Varsity Wildcats vs. Hoopa: Tristen Titus with a punt return for 6. Photo courtesy of Denise Grinsell.

Eight Straight and Counting: Ferndale’s Defense Holds Firm

By Melissa Sanderson

The rain fell early and hard in Ferndale on Saturday morning, bringing another challenge for the undefeated Varsity Wildcats. A wet football and a muddy mess foremost in everyone's minds going into the game against the visiting Hoopa Valley Warriors. 

The Ferndale Wildcats kept their undefeated streak alive with a commanding 67-0, showing no signs of slowing as they rolled through another dominant performance on Carlson Field.

Ferndale wasted no time setting the tone. After recovering a Hoopa fumble on the opening kickoff at the 13-yard line, it only took four plays for senior Garyn McClurg to punch in a 2-yard touchdown less than three minutes into the game. Christian Enriquez added the extra point kick to put the Wildcats ahead 7-0.

Moments later, Prescott Langer blocked a Hoopa punt, and Rolland McClurg scooped it up for another Wildcat touchdown. Enriquez’s kick split the uprights again, making it 14-0 with 6:33 left in the first quarter.

Ferndale’s defense continued to dominate when Tanner Pidgeon intercepted a pass and ran it back for a pick-six, Enriguez added another extra point and the scoreboard read 21–0 Wildcats with 5:38 left in the opening quarter.

Angel Zaragoza zeroed in on the Hoopa quarterback, sacking him for a loss of 7 yards, on Hoopa’s next possession, and then again wrapped up the running back to add another loss of one on the second down. Ethan Weitzel tackled a warrior who managed to sneak 4 yards, but it was still a long way from the first down, resulting in a fourth down punt and another failed attempt for the warriors to move the chains against the relentless Wildcats' defense. 

The Wildcats’ offense kept firing in the second quarter. Garyn McClurg found the end zone again on a 1-yard run, and Enriquez’s kick was good, bringing the score to 28-0 with 10:16 to play in the half.

Pidgeon snagged his second interception of the day while the desperate Warriors were trying anything they could to move the ball up the field. Pidgeon then connected with Tyler Broderick to set up another short touchdown run, this time by Langer. Once again, a good kick from Enriquez took the score to 34-0, still with 7:47 left to play in the first half.

Special teams got in on the scoring next, as Tristen Titus returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown, and soon after, Liam Bishop added another with a 45-yard return to make it 48-0.

The Wildcats forced yet another turnover when Luke Dixon stripped a Hoopa ball carrier, setting up Ferndale at the Warrior 22-yard line. Pidgeon capitalized a few plays later and rewarded Dixon with a perfect pass at the 2-yard line, allowing Dixon to launch himself over Warrior and into the end zone for a touchdown to make it 54-0.

To close the first half, Garyn McClurg intercepted a Hoopa pass and ran it all the way back for a touchdown and Ferndale’s second pick 6 for the half. 

After controlling the ball 11 out of the 12 minutes of the third quarter, Langer ran in for the Wildcats' final touchdown of the day with 1:01 left on the running clock. Enriquez’s extra point attempt was good, bringing the score to 67-0. 

The Wildcats’ defense once again refused to give up a single point, marking yet another shutout in a flawless season. Hoopa managed to move the yard markers just twice on their own accord and moved the ball just 63 total yards. The Wildcats' defense and special teams are all the offense Ferndale needs to win. They make up 147 points of the Wildcats’ 527 total points this season, enough points by themselves to win.

The Wildcats, now 8-0 for the season, travel to McKinleyville on Friday. They’ll look to keep their perfect record intact. Game time is set for 7:30 pm.