Warriors improve to 5-0 with road win

Taylor rushes for 151 yards and 3 scores

The Del Norte Warriors notched another win Friday night, taking care of the Arcata Tigers 33-12 at Humboldt State University.

Del Norte senior running back Collin Taylor rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns, moving his scoring total for the year up to 17 and his rushing yards to a sterling 903.

Del Norte is now 5-0 for the year and 2-0 in the Big 5 Conference. Arcata is now 2-3.

In the first half, Del Norte was not as sharp as it typically has been this season, and led only 14-6 at the half before breaking out in the second half.

”We started out a little sluggish,” Warrior head coach Ray Rook said. “Hats off to Arcata. They played well.”

He was pleased with the way his squad composed itself and earned the Big 5 win.

“Obviously we’re glad to be 5-0,” Rook said.

In the first quarter, the Warriors marched down the field on their first possession but stalled on the Tiger 28-yard line.

On the Tigers’ second possession the drive stalled. Things didn’t go well for Arcata when the ball went through the punter’s leg and Warrior Kody Osborne grabbed the pigskin and got the ball all the way to the Arcata 10-yard line. Later, Taylor rushed the ball in for the score from five yards out for his 15th touchdown of the year with 2:52 left in the first quarter.

At the start of second quarter Taylor took the ball, found daylight and rumbled for 65 yards for the apparent score.

But it was called back on a holding call. No problem, as Taylor was given the ball again and picked up 52 yards to the 9-yard line. But a holding call was thrown at the 23-yard line, so his run total was reduced. Del Norte got the ball to the Tiger’s 15-yard line. The rock was given to Taylor a short time later and he was able to run to the one-yard line.

A few stalled plays moved the ball back to the 4-yard line. Del Norte decided to go for it on fourth down and signal caller Jullian Markussen connected with  Aaron Fitch for the score with 7:44 left in the second quarter. The Warriors took a 14-0 advantage after the kick was made.

Arcata started to move down the field again. On a fourth down and inches at the Warriors 28-yard line, Arcata went for it and were greeted by a tribe of Warriors who denied the Tigers the 1st down.

With 1:29 left in the half, Arcata scored on a 5-yard run by Aleric Stone. The Tigers could not get the point after to go in as the half ended with the Warriors holding a 14-6 advantage into the half.

 In the second half, Del Norte started their first drive on the Warriors 10-yard line and got to the Tigers 43-yard line when, on a running play, Markussen fumbled the ball and Arcata got the ball back.

But the Warriors defense held and Arcata had to punt.

Later, Del Norte sophomore Jordan Carpenter scampered 20 yards to the Tigers 26-yard line.

On the next play the ball was handed to Taylor, who ran for the score, but a yellow flag was thrown and the run was called back for holding.

 A short time later, Taylor ran in for the score from 18 yards out with 4:13 left. With the missed kick Del Norte was up 20-6.

In the fourth quarter, Carpenter smashed down the field for 18 yards to start a positive drive to the Arcata 39-yard line. Taylor than ran for 20 yards as the running attack — a Del Norte strength all year — continued to wear down the Tigers. Markussen got into the running act when he took the ball and ran 19 yards for the score with 9:36 left.

Later in the quarter, Taylor had a 24-yard gain to the 1-yard line. After losing yardage the ball was given to Taylor again, who scored from four yards out. With the kick no good the score read 33-6, Warriors.

At the end of the game, with 6 ticks left, Arcata got all the way to the 6-yard line of the Warriors on a 33-yard throw. Stone ran the ball in for six points as the game ended and Del Norte came away with the 33-12 victory.

Next week Del Norte will host its homecoming festivities as they face Fortuna.

In the junior varsity game Del Norte improved to 5-0 by beating Arcata 20-0.