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As the old adage in sports suggests, offense wins games and defense wins championships.

And that was certainly the case for the Eel River Single-A team this fall, as the Huskies won a Six Rivers Conference championship.

But they had to battle a much-improved McKinleyville team to secure the title, winning a low-scoring final 7-6 at Ferndale High last week.

“It was a defensive game for sure,” Eel River head coach Jimmy Murray said.

And that suited the young Huskies just fine.

It was just the second time they have allowed any points all season long, as they closed out a dominating campaign here on the North Coast with a perfect record of 9-0.

They will now turn their attention towards the upcoming Youth Football Cal Bowl, a two-day tournament which will take place in Elk Grove on the weekend of Dec. 6 and 7.

And if this team continues to play defense the way it has been all fall, then the players could be in line for more success.

“I consider our team a defensive team,” Murray said. “At the Single-A level, it’s about getting the ball to the fast kid and getting him outside, and I felt we really kept everybody inside. We really protected the edge and never really let anybody get outside.”

That was just a part of what made this team special.

“I loved that it was just like a family,” the head coach added of his team. “Everybody was happy, everybody loved being at practice. We kind of set that tone and everybody jumped on.”

The players also had to overcome some adversity on the way to securing the championship against a McKinleyville team that pushed the Huskies all the way.

Mack led 6-0 at halftime with a much-improved performance from the regular-season meeting between the two teams, which Eel River won comfortably 33-0.

It was the first time the Huskies had trailed all year, but they would find a way.

Kobe Shockley ran in for Eel River’s only touchdown of the day in the second half and the Huskies led 7-6.

And with their stellar defense rising to the challenge once again, there was no way back for McKinleyville after that.

“I thought we did pretty well,” Murray said of his team’s performance. “I was expecting a tougher game (than the last time), which is what we go, and it was really good to see our players rally from behind. It was the first time we were behind all year and we were able to persevere and get through it.”

The second-year Eel River players paved the way to success.

“I felt like we really hit the ground running from the start,” Murray said. “About half our team was returning and we really hit the ground running from the jump. We minimized our mistakes. 

“I’m really proud of our returning players this year. I felt like they took a giant step forward, and I felt like they really set the tone.”

Murray also expressed his gratitude to the parents — who were very supportive, he said — and his staff of coaches.

“All the coaches I have really put the time in, and it was really neat to be a part of that,” he said. “It wasn’t one person, it was everybody, and that makes for a great football team. Everybody was willing to do what was necessary.”

The young Huskies will now travel for the Cal Bowl tournament in Elk Grove, and the players, coaches and parents are all looking forward to the opportunity and the chance to continue their season for two more games.

“We’re excited to go and see where we stack up,” Murray said.

The Eel River roster, which appears to have a bright future, also includes Drake Bowles, Gunner Murray, Koby Killingsworth, Tallan Cortez, Bruce Gendreau, Damian Solano, Ryder Sullivan, Dominic Rivas, Noah Bishop, Cruz Rodriguez, Kayne Chairez, Truen Cobb, Tristan Cook, Giovanni Lanza, Alexander Milanes, Jake Peugh and Nakoa Pond.

The coaching staff also includes Ty Chamberlain, Ky Shockley Stephen Milanes, Brandon Chairez, Jose Rodriguez and Tony Lopez.