DNYF AA Gold Squad: Another shutout for DN

Win 19-0 to move on to title game in Arcata

Quentin Liles of the DNYF AA Gold team tries to gain extra yards while a Redwood Knights player holds on during a semifinal playoff game on Sunday in Crescent City. Del Norte won 19-0 to move on the Six Rivers AA title game verus Ferndale. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

In the semifinals of the Six Rivers Youth Football Conference playoffs, Del Norte took care of the Redwood Knights 19-0 in front of an enthusiastic group of home fans on Sunday.

With the victory, the DNYF AA Gold team improved to 10-0 for the season and will face Ferndale for the AA title this Sunday at Humboldt State University in Arcata.

“It feels good to know that we’re going to play for the championship,” DNYF Gold team member Dakota Forkner said.

Also quite impressive is the fact that on Sunday Del Norte kept a remarkable streak alive by not allowing a single point scored on them this season.

From the start, this group of 11-12-year-olds were beasts on the field as they played a tough, aggressive brand of football.

Jonnie Rafalowski of the DNYF AA Gold team pursues a Knights player Sunday afternoon at home. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Each time Del Norte wrapped up their opponent or made a nifty play the home fans yelled words of encouragement.

“Go boys. Go Warriors,” one fan shouted.

“Come on defense, lets hold them,” another fan shouted.

The Del Norte offense was steady and got a decent amount of points on the board.

This included the lone score of the first half, a 7-yard run by Aaron Young.

In the third quarter, it was more of the same, as the Knights had no answer for the Del Norte defensive attack.

With 2:14 left in the third quarter Young scored again from 9 yards out.

Del Norte went for the one-point conversion and was successful when Dayton Skeen found Dakota Forkner to make things 12-0.

With 8:51 left in the contest signal caller Hunter Johnson scored on a quarterback keeper.

The kick was no good as the score read 19-0, Del Norte.

Del Norte continued to frustrate Redwood as they earned another shutout and a chance at a title to cap off a memorable 2011 season.

Head coach Danny Forkner commended his team for their relentless defensive play.

“Our defense was awesome,” he said. “You have to have 11 guys going for the ball.”

And this is exactly what happened throughout the game on Sunday.

DNYF AA Gold player Angel Galindo said that “it was good to get the win.” When asked the main reason for the victory, he replied matter of factly “We’ve got a good defense.”

This will be the first time Ferndale and the DNYF AA Gold team will meet this year. Both come in undefeated.

Ferndale downed DNYF AA Blue 33-12 on Sunday to earn a berth in the finals.

Forkner said that they are ready to get to work this week as they prepare for Ferndale.

He admitted that it would be quite an accomplishment to keep Ferndale to zero points. But, if they can’t keep them off the board, hopefully they will have at least one more point than their opponent.

With not allowing any team to score  on them this year, Forkner said that while he and his coaching staff have “been downplaying it all year ... it would be nice to remain scoreless.”