The Arcata Tigers were able to relax on the road with a 41-6 win against the Hoopa Warriors. The Tigers now advance to 2-0 in conference and 6-0 overall. After coming off a 51-0 victory, the Tigers were able to extend that momentum for Hoopa.
“We played four quarters of football,” Head Coach Matt Magers said. “First time all year.”
Senior Alex Greenway wasted no time to start the scoring. About 3 minutes into the game, Greenway rushed the ball in to put the Tigers on the board first.
Seniors Paul Vadenbraden and Jackson Strand had arguably one of the most exciting plays of the night. Vadenbraden faked the field goal allowing Strand to run in for the two-point conversion.
The defense for the Tigers was locking down the Warriors during the 1st with a sack from sophomore Xzaiver Gruetzmacher and then a punt block from senior Dayquan Dunn right after.
Junior Lincoln Neuman also showcased his defensive talents throughout the game and is currently leading the Tigers in tackles with 7.4 per game.
“He’s everywhere pretty much every game,” Magers said.
Before the end of the first, Senior Ronnie Ricke gained his first touchdown of the season with a pass from Junior Luke Lemke.
With 7 minutes left in the 2nd half, Senior Cal Tucker also added to the score, but it wouldn’t be the only time he found himself in the endzone.
“I did pretty well, [but] I let up a touchdown,” Tucker said. “That was the first time I’ve ever let up a touchdown.”
Opening up the third quarter, the Hoopa quarterback found an open player for a 55-yard touchdown.
“I wanted to make a play on the ball,” Tucker said. “I lost my positioning.”
Shaking off the mistake, Tucker put another touchdown on the board late into the third quarter, giving himself his second two-touchdown game of the season.
Right before Tucker’s second touchdown, newly transferred senior Tony Buchanna ran into the endzone for a touchdown.
To round off the scoring, Dunn caught a pass from Lemke to close off the game 41-6.
Arcata will be quick to get back to work, with one of the most anticipated games of the HDNL on their schedule next week. The Tigers will host the Ferndale Wildcats for a homecoming showdown on the 18th.
Both teams currently hold on to an undefeated title, but one team’s title will be stripped away Friday night. The Wildcats, who are the defending CIF 7AA state champions, lost twice to the Tigers last year, in two, nail-biting games, and it seems like it will be just as close of a match this year.
“We have the potential to win,” Tucker said. “We just have to do it.”
