In short: ETNA Lions high school football (Etna, CA), 2026 season: 7-1. Last game: W 42-0 vs MT. Shasta on October 23, 2026. Next: vs Redding Christian, October 30, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
The number to watch when ETNA meets Redding Christian is ETNA's scoring defense. ETNA allowed 24.3 points per game over its first 3 games (2-1), #20 in Section in that timeframe. In the 5 games since that slow start (5-0), the Lions have allowed 7.6 points per game, a 69% drop, #6 in Section in that window. The schedule deserves some of the credit: ETNA's last 5 opponents have averaged 11.4 points per game, a #38 offense in Section on the season, against 30.0 points per game, #10 for the first 3. Measured against those opponents' norms (11.4 points per game), ETNA held those offenses 34% below what they usually score. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 5 opponents average a rating that would rank #39 in Section, well below the first 3 (#30), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. Conversely, Redding Christian's offense has been one of Section's better units in recent weeks. The Lions have averaged 32.4 points per game over their last 5 games (5-0), #10 in Section during that time. Those games came against some of the weaker scoring defenses in Section (28.3 points per game on the season, which would rank #31). Against those norms, Redding Christian scored 15% more than those defenses usually allow. Overall, those opponents average an SP Strength Index rating that would rank #38 in Section, a lower level of competition. Something has to give when ETNA's surging defense meets one of Section's better units in Redding Christian's.
NOTES
The biggest shift in ETNA's season has come in its ground game. ETNA averaged 4.7 yards per carry (498 yards on 107 rushes) over its first 3 games (2-1), #31 in Section through those games. In the 5 games since that slow start (5-0), the Lions have averaged 7.2 yards per carry (1,266 yards on 177 rushes), a 54% rise, #10 in Section through that stretch. The schedule deserves some of the credit: ETNA's last 5 opponents have averaged 8.2 yards per carry, a #38 run defense in Section on the season, against 5.3 yards per carry, #12 for the first 3. Measured against those opponents' norms (8.2 yards per carry), ETNA ran for 13% less per carry than those run defenses usually allow. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents usually give up. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 5 opponents average a rating that would rank #39 in Section, well below the first 3 (#30), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. On the season, ETNA ranks #19 in Section in rushing. That form gets a real test against Redding Christian, whose run defense ranks #3 in Section (3.9 yards per carry).
ETNA's offense has come a long way since the season's early weeks. The Lions averaged 6.8 yards per play (1,165 yards on 172 snaps) over their first 3 games (2-1), #17 in Section over that stretch. In the 5 games since that slow start (5-0), ETNA has averaged 8.7 yards per play (2,209 yards on 254 snaps), a 28% rise, #5 in Section within that period. The schedule deserves some of the credit: ETNA's last 5 opponents have averaged 9.4 yards per play, a #41 defense in Section on the season, against 6.4 yards per play, #19 for the first 3. Measured against those opponents' norms (9.4 yards per play), ETNA gained 7% less per snap than those defenses usually allow. So the improvement is real, but it still trails what those opponents usually give up. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 5 opponents average a rating that would rank #39 in Section, well below the first 3 (#30), so the recent production comes against lower-level teams overall. On the season, the Lions rank #8 in Section in yards per play. That form gets a real test against Redding Christian, whose defense ranks #2 in Section (4.1 yards per play).
ETNA averaged 48.2 points per game over its first 5 games (4-1), #2 in Section across those games. Few teams started faster in this department, and few have cooled off as sharply since. Over the stretch of 3 games that followed (3-0), the Lions have averaged 35.7 points per game, a 26% drop, #9 in Section during those games. The schedule has a lot to do with it: ETNA's last 3 opponents have averaged 31.3 points per game, a #37 scoring defense in Section on the season, against 34.7 points per game, #39 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (31.3 points per game), ETNA scored 14% more than those defenses usually allow. By that measure, the early pace looks more like the outlier than the recent one. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 3 opponents average a rating that would rank #39 in Section, well below the first 5 (#32), which makes the dip harder to excuse. On the season, ETNA ranks #2 in Section in scoring. It won't get any easier against Redding Christian, whose defense ranks #1 in Section (5.2 points per game).
Something changed for ETNA's passing game after its first 4 games. The Lions averaged 10.3 yards per pass attempt (729 yards on 71 attempts) over their first 4 games (3-1), #10 in Section during that period. In the 4 games since that slow start (4-0), ETNA has averaged 12.4 yards per pass attempt (881 yards on 71 attempts), a 21% rise, #5 in Section during that stretch. The schedule doesn't explain it: the opponents in both stretches have averaged about 10.5 yards per attempt on the season. Measured against those opponents' norms (10.7 yards per attempt), ETNA threw for 16% more per attempt than those pass defenses usually allow. Overall, though, those opponents have been lower-level teams: their average SP Strength Index rating would rank just #38 in Section. On the season, the Lions rank #4 in Section in passing. That form gets a real test against Redding Christian, whose pass defense ranks #1 in Section (4.4 yards per attempt).
TIDBITS (11 found)
• Club Etna has won 5 straight, and a win would make it 6 in a row. The last time they won 6 or more in a row was 2024, a run of 7.
• Club The last time Etna went a game allowing 200+ passing yards was August 29, 2025 against Anderson (L, 0-38). Since then Etna has gone 17 straight games holding the opponent under 200 passing yards, a school-record 17 straight in the 5 seasons on record.
• Club Etna has gone 8 straight games committing fewer than 3 turnovers (August 28, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 7-1 over that stretch, a school-record 8 straight in the 5 seasons on record.
• Club Etna has gone 7 straight games rushing for 100+ yards (September 3, 2026 through October 23, 2026), going 6-1 over that stretch, a school-record 7 straight in the 5 seasons on record.
• Club Etna has scored 107 points over its last 3 games (35.7 a game, October 9, 2026 through October 23, 2026) -- its 5th-highest 3-game total on record; the most is 165, from September 11, 2026 through October 5, 2026.
• Player Oren Roman has 5 rushing touchdowns over his last 3 games (1.7 a game, October 5, 2026 through October 16, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Clint Jenner has 5 rushing touchdowns over his last 3 games (1.7 a game, October 5, 2026 through October 16, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Paul Stapleton has 4 sacks over his last 4 games (1.0 a game, September 11, 2026 through October 9, 2026) -- his most in a 4-game stretch on record.
• Player Theran Isbell has 3 sacks over his last 3 games (1.0 a game, October 5, 2026 through October 16, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Oren Roman has 393 rushing yards over his last 3 games (131.0 a game, October 5, 2026 through October 16, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch since the 451 he had from September 3, 2026 through September 25, 2026.
• Player Orrick Long has gone 2 straight games recording two or more tackles for loss, the longest such streak of his career.
MILESTONE WATCH
ETNA
Theran Isbell needs 1 tackle for 50 (averaging 7.0 a game)
Oren Roman needs 85 rushing yards for 1,000 (averaging 130.7 a game)
Orrick Long needs 0 sacks for 5 (averaging 0.6 a game)
Carter Isbell needs 161 passing yards for 1,500 (averaging 191.3 a game)
Win chances are the site's own game projections where one is on file, otherwise the SP Strength Index gap with a small home edge. The realistic range covers 80% of outcomes (10th to 90th percentile).
Every player with a stat on file, listed only where he has one. Open the arrow beside a name for his game-by-game line. Stats through the Oct 16 game; last updated Oct 21; roster and numbers checked Sep 7.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
PPG/OPP PPG use every played game on file. YPG/PLAYS-PER-GAME columns only ever come from games with a full box score on file, which can be a smaller sample than GP -- see the coverage note below when that's the case for this team.
Averages use only games with that number on file (defense 5/8, sacks/INT 7/8, sacks allowed 4/8 games). SACKS ALW comes from the opponent's box score; TO FORCED is takeaways; TO MAR is takeaways minus giveaways, and its bottom cell is the season total. Dashes mean not on file.
UNIT INDEX
Pass Offense: grade 50.1/100 (-14 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 22.7/100 (-73 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 76.4/100 (-42 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 41.8/100 (+13 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, adjusted for the opponents faced.
ETN finished 2025 at 1-9. Missed playoffs. Notable win: 34-12 over WEED (WEED finished 0% that season). Toughest loss: 6-18 to FALL RIVER (12-point margin).
"N/A" stands in for a box score that does not have stats entered. A total followed by a count in parentheses covers only the games with that stat on file.
TALKING POINTS (15 storylines)
ETN HAS PERFORMED BEST THIS DATA SET WHEN...
• ETN holds its opponents under 7.0 yards per play (.750), and has won 4 straight when doing so
• ETN commits fewer than 3 giveaways (.692), and has won 5 straight when doing so
• ETN rushes for 100+ yards (.812), and has won 5 straight when doing so
• ETN averages 5.0+ yards per carry (.857), and has won 4 straight when doing so
• ETN's offense has averaged 46.2 points scored per game over their last 5 games. Their 29-game average is 22.6 points scored per game. (+105%)
• ETN's offense has averaged 14.0 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 19-game average is 7.9 YPA. (+77%)
• ETN's offense has averaged 210.0 pass yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 27-game average is 119.3 pass yards per game. (+76%)
• ETN's defense has averaged 6.0 points allowed per game over their last 3 games. Their 29-game average is 23.2 points allowed per game. (-74%)
• ETN's offense has averaged 7.2 YPC over their last 5 games. Their 19-game average is 4.2 YPC. (+70%)
• ETN's offense has averaged 0.6 giveaways per game over their last 5 games. Their 19-game average is 1.8 giveaways per game. (-67%)
• ETN's offense has averaged 9.0 YPP over their last 5 games. Their 19-game average is 5.6 YPP. (+60%)
• ETN's defense has averaged 3.3 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 15-game average is 7.9 YPA. (-58%)
• ETN's offense has averaged 441.8 total yards per game over their last 5 games. Their 27-game average is 281.6 total yards per game. (+57%)
• ETN's offense has averaged 253.2 rush yards per game over their last 5 games. Their 27-game average is 162.3 rush yards per game. (+56%)
• ETN's defense has averaged 55.0 pass yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 15-game average is 122.9 pass yards per game. (-55%)
• ETNA has held the opponent under 14 in 3 straight games (10/9/26–10/23/26). It has not reached 4 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• ETNA has forced 2+ turnovers in 2 straight games (10/16/26–10/23/26). It has not reached 3 straight in the last 4 years of games on file (2023-present).
• ETNA has won 5 straight (9/25/26–10/23/26). It has not won 6 straight since 9/6/24–10/25/24 (2024).
ETN's defense has averaged 6.0 points allowed per game over their last 3 games. Their 29-game average is 23.2 points allowed per game. (-74%)
ETN's defense has averaged 3.3 YPA over their last 3 games. Their 15-game average is 7.9 YPA. (-58%)
ETN's defense has averaged 55.0 pass yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 15-game average is 122.9 pass yards per game. (-55%)
ETN's defense has averaged 156.0 total yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 15-game average is 320.7 total yards per game. (-51%)
ETN's defense has averaged 99.0 rush yards per game over their last 5 games. Their 15-game average is 197.8 rush yards per game. (-50%)
ETN's defense has averaged 3.8 YPP over their last 3 games. Their 15-game average is 7.0 YPP. (-46%)
ETN's defense has averaged 4.1 YPC over their last 3 games. Their 15-game average is 6.1 YPC. (-33%)
(moved to the Appendix, Data Export 1, to keep this section shorter -- the full spreadsheet-paste table is there unchanged)
APPENDIX
Full-length explanations and full-size data exports for the shortened notes and relocated tables referenced throughout this report, numbered in the order their pointers appear above.
Explanatory Notes
Note 1 -- SEASON OUTLOOK
Every remaining game is projected from schedule-adjusted ratings; already-played games carry their real result. Records are simulated distributions, not a single guess -- MOST LIKELY FINAL is the single most probable record and its own probability, PROJECTED RECORD is the season's expected win total expressed in record form (an average across every simulated outcome, so it can land on a fraction of a game).
Note 2 -- OPPONENT TRACKER -- why some cards have no record shown
Only meaningful for an opponent who is ALSO a tracked team in the library -- an opponent with no games on file here at all shows the date and site alone.
Note 3 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on how strong the number is and how much it sets this team apart from its opponent and the rest of the field, and the top 5 per team are listed. A condition needs at least 8 occurrences to count.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
Where ETNA sits among 41 section teams on the two Unit Index composites -- Offense Grade 21.9, Defense Grade 49.3.
PASS YARDS / GAME: ETNA VS THE SECTION
ETNA ranks #3 of 40 section teams in passing yards per game (207.7) -- a strength worth a look.
ETNA: SP STRENGTH INDEX BY SEASON
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- -16.4 in 2022 to -13.5 in 2026.
These graphs were chosen by the program from this season's most notable numbers. Build your own -- any stat against any other, for any mix of teams, seasons or players, with a JPEG download -- in the Graph Builder.
