By Ray Hamill — The Eureka Loggers had waited a long time to return to their iconic home, but the McKinleyville Panthers had waited far longer for a victory over Eureka.
The two schools faced off in the first football game at Albee Stadium in three years on Friday night, and a packed house was treated to an exciting showdown between two evenly-matched teams that went right down to the wire.
And when the dust had settled, it was the visitors who were left celebrating an historic win.
While some observers have suggested it was the Panthers’ first win over the Loggers since 1978, McKinleyville head coach Jason Benge has been told it was their first win over them since 1971.
Either way, it’s been a long time coming.
Both teams gave it their all, although it was far from perfect, with too many penalties and mistakes causing problems for both teams.
But it was entertaining and no one in the packed house had reason to leave early.
The Panthers received the ball first in overtime and it took them just two plays to find the end zone, with impressive quarterback Corbin Green connecting with receiver Talon Turner on a 10-yard TD pass.
A successful PAT gave them a 21-14 advantage.
The Loggers would respond with a big TD pass from Ben Klein to Jacob Vasquez, but a missed PAT would seal their fate and hand victory to the visitors.
Despite the win, there were things the Panthers would like to have done better, and despite the loss there were things the Loggers should feel good about.
“I was happy with the way our defense played, a bend-don’t-break mentality,” McKinleyville head coach Jason Benge said. “I was happy with the way our defense kept us in the game.
“But we struggled a little bit on offense, We had a hard time moving the ball and being consistent.”
The Panthers, however, made the plays when they mattered the most, and they never trailed, opening up a touchdown lead on three different occasions.
The Loggers, to their credit, battled back each time, up until the final missed PAT, and they moved the ball well for much of the night behind a strong running game,.
But penalties proved costly, resulting in multiple good drives stalling while keeping some McKinleyville drives going.
“I felt we played hard,” Eureka head coach Sam Edmonds said, “Our boys gave it everything they had on the field. I definitely felt we left some opportunities on the field, but all around I felt we played really well.”
The Panthers were battling some injuries, most notably one that limited influential receiver Gunner Grande, who is enjoying a big season for the team.
But other players stepped up, including Turner and fellow receiver Robert Pool, the latter of whom pulled in a big 57-yard TD pass from Green.
“Robert Pool helped pick up that slack, and so too did Talon,” said Benge, whose team is now 4-1 and has already surpassed its combined win total from the past three years just halfway through the season. “Any time McKinleyville can go to Eureka and win it’s a good night.”
Green also continued to impress, and the sophomore quarterback is playing with a composure well beyond his years.
As Edmonds pointed out, “when he gets to be a senior he’s going to be pretty deadly.”
The young quarterback threw for 244 yards and the two TDs.
“There were some misses and some dropped balls, but once again he was able to put all that stuff behind him,” Benge said.
That’s impressive for any quarterback, but even more so for a player making just his fifth varsity start at such a young age.
Junior Bowdy Hicks also had an outstanding night at linebacker.
“He’s been solid all season,” Benge said. “He made some big tackles in the backfield. He had a great game.”
So too did Turner, who finished with 98 yards receiving, as well as Cameron Heldebrandt, who finished with 68 yards rushing on 11 carries and scored the opening touchdown of the night on a nine-yard run early in the second quarter.
Heldebrandt also had a reception for 34 yards, while teammate Everett Grutzmacher added seven catches for 37 yards.
Several Loggers also ran the ball hard, a group that included Tyler Johnston, Nevan Rose, Easton Taerea and Bryson Burns, while brothers Archer and Gavin Francis each also made their presence felt in different ways.
Archer had an interception that set up a 39-yard TD run by Taerea and also scored on a seven yard TD run, while Gavin had a “phenomenal game” on both lines, according to his coach.
“I’m proud of my team. Win, lose or draw, I’m always going to be proud of my team,” Edmonds said. “My guys battled.”
For more eon the game, see Panthers spoil Eureka’s return to Albee Stadium with thrilling OT victory …
