Loggers roll over Warriors

Trailing only 14-6,  Del Norte has bad case of the fumbles in fourth quarter

in 55-6 road loss

EUREKA — After being blown away 47-6 and 62-8 the past two games the Del Norte High Warriors varsity football team was much improved in their Big 4 Conference opener for the first three quarters.

And the fourth quarter? Well,  that did not go so well.

Despite being the heavy underdogs the Warriors went  toe-to-toe with the Eureka Loggers for three quarters on the road Friday night and trailed only 14-6 to start the final quarter.

Sadly, after playing inspired football things sunk faster than the Titanic in the fourth quarter as the Warriors gave up 41 points and endured another blowout loss.

The trouble began near the end of the third quarter with an interception by Del Norte. At the start of the fourth quarter Eureka capitalized  and scored to make it 21-6.

Then, in only a few-minute span, the Warriors fumbled the  ball three straight times. All three times the Loggers scored  to blow the game wide open and take a 41-6 lead. The Loggers scored two more times to end the game at 55-6.

Using a no-huddle offense for the first time this year the Warriors were right with the  Loggers.

After a scoreless first quarter, with the Warriors playing excellent defense, Del Norte drew first blood in the second quarter.

On a third down situation Warrior quarterback Thor Hadfield threw a long pass, which was caught by Nate Bruder deep in Logger territory. A short time later Christian Alexandre rumbled in for a five-yard touchdown with about 5:49 left in the half. The Warriors went for two points but failed on the attempt.

The Loggers were able to  score a short time later. A block by Warrior Greg Kirby, one of two for the game, kept things at 6-6.

Near the end of the half Eureka scored again and converted on the two-point  conversion to make things 14-6 at the end of the first half.

It appeared that the Warriors came to play and were going to make this a game.

For one more quarter they did.

At the start of the the third quarter Warrior Roy Ward made a nice kickoff return. With a penalty called against the Loggers Del Norte had excellent field position.

On a long pass into the endzone Eureka came up with the ball.

With about 6:29 left in the quarter the Warriors were deep in Loggers territory looking to score, but the the ball was fumbled away right when it appeared Del Norte was going to get into the end zone for a score, and they were denied yet again.

For the contest the Warriors had 97 yards of passing and 88 yard of rushing.

The Loggers had only 35 yard passing but pounded out 370 yards on the ground.

The Warriors fell to 1-3 for the year while the Loggers improved to 3-2.

In the junior varsity game Del Norte fell to Eureka 19-13.

Next week is homecoming for the Warriors. The squad will face Fortuna. The JV game begins at 5 p.m. while the varsity contest begins at 7:30 p.m. at Mike Whalen Field.