2B | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
Vikings
from 1B
available lanes for the Eagles
to land any passes.
It wasn’t until 2 minutes
into the second quarter that
Santiam Christian scored
its first touchdown to pull
within 8 points after failing
the PAT.
However, less than a
minute later, the Vikings
answered with a 62-yard
touchdown run from Blan-
kenship — with Lacouture
kicking the 1-point conver-
sion and a 21-6 Viking lead.
Near the end of the half,
Siuslaw
from 1B
followed in fourth place by
Ryan Jennings in 17:47.5,
and Jaxson Jensen coming in
at 17:48.2 for fifth place.
While sixth place went to
Marshfield, the next three to
finish were all Vikings. Jacob
Blankenship placed seventh
(18:33.1), Brayden Linton in
eighth place (18:46.8), and
Dylan Jensen fin-ished in
ninth place (18:54.3).
Johnson remarked upon
how his teams have done a
phenomenal job adjusting to
new norms while still main-
taining their dedication and
competitive drive.
“It's kind of bizarre,” said
the coach, “because nor-
mally, this is an invitation-
al-driven situation where
we're competing against
20 teams, every weekend,
and we're being pushed
[as a team]. Kids are being
pushed individually, no mat-
ter where they are on the
spectrum of competitive to
emerging.”
According to Johnson,
it's a whole different world
going to a meet and having
one team to compete against
rather than multiple teams
— and multiple competitive
threats.
“It’s a totally different
mindset. But I have to give
our kids credit, they've really
accepted that this is kind of
the new normal, and they've
put a lot of pride in the fact
that we haven't been beaten
yet,” Johnson said. “I think
that’s because of how things
are. We have to create our
own sense of urgency, and
the kids have certainly done
that. I've been coaching for a
long time, and I don't think
I've ever been through a sit-
uation with a group of kids
like this.”
Johnson added that, at
the beginning of the season,
the team wasn’t exactly sure
what it was training for. A
meet or two? A whole sea-
son? Dual meets only?
“We didn't know if there
was going to be a season,”
the Eagles grabbed a 13-yard
reception for a touchdown.
After scoring the extra point,
Santiam Christian pulled
back within 8 points, 21-13
to end the half.
But after playing a relent-
less first half, the Vikings be-
gan losing momentum in the
second half.
In the third quarter, the
Eagles scored once again to
come within 2 points, 19-21.
Holding that narrow lead,
the Viks received the en-
suing kick, with Braydon
Thornton returning the ball
90 yards into the end zone.
However, officials called a
penalty, denying the touch-
down and forcing Siuslaw
further back.
Both Blankenship and
Loomis had minor injuries
in the third quarter, which
also seemed to take some of
the wind out of the Vikings’
sails.
Santiam Christian eventu-
ally took its first lead of the
game, 25-21, with 4:15 left
in the third quarter. After a
conversion, the Eagles lead
by 6.
The Vikings struggled to
get the ball out of their end
of the field for most of the
quarter. Then, with 47 sec-
onds left in the quarter, the
Eagles scooped up an inter-
ception for a touchdown and
moved ahead 33-21 to end
the quarter.
Santiam Christian went
on to score twice in the fi-
nal period, ending the game
with a 47-21 win over the
Vikings.
The Vikings play again
this Friday (March 19), on
the road at Harrisburg.
Kick-off is at set for 7 p.m.,
with KCST’s live broadcast
beginning at 6:45 p.m. on
106.9 FM.
Johnson said. “And from
the first day we could get
together again in Novem-
ber until today, I've had 14
kids who've bought in to our
plan, and they've earned ev-
ery accolade that I can [give]
them.”
Just days later, it was time
for Bandon.
The boys team had a re-
ally close meet with Bandon
earlier in the year, and the
Bandon’s girls would have
beaten Siuslaw at the Silt-
coos Outlet meet just a few
weeks ago had they had their
whole team.
“We knew that that was
going to be more competi-
tive,” Johnson said.
Aside from the fact that
the first meet with Bandon
was very close, Johnson not-
ed that they had plenty of
motivation to compete at full
speed with the Tigers.
“We have a little rivalry
with Bandon. My step-kids
go there, my wife used to
coach there, and the coach
at Bandon is a really good
friend. So, we were excit-
ed about that opportunity,”
said Johnson. “I was walking
around so happy to be at a
meet in the sunshine and
seeing how happy these kids
are to get out there and put
the pedal to the metal.”
Pacing their efforts and
saving a bit of energy for
Friday’s meet proved to be a
perfect plan for the Vikings
with the girls team defeating
Bandon 23-32.
Colton and Brea Blanken-
ship finished first and sec-
ond, respectively, with times
of 19:39.59 and 19:56.47.
Aside from the two runners
who finished first, Siuslaw
had all five runners come
in with top 10 scores. Freu-
denthal finished seventh
(22:03.59), Lacouture was
ninth (22:19.31) and Hol-
brook finished 10th overall
(22:23.81).
Johnson described watch-
ing his girls team’s progress
with great pride, saying,
“Riley and Brea are so fun
to watch. They're so differ-
ent. Brea’s not very tall, and
Riley’s super tall,” he said.
“Brea’s like a tiger and Riley's
like a kitten. They work so
well together and they have
so much energy. Gracie, Brea
and Riley have been through
so much with our teams, and
we've been super successful.”
In addition, Johnson has a
great deal of respect for the
two freshman on the girls
team, with-out whom the
Lady Viks could not quali-
fy to compete with official
scores.
“Jane and Corduroy [have
been] thrust into this situa-
tion where they're freshmen.
“We have five girls on the
team; if we have four girls,
the team is incomplete. So,
they knew from the very
first meet of their freshman
year that they matter all the
time. That's a lot of pressure
to come into.”
The boys team was just as
hungry for the win and fin-
ished victorious as well, de-
feating Bandon 16-43. The
boys had six of their nine
runners come in with top 10
spots. Securing first, second
and third, respectively, were
Chad Hughes (16:40.12),
Ulrich (16:52.18) and Kyle
Hughes (17:09.03).
Coming in fourth with
a time of 17:09.59 was Jen-
nings, followed by Jaxson
Jensen in sixth at 17:55.50,
and finally Jacob Blanken-
ship with a time of 18:19.50.
Johnson said he was es-
pecially pleased to see Jen-
nings’ performance at the
Bandon meet. “Ryan, who's
a stud athlete, came out yes-
terday and had a different
mindset. He came out and
said, ‘I'm going to throw
down today.’”
Johnson also voiced his
respect for three of his boys
team members who pull
double duty for the season.
“Jaxson and Dylan Jensen
and Brayden Linton also play
soccer,” Johnson explained.
“I have a lot of respect for
somebody who's under that
much pressure.”
Johnson said that, as a
whole, each member of
both teams has committed
themselves to the program
beyond just showing up for
practice and race days.
“November's when we
could get together in per-
son [for the first time],” he
said. “But they were running
on their own before that.
There's no rest for distance
runners, it's a year-long, life-
long daily grind.”
The Viks return to the
course Saturday at Marist for
the Sky-Em League preview.
Women race at 11 a.m., fol-
lowed by the men’s race at
noon.
BEWARE THE SNEAKER WAVE
They´re called sneaker waves because they
appear without warning, often surging high up on
the beach with d eadly force, and are impossible to
predict. Sneaker waves also carry a large amount
of sand that can saturate your clothes, weighing
you down and making escape diffi cult if not
impossible.
How to play it safe: Never turn your back on the
ocean.
WATCH THOSE LOGS
The ocean is strong enough to pick up even the
biggest log and plop it down on top of you. Some
logs may look small, but even the tiny ones can be
waterlogged and weigh tons.
How to play it safe: If you see a log in the surf or
on wet sand, stay off it.
RIP CURRENTS
Rip currents are strong currents of water that
rush out to sea. They are stronger than even the
best swimmer. These currents can swiftly sweep
unwary beachcombers and waders off their feet
and out to sea. Rip currents may appear as dark,
choppy water. Any time you see debris and foam
fl oating out to sea, chances are you have found a
rip current. Avoid the area.
How to play it safe: Parents keep your kids close
when playing in the ocean. If caught in a rip
current,don’t panic .Swim parallel to the beach
until you are out of the current, then head for the
beach.
KNOW THE TIDES
Incoming tides isolate rocks from headlands and
the shore. Avoid the temptation of strolling
out to an interesting rock without knowing when
the tide rolls back in. Free tide tables are
readily available at state park offi ces, information
centers and many shops and motels.
How to play it safe: Stay off rocks and small,
enclosed beaches.
Know when the tide is coming in by visiting the
tidetable website at the
Hatfi eld Marine Science Center
http://weather.hmsc.oregonstate.edu/weather/
tides/tides.html
HIGH WAVES CAN REACH YOU
Tides and waves can sweep over rocks, jetties and
headlands, knocking you off and carrying you out
to sea.
How to play it safe: Assume nothing is “high
enough” and avoid exposed rocks, jetties and
headlands during strong wave action (like during
and after storms).
BEWARE OF HIGH, STEEP CLIFFS
Assume that all cliff edges are unstable. Wet trails
or soft sand and earth can make for unstable
footing. Rocks can be slippery even when it isn’t
raining.
How to play it safe: Make sure you wear proper
footwear, and stick to the trails. Stay behind guard
fences and railings, and don´t get too close to the
edge.
HEADS UP
Standing at the base of an Oceanside cliff can
be dangerous, especially if it has an overhang. In
some places, winter storms and high waves have
eroded the shoreline, increasing the chance of
collapse and slides.
How to play it safe: Beware of falling rocks, and
don´t climb on bluffs and eroding hillsides. Don´t
walk along the base of cliffs unless absolutely
necessary.
On Siuslaw! Go Viks!
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