The stands are packed, nominees are dressed to the nines, the student section is roaring, and the Arcata Tigers are searching for a victory against the Hoopa Valley Warriors on homecoming night. While the Tigers were able to pull out a win, it still wasn’t ideal; all that separated them and the Warriors was an extra point. Arcata prevailed 13-12, advancing to 2-0 in league, and breaking even, 3-3, overall.
“Obviously not the fireworks show that it was last week, but all you need is just one point,” Head Coach Matt Magers said. “One point makes the difference.”
Neither team could build off of any possessions in the first, forcing punts on fourth downs on both sides.
After a slow start, early into the second, Hoopa’s quarterback, Senior Allen Kane, maneuvered by the Arcata defense into the end zone to put the Warriors up 6-0. Arcata has struggled scoring first this season, with only putting up the first touchdown once out of six games.
The Tigers did respond quickly. Senior Luke Lemke was able to connect over 18 yards with junior Ronan Williamson, giving Williamson his first touchdown of the season. The Tigers missed their kick, leveling with the Warriors, 6-6.
This season, the Tigers have senior Quaid Aitken as their onside kick specialist.
“He’s one of those kids who is spending the time after practice working on his craft,” Magers said. “I always love kids like that that are going to commit everything they can to get better.”
After Williamson’s touchdown, Aitkens got a hand on the ball after his kick, regaining control for the Tigers. This was one of two onside kicks recovered by the Tigers.
One of Arcata’s biggest hardships this season has been their defense. The Tigers were able to limit Hoopa’s attacks and keep them out of the end zone the whole second quarter. In their first five games, they let up an average of 44 points per game, but kept Hoopa to only 12.
“This is by far our best defensive game, outside of those two [touchdowns], [Hoopa] barely moved the ball all night,” senior Lincoln Neuman said.
To open up the second half, senior Miguel Obezo went in and replaced Lemke as quarterback after a previous injury.
“We can’t always put pressure on Luke to win games, we have to find ways to win without Luke,” Magers said. “Miguel stepped in and conducted the offense and did well and did his job.”
Obezo rushed the ball well, passing it off to junior Duuya Smith, picking up yards, but the Tigers couldn’t work enough to get through to the end zone.
With just 20 seconds left of the third, Hoopa completed a huge throw to put them first and goal, then Kane immediately pushed himself into the enzone to take the lead. During the conversion attempt, Smith was able to grapple onto Kane to keep the Warriors within six.
After moving around positions, Arcata put Neuman, who mainly plays defensive linebacker, in as running back, turning the game around. Neuman barreled through the Hoopa defenders, running for 45 yards until reaching the enzone and tying the game up.
The Tigers had a shot to take the lead during the kick, and after being pushed back 10 yards on the first attempt, senior Austin Cooley was able to sail the ball between the posts, securing the lead.
During the kickoff, Aitkens went for his second successful onside kick when senior Riley Ramsier was able to lunge for the ball and regain possession. Ramsier, like a few of the Arcata players, is playing his first year on the team, and has made a beneficial impact.
“Riley came in, took some touches as running back, did well,” Magers said. “I don’t think he let up a pass at corner.”
The Tigers offense was unable to work off that possession, but the defense was able to clamp down on the Warriors, and seal the game 13-12.
Next week, the Tigers are faced with their hardest league opponent, the Ferndale Wildcats. Arcata will travel to Ferndale to play them October 18th at 2:00 PM. Ferndale has been dominating the whole HDNL, putting up 378 points across six games, and not letting up a single one.
“I’d like to break that streak if we can,” Magers said. “It’s the bare minimum.”
