Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Arcata’s Brandon Bento-Jackson

By Ray Hamill — For the first time this season, we have a team retaining top spot in our Power Rankings.

After storming to the top of the rankings with three big wins two weeks ago, the Tigers kept rolling this past week with victories over Del Norte and Fortuna.

The Tigers have now won six straight and are 5-0 in the Big 5.

They are also 7-2 against H-DNL teams, but are clearly getting better as the season progresses with wins in their last five games against conference opponents.

The Panthers remain at No. 2 and responded well this week to a big loss at Arcata 10 days ago with back-to-back wins over Eureka and Del Norte.

They will get a rematch against the Tigers this coming Thursday in a game that will likely decide this year’s Big 5 championship.

Despite a loss at Arcata on Friday night, the Huskies remain at No. 3 after posting four straight victories against H-DNL teams leading up to the Arcata game.

Del Norte, meanwhile, is No. 4 this week, with Little 4 leaders St. Bernard’s rounding out our top five.

The Del Norte Warriors

POWER RANKINGS 

1 — Arcata (12-6)

A young Tigers team is maturing quickly

2 — McKinleyville (17-4) 

The Panthers have a huge upcoming week with games against Fortuna, Arcata and Del Norte

3 — Fortuna (14-8)

The Huskies will try to bounce back at McKinleyville on Tuesday

4 — Del Norte (8-12)

The Warriors are still battling for a place in the Dick Niclai 

5 — St. Bernard’s (10-8)

The Crusaders can clinch the Little 4 with a win at South Fork on Thursday