A clash of Warriors, a homecoming to relish and the biggest showdown of the year thus far highlight this week’s H-DNL football schedule.
All nine league programs will be in action, with three games set for Friday night and two more on Saturday afternoon.
Inter-league play continues for all eight of the 11-player programs, including the game of the season thus far between the last two remaining unbeaten teams.
St, Bernard’s and Ferndale are both 4-0, but something will have to give when they face off at Crusader Field on Saturday afternoon in a game that can’t come soon enough for local fans.
Both school cruised to easy victories on the opening weekend of inter-league play last week.
On Thursday night, St. Bernard’s traveled to Hoopa and dominated the Warriors on the way to a 38-0 win, which was their second straight shutout.
The following night, the Ferndale Wildcats played Eureka at the Redwood Bowl and also dominated on the way to a 48-12 win, their 17th consecutive regular-season victory.
Saturday’s big game kicks off at 2 p.m.
This weekend will also be a special one for the Loggers, who dropped to 1-3 with their loss to the Cats.
After a three-year wait, the Loggers return to Albee Stadium to play their first game at the newly-renovated facility and all-turf field.
The Loggers, who will be celebrating homecoming, will host McKinleyville and will have their hands full going up against a resurgent Panthers team (3-1) that could be the most improved team in the H-DNL this fall.
Head coach Jason Benge and his players suffered their first loss of the campaign against Fortuna on Friday night, falling 40-27, but they competed well against one of the most consistently competitive programs in the league and a perennial North Coast Section contender, showcasing the steps they have taken this year.
While the Loggers have struggled in losses to Windsor, Shasta and Ferndale — three teams that are a combined 14-0 this year — homecoming night could spur them to a big performance, something they desperately need if they want to get their campaign back on track.
Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
Also on Friday night, Arcata (0-4) hosts Fortuna (3-1) and Del Norte (1-3) will travel to play Hoopa (1-3) in a clash of Warriors.
The Tigers have struggled more than any other local team this year and are the last remaining winless team in the league.
They did break a seven-half scoreless streak with a score in the second half of their 50-7 loss at Del Norte, which was the Warriors’ first win of the year.
The Huskies, meanwhile, are without doubt one of the top three teams in the area right now and look like legitimate contenders for this year’s Pacific League championship.
Friday’s game kicks off at 6 p.m.
A pair of 1-3 Warriors teams will play at Hoopa, as each looks for a second win of the year.
Del Norte will carry some momentum into the game after a big win over Arcata, and game time at Hoopa is set for 7:30 p.m.
Rounding out another busy weekend of action for the local schools, the high-scoring South Fork Cubs will travel to play Roseland University Prep on Saturday afternoon at 1.
The Cubs, who have scored an incredible 162 points over the two weekends, are 3-1 and the No. 2 ranked eight-player Division-1 program in the NCS.
Their only loss of the year came by just two points against Hayfork.
