David Joyce, 3, fends off a North Bend defender as he prepares to center the ball to his teammates. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

The battle ended in favor of the North Bend Bulldogs, 1-3, but it gave the Bruins one last opportunity to fine tune their game before they headed into the OSAA playoffs.

Eddie Yeager, 15, makes a solo sack during Friday night’s victory over the South Umpqua Lancers. Yeager’s sack on fourth down got the ball back for the Bruins and set up running back Chandler Dodd’s subsequent touchdown. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

The Bruins jumped on the scoring bandwagon early and never stopped moving as they rolled to a 37-20 victory over the Lancers of South Umpqua.

The Bruins forced the Lancers to turn over the ball on downs on the first possession of the game and kept up the defensive pressure throughout the game. 

“They did a good job,” defensive coordinator Chris Schofield said. “They kept up the pressure.”

Disappointment was the only feeling to describe the way the Brookings-Harbor High School boys and girls cross country teams felt after they finished the Far West League championship race at Tugman State Park on Thursday. 

For the boys team it was the first time since 2005 that BHHS was in a serious hunt for a team trip to the OSAA state championships and for the girls team front-runner, Shaylin Curtis, it was the second year in a row that uncontrollable circumstances kept her from an individual berth in the championship race. 

The boys finished third with a team score of 89 which almost doubled second-place North Bend’s 47. The top two teams automatically advance to the championships.

Expect large Chinook on opening day of the Chetco, like this 24-pound king caught by Mark Gasich of Brookings in the Chetco Bay last week. The Pilot/Larry Ellis

Fishing report for October 19-25

There are only seven days left before the Chetco River opens above river mile 2.2 on Nov. 3, and according to ODFW, there should be plenty of salmon in the river this year.

OK, I admit it. When it comes to opening days, I’m a real nerd, complete with horn-rimmed glasses, lab coat and pocket protector. The following conversation that took place a few years ago on opening day should exemplify that nerdish virtue (and yes, I believe nerdism is a virtue) that seems to be a part of my persona.

Bruins forward David Daniels goes down in a puddle after being shoved by a Pacific player during the Bruins’ 8-0 victory. Cold and wet conditions didn’t phase the Bruins in their shutout of the Pirates and curtailed the notoriously physical play that has historically been present in games between the two teams. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

The starters had earned a reprieve from the hail, rain and extremely cold weather by putting six of eight goals in the nets in the 8-0 shutout of the Pacific High School Pirates. 

A collective sigh of relief was breathed by the members of the Lady Bruins soccer team after they beat the Lady Bulldogs of Sutherlin, 2-1. 

The victory means a solitary hold on second place in the Far West League and a home-field advantage for BHHS as they head into the OSAA round-of-24 play-in games.

Forward Wyatt Aldrich ended a Bruins’ first-half scoring drought when he took a perfect lead pass from Fernando Villa to put the Bruins on the board late in the first half on Thursday. 

The Bruins had let the South Umpqua Lancers have the lead for most of the first half beginning with a bouncing shot over the head of a diving goalie – Alex Garibay – for a Lancers’ goal early in the first half. 

Jerry Smith of Medford hoists two of the many lingcod he and his crew caught recently while fishing out of the Port of Brookings Harbor. The Pilot/Larry Ellis

October means large lingcod – Chinook and coho in Rogue and Chetco bays

Don’t put your rockfishing gear in mothballs yet. Lingcod are putting on the winter feedbag in preparation for upcoming spawning months. They’re hungry, aggressive and eager to pounce on the bait or lure of your choice.

Lady Bruins forward Jade Heredia, left, shoots and scores during the Bruins’ 6-0 victory over the Lady Lancers of South Umpqua. Heredia scored twice for the Lady Bruins. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

Athletic Director Buell Gonzalez named the three athletes for girls soccer at halftime of their game: Gemma Cowan, Jessica McKee and Mahalee Evans all received flowers, balloons and presents from their loved ones as they basked in the applause of the crowd.