ARCATA TIGERS SHUT OUT SAN LORENZO
Arcata High’s boys made quick work of visiting San Lorenzo High School at the Humboldt State Redwood Bowl in their CIF North Coast Section matchup Friday night football matchup.
The reigning top cats in the Humboldt Del-Norte League’s Little 4 circuit held their Bay Area guests to a 44-0 shutout victory in their quarterfinals matchup despite missing starting quarterback Shane Purcell for the second week in a row.
Purcell has been sidelined since suffering a big impact during the team’s regular season matchup against McKinleyville on Oct. 29.
While the first-choice quarterback has been a key piece of the team’s success this season, averaging at 1.5 touchdown passes per game, the team had plenty of offense despite the absence.
Backup arm Alex Jioras, who normally takes to the field as a
linebacker, rose to the challenge with four successful touchdown throws to receiver Carson Tucker in the quarterback’s second outing as a starter.
AHS head coach Jamal Jones praised Jioras’ composure.
“It was a gutsy performance. It wasn’t something unexpected to us, but it was necessary,” he said. “When you get seniors playing for the opportunity to not turn in their pads they step up to the challenge.”
Tucker’s performance was not out of the ordinary, as the senior-year player has been catching touchdown passes constantly throughout the season.
“He’s nice, he’s electric, he’s gritty and he’s a guy that you want on your team if you’re playing on Friday night,” Jones said of Tucker.
Alex Gorge ran in the pigskin for the team’s first of many touchdowns under the Redwood Bowl’s floodlights, with Tucker piling on the points by catching the Tigers’ next three touchdowns.
On defense, the team halted all forward momentum, at one point holding the Grizzlies to -14 yards on land.
In the team’s return to the Redwood Bowl, Jones said the team belongs at the venue and will defend its field.
“To get back to that place and play a football game is special for
us. If you were there last night, you can see why,” Jones stated.
The victory sets up a clash between Arcata High and Napa Valley prep Justin Siena High School for next Friday at the Redwood Bowl.