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Traditional FWL powers meet Friday
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Thursday, October 22, 2009 | No comments posted.
The North Bend and Siuslaw football teams expect to continue their recent tradition of great games on the field Friday night in Florence.
One of the big differences this year is that neither is leading the Far West League.
North Bend limps into the game with an 0-2 league record after a disappointing loss at home to Sutherlin last week, while Siuslaw is 1-1 after losing at home to Douglas, which handed North Bend its first league loss.
Siuslaw coach Tim Dodson said he had little trouble encouraging his players to look past North Bend’s league record and seeing a team that has made the playoffs every year it has been in the Far West League.
“You’re looking at a football team that only has two wins,” he said of the Vikings. “Everybody is better than we are.”
Actually, both teams have two wins. North Bend, which has played one more game because the Bulldogs met Marshfield in an Oregon School Activities Association endowment game before school began, started the season with three straight losses before winning its final two preseason games. The Vikings had three agonizingly close losses before winning their final preseason game and beating South Umpqua in the league opener.
Dodson said he sees a lot of similarities between the teams, which both include a number of key underclassmen, as well as dedicated seniors trying to continue their winning traditions.
North Bend has been bit by the illness and injury bug.
The Bulldogs were without three regulars in the loss to Sutherlin, and then took a big hit when junior Jake Lucero suffered a concussion during that game. Coach Rick Taylor said this week that Lucero will sit out the rest of the season because of the concussion.
North Bend gives all its players a preseason baseline test of mental abilities. After a concussion, the test is taken again and the results, which are handled by an outside organization, are compared. After consulting with experts in Eugene, the school decided the all-league linebacker and fullback should sit out, Taylor said.
“I’m glad to know it,” the veteran coach said.
North Bend also may be without linebacker Brian Mattecheck, who has had swelling in his knee, and Tanner Laiche, who starts on the offensive line and at linebacker and has an injured elbow. In addition, two-way lineman starter Gage Green has been sick all week, Taylor said.
The status also is unclear for quarterback Dalton Iveans, who played with a knee injury in the Douglas loss and a shoulder injury against Sutherlin and has been ill this week.
“A lot of people are going through it,” Taylor said of illness and injuries. “We don’t have the experience backing people up.”
A bigger concern is the nature of the two league losses, he said.
“We’ve lost games, but have played well,” Taylor said. “This last game wasn’t like that.”
Sutherlin jumped out to a huge early lead, just like Douglas did the week before. But unlike against the Trojans, where North Bend pulled within a touchdown after trailing 20-0 at halftime, the Bulldogs never recovered against Sutherlin.
“We played better as the game went on,” Taylor said. “We need to come out better (at the start).”
Now North Bend has to go to a place where the Bulldogs have not won in past years.
“It’s a tough place to play,” Taylor said of Siuslaw’s stadium. “They’re really good at home.”
Siuslaw also is improving on offense as sophomore quarterback John Johnson gets more experience, Taylor said.
Dodson said his team has shown some improvement, but it hasn’t been a continual process.
“Three steps forward and a couple steps back,” he said, evaluating the team’s progress. “We have moments where I think we’ve turned the corner and then the door gets slammed in our face and we’re back at square one.”
He’s pleased with the perseverance of his team, though.
“The kids are staying very positive,” Dodson said. “They’re doing their best. I’m very proud of the kids.”
As for North Bend, he’s concerned about the Bulldogs’ offensive attack with wing backs Cameron Seiger, who missed last week’s game with illness, and Cody Harden. Dodson also praised the work of Lucero before learning he won’t play and said Iveans does a great job at quarterback.
“To me, they’re the most diverse and disciplined team we’ve faced so far,” Dodson said. “They’re going to make us pay for not being fundamental.”
The game will say a lot about the postseason hopes for each team. North Bend is almost in a must-win situation, because a loss would leave the Bulldogs at 0-3 and needing help from other teams to somehow get into a tie for the third playoff spot. Siuslaw, meanwhile, does not want to fall into a 1-2 hole in the league standings.
The record aside, Taylor is just hoping his team improves in the final three games.
“If we can come out these last three weeks playing our best ball, that’s our hope,” he said.
In other Far West League games this week, Douglas hosts a Brookings-Harbor team coming off its first league win, while Sutherlin tries to improve to 3-0 when it plays South Umpqua.
In the Midwestern League, Marshfield will try to make it two straight wins when the Pirates visit Willamette, which has started league play with two losses.
The Pirates have had success on the road, with wins over Ashland and Grants Pass and a close loss to a talented Jefferson team in Portland. After last week’s win over North Eugene, coach Justin Ainsworth talked about the importance of the Pirates being consistent. Their biggest improvement against the Highlanders was taking care of the ball after turning it over six times in a league-opening loss to Churchill.
A win Friday would leave the Pirates in good shape for a playoff spot going into next week’s game at Springfield.
In the Sunset Conference, the biggest game of the season is Saturday, when Gold Beach travels to Cascade Christian in a battle of the league’s two unbeaten teams, both ranked in the top six in Class 3A).
Meanwhile Myrtle Point hosts Coquille Friday in what likely amounts to a playoff elimination game for the loser.
Bandon travels to Reedsport in a battle of the two teams winless in league play and Glide and Rogue River meet in a contest between two other teams with playoff hopes.
In the Skyline League, Powers tries to get back on track after last week’s loss to Triad when the Cruisers travel to Elkton.
One of the big differences this year is that neither is leading the Far West League.
North Bend limps into the game with an 0-2 league record after a disappointing loss at home to Sutherlin last week, while Siuslaw is 1-1 after losing at home to Douglas, which handed North Bend its first league loss.
Siuslaw coach Tim Dodson said he had little trouble encouraging his players to look past North Bend’s league record and seeing a team that has made the playoffs every year it has been in the Far West League.
“You’re looking at a football team that only has two wins,” he said of the Vikings. “Everybody is better than we are.”
Actually, both teams have two wins. North Bend, which has played one more game because the Bulldogs met Marshfield in an Oregon School Activities Association endowment game before school began, started the season with three straight losses before winning its final two preseason games. The Vikings had three agonizingly close losses before winning their final preseason game and beating South Umpqua in the league opener.
Dodson said he sees a lot of similarities between the teams, which both include a number of key underclassmen, as well as dedicated seniors trying to continue their winning traditions.
North Bend has been bit by the illness and injury bug.
The Bulldogs were without three regulars in the loss to Sutherlin, and then took a big hit when junior Jake Lucero suffered a concussion during that game. Coach Rick Taylor said this week that Lucero will sit out the rest of the season because of the concussion.
North Bend gives all its players a preseason baseline test of mental abilities. After a concussion, the test is taken again and the results, which are handled by an outside organization, are compared. After consulting with experts in Eugene, the school decided the all-league linebacker and fullback should sit out, Taylor said.
“I’m glad to know it,” the veteran coach said.
North Bend also may be without linebacker Brian Mattecheck, who has had swelling in his knee, and Tanner Laiche, who starts on the offensive line and at linebacker and has an injured elbow. In addition, two-way lineman starter Gage Green has been sick all week, Taylor said.
The status also is unclear for quarterback Dalton Iveans, who played with a knee injury in the Douglas loss and a shoulder injury against Sutherlin and has been ill this week.
“A lot of people are going through it,” Taylor said of illness and injuries. “We don’t have the experience backing people up.”
A bigger concern is the nature of the two league losses, he said.
“We’ve lost games, but have played well,” Taylor said. “This last game wasn’t like that.”
Sutherlin jumped out to a huge early lead, just like Douglas did the week before. But unlike against the Trojans, where North Bend pulled within a touchdown after trailing 20-0 at halftime, the Bulldogs never recovered against Sutherlin.
“We played better as the game went on,” Taylor said. “We need to come out better (at the start).”
Now North Bend has to go to a place where the Bulldogs have not won in past years.
“It’s a tough place to play,” Taylor said of Siuslaw’s stadium. “They’re really good at home.”
Siuslaw also is improving on offense as sophomore quarterback John Johnson gets more experience, Taylor said.
Dodson said his team has shown some improvement, but it hasn’t been a continual process.
“Three steps forward and a couple steps back,” he said, evaluating the team’s progress. “We have moments where I think we’ve turned the corner and then the door gets slammed in our face and we’re back at square one.”
He’s pleased with the perseverance of his team, though.
“The kids are staying very positive,” Dodson said. “They’re doing their best. I’m very proud of the kids.”
As for North Bend, he’s concerned about the Bulldogs’ offensive attack with wing backs Cameron Seiger, who missed last week’s game with illness, and Cody Harden. Dodson also praised the work of Lucero before learning he won’t play and said Iveans does a great job at quarterback.
“To me, they’re the most diverse and disciplined team we’ve faced so far,” Dodson said. “They’re going to make us pay for not being fundamental.”
The game will say a lot about the postseason hopes for each team. North Bend is almost in a must-win situation, because a loss would leave the Bulldogs at 0-3 and needing help from other teams to somehow get into a tie for the third playoff spot. Siuslaw, meanwhile, does not want to fall into a 1-2 hole in the league standings.
The record aside, Taylor is just hoping his team improves in the final three games.
“If we can come out these last three weeks playing our best ball, that’s our hope,” he said.
In other Far West League games this week, Douglas hosts a Brookings-Harbor team coming off its first league win, while Sutherlin tries to improve to 3-0 when it plays South Umpqua.
In the Midwestern League, Marshfield will try to make it two straight wins when the Pirates visit Willamette, which has started league play with two losses.
The Pirates have had success on the road, with wins over Ashland and Grants Pass and a close loss to a talented Jefferson team in Portland. After last week’s win over North Eugene, coach Justin Ainsworth talked about the importance of the Pirates being consistent. Their biggest improvement against the Highlanders was taking care of the ball after turning it over six times in a league-opening loss to Churchill.
A win Friday would leave the Pirates in good shape for a playoff spot going into next week’s game at Springfield.
In the Sunset Conference, the biggest game of the season is Saturday, when Gold Beach travels to Cascade Christian in a battle of the league’s two unbeaten teams, both ranked in the top six in Class 3A).
Meanwhile Myrtle Point hosts Coquille Friday in what likely amounts to a playoff elimination game for the loser.
Bandon travels to Reedsport in a battle of the two teams winless in league play and Glide and Rogue River meet in a contest between two other teams with playoff hopes.
In the Skyline League, Powers tries to get back on track after last week’s loss to Triad when the Cruisers travel to Elkton.
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