File photos

Coming off a disappointing loss at Arcata and with injuries mounting, the Ferndale Wildcats showed a lot of resolve to get back to winning ways on Friday night.

The Cats traveled to Hoopa and came away with a hard-fought 42-12 in a game that was still in the balance early in the fourth quarter.

Ferndale head coach Clint McClurg described it as his team’s most important game of the season.

“It was great for us to bounce back and to get back into contention for the league title,” he said. “That was the most important game of the year if we are to accomplish that goal.

“And Hoopa came to play. They did some things we weren’t necessarily prepared for.”

A young Ferndale team started five sophomores and a freshman and the Cats found themselves trailing 6-0 after the home team struck first.

But, as we’ve come to expect from the Wildcats, they grew into the game as they began to establish their physical brand of football and a relentless running game.

And as always, junior Prescott Langer was the catalyst in that.

Langer set the tone on the Cats’ first scoring drive and would finish the night with 137 yards rushing on 16 carries.

“We kind of needed to establish that,” McClurg said. “It really makes a difference when we get him going. When we get 13 going, we get 2 (Tanner Pidgeon) going and we get 6 (Garyn McClurg) going. Everything gets going.”

Pidgeon, who also has played a pivotal role for the team all season at both quarterback and free safety, scored the Cats’ first two TDs of the night, sneaking in from a yard out for the first and adding a 14-yard TD on an option play for the second.

Sophomore Garyn McClurg also had a big night and has established himself as a potent third option in the Ferndale rushing attack.

The young McClurg would score three touchdowns in the win, including one on a seven-yard run in the second quarter to give his team a 21-6 advantage at the interval.

The visitors would add a fourth touchdown in the third quarter to to go ahead 27-6, this one on a 15-yard pass from Pidgeon to Jonah Anderson.

But the home team would respond with a second TD early in the fourth quarter to narrow the gap to two scores and the Cats had to step up late to ensure they would hold on.

“They caught us with some different looks,” Clint McClurg said of the Warriors. “I tip my hat to Hoopa, they came ready to play.”

Garyn McClurg added two late touchdowns to ice the win, scoring on runs of three and five yards, with some big gains by both Langer and Pidgeon helping to set up those scores.

And it was the young players stepping up in the face of some key injuries that really stood out in the win.

Freshman Liam Bishop got his first varsity start at outside linebacker and sophomore Mason Garrett got his first start at right tackle and both filled in admirably for their injured teammates.

Bishop’s inclusion and ability to contribute immediately was particularly key because it allowed Pidgeon to stay at free safety where he has thrived all season long.

“When their number is called they’re ready,” the head coach said of his younger players..

Garyn McClurg and fellow sophomore Luke Dixon each also continued to impress on both sides of the ball, as they have been doing all season.

“Luke Dixon and Garyn McClurg, on defense and offense, as sophomores they are playing at a high level and really setting the tempo and setting the tone,” the head coach said.

The team’s only two seniors, Henry Westfall and Anderson, both also impressed in the win.

Westfall continues to play a key role on the line, while Anderson is the Cats’ biggest threat in the passing game and showed up big time once again at Hoopa.

Ethan Weitzel also continues to play at an all-league level in the trenches.

The Warriors, meanwhile, racked up 266 yards of offense and took advantage of some timely takeaways, including fumble recoveries by Santiago Moon and Ian McConnell.

Chergeesh Mace scored both of Hoopa’s touchdowns, including one on a 20-yard reception from Lyle McKinnon.

The junior running back also ran in for a TD and gained a team-high 40 yards on eight carries.

McKinnon completed 6 of 21 passes for 114 yards and also ran for 30 yards on five carries.

Brandon Romero added 65 yards receiving on three catches, while McKinnon had one reception from Allen Kane for 54 yards. 

Defensively, Ethan Obie led Hoopa with a team-high six tackles while Moon, Logan Hulbutta and Brian Richards each had five tackles.

With the win, Ferndale improved to 3-1 in the Little 4 and 7-1 overall and the Wildcats can still claim at least a share of the L4 championship with wins in their final two games against McKinleyville and Arcata.

Hoopa dropped to 1-3 in conference and 3-5 overall.

The Ferndale JVs also won on Friday night and remain alone atop the Little 4 standings.

The Cats prevailed by a score of 42-6 and are now 4-0 in conference and 6-2 on the season.

The Hoopa JVs dropped to 1-3 and 2-5.