In the end, it was the Viking defense, and far fewer turnovers, that carried the day, erasing  a 200-115 yd. rushing disadvantage, and -70 total. 

Coach Tim Dodson, who played on the 1981 team that played the 0-0 championship game against South Umpqua, but was deprived of a chance to win that one in OT, got his shot, and rode the #1 defense to an undisputed title today. Despite 163 rushing yards and 41 more on returns by McCaffrey, when the game was on the line, it was the Viking defense that came up with a big stop, by Mesa and Max Perry. Coach Dodson noted "The offense played hard, but the Defense gets all the credit for this one. They're pretty good. And, it takes a little bit of luck." And fewer turnovers, as the 5-2 advantage was the difference, both in terms of Viking points, and stopped Outlaw opportunities. According to  Dodson (and everyone else), "Those were huge!" 

Kody Thrall, Viking player of the game, who led the Vikings in rushing with 79 yds., described the effort in OT, after all the mistakes that plagued both teams, by observing "In OT, we just worked harder. It got us pumped up even more. Earlier, we didn't execute, but we just kept working harder."

The elusive Drew Rainwater was key. Earlier in the game, the incompletion from his cousin figured huge, but the play he made in OT was bigger. "I just saw the endzone and ran for it, for all I could get." And then Thrall took over.

McCaffrey was the Outlaw player of the game, and the season rushing record stands at 3,335 yds., and the career mark has reached 5,498, with another season left.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  

#1 VS. #2. The best offense against the best defense. A rematch from last season's playoffs. History written before your eyes. Where else would you want to be?

The 13-0 Outlaws ride Cory McCaffrey down Highway 2, right into the teeth of the 12-0 Viking defense.

Its dry, mostly cloudy, and little to no breeze. Coach Macauley reports all players ready to go. Coach Dodson rates David Mesa at 80% (lower back), and no other injuries.

The decision to open 1 gate to the parking lot looks dubious. 40 min. until kickoff and MLK Blvd. is bumper to bumper, as more of the crowd is on the street than in the stadium. Sisters has twice the crowd the Outlaws have, but there are still more people parked on MLK than in the parking lot.

("Jbaseball" says "Hi" to Oregon HS fans everywhere.)

Sisters has won the toss, and deferred. They will kick to the Vikings, who will initially defend the east goal. No wind advantage.

Sisters announces Ashton Sims instead of usual starter Carroll Gryder at WR. Gryder is on the field on the kickoff unit. 

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  

1st. qtr. 

QB Jacob Mitchell's keeper on the first play crosses midfield, and the next play is a pas on the left side. The Outlaws are trying to pinch the inside lanes, and it left room outside. But a sack and better containment on the Viks' right side forces 4th. down at the 23, and the pass is nearly intercepted. The Outlaws have bent, but not broken again. And gauged the Viking speed.

The first big play is a Nathan Jackson fumble after catching a pass on the left side, which Sean Campbell recovers for the Viks. Not sure why the ball was dropped. The Vikings are keeping the Outlaws from any defensive "help" by mixing direction and play selection well. It comes to 4th. and 1 at the 1, but off man blocking, Kody Thrall turns behind the right tackle's hip for the Viking lead @ 3:30. Thrall's kick makes it 7-0, and the turnover was huge.

After a short kick puts the Outlaws out at their 40, McCaffrey quickly drives it into the redzone, but another fumble, this one by Jeff Sampson in the middle of the pile on the left side, bails out the Vikings, who take over at their 8. The Outlaw turnovers are turning the game.  McCaffrey's speed gets to the edges at will, and only the sidelines help. But inside is another matter. The Rainwaters' are finding enough room to limit the Outlaws' run support.  After 1, the Vikings are on their 29.

2nd. qtr.

J. Rainwater overthrows an open by 10+ yds. Drew Rainwater on the left side. It should be 14-0. We will see if that comes back to haunt them, as a punt results. Maybe not, as a mishandled bouncing punt is recovered by Campbell, who is hustling to plays all over, at the Outlaw 28. But maybe so, as Hayden Mayea takes it away for the Outlaws, already the 4th. turnover!

Not sure at all why the ball is so hard to hold onto, its not the weather, or the hits.

The Outlaws are really trying to loosen the Vikings up with variety, including a WR option into the middle!

Mesa picks off an underthrow over the middle, and the Vikings start at their 47. 4th. outlaw turnover! The Vikings had better capitalize while the freebies are flowing. Instead, 3 & punt, and its shanked right. Outlaws at their 34 @ 4:24.

The Outlaws throw an illegal block, and the Vikings return the favor.

First team to clean up their act probably wins.

Time out Sisters @ :50 on the Viking 39. The Viking defensive middle is standing up pretty well, but the Outlaws aren't giving up on the inside.

They should give up on the trick stuff, as McCaffrey's option pass is overthrown, and almost picked off. The punt goes way out of bounds. Neither team, as predicted, want anything to do with Rainwater or McCaffrey on a return. The Vikings run out the clock, with the 1 TD lead off the turnover.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *    

At the half, both coaches will need to figure out how to go win this one.

McCaffrey has 86 yds., mostly in the middle of the field. Thrall leads the Vikings with 46. Mitchell has thrown for 44 yds., all on the short stuff. Long passing isn't working for either team, and it isn't the coverage; no one can throw an accurate long ball.

The Outlaws' mistakes have hurt, but haven't been fatal. Yet. The Vikings are keeping the game out of their red zone, and that's keeping them in control. But their inability to open up a working margin with so many opportunities could come back to bite.

Doesn't look like the #1 & #2 teams so far. 

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   

3rd. qtr.

The Vikings kickoff, and its time for someone to step up. And its McCaffrey. The kickoff is short, but the Outlaws pass it back to McCaffrey, who brings it back 41 yds., weaving and cutting to the Viking 35. 1 missed block prevented it from going the distance.

Joel Bechtold saves the TD again, with a cut inside the lead block to get McCaffrey. This was a nice adjustment. 

But it was only 1. A pass in the flat to Jackson sets up Sampson from 4 yds. out, and @ 9:39, its tied 7-7.

Campbell is the MVP so far, as he weaves across the field 39 yds. to the Outlaw 45 with the kickoff. JR who? 

But the Vikings go backward. The Outlaws' special teams are struggling with all the Vikings' lane movement, but their defense has figured out the Vikings' seams.

The punt is fair (barely) caught by Jackson at the Outlaw 13. After 2 stretch plays, McCaffrey is out to the 40. McCaffrey is breaking the first tackle.

But Sampson fumbles in the line again, and Jason Garcia picks it up. The fifth Outlaw turnover, at the Outlaw 41 @ 6:43.

The Vikings take advantage of this gift, and drive down to the 11 on the ground. Then D. Rainwater's elusiveness pays off, and a short pass on the left side turns into a 14-0 Viking lead @ 2:24.

A penalty on the Vikings on the kickoff negates McCaffrey's return to the 37, so Gryder takes the next one to the 43.

It comes to 4th. & 1 at the Viking 48...and the Vikings jump off side. Another mistake!

James DiCarlo makes the hit of the game to end the third qtr., stopping Sampson at the 35.

4th. qtr.

But its wasted, Vikings offside on 3rd. & 3 = 1st. down Outlaws.

The Outlaws are going with 2 TE tight formations to try to break thru the Viking Defense. This also thins the pass coverage, and a pass in the left flat to Jackson gets to the 6. McCaffrey pounds to the 3. Then he breaks 2 tackles to get to the 1. And Sampson offsets his 2 fumbles with his second TD. Tied again at 14 with 8:47 left. Game on!

Mesa takes the latest short kick to the Outlaw 40. Avoiding Rainwater and McCaffrey on kick returns has cost a ton of field position.

And after an open TE Max Perry drops a pass on his hands, a soft Mitchell pass to the left is picked off by Miles Johnston. A penalty negates the runback, but the Outlaws have it back at their 32.

And on 3rd. & 2, commit a false start. Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes.

Jackson catches the pass, and gets to midfield,,,and a penalty brings it back. McCaffrey gets the 1st. down @ 5:42. And then another penalty pushes the Outlaws back to their 40!

Time out Vikings @ 4:04; 3rd. & 7.

Pass in the left flat against soft coverage to Jackson to the Viking 43. 

The Outlaws had no penalties in the first 3 qtrs., but have switched from turnovers to penalties as the mistake of choice.

On 3rd. & 15, the Outlaws run a strech play, and its way short. Time out Vikings @ 1:33, and the Outlaws get the punt blocked. Viking ball at the Outlaw 31, with 1:22 to win it in. 

The fade to the left for J. Rainwater is caught, but out of bounds. The Vikings were holding anyway. Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes!

The Vikings complete a seam route, and fumble it! But DiCarlo dives in and recovers. Time out Vikings with 19 sec. left, att the Outlaw 16.

A sweep right gets out of bounds, but the referee winds the clock anyway, and time expires before the Vikings can get the field goal kick off. Its blocked anyway! OT!

OT1 

The crowd extends from the 10 to the 10, and very few are sitting down.

Sisters wins the toss, so Siuslaw goes first, and chooses to go to the east end, and start from the 25. The Vikings have 1 TO, the Outlaws 4.

Mesa up the middle for 3, then Mitchell throws incomplete into triple coverage. But a swing pass left to D. Rainwater winds to the 4. Mesa sweeps left, fumbles at the goal, but is out at the 1. Thrall jumps over right tackle for the TD, then makes the kick. Vikings 21-14!

The Outlaws open with a 6 yd. swing pass left to Gryder. McCaffrey right to the 17. The Viking coach is out on the field, but no flag! McCaffrey slips at the 16. 4th. & 1. Time out Outlaws. McCaffrey is stopped for a 5 yd. loss, VIKINGS WIN.

.

1st. qtr.

Siuslaw -  Kody Thrall 1 yd. run (Thrall kick) 3:30

3rd. qtr.

Sisters - Jeff Sampson 4 yd. run (Josh Marr kick) 9:39

Siuslaw - Drew Rainwater 11 yd. pass from Jacob Mitchell (Thrall kick) 2:24 

4th. qtr.

Sisters - Sampson 1 yd. run (Marr kick) 8:47 

OT1

Siuslaw - Thrall 1 yd. run (Thrall kick)

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