The Arcata Tigers will square off against the Ferndale Wildcats at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
While Arcata's victory against Hoopa Valley wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. In a tight contest that could have gone either way, the Tigers made off with a 13-12 win over the Warriors. The Tigers haven't had any issues with the Warriors recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Meanwhile, Ferndale's rock-solid defense showed up for the team's sixth consecutive shutout on Saturday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat McKinleyville 79-0. Fans of the Wildcats have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 20+ points.
Arcata better keep an eye on Prescott Langer. He was instrumental in Ferndale's win, rushing for 114 yards and three TDs on only seven carries. Langer is on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in each of the last four games he's played. Tanner Pidgeon was another key player, rushing for 43 yards and one score.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Ferndale proved: they limited McKinleyville to a paltry 1.6 yards per carry. The Wildcats didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 15.9.
Ferndale didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off four passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Tristen Titus, Pidgeon, Langer, and Rolland Mcclurg picked up one apiece.
Ferndale's win bumped their record up to 6-0. As for Arcata, the victory got them back to even at 3-3.
Saturday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Arcata has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 273.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Ferndale struggles in that department as they've been averaging 300.7 rushing yards. There's a good chance Saturday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Arcata came up short against Ferndale in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, falling 27-21. Will the Tigers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other football content.
