Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Del Norte Warriors play Alhambra on Friday night.

By Ray Hamill — The Del Norte Warriors got a big boost ahead of this weekend’s North Coast Section playoff opener in football, with senior Eli Larson returning to the lineup.

The senior standout has missed the entire season after picking up an injury in the offseason, but will get the opportunity to play in the postseason, beginning this week.

The section’s decision to push back the playoffs one week after the recent Kincade fire and power outages played into Larson’s favor, allowing him to complete the necessary 10 practices before playing a game.

And Del Norte fans can expect the talented senior to hit the ground running.

“It’s definitely an emotional boost for the team, for the coaching staff, everybody’s real excited for him,” Del Norte head coach Nick White said. “He didn’t think he would have an opportunity to play this year.”

The Warriors have fared well without Larson, winning nine of their 10 regular season games, but the return of one of the best players on the North Coast should make them even more dangerous as they embark on their playoff run.

“That kid would have probably been the league MVP if he had been healthy,” White said.

The Warriors host Alhambra (5-5) in Crescent City on Friday night at 7 p.m.