Warriors ready to play some playoff FB

Game will be streamed live by Bishop O’Dowd

Del Norte senior running back Collin Taylor goes down the field during a game against Eureka. Taylor, who has battled injuries the past several games, is expected to be near full strength for Friday’s playoff game. in Oakland. Del Norte Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

In the first round of the Northcoast Section Division III playoffs, the No. 11 seed Warriors will take on 6th seed Bishop O’Dowd at 7 p.m. in Oakland.  The Warriors are 7-3 overall and the Dragons are 8-2.

Del Norte needs to play smash- mouth football and use its strengths, a strong offensive line and run game, to attack the Dragons, Rook said.

“Their team is big and fast,” he said. “So we need to go out, play our game and see what happens.”

A key is to not be intimidated and not back down, Rook said.

“We want to go after them,” he said. “We’ve got to be ready. We want to go in with a businesslike attitude.”

Del Norte senior running back Collin Taylor should be ready to go Friday night.

Taylor, who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 20 total touchdowns in 2011, has been hobbled with a muscle strain since the Eureka game on Oct. 21 and has played only in spurts.

He sat out last week’s season finale against McKinleyville so he could be rested up for the playoffs.

Rook said Taylor seems much improved and said it will be nice if he goes into the game at or near full strength against the Dragons.

“Hopefully he will help us,” Rook said.

Sophomore running back Jordan Carpenter, who has been a key player for the Warriors with Taylor hurt, injured his ankle last week. Rook said on Wednesday he is a game-time decision.

Rook said they plan to “mix it up,” and while they have not made  a final decision, senior Julian Markuseen and sophomore Aaron Fitch could both see time at quarterback, he said.

The Dragons are well balanced with both the run and pass, with a good-sized quarterback and wideouts, Rook said. He said his team must be aggressive and not let the Dragons beat them with big plays. And they have to put pressure on the Dragons and create mistakes.

Del Norte leaves today and will arrive in Ukiah in the afternoon. There, they will practice at  Mendocino College and stay overnight in the Santa Rosa area and head to Oakland on Friday

For those that are unable to make the long drive to Oakland there will be other ways to watch and hear the game.

Bishop O’Dowd will be streaming the game live at www.bishop

odowd.org/live_streaming. KPOD will be at the game and will broadcast live on 97.9 on the FM dial and on their website at www.kpodfm.com.

The Dragons are 5-1 at home and are on an eight-game win streak. They recently won their second straight Hayward Area Athletic League title. In its regular season finale against San Leandro,  Bishop O’Dowd won 48-26. The Dragons had 412 yards in the first half alone, including over 300 yards of passing.

On an interesting side note, the Dragons are coached by second-year head coach Hardy Nickerson. Nickerson played 16 years in the NFL at middle linebacker and went to five Pro Bowls and played for four teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.