League champion Tigers sweep Little 4 MVP awards

By barstoolfanatics on December 14, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Luke Lemke breaks free on his way to scoring a touchdown at Ferndale.

By Ray Hamill — The future is bright for Arcata High football.

On Thursday, the H-DNL announced this year’s all-league selections and MVPs in the Little 4 and of the 12 Tigers to receive all-league recognition only three are seniors.

And that includes a pair of young MVPs.

Sophomore Luke Lemke was named the conference Offensive MVP and junior Dayquan Dunn was named the Defensive MVP.

Lemke played receiver and quarterback on the offensive side of the ball and led the team with 14 touchdowns.

One of the most dangerous playmakers in the entire H-DNL, he was a threat to score every time he touched the ball.

“He was kind of like a fire-starter for us,” Arcata head coach Matt Magers said. “You give him the ball and something good happens 98 percent of the time.”

Lemke was the catalyst in a pair of come-from-behind wins over Ferndale, which ultimately proved to be the difference on the way to the league title and was “electric at any position we put him at,” according to his coach.

“He was one of our better corners too,” Magers added. “And on top of that he’s only a sophomore.”

The versatile Dunn was equally effective on the defensive side of the ball and played the rover position, causing opponents problems wherever he lined up.

“He was just great in all facets of defense,” the head coach said.

Dunn had a nose for the ball and finished second in the North Coast Section with six interceptions, including a couple of pick sixes, while also having a big impact at receiver, finishing second on the team to Lemke with nine TDs.

Check out Dayquan Dunn’s TD catch against Ferndale below …

Check out Luke Lemke’s game-winning TD run against Ferndale above …

“He was a playmaker on both sides of the ball,” Magers said of Dunn. “He has a big body, he’s hard to run around. He’s kind of built to play football.

“He’s hard-nosed and he goes after the ball.”

Magers believes Dunn could be a Division-I college receiver if he commits to it.

Joining the talented duo on the all-league first-team is senior quarterback Cole Vandenplas, as well as linebacker Lincoln Neuman, who also was a big playmaker on a dominating Arcata defense and one of five sophomores among the 20 all-league first-team selections.

Arcata juniors Lennon Gieder, Kayden Hackett, Cal Tucker and Brycen Collinson also were named to the all-league first team.

The Ferndale Wildcats, meanwhile, received six all-league selections from their historic state championship winning team, including a talented trio of impactful sophomores.

Seniors Trent Titus, Levi Dixon and Thomas Fergison all made the team, along with sophomores Tanner Pidgeon, Ethan Weitzel and Prescott Langer.

Four Hoopa Warriors also were named to the all-league team, including seniors Kaewett Nelson and Rian Tracy, as well as juniors Brandon Romero and Maisath Childs.

Rounding out the all-league team are McKinleyville’s Tyler Marsh and Steven Graves.