Panthers spoil Eureka’s return to Albee Stadium with thrilling OT victory

By Ray Hamill — Almost 100 years to the day since Albee Stadium opened its doors, football returned to the iconic North Coast stadium for the first time in three years on Friday night.

And it did not disappoint.

The Eureka Loggers hosted the McKinleyville Panthers in an entertaining showdown on Homecoming night that needed more than four quarters to decide things.

But it was the visitors who walked away with a thrilling 21-20 overtime victory.

It is believed to be the Panthers’ first win over the Loggers since 1978.

The Panthers got the ball first in overtime and it took just two plays before quarterback Corbin Green found receiver Talon Turner in the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead score.

A successful PAT would put the visitors up 21-14.

The Loggers then took over, but were unable to get much going and found themselves facing a fourth-and-14.

But quarterback Ben Klein would deliver a TD pass to receiver Jacob Vasquez to pull the home team within one again, before a low PAT attempt was blocked and McKinleyville’s long wait for a victory over Eureka finally ended and the celebrations began.

With the win, the Panthers improved to 4-1, and just halfway through the season they have already surpassed their win total of the past three years combined.

Although they never trailed in the game, they needed some help from a Eureka team that shot itself in the foot numerous times.

The Loggers drove the ball effectively for much of the night, but too lengthy possessions stalled in McKinleyville territory because of penalties.

They pieced together their longest drive of the night late in the second quarter, marching all the way to the McKinleyville 12, before three consecutive penalties forced them into a fourth-and-33, and they would turn the ball over on downs moments later.

In many ways, that drive epitomized Eureka’s night.

Another long possession ended after a personal foul call nullified a third-and-17 conversion on the opening play of the fourth quarter.

The home defense, however, did enough to keep Eureka in the game, and McKinleyville managed just two long drives.

But the Panthers took full advantage of their opportunities, including scoring on a 57-yard TD pass from Green to receiver Robert Pool three minutes into the fourth quarter to give them their second lead of the night.

The Loggers would respond, marching 65 yards on 12 plays on the ensuing possession and tying the game on a seven-yard TD run by Archer Francis with 2:22 on the clock.

Neither team was able to add to its tally down the stretch and the game went to overtime.

Playing in front of a large crowd at the newly renovated facility, which includes an all-turf field, both defenses enjoyed the better of exchanges early in the night and neither team scored in the opening quarter.

The Panthers would break the deadlock just 14 seconds into the second quarter after a pass interference call gave them possession at the Eureka nine.

Sophomore running back Cameron Heldebrandt would find the end zone on the very next play, capping an 11-play, 81-yard drive to give the visitors their first lead of the game.

It was the only Panthers drive of the opening half that resulted in a first down and they went into the interval up 7-0.

But with the Homecoming festivities lingering, the Loggers started the second half impressively.

On McKinleyville’s fist drive of the third quarter, Francis intercepted a Green pass at the Eureka 28, and five plays later Easton Taerea broke loose down the sideline for a 39-yard touchdown for the first Eureka score on the new field.

The visitors also won the JV game 33-6 to make it a good all-around night for McKinleyville.

Albee Stadium originally opened its doors back on Oct. 7, 1926.