Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com
By Ray Hamill — There’s no change at the top of our power rankings after another statement win by the Arcata Tigers over the weekend.
However, there are multiple changes within the top five for the fourth straight week.
The high-flying Tigers improved to 3-0 with a 35-6 win over the Del Norte Warriors in Crescent City on Friday night and they remain No. 1 in our rankings.
Quarterback Luke Lemke accounted for five touchdowns in the win, passing for three and running in for two, as the Tigers frustrated the home team with several big plays.
The Tigers likely will be tested this week when they travel to the Bay Area to play the Oakland Wildcats, who also are unbeaten at 3-0.
We have a new team at No. 2, meanwhile, as the Fortuna Huskies move up one spot after a big bounce-back win against McKinleyville on Friday.
One week after a late letdown in a loss to Arcata, the Huskies responded with a second shutout victory in three weeks.
The Huskies could have the best defense in the H-DNL right now.
The St. Bernard’s Crusaders, meanwhile, drop one spot to No. 3 in this week’s rankings after a somewhat sloppy performance against Biggs.
To their credit, the Crusaders found a way to win the game despite a less-than-stellar day and no doubt they will learn from this game.
This is still a team that should contend once again for a conference title later in the season.
The Del Norte Warriors did not fare quite as well over the weekend, losing to the top-ranked team in the area.
This was their second loss in three games, but both of those losses have come against the top-two teams in the H-DNL.
And rounding out our weekly top five, the Ferndale Wildcats hold firm at No. 5 after a bye this past weekend, while the Eureka Loggers move back into the rankings after they won on the road at Newark memorial.
The Wildcats have a chance to make some noise in our rankings when they host rival Fortuna in the always-anticipated Milk Can game this Saturday, where a win could catapult them into the top three (at least).
The Loggers, meanwhile, will be hoping to build on last week’s performance, which ended a 16-game losing streak dating back to 2022.
POWER RANKINGS
1 — Arcata (3-0)
The defending Little 4 champs have won three games against Big 4 teams
2 — Fortuna (2-1)
The Huskies defense has been outstanding through the opening few weeks
3 — St. Bernard’s (3-0)
The Crusaders will no doubt learn from a disappointing performance over the weekend
4 — Del Norte (1-2)
The Warriors have lost to the top two teams in our rankings
5T — Ferndale (2-0)
The Wildcats will move up in the rankings if they can top Fortuna
5T — Eureka (1-2)
The Loggers are beginning to build some momentum
