File photo
The Del Norte Warriors capped a dominating Big 4 campaign with another rout on Friday night, as they rolled to an easy 42-0 win over Eureka in Crescent City.
With the win, the Warriors improved to 8-1 and they closed out conference play undefeated with a record of 6-0.
“The message was let’s finish what we started,” head coach Nick White said. “We’re playing at a really high level right now and it feels good and we’re ready to go for the playoffs.”
It’s difficult to know what part of the high-flying Warriors game is better right now.
Defensively, the Warriors have completely shut down their opponents’ running game for the past five weeks — with the exception of an 80-yard TD run by St. Bernard’s Grant Omey — and they have posted three shutouts in that time.
On Friday night they held the Loggers to three yards rushing on 15 attempts, and in two conference games between the two schools this fall, Eureka has managed minus-one yard rushing on 37 carries.
Offensively, the Warriors have been just as impressive, particularly running the ball.
On Friday, RJ Loftin and Caleb Dodson both continued to rack up a lot of yards behind another dominating performance by Sam Schauerman and the Del Norte offensive line.
Loftin scored three first-half TDs on runs of 45, 54 and 71 yards, and the home team opened up a 35-0 lead before the break.
The junior standout finished the night with 193 yards on just seven carries.
Dodson added 76 yards on 14 carries.
“I thought the offensive and defensive line were just amazing tonight,” White said.
Quarterback Cooper Maxwell also connected with Giancarlo Desolenni on a 67-yard TD pass, while Desolenni also scored on a 58-yard TD run.
Caden Harrison closed out the scoring in the second half, running into the end zone from 10 yards out.
The win was the eighth straight for the Warriors, who will find out their playoff seed and opening opponent on Sunday.
They are expected to get the No. 2 seed in Division 5, behind No. 1 San Marin.
With Friday’s loss, Eureka dropped to 1-5 in the Big 4 and 2-7 overall.
The Del Norte JVs also won on Friday night, defeating the Loggers 12-6 to close out the season 9-0.
