Rain is pouring, mud is flying, players are slipping across the field, and the stands are sparse during the neighboring rivals’ matchup. The Arcata Tigers hosted the McKinleyville Panthers in a gritty and absolute mudbowl of a game, and managed to slide out with a 40-26 win.
“Rain games are always a little messy,” Head Coach Matt Magers said. “We did a great job in the first half, and then we got a little sloppy.”
On the Tigers’ first possession, late into the first, Senior Luke Lemke got the scoring started. Lemke danced through the Panthers’ defenders, making his way into the end zone. The Tigers attempted to throw the Panthers defense off by faking a kick and going for a two-point conversion, but they got stopped just short of the end zone; ending the first 6-0.
It wasn’t long before Arcata struck again. Lemke connected with Senior Tanner Kees just about two minutes into the second.
The Tigers got the ball back after they recovered a fumble from the Panthers, where they continued to push their momentum.
Junior Sefo Vainuku pushed his way past the defense and into the end zone to give him his first touchdown of the season.
The Panthers were finally able to retaliate. They got themselves on the board just seven seconds after Vainuku’s touchdown. The Arcata defense was able to block the kick, keeping them to just six.
In one last opportunity to score before the half ended, Lemke bolted down the field for 35 yards to extend the Tigers’ lead, 26-6.
After a slow and scoreless third, the Panthers were the first to score early in the fourth with a short throwing touchdown. After that touchdown, it looked like McKinleyville could turn the game around.
The Tigers began to struggle as they couldn’t gain much yardage, and then a wet ball slipped right off Lemke’s hand, giving possession back to the Panthers.
McKinleyville utilized Arcata’s slip-up and brought that ball right into the end zone, putting them within six.
With five minutes left, Lemke responded on the Tigers’ first play with a 60-yard rushing touchdown, gaining a 13-point lead.
To extend their lead even more, Junior Duuya Smith bodied himself into the end zone.
For a last shot, the Panthers would add another touchdown late into the game, shortening the deficit, but they couldn’t steal the game.
After a hard shutout loss last week to Ferndale, Arcata was able to come back in a tough, but good win. Moving forward, the Tigers will travel to Hoopa on Halloween night to match up with the Warriors, and it will surely be an interesting game. The Tigers only beat the Warriors by one in their last meeting, and Hoopa is expected to put up a fight.
“Therye scrappy, they beat McKinleyville last matchup, in a stunner,” Magers said. “I know they can throw the ball, and that’s where we struggled this week, so it might be a challenge.”
