Warriors fall in the fog to the Loggers

Roy Ward of the Del Norte High varsity football team runs with the ball against Eureka at home on Friday night. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

In a fairly thick fog at times that covered the field,  Del Norte  took an early lead against Eureka but struggled the majority of the way, with some life shown near the end of the fourth quarter to lose in Big 4 Conference action 35-12.

To start the contest, the Loggers received the ball, with the Warriors containing them on defense.

Del Norte made the most of their first possession on offense. First, quarterback Thor Hadfield found receiver Nate Bruder from the 48-yard line of Eureka as the Warriors moved down to the 31.

Del Norte continued to move down the field as Christian Alexandre ran his way for the score from the two-yard-line with 6:40 left as the home crowd cheered the Warriors’ successful drive. Del Norte tried for two, but a penalty was called, and on the second try Del Norte went for the point after and missed to make things 6-0.

On the next possession it appeared that the Warriors would contain the Loggers again with a 4-and-3 on the 43-yard-line of Del Norte. But Eureka went for it and got the first down.

“It’s terrible,” head coach Bob Hadfield could be heard yelling to one of the referees. “You know that’s bad.”

A short time later Soma Vainuku rumbled in for the score. With the extra point things were 7-6 Loggers with 1:02 left in the first quarter.

Eureka put more points on the scoreboard when Vainuku rumbled for a 35-yard-touchdown with 10:13 left in the second quarter to make things 14-6.

Members of the Warriors marching band play while dressed up for Halloween. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

The start of the second half started poorly for the Warriors, who fumbled the ball on the first play of the quarter.

The Loggers took advantage and scored a short time later to  extend the lead to 28-8. With 6:59 left in the quarter the Loggers scored yet again as the lead was extended to 35-6.

Later in the quarter Layton O’Reilley caught a nice pass from Hadfield for a 29-yard gain to the 26-yard line of Eureka. A short time later the Loggers  intercepted a pass to end the threat.

At the end of the quarter, with O’Reilley in at quarterback, the Warriors began to  move the ball down the field and  got to around the five-yard line of Eureka. The drive continued in the fourth quarter but Del Norte was unable to get the ball into the endzone.

Later in the quarter the Warriors started to move the pigskin.

Del Norte got the ball to the 23 yard line of Eureka, but penalties dropped the Warriors back as it looked like the chance to score would not happen.

But on a long fourth down play with Travis Shellabarger under center, he found O’Reilley, who was playing at receiver, and connected with him for a 37-yard score with 1:31 left in the contest. The two point  conversion was no good as the  game ended 35-12 Loggers.

Del Norte finished the contest 8-for-25 passing for 132 yards, three interceptions and a touchdown. Del Norte ran the ball for 115 yards and a score.

Eureka was 4-for-6 for 119 yards and ran the ball for 191 yards.

Del Norte dropped to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the Big 4, while Eureka improved to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the Big 4.

In the junior varsity game Del Norte lost to Eureka 30-0.

Former Warrior standout Cody Hoffman, who is currently a freshman football player at Brigham Young University and is redshirting this year, made an appearance at the game.

He was swarmed by fans as Hoffman obliged them with autographs.

On the Loggers’ side of the field, Eureka was cheered on by former Logger and USC linebacker Rey Maualuga.

He is currently a standout rookie with the Cincinnati Bengals.