Tiny, but deadly Ferndale

Two Del Norte High defenders, including Ridge McLennan, right, tackle a Hidden Valley player last Friday. Tonight the Warriors face Ferndale. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

The Del Norte High varsity football team faces an early season challenge tonight as they take on Little 5 power Ferndale at home for the first time since 2000.

The last time the teams met the Wildcats triumphed over the Warriors. While Ferndale is quite a small school, normally having under 200 students compared to the nearly 1,000 at Del Norte, that has not prevented the Wildcats from becoming a football dynasty. They are considered one of the top teams in the entire North Coast Section and have won their fair share of NCS titles in the small school division, including in 2007.

Facing a larger school has never fazed Ferndale, who easily took down Fortuna of the Big 4 35-6 last season and has beaten teams like Arcata and Fortuna several times the past few years.

In contrast, Del Norte was 1-1 against the Huskies in 2008.

“Their record speaks for itself,”  Warrior head coach Bob Hadfield said about Ferndale.

Coming off a solid 6-0 win over Hidden Valley, Ore., to begin the season last week, the Warriors hope to continue the positive momentum tonight.

Hadfield said his team has to play smart, fundamental football and not let Ferndale take advantage of silly mistakes.

He was pleased Del Norte kept errors down last week and said they must do that again tonight.

On offense, Hadfield said Ferndale is fundamentally sound and can hurt you in many different ways. He said the Wildcats like to pound the ball, but can also air it out when they have to. This means that the defense needs to be  tough and must pressure the Wildcats, not letting them get into their offensive system.

“We need to be more physical,” Hadfield said. “We’re not going to out-execute them.”

The Wildcats have had no problems with their opponents this year.

In the first game the Wildcats won 53-0 over East Nicolaus. Last week, Ferndale downed Willits 42-16. The Wildcats scored on the opening kickoff  of that game and never looked back.

On offense, Hadfield said the Warriors need to pound the ball  on the ground led by running backs Christian Alexandre and Brandon Kakitsuka and be solid in the passing game, moving the ball down field when needed.

Hadfield described his new offense as a mix of different styles, such as the wishbone, but said it’s hard to define and he hopes the offense can do what it did last week.

“I want them to be a ball controlled offense that plays smart,” but, he added, not play it so safe they don’t go for the big play when the chance presents itself.

Against Hidden Valley the Warriors had 303 total yards and dominated the game. The problem was they could not get into the end zone against the Mustangs and let them hang around the entire game.

Against Ferndale that can’t happen if they want a chance of winning the contest, Hadfield said.

To Hadfield, it’s a bonus to be playing at home where the crowds normally come out in force to cheer the Warriors on.

Del Norte senior defensive tackle Ridge McLeannan said he and his teammates have wanted to face Ferndale for awhile since there has always been talk of what would happen if the two teams finally met.

“I’m just glad we are finally facing them,” he said, adding he believes the Warriors can beat the Wildcats.

“We need to execute and go after them on defense,” he said.

The JV game begins at  5 p.m. while the varsity game starts at 7:30 p.m. at Mike Whalen Field.

Starting tonight the Warriors track and field team will be selling hot dogs and hamburgers as a fundraiser at the football games.

They will be located next to the concession stand.