File photo – The Eureka and Del Norte boys played for the second time in league action in Crescent City on Wednesday.

It was a tale of two halves at Arcata High School on Wednesday afternoon, as the league-leading Tigers answered the call after the break.

The Arcata boys entertained their neighbors and close rivals McKinleyville and trailed 1-0 at halftime.

However, the Tigers would show exactly why they are the league leaders with a dominating second half that saw them pull out a 4-1 win.

Also in league play on Wednesday, the Del Norte boys took care of business at home against Eureka and won 3-0 to keep their title ambitions on track, while Fortuna also kept pressure on the frontrunners with a 17-1 win against South Fork at Fortuna.

After the opening round of the second half of league play, the unbeaten Tigers (6-0-1) hold a slender one-point lead atop the standings, with the Huskies (6-1-0) just one point adrift and the Warriors (5-1-1) just one point further back.

After a disappointing 3-1 loss at Arcata on Saturday, the Huskies responded in style and showed why they are serious contenders with a dominating performance against the Cubs.

At Arcata, freshman Isai Aguilar netted twice to help key the big second-half comeback, with Elias Gomez and Lars Gerdes each also scoring.

Becker Rine opened the scoring in the first half off an assist from Lucas Jones to give the Panthers the advantage going into the break.

However, they were unable to hold a dangerous Arcata attack in check in the second half.

“We had a really good first half, and (Arcata) brought some more intensity in the second half,” McKinleyville head coach Brady Burtchett said. “And we didn’t match that intensity.”

In addition to his goal, Gerdes also had a assist for the home team, as did Isaac Ingram.

Jones and Gaelen Flynn both played well in center midfield for a young Panthers team that “played the game we’re capable of playing” in the opening half, according to Burtchett.

The always-impressive Rine also had a good game up top, while Aidan Burtchett impressed at sweeper and limited the Tigers’ opportunities.

“We’re improving,” the Mack coach added. “We just have to put a full 80 minutes together.”

The Del Norte boys, meanwhile, remain in the race for a second league championship in three years, as they stretched their unbeaten run in league to five straight games.

Giovanni Lopez-Minor opened the scoring for the hosts, scoring off a free kick by teammate Alex Ortiz and the Warriors led by the narrowest of margins at the break.

But they would add to their lead and take control of the game with two more goals in the second half.

Lopez-Minor would double his team’s advantage off an assist from Sebastian Espinoza, before Giovanni Alvarado ended the game as a contest and closed out the scoring, with Marco Gonzalez assisting on the strike.

“It was another excellent performance by the whole team,” Del Norte head coach David Sanyaolu said. “I thought we were in control from start to finish. 

“I am proud of my boys for their effort against a tough opponent.”

With the loss, which was their second against Del Norte in league play, the Loggers dropped to 2-5 in H-DNL action.

League play continues on Saturday with a key game in Crescent City between Del Norte and Fortuna.

The Huskies edged the first league meeting between the two schools 3-2 thanks to a late goal by Kaden Lodes.

Also on Saturday, the Tigers will host St. Bernard’s and McKinleyvile travels to Eureka.