Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Arcata defense shut out Balboa at the Redwood Bowl on Friday night.

The Arcata Tigers made it two straight wins at the Redwood Bowl on Friday night, getting the better of Balboa out of San Francisco 10-0.

And for the second straight week, they can thank their defense for doing the bulk of the heavy lifting.

The Tigers defense has now posted shutouts in the past seven quarters of play.

“Again it was a gritty ruthless performance from our guys,” Arcata head coach Jamal Jones said of his defense. “They’re buying in and they’re locked in.”

The Tigers scored all 10 points in the first half, and that would prove to be enough.

Kien Mazzotti scored the only TD of the game on an eight-yard run early in the second quarter, and senior quarterback Mathew Robinson added a two-point conversion run.

The other two Arcata points were scored on a safety, when Mateo Vincent blocked a punt that went out of the end zone.

Vincent continues to play outstanding football for the Tigers and has been one of their most consistent performers dating back to the outset of last season.

And it’s not just his physical contribution.

“He’s a stud,” Jones said of the senior lineman. “He’s the glue out there. He always manages to get guys in the right spots.

“He epitomizes what you want out of a football player.”

Senior Hayden Santsche also had a big game at linebacker and was a continual problem for the visitors.

Mateo Vincent (55) talks to head coach Jamal Jones after Friday’s win.

Offensively, the Tigers did enough, but saw a lot of opportunities go to waste.

“We keep getting in the red zone, and we’ve got to cut out our mistakes,” the head coach said.

In the fourth quarter alone, the Tigers turned the ball over on downs inside the red zone and had back-to-back drives end on fumbles in Balboa territory.

Mazzotti had a good night running the ball.

The Tigers open league play at home to Ferndale next weekend.

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Ray Hamill writes at humboldtsports.com, where you can read lots more about sports in Humboldt County.