The Brookings-Harbor High School football team did its best Thursday night to stem the tidal surge that was the high-powered Siuslaw High School offense but failed to stop them in time, and lost  13-49 to the Vikings.

Not only is Siuslaw undefeated in Far West League play, they are also the top-ranked team in the state according to the OSAA ranking system.

The Bruins began the first series of the first quarter with a fumble for a loss of approximately five yards and a sack for a loss of 10 more before being forced to punt the ball away to the Vikings.

Bruin forward Hannah Baron (6) gets a shot off just before the Trojan defender can get to the ball. The goal would be one of four the Bruins scored in their 4-0 victory over Douglas. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

The retaking of the spot may be short-lived though, depending on how the other games in the league shake out this week. 

The Brookings-Harbor High School volleyball team was unable to pull out of its six-game league losing streak in a 0-3 (14-25, 18-25, 14-25) loss to the Far West League’s second-place Douglas Trojans.

The night was marked with a seeming inability to communicate on the part of the Bruins, as ball after playable ball fell, untouched, between Bruin players.

The Brookings-Harbor Bruins boys soccer team met with an improved North Bend Bulldog squad on Monday in North Bend.

“I think that they did get better,” Head Coach Pancho Garcia said of the Bulldogs. “But, we improved beyond their level. Their coach put a good strategy on us and we failed to capitalize.”

The good strategy employed by North Bend coach Tom Zomerschoe was to pull midfielders into defensive positions to quell what he called “the fast, physical players” that the Bruins have up front – particularly  senior captain Thomas Spratt – and hold on for a tie with the sixth-ranked Bruins.

Luis Rodriguez plants his foot to cross the ball for an assist. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

The Brookings-Harbor High School boys soccer team retained the lone spot on top of the Far West League (FWL) standings with a 2-0 victory over the Coquille Red Devils.

The first goal came with 16:50 remaining in the first half, when Thomas Spratt was able to put the ball in the net.

The Bruins kept the one-point lead going into the break at halftime, and came out to score one more in the second half to take the win. 

The first half of the Lady Bruins’ soccer game against the Lady Bulldogs of Sutherlin ended with the score knotted up at 0-0 in what seemed to be a very physical game.

Bruins and Bulldogs alike were covered in mud from being knocked to the ground during the pushing, shoving and kicking that marked the game play on Thursday evening.

No yellow cards were issued during the course of the game, but play was stopped for injuries at multiple times through the match-up.

Craig West of Marysville, Wash., was fishing with long-time friend and guide, Jeff Fischer of Fischer Guide Service on Friday when he caught this 39.4 pound Chinook in the ocean just outside the jaws to take first place in the Chetco Hawg Derby. The Pilot/Larry Ellis

Fishing report for 

September 30-October 6

WARNING: Do not go skinny dipping at Sport-haven Beach this week. You’re probably all saying to yourselves, “Why in the heck would we do that? We’d all get hypothermia!” But humor me on this one and just say, “OK, I’ll bite – why not?”

Tell you what. I’ll let you answer that question yourself. But first everybody get out a musical instrument (preferably a tuba or a double bass) and get ready to play the easiest song ever composed. Blow or strum the two lowest notes on your instrument slowly back and forth – and play it with feelin’! Duh-da, duh-da, duh-da duh-da, duh-da. (Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water.)

Are you starting to get the picture?

There were a lot more than Kong-sized kings nibbling people’s baitfish last Saturday, the opening of the Chetco Ocean bubble fishery.

Shaylin Curtis crosses the finish line. The Pilot/Jef Hatch

“We knew the course was fast, and the competition was awesome,” Axel said. “I was happy with what I saw, and I’m really excited about it.”

Kyle Gordon led the boys team, coming in ninth with a time of 16:01.