In a game that had it all, cold rain, deep mud, two determined championship teams, with fired up crowds, the Del Norte Warriors spectacular season came to end almost as cold and unforgiving as the weather.
On a typically wet, cold north coast night, an anything but typical football game broke out at Del Norte High School Saturday night during the 2019 California Interscholastic Federation Division 5-AA State Championship between the El Monte Lions from southern California, and the Del Norte Warriors in Crescent City.
After protecting the field from the elements for almost an entire week, the field before the game was in perfect condition before game time, however, if Del Norte High School had no issues with their football field before the game… they do now.
As the kick off and the heavier rain started the game, the crowd at Del Norte stadium was at full throat and even louder after the Warriors stopped the Lion return at their own 40 yard line. But that would be short lived as the Lions right side of the offensive line sealed the edge for the California State rushing leader Davon Booth #6 who got to the outside, turned the corner untouched at full speed, and outran the Warriors defense 56 yards to the endzone, on the second play from scrimmage.
As the Lions bench and stands went wild, an eerie hush momentarily fell across the field as the Lions lined up for the extra point and the air left the stadium. But that also was short lived, as the Warrior faithful made their presence known again as El Monte kicked to the Warriors with over eleven minutes left in the first period and the Warriors started their first offensive series at their own 27 yard line.
The Warriors looked like the Warriors early in the drive trying to establish their running game, and driving down to the El Monte 30 yard line. But like they would later in the quarter, the Lions held their own in the trenches, turning away the Warriors twice in the quarter on 4th and short in no mans land, to short of a field to punt and too far for a field goal attempt.
With a 0-6 lead going into the second period and after stopping the Warriors on the El Monte 23 yard line on a 4th and 12 turnover on downs, the Lions went on a long 5 minute ball control, 77 yard rushing drive culminating in another Davon Booth run right up the middle for another El Monte touchdown. The 9 yard touchdown run made the score 0-12 El Monte, with 8:00 minutes left in the 2nd period after failing to convert on either extra point opportunities.
Del Norte ended up with good field position after the kick-off starting their first second period possession on their own 35 yard line. On the next play, Del Norte put the ball on the ground again, killing a Warrior opportunity to answer the Lions score, and putting a tired Del Norte defense back on the field own their own half of the field. El Monte would take control on the Warrior 40 yard line and grind out another long drive capped off by a 11 yard race to the corner as El Monte senior running back #20 Abel Cueva outraced the Warrior defender on a sweep to the endzone, putting the Lions up 0-18 at the half.
The Warriors came out for the second half receiving the ball after deferring the opening kick-off and seemed to come out with a blank slate determined to write a different story for the second half. Again they established the run game after starting the drive on their own 40 yard line and put together a typical Warrior drive that drove down to the El Monte 18 yard line and consumed over 4 minutes. But as El Monte established early in the game, their defense stiffened and the Warriors turned the ball over on downs inside the Lion 20 yard line.
But in the third quarter of play, defense was on the menu as both teams failed to get into the endzone. But El Monte took the ball with 7 minutes in the third and drove down inside the Warrior 10 yard line before the third period ended, setting them up for another Booth touchdown early in the fourth quarter, making the score 0-26 after converting the two point conversion.
The Warriors played very good, but Del Norte put the ball on the ground 4 times in the game, killing drives and giving field position to the Lions that put points on the board 3 times off turnovers. The Warriors made big plays and sustained long drives, but the much bigger Lions speed allowed them to run down Warrior breakaways keeping the Warriors out of the endzone until the Warriors Levi Cox Cooley #21 ran in a touchdown from 5 yards out with under two minutes in the game.
A 46 yard sweep to the right side by El Montes’ Davon Booth put the Lions up 0-32 before the Warriors last scoring drive of an incredible 2109 Championship season as the Warriors dropped the Championship game 7-32.
Congratulations to the California Interscholastic Federation Division 5-AA State Champion El Monte Tiger Football team and staff, and El Monte High School.
Congratulations to the California Interscholastic Federation Division 5-AA Northern Section champion Del Norte football team and staff, Del Norte High School, Del Norte Unified School district, and the City of Crescent City for all their contributions to make this incredible season possible for these young men.
