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The Warriors responded to last week’s loss with a big performance in Oakland on Friday night, dominating Skyline on the way to a comfortable 42-8 win.
Despite the long trip, the Del Norte players came out ready to go and quickly took control of the game, scoring all 42 of their points on six first-half TDs and ending the game as a contest before the break.
With the win, they improved to 3-1 as they get set for their Big 4 conference opener in two weeks after a bye next week.
After suffering their first loss of the season in disappointing fashion at Arcata last week, the players made sure there would be no repeat performance this week.
“Our captains kind of took over the team this week and they did a really good job being leaders after the loss,” Del Norte head coach Darren LaFazio said. “I was proud of them. I was proud of the whole team.”
This could have been the team’s most complete performance of the year so far.
“I thought we played like a unit finally,” LaFazio said. “Everybody played together.”
And they did so on both sides of the ball.
Kanyon Starkey opened the scoring on a scoop and score in the opening quarter and an Adrian Alvarado PAT put the Warriors up 7-0.
The Del Norte defense was also instrumental in the team’s second TD just a few minutes later, when Sawyer Fry intercepted the ball and returned it deep into Skyline territory.
That set up a short five-yard pitch pass from Starkey to Fry for the team’s second TD, and a second successful PAT put the Warriors up 14-0.
They were just getting warmed up.
Fry added his second TD of the night on a 15-yard run, before Starkey scored his second touchdown on an 11-yard run, and the Warriors led 28-0.
They would add two more TDs before halftime.
Running back Dustin Starcher, who was just called up from the JV team this week because of multiple injuries on the varsity roster, scored Del Norte’s fifth touchdown of the night, and the reliable Alvarado kicked his fifth PAT to make the score 35-0.
“He fit right in,” LaFazio said of the Starcher, a sophomore who took full advantage of his opportunity. “He did a good job.”
Junior Cash Powelson closed out the scoring for the visitors before halftime, breaking free for a 65-yard TD run.
Overall, it was a far better team performance than last week and the win will give the Warriors plenty of momentum and confidence heading into conference play.
“We tackled 10 times better than last week,” the Del Norte head coach said. “I think we played really well.
“I think a loss sometimes helps. Our kids woke up and I think it benefitted us.
“The whole attitude this week was a whole lot better.”
The bye week comes at a perfect time for a Del Norte team that is hurting right now with some key injuries, including the absence of influential linebacker Jason Murphy, who could be back in time for conference play
The Warriors will kick off the Big 4 at Fortuna in two weeks.
