Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – St. Bernard’s could clinch at least a share of the Big 4 title if results go their way this weekend.

By Ray Hamill — Get ready for the biggest weekend of the local football season so far.

On Sunday, the Six Rivers Youth Football teams will begin their playoffs, with the championship games now just two weeks away.

Also this weekend, College of the Redwoods will play in front of a home crowd for the first time in a month, as the local JC program looks to build on last weekend’s thrilling breakthrough win.

And that’s not all.

This weekend, we could also see four high school teams claim at least a share of a conference title.

The high-flying Ferndale Wildcats (3-0 in conference and 7-0 overall) will try to keep their incredible run going when they host Hoopa (1-2, 2-5) on Saturday afternoon, having beaten the Warriors 73-0 in Hoopa three weeks ago.

A victory on Saturday could clinch at least a share of this year’s Little 4 championship if Arcata (2-1, 3-4) loses to McKinleyville (0-3, 2-5) on Friday night.

Likewise for the Ferndale JVs, who are also 3-0 in the L4 and 7-0 overall.

The young Cats can also clinch at least a share of their conference with a victory over Hoopa (1-2, 3-4), if McKinleyville also loses to Arcata.

That, however, would appear unlikely and the young Wildcats may have to wait at least one more week to claim at least a co-championship.

The Mack JVs have impressed this season and are 2-1 in the Little 4 and 4-3 overall, while the Tigers have struggled and are still winless at 0-7 (0-3 in conference).

A third team that could clinch a co-championship this weekend is St. Bernard’s varsity.

The Crusaders lead the Big 4 with a record of 3-0 (7-0 overall) and will play Eureka (0-3, 1-6) at the Redwood Bowl on Saturday night.

If Del Norte (1-2, 4-3) gets the better of Fortuna (2-1, 3-4) in Crescent City on Friday night, then SB would be playing for at least a co-championship on Saturday.

But Crusaders fans will be hoping for more than just that this season.

Their team has never won a Big 4 title outright since joining the larger schools conference in 2018, although they did share the conference crown two years ago with Del Norte and Fortuna.

In Big 4 JV action, Eureka could also clinch at least a share of the conference championship this weekend.

The young Loggers have been a bright spot for the program and are 3-0 in the Big 4 (5-1-1 overall) after breaking a tie with Fortuna (2-1, 4-3) thanks to a 13-0 win over the Huskies last week.

The Loggers will need to beat St. Bernard’s and hope Fortuna falls to Del Norte.

Also in action this weekend, the South Fork Cubs (2-1, 4-2) will try to bounce back from last week’s 56-32 loss at Tomales when they travel to play Calistoga (0-2, 3-3) in NCL III action on Friday night.

And rounding out a busy weekend for local football fans, College of the Redwoods returns to the Redwood Bowl for the first time in a month on Saturday afternoon to renew an old rivalry.

Head coach Jason White and his players got their first win of the season last weekend, rallying late to beat Shasta 19-18 in Redding, and this weekend they will host Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa is 3-4 overall and 0-2 in conference.

Game time is set for 1 p.m.