File photo – Eureka quarterback Trevor Bell missed Friday night’s game after suffering an injury at practice this week.

Playing without starting quarterback Trevor Bell, the Eureka Loggers struggled offensively against one of the best teams on their schedule on Friday night, falling 35-0 at Chico.

Bell rolled his ankle on the final play of practice on Tuesday and was forced from this week’s lineup with an eye an next weekend’s league opener.

Without him, the Loggers suffered their first shutout since 2015, although his absence wasn’t the only reason for the loss.

“They’re the No. 1 team in the section over here, and they’re good,” Eureka head coach Jason White said of the 6-1 Panthers after the game. “They’re fast. That’s the most speed we’ve seen all year.”

Talented junior Hayden Bode got the start at quarterback in Bell’s absence and played solid despite throwing a pair of interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.

“He played well considering he only had one day getting reps,” White said.

The coach is hopeful Bell will be ready to go next week, when the Loggers host the Fortuna Huskies in both teams’ Big 4 opener, a far more important game for Eureka than Friday’s showdown in Chico.

“Right now, we’re working on having him for league,” the head coach said. “That in the long run is more important.”

Senior running back Lamarie Dunn gave his team a lift in the absence of their starting quarterback with a big game, while the ever-reliable Chase “Biscuit” Steubing was as busy as ever.

Senior Drew Jensen also had a big game, pulling in an interception on the line.

“That was an incredibly athletic play,” White said.

The loss ends a three-game winning streak for the Loggers, who are now 3-4.