Vikings motivated to take on Gold Beach
By Sean Hart
Argus Observer
SeanH@argusobserver.com
Friday, November 20, 2009 10:38 AM PST
VALE—A rematch of the Oregon 3A high school football 2007 state championship game is set to unfold this weekend.
The Vale Vikings will host the Gold Beach Panthers for the second round of the playoffs at 1 p.m. Saturday — this time at Frank Hawley Stadium in Vale.
The Vikings lost an ugly, rain-soaked matchup two years ago in Hillsboro, 42-0, and don’t want to repeat the performance.
“I know the coaching staff is very motivated by our state championship loss two years ago,” Vale head coach Jeff Jacobs said. “I have told our athletes that I don’t ever want this group to feel what we felt then. We felt humiliated, embarrassed and stunned.”
This year, Gold Beach finished the season in second place in the Sunset League with an 8-2 record. The losses came to 4A foe North Valley in Gold Beach’s first game of the year and to Sunset League No. 1 seed, Cascade Christian, Oct. 24.
Since then, the Panthers have amassed a three-game winning streak, including a 40-35 victory over Willamina last week, and the Vikings’ coach said the team does not have any weaknesses.
“They (Gold Beach) are very disciplined, well-coached and conditioned, extremely aggressive and athletic. They are an explosive offensive team that rarely punts,” Jacobs said. “Gold Beach is banking on making fewer mistakes than the opposition. They are great about capitalizing on their opponents’ mistakes.”
Vale also comes into the game on a hot streak as the No. 1 seed from the Eastern Oregon League, having won six in a row since an early three-game losing streak to non-league opponents, Homedale, Ontario and Baker City.
“We need to control the ball and score every time we get it,” Jacobs said. “Defensively, we will have to be very disciplined as well and come ready to hit.”
Lifestyle Editor Sean Hart can be contacted at SeanH@argusobserver.com.
Vik Fan wrote on Nov 20, 2009 1:11 PM:
Go Vikings!!!!!!! "