By Ray Hamill — It’s been a good start to the new season for the Fortuna Huskies, who have impressed right out of the starting gates with wins over St. Helena and University Prep.
But it won’t get any easier for them this weekend, according to senior quarterback Will Shaw, as they get set to welcome the Ukiah Wildcats to Husky Field.
“Ukiah is going to be a tough one,” Shaw said. “I expect them to be the best opponent we’ve played yet.”
After a disappointing 0-3 start to the season a year ago, the second-year starting quarterback and his teammates were determined to come out stronger this year, and they have not disappointed.
With an experienced offensive line leading the way, they opened the new campaign with a dominating 41-6 win against the Saints at home, before traveling to Redding over the weekend and coming away with a hard-fought 27-20 victory.
The Wildcats are also 2-0 after big wins over Orland (50-14) and Arcata (41-0) and the Division-2 program is ranked No. 20 overall in the North Coast Section, according to MaxPreps, four spots ahead of No 24 Fortuna.
But Shaw also believes playing at home this week could be a difference maker.
“With the home crowd, I think we’ve got an advantage,” the 6-0, 175-pound quarterback said, adding that it’s always special playing in front of the Fortuna fans. “But it won’t be easy.”
As as senior, Shaw’s role and influence on the team has changed this year, but the leadership he has displayed has impressed his coaches.
“The experience of being a second-year guy, you can’t put a price on that,” Fortuna head coach Mike Benbow said of Shaw earlier in the season. “He’s our leader. He’s been our leader all summer long. On both sides of the ball he’s coming into his own.”
Shaw says he learned a lot from last year’s senior class.
“Last year we had a lot of seniors I looked up to,” he said. “And I feel they helped the younger guys.”
This year’s offensive line, which began the season with four returning starters and s fifth starter switching to tight end, has helped set the tone for the team through the opening two games.
And the unit’s play is something Shaw says he is grateful for.
“They’e amazing,” the Fortuna quarterback said. “They really work hard every single day at practice, and I’m super grateful (to them).”
That experience is playing a key role in helping the younger players adjust to the varsity level.
But at the same time the younger players are quickly earning the respect of the experienced seniors.
“I like that we have a lot of younger guys that work hard, and we have a lot of older guys that really help the younger guys,” Shaw said.
As for the team’s goals this year, Shaw says there are three that stick out.
“I would definitely say winning league is the biggest goal we have,” he said. “And winning the Milk Can is the second goal, and going to state is the third.”
This year’s Milk Can game, a rivalry matchup with neighbor Ferndale, will take place at Ferndale on Halloween, and it’s a game the Huskies always have circled on the calendar.
“It means a lot,” Shaw said. “And having lost it the last two years, Ferndale has some bragging rights, so it would be amazing to bring it back this year.”
And that’s something the Huskies believe they can achieve.
“I think this team is pretty special,” Shaw said. “I think we can beat anybody if we just work together.”
Friday night’s game against Ukiah kicks off at 7 p.m.
