The good news this week for the Colfax High football team is that after a one-year hiatus the Falcons are returning to the post season.

When the Falcons tee it up Friday night in Salida against Modesto Christian it will mark Colfax’s 12th venture into the playoffs in the last 13 years and the school’s 15th all-time post season appearance.

On the other hand, a more sobering point that faces the Falcons following the afterglow of their playoff return is that the opponent in Friday’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Div. IV opener poses perhaps the team’s biggest challenge of the season.

“They’re definitely the most explosive team we’ve seen this season,” said Colfax coach Tony Martello after he and his staff scouted Modesto Christian’s 49-0 rout of Ripon Christian last Thursday night.

“They have a lot of different weapons and know how to use them,” said Martello. “Any time you beat a program like Escalon for a league championship, you have our attention.”

Modesto Christian will bring a perfect 10-0 record with them and a No. 1 seeding on the B side of the split Div. IV bracket which is divided this season by enrollment.

Comparatively speaking, the Crusaders look to be just as talented as some of the upper echelon teams of the Pioneer Valley League when you consider MC defeated Capital Christian, 49-21 and Placer topped the same foe, 48-20.

The Crusaders are led offensively by versatile quarterback Isaiah Burse.

Directing the Crusaders’ “spread” attack, Burse has burned defenses for 1,090 yards and 17 touchdowns passing and 900 more yards and 14 scores rushing.

But by all means is Burse far from a one-man show.

Three different Crusader running backs are averaging more than 10 yards a carry led by David Sjelin (637 yds.), Kevin Roya (582 yds.) and Keaton Engel (445 yards).

In addition, MC has a big receiving target in 6-4 230-pound junior tight end Raymond Nelson, the younger brother of former Crusader hoops standout Reeves Nelson who is now playing at UCLA.

In their two biggest Trans Valley League games of the season, MC outgunned Ripon, 21-13, and Escalon, 21-16. All total, MC has defeated five teams which qualified for the playoffs including Argonaut, 48-35.