spartans. The seasoned veteran told YSBC that they are going to put the work in weekly and let it all show on the field each Friday night.
2026 Defensive End Jayden Marshall – Marshall was a juggernaut defensively for East Nicolaus last year. Big plays were a common staple for Marshall defensively.
He had 46 tackles, including 13.0 for loss and 5.5 sacks. He displayed phenomenal handwork as he deflected passes, had one interception and forced four fumbles in the middle last year.
Schedule
8/29 at Colfax, 7 p.m.
9/5 vs. El Dorado (Placerville), 7:30 p.m.
9/12 vs. Marysville, 7:30 p.m.
9/19 at West Valley (Cottonwood), 7:30 p.m.
9/26 at Willows * 7:30 p.m.
10/3 vs. Pierce (Arbuckle) * 7:30 p.m.
10/10 at Paradise * 7:30 p.m.
10/17 vs. Winters * 7:30 p.m.
10/24 at Durham * 7:30 p.m
11/7 vs. Colusa * 7:30 p.m.
East Nicolaus opens up the season against Colfax for the second-straight year and they have an opportunity to get off to a great start through the preseason.
When the Sacramento Valley League schedule starts in the final
week of September, the fun begins. The Spartans went 4-2 in the SVL as they dropped a winnable game on the road at Pierce and were beaten handily by eventual NSCIF D-IV Champion in Winters.
The games against Winters and Pierce will both be at home this season and have a chance to win their first SVL crown since 2022.
The best part about this league is records don’t matter due to the fact of the competitiveness between these long time rivals of these squads.
