By Ray Hamill — Just three weeks into the season there are no undefeated H-DNL varsity football teams, although the same cannot be said of the JVs.

In fact, a trio of H-DNL teams have been very impressive in the early going and are each off to a 3-0 start.

All three will try to keep it going with games scheduled this weekend.

The McKinleyville Panthers won their third straight game last week at Willits, 10-6, which was the second close game they have pulled out this year, 

They also won 14-8 at Eureka in week one.

The Del Norte JVs are also off to an impressive 3-0 start and have been just as clutch in close games, topping Kelseyville 14-9 in their opener and edging South Medford 7-6 last week.

The young Warriors have not lost since the spring of 2021 and are 16-1 dating back to 2019.

Rounding out the local 3-0 teams is Ferndale, with the Wildcats defeating Clear Lake 21-18 last weekend to keep their unbeaten start going.

The Hoopa JVs, meanwhile, are also undefeated after a 28-16 win in their first game at Fort Bragg last week.

The Eureka JVs are 0-1-1.

The Loggers followed their opening weekend loss to McKinleyville with an 8-8 tie at Ukiah last week, battling back from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

“They never quit playing,” Eureka varsity head coach Mike Marcelli said of his younger players.

The Fortuna JVs are now 1-2.

After winning 41-13 at Justin-Siena two weeks ago, they fell 26-15 at Kelseyville last week.

After an opening weekend loss against St. Vincent de Paul, the St. Bernard’s JVs will play a second game on Friday when they travel to play the Loggers at Albee Stadium.

Also this weekend, Hoopa plays at Trinity, Del Norte hosts West Valley, McKinleyville hosts University, and Fortuna plays at Ferndale.