Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Arcata players, coaches and cheerleaders celebrate Saturday’s historic championship win.

By Ray Hamill — With school history on the line in the biggest game of their young lives, the Arcata Tigers came through in thrilling fashion on Saturday afternoon.

Leading by a touchdown late in the North Coast Section Division-6 championship game at McKinleyville High School, the Arcata defense had to make its biggest stand of the season as a surging Miramonte team was threatening after driving deep into Tigers territory in the final minute of a tight showdown.

But the Tigers would prevail, forcing a turnover on downs with under a minute remaining, and they held on for a 28-21 victory, one that will go down as one of the greatest moments in Arcata High sports history.

The win not only secured a first-ever NCS title for the program, but it sends the Tigers on to next week’s NorCal championships which would give them the chance to play for a state title in two weeks.,

And judging by Saturday’s resilient performance, there’s every reason to believe this team can go on to even greater heights before their season ends.

It didn’t take them long to settle into Saturday’s game against a dangerous Miramonte program, one that had tasted NCS success a year ago when they defeated St. Bernard’s for the Division-5 title.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Tigers scored just four plays later when dynamic junior quarterback Luke Lemke broke free down the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown.

Senior Paul VandenBranden added the PAT and the Tigers led 7-0 just 90 seconds into the game.

The early momentum seemed to spur the Tigers on, and even though the Matadors would respond with their first TD of the day just a few minutes later, it was Arcata that enjoyed the better of exchanges in the opening half, carrying a comfortable 21-7 lead into the break.

After turning the ball over on downs on their second possession of the game, the Tigers re-took the lead when Lemke combined with standout receiver Jackson Strand on a 28-yard TD pass midway through the second quarter and after VandenBranden’s second PAT they held a 14-7 advantage.

Check out Jackson Strand’s TD reception below …

Once again, however, a dangerous Miramonte offense pieced together a nice drive in response.

But just as the visitors were threatening to tie things up again, senior Dayquan Dunn intercepted a pass from Miramonte quarterback Carson Blair at the Arcata 10 and returned it 90 yards for a score to give his team a two-TD advantage.

With 4:51 remaining in the half, the Matadors had plenty of time to add to their tally before halftime and they pieced together another long drive before the Arcata defense forced another turnover on downs

.That was the end of the scoring for the first half.

The Matadors, however, were far from done and they came out fired up for the second half, quickly taking the momentum back with back-to-back scores and a two-point conversion to tie things up at 21-21 early in the fourth.

But with their championship hopes and school history on the line, the Tigers got a big spark from senior Cal Tucker, who took the ensuing kickoff 87 yards to the Miramonte 3.

That would set up a short TD by Lemke just three plays later and when the reliable VandenBranden added his fourth PAT on four attempts the Tigers led again, this time 28-21.

There was still 7:41 on the clock and plenty of time for No. 2 seeded Miramonte to come back against the top-seeded Tigers.

But Arcata made sure they would be no quick response this time when they recovered the ensuing onside kick.

A short drive, however, would end on downs just three and a half minutes later and the Matadors offense took over with 4:22 remaining.

It made for a nervy finish for a large contingent of home fans.

Three quick first downs gave Miramonte possession at the Arcata 28 with just under two minutes on the clock and it appeared as if this game might be headed for overtime.

A crucial sack by Arcata’s Skyler Collenberg and a  penalty on a pass to an illegible receiver, however, set up a fourth-and-nine at the Arcata 27 with just 46 seconds remaining and the Tigers defense would prevail, setting in motion celebrations the likes of which Arcata High sports has rarely if ever seen before.

We’ll have ore to come on the Tigers’ historic achievement, including some game highlights, later on Saturday.

Photo by Kenneth Tinkham – Arcata’s Luke Lemke scores what would turn out to be the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game.