2B | SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
FOOTBALL from page 1B
late July, if not early August.
“One of the Siuslaw tra-
ditions has been that we
outwork everybody in the
offseason, because every-
body else is playing base-
ball or playing basketball.
For us, it’s time to get back
to football, which allows us
to be in better shape and
know our systems even
better, which we struggled
with last year just because
there was no offseason.”
Lacking an offseason was
an issue for many teams
last year, but with Siuslaw’s
offseason being such a ma-
jor part of their program,
the team definitely felt the
strains of not having that
extra time.
“It leveled the playing
field in that way, because
everybody got the same
offseason amount of time,
which was two weeks,” said
Johnson. “But for us to be
able to get to where we
want to go, we want to have
four months to be able to
do that.”
The level of dedication
Johnson and all those in-
volved in the Vikings’ foot-
ball program demonstrate
has indeed been a long-
standing tradition over the
years. It’s a work ethic that
was ingrained in the coach
by his predecessors, and
one that he continuously
aims to instill in his players.
“I think it’s a very old
school way of doing things,
just because that’s what
Len Lutero did, and that’s
what Tim Dodson did,”
said Johnson. “I ran the
same systems when I was
playing [as I do] now that
I’m coaching, and it takes a
long time [to learn].”
For example, “We run a
split-back veer, and it’s pret-
ty simple to understand for
the most part for our kids,
but [we need the practice]
to get live reps against each
other,” he said. “We don’t
put our five best kids on
the offensive line; we put
five kids that have chemis-
try together who can com-
municate. So, we try to feel
out who we can plug in and
where all the way through-
out the summer.”
With extra preparation
time, the team truly gels.
Additionally, the hard work
as a unit brings the students
closer together, making
them better connected as a
group.
“More than anything, we
want to make sure our kids
bond in a brotherhood and
[feel like], ‘Hey, I actually
love these guys next to me,’”
said Johnson. “It’s not just
showing up to play football.
It’s showing up with their
best friends and brothers to
accomplish one common
goal. Our kids have really
bought into that, so that’s
been really nice for me.”
This sentiment is echoed
by his players, who are
quick to acknowledge the
fact that having Johnson
around after two years of
such irregularity within
the program has been vital
to their success and their
bond.
“It means the world to
me when they say stuff
like that,” Johnson said. “I
don’t think I’m the second
coming of Jesus Christ in
being a football coach, but
my best friends my entire
life have always been the
40 kids I grew up with,
and that’s been one of my
main goals [with my play-
ers]. Jake Thompson called
me the other day, and I’ve
talked with all of the kids
that I grew up with within
the last two weeks, and I
want my kids [in the pro-
gram] to have those kinds
of relationships for the rest
of their lives with the kids
they grew up with.”
This year’s squad will be
particularly strong, as over
75 percent of the team is
made up of upperclassmen,
many of whom were start-
ers last year.
“We have 21 juniors
and seniors on our roster
right now, which is pretty
unique, especially [because
we have] basically all the
same kids that have started
for the last two years,” said
Johnson.
The Viks have six team
captains this year; all are
seniors, several were cap-
tains last year and many are
multi-athletes. In addition
to wide receivers Braydon
Thornton and Isaac Gar-
za as captains, the Vikings
have Camp Lacouture lead-
ing as running back.
Lacouture is a shining
example of one of Johnson’s
hardest working players,
who understands the im-
portance of both the cohe-
siveness of their unit as well
as the effort that must be
put in to win.
“It’s going to be a fun
year,” Lacouture said. “We
have been really blessed to
have been able to play foot-
ball together for as long as
I can remember. This year’s
seniors have always been a
group of athletes that peo-
ple talked about, but we
have nothing to show. The
main goal would be [to
earn] some sort of accolade
for our hard work, and I’m
pretty sure we wouldn’t be
satisfied with a league title.”
In addition to Lacouture,
Garza and Thornton, John-
son has high hopes for his
offensive line.
“The two kids that I
would say are our strongest
and kind of hold down the
offensive line for us would
be Henry Rankin and Av-
ery Hart,” said Johnson.
Finally, with big shoes to
fill, but every capability to
handle it, is captain Beau
Erickson coming on as
quarterback.
“Beau is taking over for
Elijah Blankenship at quar-
terback,” said Johnson.
“All summer, he’s kind of
torched everybody we’ve
played, and I think Elijah
taught him a ton of stuff.
So, being able to learn from
him for two years, Beau is
definitely ready to take the
reins of Siuslaw football,
which will be really helpful
for me.”
One more major goal for
Johnson and the team this
season will be to requali-
fy for the 4A division after
having been bumped down
to 3A a couple of years ago.
“We thought we could
possibly jump back up to
the 4A division after my
first year here, and it was
just one of those weird
things where technically we
didn’t have enough wins be-
cause the year before I got
here, they didn’t win any
games,” explained John-
son. “For us to jump up, we
would have had to basically
win a state championship,
so we entered back into a
two-year contract with 3A,
and this would be year two
of that contract.”
The Viks have a very
competitive game schedule
this season, which aims to
accomplish that goal, and
the school rivalries promise
to be fierce.
“I think we have those ri-
valries with teams, and we
teach our kids not to shy
away from those,” admitted
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Johnson, “but I genuinely
think our kids are really ex-
cited for every game.”
Some of those games will
start the season.
“We open up the year at
home against the top 10
team in the state, South
Umpqua, and then we do
two back-to-back trips
that are four-hour drives
to get to our destinations
with Brookings and Sisters,
and both of those teams
are going to be really well-
coached,” he said. “They’re
not necessarily perennial
powerhouses right now, but
those two teams are really
dangerous to play against
just because to travel to
Brookings, it’s like you’re
playing in the Twilight
Zone. So, for our kids to be
able to understand that and
prepare for that is really im-
portant.”
The season will continue
with additional travel.
“Then, week four is
probably the one I think
our kids are looking for-
ward to the most. We’re
going to Portland, so it’s the
third eight-hour round trip
in a row, and we’re playing
Gladstone, who’s a top-10
team in the state in any
division. They’re going to
be big, physical and fast,
and they’re the team that
I lost to my senior year in
the quarterfinals. We know
what we’re getting our-
selves into; they’re a divi-
sion above us and they’re I
think number three in the
state at the 4A level,” said
Johnson.
“So, it’ll be a really good
matchup, and I think our
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(541)997-6111 DHawkins@spruce-point.com
Faith – Friendship - Fellowship – Fun
CHURCH DIRECTORY
To include your organization in this directory,
please call us @ 541-997-3441
BAHA’I FAITH OF FLORENCE
FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
Ongoing Devotions, Study Circles, Services to the
87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road
Community, Join us on Facebook.
RUAUU? All are welcome to explore the answer.
Join your friends via zoom, Monday’s 7:30-8:30p.m. Until it is safe to meet in person, Sunday Worship Services
“SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS”
are available 24/7 on our website: www.florenceuuf.org
Florence Baha’i Community For info: 541-590-0779
BAY BERRY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Friday Evenings – 7 PM SINGSPIRATION
You are invited to come and sing your favorite
Ole Time Gospel songs. Come and enjoy a time of
fellowship & refreshments before we sing.
NEW LOCATION
Now Meeting in Fellowship Hall of First Baptist
Church at 1935 East 25th Street
For Info: Jack - 541-999-8278 or
Ron - mccrary9483@gmail.com
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
2705 Munsel Lake Road, All are welcome!
Sunday Worship Services are at 10 AM & 11:15 AM.
Bishop Larry Farnsworth 541-999-1979
LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTERS
Tires • Brakes
Shocks • Alignment
4325 Highway 101, Florence
541-997-7178
HOME OF THE BEST TIRE VALUE PROMISE
We are open and
ready to assist you!
kids are looking forward to
it, just because it’s that’s the
division we want to be in,”
he said. “We want to be a
4A school, so we’ll see if we
can we match up with the
best of the best in 4A, and
if we can, we’ll be in good
shape. If we can’t, then we’ll
have to regroup, and we
have a bye week the follow-
ing week.”
All in all, it promises to
be an exciting season for
Vikings football.
Siuslaw’s first game of the
season is at home on Fri-
day, Sept. 3, against South
Umpqua starting at 7 pm.
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418
Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45
Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –
Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m.
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Corner of 10th & Maple- 541-997-3533
Sunday Services are 9am and 11am and on
Facebook live and KCST at 11am
Wednesdays at 7pm
https://www.fl orencecrossroadag.org/church-online
Other platforms update after the service.
fl orencecrossroadag.org
offi ce@fl orencecrossroadag.org
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2nd & Ivy - 541-997-2961 - Non-Denominational
Service is on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Service also streaming live at 10:00 am
at fl orencechurch.com
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
Link to Sunday services at
www.fl orenceunitedmethodist.org
or fi nd us on Facebook.
FOURSQUARE CHURCH
1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family.
Sun. Services: 9:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.
Wednesday Bible Study returns this Fall.
Website: fl orence4square.com
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN E.L.C.A.
21st & Spruce Streets—997-8113
Interim Pastor David Brauer-Rieke, All are welcome.
Sunday in-person worship service@ 10:30.
Also available to you on website
www.fl orencenewlifelutheran.org.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW
3996 N Hwy 101 541-997-7136
Internet and in person Sunday services at 10AM,
Call the church for details.
Reverend Greg Wood
All Welcome. Come as you are.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL
We meet Sunday’s at 11am in our homes.
Call 408-482-1141 or 541-997-4237 for locations.
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S.
Worship Services 10 am • Bible Study 9:00 am
Pastor Steve Waterman
85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038
DVD of Weekly worship service available.
www.puppro.wixite.com/rlcfl orence
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL
Church Welcomes You
FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Worship
Sun.
9am Wed 11am 2135 19th St.
Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16)
541-997-6600
standssecretary19@gmail.com
Labyrinth &
1833 Tamarack Street
Garden daily 8am-5pm
(2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.)
“Be the change.”
Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m.
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES
CATHOLIC CHURCH
FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312
1318 Rhododendron Dr. • 541-997-2523
COVID-19 Compliant Masses have been scheduled.
Sunday Service 11am ( Children Sunday School)
Please call our offi ce for details.
Mid-Week Activities, all ages.
Johnston Motor Company
Since 1939
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951
Worship on Saturday 11:00 A.M.
Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 10:00 A.M.
Give us a call 541-997-3441
to get us your updates or email to:
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