Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — Never say never.

On Friday night, the Huskies kept their playoff and Big 4 championship hopes alive with a 28-20 win over the Eureka Loggers in Fortuna, salvaging a season that appeared dead and buried just a couple of weeks ago.

The resilient Huskies, who had lost five straight games coming into November, began the final night of their regular season knowing anything less than a victory would end their hopes of a conference championship.

And they had to battle a Eureka team that has shown a lot of improvement this fall and one that needed the victory on Friday every bit as much as the host school.

The win, which was their second straight, lifts the Huskies to 4-6 on the season and 2-1 in the Big 4.

They can still share this year’s conference championship if St. Bernard’s can beat a red-hot Del Norte team that has won six straight games on Saturday afternoon.

Regardless of what happens on Saturday, Friday night belonged to the Huskies.

“It was a great high school football game,” Fortuna head coach Mike Benbow said. “Hats off to Eureka. They’re well coached and their kids played hard. And there was a lot of good sportsmanship.”

Benbow and his players will now be rooting hard for the Crusaders on Saturday.

“I’m a big St. Bernard’s fan tomorrow,” Benbow added with a chuckle. “I’m hoping coach (Matt) Tomlin can take care of the Warriors.”

Friday’s game was a back-and-forth affair for much of the night, with each team matching the other stride for stride.

The Huskies struck first when the impressive Kavi Bolden broke free up the middle for a 34-yard touchdown run on their opening possession midway through the first quarter.

The score capped a nine-play, 70-yard drive and was set up by a big block by University of Cal commit Jake Houseworth.

Check out Kavi Bolden’s first-quarter TD run below …

“What’s great is having a lead blocker like Jake Houseworth,” Benbow said. “He had some incredible blocks tonight.”

The visitors, however, would answer on their next possession, driving 61 yards on eight plays and finding the end zone on an eight-yard TD pass from quarterback Kyle Johnston to Jaydn Payton on the opening play of the second quarter to tie the game at 6-6.

That didn’t slow the Huskies, who would re-take the lead on the ensuing drive when quarterback Chandler Crenshaw completed a short pass to Houseworth, who broke up the sideline and found the end zone on a 43-yard TD reception.

A successful two-point conversion run by Bolden put the home team up 14-6.

Once again, however, the Loggers would find a way to respond and Johnston scored on a six-yard option run to cap a six-play, 32-yard drive midway through the quarter.

Payton added a two-point conversion run and the two teams were tied at 14-14 going into the interval.

But it was the Huskies who enjoyed the better of exchange in the second half, including a second TD pass for Crenshaw, who combined with Marquis Ludd for another go-ahead score.

Check out Kyle Johnston’s second-quarter TD run below …

They would add another two-point conversion and they never trailed after that.

It was one of Fortuna’s most complete performances on the season, with Crenshaw and Houseworth leading the way.

“The bottom line is our kids responded,” Benbow said. “Chandler Crenshaw had a great game. He’s our offensive leader and Jake’s our defensive leader, and those two guys really played well tonight.”

The Huskies also took care of the ball and did not have any turnovers.

“What impressed me the most is we put together a four-quarter game,” Benbow added. “Our guys played hard.”

The Huskies will find out their playoff fate on Sunday when the North Coast Section seeds and brackets are announced.

But they now appear to be a lock to make the field.

“It was absolutely a must-win game,” Benbow said of Friday’s showdown. “ You want to be playing well at the right time.

“These guys have been great to coach, and we get to do it for one more week.”

Eureka closed out the regular season with an overall record of 3-7 and 1-2 in the Big 4.

The Eureka JVs fared better on Friday night, winning 27-6 to keep their Big 4 championship hopes alive.

The loss was the first of the season for the young Huskies, who dropped to 1-1-1 in the Big 4 and 7-1-1 overall.

The Loggers improved to 2-1 in the Big 4 and 7-2-1 overall, but they will need some help from Del Norte on Saturday.

If the Warriors win their game against St. Bernard’s, then Eureka will be crowed conference champs.

If, however, the Crusaders win, then they will be crowned Big 4 champs.

St. Bernard’s comes into the game with a 1-0-1 record in the Big 4, while Del Norte is 0-2.