Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Arcata Tigers will be at full strength this week for the first time this season.

By Ray Hamill — The Eureka Loggers’ fast start to the new season has not gone unnoticed.

After impressive showings at both of their early-seasons tournaments, the Eureka boys are the highest ranked H-DNL team in the North Coast Section, according to MaxPreps.

The Eureka boys (5-1), who open their own Logger Classic against Laytonville on Thursday night, are No. 15 overall, out of 147 ranked schools in the section.

The Arcata Tigers (6-2) , who have been short-handed for the first few weeks of the new season because several of their players were still playing football, are the second-highest ranked local team, coming in at No. 20.

Two other H-DNL schools feature in the top 50.

The McKinleyville boys (6-2), who impressed at their own tournament two weeks ago before a less-effective showing at the Arcata tournament last week, are No. 33, while the Del Norte boys (7-2), who have won three straight games, are at No. 48.

One of the most impressive H-DNL teams so far this season is Hoopa (6-2), which is the highest ranked Little 4 team in the section, coming in at No. 53.

After closing out last season well, the Warriors have won five straight games this year since dropping two of their first three games.

The first Humboldt Sports Power Rankings of the season differ slightly from the MaxPreps rankings.

The Tigers, who will have their full complement of players available for the first time this weekend, including reigning Big 5 MVP Luke Lemke, come in at No. 1 and are the favorites to win the Big 5, which tips off in the new year..

After their impressive start to the new season, which included a 19-point victory over Del Norte, the Loggers are No. 2, followed by the Panthers at No. 3.

McKinleyville has been hit and miss so far, but when the Panthers are on — as they were in a 16-point win over a short-handed Arcata team two weeks ago — they are capable of beating anyone in the H-DNL.

They just need to find more consistency if they are to challenge for the Big 5 title again this season.

Del Norte, meanwhile, appears to be growing in stature each week and also appears capable of challenging anyone in what should be a competitive Big 5 this season.

The Warriors are No. 4 in our rankings, with the Hoopa Warriors rounding out the top five and looking well positioned to challenge for a Little 4 championship.

The Fortuna Huskies (3-6) and Ferndale Wildcats (1-6) have both struggled so far this season, although it’s still very early in the campaign, while St. Bernard’s (4-2) and South Fork (5-3) should only continue to improve and are expected to challenge for their conference championship in the new year.

Look for both SB and South Fork to rise in the NCS rankings in the coming weeks. 

The Eureka Loggers are the highest-ranked H-DNL team in the NCS, according to MaxPreps.

BOYS POWER RANKINGS 

1 — Arcata (6-2)

The Tigers have the most talented roster in the H-DNL

2 — Eureka (5-1)

The Loggers also have a deep roster

3 — McKinleyville (6-2)

On their day, the Panthers can beat anyone in the H-DNL

4 — Del Norte (7-2)

The Warriors are finding their groove and quickly improving

5 — Hoopa (6-2)

Early form suggests the Warriors can challenge for this season’s L4