Photo by Mark Gorge – The Arcata Tigers after Friday night’s loss.

The Arcata Tigers gave the No. 1 seeds in their bracket all they could handle for much of Friday night’s NCS Division-6 football playoff game at Kennedy High in Richmond, before eventually falling 35-6.

Head coach Jamal Jones said his players won a lot of admirers with their performance, hanging tough with the top seeds for much of the game.

“We battled,” Jones said. “For our school to hang with a school of that caliber, we got a lot of respect.”

Senior running back Kien Mazzotti scored the Tigers’ only TD of the night, while Mason Nichols had a pair of interceptions and Alberto Iskra had one.

The home team, however, made some big plays that proved to be the difference.

“They had three big plays that dictated the football game,” Jones said. “They’re good, but we hung in there and it was a gritty game.”

The loss ends the season for the Tigers, who close out 6-5.

All in all it was an impressive campaign for Jones and his players, who made the eight-team playoff field in Division 6.

“For our team to find a way to get in (to the playoffs), that speaks for these guys,” Jones said.

The Tigers were 4-2 in the Little 4.