Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Ferndale quarterback Tanner Pidgeon breaks free for a 58-yard TD run during Saturday’s game.

By Ray Hamill — The Ferndale Wildcats scored touchdowns in all four quarters and held a dangerous big-play Hoopa offense out of the end zone on the way to a comfortable win in both teams’ conference openers on Saturday.

Playing at Coach Carlson Wildcat Field in Ferndale, the Cats won the game 32-0 to to go to 1-0 in the Little 4 and 5-0 on the season.

It was Ferndale’s 11th straight win dating back to last year as the hottest team in the H-DNL continued to roll.

Junior Tanner Pidgeon scored a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to help set the tone for the home team, including a 58-yard run late in the period.

Garyn McClurg would add a short TD run in the second quarter and the Wildcats led 20-0 at halftime.

After the break, it was more of the same for one of the Little 4 favorites, with Prescott Langer finding the end zone on a scoop and score just one week after he exploded for four TDs in a win at St. Bernard’s.

Luke Dixon added the fifth touchdown of the afternoon in the fourth quarter to cap another outstanding day for Ferndale football, which continues to be one of the stories of the season here on the North Coast.

Once again, several players stepped up for the Cats, including the always dangerous Langer, who is quickly establishing himself as one of the biggest playmakers in the H-DNL.

“He’s going to show up and run the ball and play at a high level,” Ferndale head coach Clint McClurg said of the junior standout, who was one of this week’s Humboldt Sports Athletes of the Week. “He makes a lot of plays.”

The Cats were down to just 15 players for the game with influential junior cornerback Tristen Titus sidelined through injury.

But that didn’t slow down a physical Ferndale team, with fellow junior Anthony Kasso filling the void admirably.

Check out some first-half highlights below …

“Anthony Kasso stepped up in a big way against a team that will get loose and will score some touchdowns,” the head coach added.

All in all, it was another big team performance.

“Whoever’s on the field will play hard for us,” Clint McClurg added. “That’s just our brand of football.”

The Warriors started the game well and held the home team on their opening possession.

They also were able to move the ball at times themselves and found the end zone on a Brandon Romero reception, but the score was called back on a couple of penalties.

“It was a hard-fought game,” Hoopa head coach Curtis Kane said. “They just won the battle out there and when we had opportunities we couldn’t seize them.

“I’ve got to give my guys credit. They go hard every play. (Ferndale) just executed better than us today.”

The Warriors rushed for 136 yards, including Donald Hostler, who gained 56 yards on 15 carries.

Junior quarterback Allen Kane, who continues to show a lot of improvement almost every week, added 55 yards rushing on 11 carries.

The Hoopa passing attack, however, was limited to 47 yards.

One of the highlights for the Warriors was a second-half interception by defensive lineman Quincy McDonald, who tipped a Pidgeon pass and was able to pull down the interception himself.

Curtis Kane also praised the play of both Hoopa lines, particularly the offensive line.

“They really stepped up,” the coach said of the unit. “We had five, six, seven seconds to pass, and (Ferndale), they bring the pressure.”

The Cats, meanwhile, continue to roll and continue to get better and grow as a team.

“I think the best thing about this game for us is all 16 guys got better,” Clint McClurg said. “We are trying to really develop the team, and when you’ve got (15 or 16), you’ve got to use everybody.”

The Ferndale JVs also won their matchup.