As North Bend’s football team prepares for Brookings-Harbor on Friday, it finds itself in a position the squad hasn’t been in since the second week of the season — coming off a loss.

Since dropping their season-opening endowment game to Marshfield, the Bulldogs had won six straight before a seven-turnover, 47-33 loss to South Umpqua last week.

“It was just one of those things that sometimes come up during a season. It didn’t seem like much we tried to do worked,” said North Bend coach Rick Taylor of the defeat. “We’ve had a good week of practice, though. I think the kids will respond well.”

North Bend was burned by Lancers quarterback Ryan Smedley, who threw for touchdowns of 39, 15, 47 and 31 yards, and the Bulldogs’ woes in the secondary were compounded by turnovers.

“It just seemed like we couldn’t get a hand on their quarterback,” said Taylor. “We just couldn’t stop it. We could have stopped it by keeping the ball in our hands, and we didn’t.”

There were some positives in the game, though, as after reviewing game film Taylor said his team had amassed 312 yards rushing and 124 yards passing in the game. It’s tough to finish drives, though, when you keep coughing up the ball.

“It’s the same thing I’ve been saying all season... We can’t give up the long ball and we can’t turn the ball over,” said Taylor. “We just have to play a good ballgame.”

The team now will try to take what has become a potent option offense into Friday’s matchup against the 0-3 Bruins on the road. At this point in the season, though, Taylor said North Bend isn’t overlooking anybody.

 “We’re not going to take anybody lightly. Brookings has done some good things,” said Taylor. “They move the bar extremely well, they’re a lot better team than their record shows. We’re saying we have to have this game. These are all playoff-type games. We’re approaching Brookings as a team that’s getting better fast.”

North Bend will have to deal with Brookings-Harbor’s speedy running back Dustin Paradis, who torched Siuslaw for 135 yards and a touchdown last week.

“He absolutely doesn’t go down on the first tackle,” said Taylor. “He’s tough.”

A win Friday night would move the Bulldogs to 3-1 in Far West League play and still with a chance to tie for the league title. And Taylor said despite the disappointing loss last week, he’s pleased with what he’s seen this week in practice.

“We had a great practice tonight,” he said Wednesday. “I think (the players) are going to respond positively. They’re still a great group of kids.”