After David Mesa scores a Siuslaw touchdown in the first half against North Bend, he is hoisted high by Luke Sims in the end zone Friday night. World Photo by Lou Sennick.

The second-ranked Siuslaw Vikings left no doubt who's the top team in the Far West League, and perhaps even the state, on Friday night at North Bend.

Running backs David Mesa and Kody Thrall lead a blistering ground attack that out muscled the Bulldogs' defense for 323 yards and a 40-10 victory. The win capped a perfect, 9-0 regular season for the Vikings, who also claimed sole possession of the Far West title with a 5-0 league mark.

“You bet this was big for us. North Bend is a good team - a great team, and this league title is definitely special,” said Mesa, who rushed for a game-high 122 yards on 34 carries. “Our defense surprised us. We have a pretty decent D. I think we did exceptional tonight.”

The Vikings won their first league title since sharing the crown in 2001. Siuslaw was in the Sky-Em League the past four years.

North Bend's offense ran its typical three-back formations but with a twist. The Bulldogs added a power-I set to match Siuslaw's size in the box. The Vikings responded with overwhelming success. They allowed just 71 yards on the ground and held the Bulldogs' leading rusher, Lane Seals, to 42 on 11 carries.

Siuslaw also brought intense pressure to North Bend quarterbacks Ethan Ottemiller and Matt Watson. The two completed 3 of 14 passes for 82 yards with 66 of those coming on a fourth quarter pass to Shawn Mitchell that was tipped by two Vikings defenders.

The loss left Ottemiller searching for answers afterward.

“We weren't nervous at all to be honest,” the junior said. “There was no pressure playing against them.”

Ottemiller had several opportunities to connect for big yardage with his receivers but struggled finding rhythm on the rain-soaked field.

“I just wasn't throwing right. The ball slipped out a lot,” he said before talking about Siuslaw. “They're a good team. They played well tonight. Watching them this week, I expected more from us.”

Ottemiller and his teammates were quick to leave Vic Adams Field after the game as Siuslaw fans stormed in to greet the new league champions. Vikings coach Tim Dodson didn't relish much in the celebration, which lasted well past 10 p.m., but did praise his team for an emphatic season finale.

“I'm not surprised at all with how we dominated on defense - we've been dominating all year long,” Dodson said amid a raucous group of fans and players. “Like I said, you play the game and do what you can do. This is a great group of kids.”

Dodson took note of a superb effort out of his young quarterback, Jacob Mitchell, who continued to show maturity beyond his years as a sophomore. Mitchell ran the veer option as if he grew up in Nebraska. He made well-timed pitches, sold fake handoffs and took advantage of running lanes to cut upfield.

In the end, he totaled 95 yards rushing - two less than what he did throwing the ball.

“This young man is really special,” Dodson said. “He may not be real athletic or real fast and all the other things, but he's a pretty special kid.”

Mitchell ran for touchdowns of 5 and 42 yards. He got Siuslaw on the board first in the opening quarter with a 23-yard hitch pass to his second-leading receiver, Drew Rainwater. The 5-foot-11 wideout took an almost lateral pass, shook a defender and went into the end zone untouched.

Drew's cousin, Jordan, matched him with an 81-yard kickoff return for six on Siuslaw's next possession. Jordan's return was well-timed. It followed a 52-yard scoring drive for North Bend capped with a 31-yard field goal by James Banks. The hard-fought three points brought life to the North Bend sideline and the crowd, which was still buzzing after Luke Clark intercepted Mitchell during Siuslaw's opening drive. Jordan's ensuing touchdown put the Bulldogs back on their heels.

“It killed us,” said tailback Shawn Mitchell, who scored North Bend's lone touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. “We were pretty excited at that time. We were getting back in it; the crowd was going crazy, and then things fell apart.”

It was no understatement.

Siuslaw found the end zone on its next four drives starting with Mitchell's 5-yard keeper and then back-to-back touchdown runs by Mesa. The 6-foot, 190-pound senior broke for 30 yards on the first and found daylight down the sideline for the second. Mitchell's 42-yard scamper followed.

“It's kind of what we've been practicing against all season,” Mitchell said of the North Bend defense. “We've had a lot of experience against a defense like that. North Bend had a great defense no doubt, but we took care of things.”

Mitchell gave full credit for both the win, and the 9-0 regular season to the seniors, who have not been shy about showing their confidence in Mitchell.

“It hasn't been me, I haven't done anything,” Mitchell said. “It's all been my team. I get all the glory for the things they do.”

North Bend coach Bill Masei wasn't as impressed with Mitchell or Siuslaw's offense as much as he was disheartened by his defense.

“I wouldn't say we were fundamentally sound at all,” Masei said. “Fundamentally sound teams can cover an option quarterback - we couldn't.”

Masei gestured at how his team could have slowed the Vikings, but made it clear the loss was no laughing matter.

“What did this team need tonight? We needed 14 guys on defense and 14 guys on offense,” he said flatly. “We got beat. We got beat by a very physical team. They out-executed us, they out-coached us. They beat us in all three aspects of the game.”

North Bend ends the season at 6-4 with a 4-1 record in league and an outright, second-place finish. The Bulldogs return home next week to host Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs on Friday. The Bulldogs trounced the Pirates 30-12 at Phoenix in their previous meeting in September.

“Hopefully, our guys will wake up tomorrow and be past this,” Masei said. “We have to move on, and I think we will.”

Notes: At halftime, the first three plaques were placed in North Bend's new Legends Court to honor past coaches Dave Abraham (wrestling), Wayne Fox (basketball) and Howard Johnson (football).