Vikings seek EOL title
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
Friday, November 6, 2009 10:52 AM PST
Vale —The Vale Viking football team is one win away from a perfect Eastern Oregon League title and, today, will attempt to secure that with a win over rival Nyssa.
With the No. 1 seed already obtained for the upcoming 3A state playoffs, the Vikings are heading into this game with plenty to play for.
First, there is the bragging rights of winning this highly-contested rivalry between Nyssa and Vale. Then there is the EOL title and, finally there is the fact of playing a solid game and building confidence as they head into the state playoffs in two weeks.
With the top seed in the EOL, Vale will draw a matchup against the No. 4 seeded team from the Pac-West conference, which, currently is Jefferson High School.
Against Nyssa, the Vikings will need to contain the Bulldogs’ rushing game, which Vale head coach Jeff Jacobs said is much improved.
“We have to be concerned with all three of those guys in the backfield,” Jacobs said. “Their quarterback, Eric Jensen, is a winner, and any time the ball is in his hands he is going to make things happen. They (Nyssa) like to get Seth Glenn the ball from many different looks which tells me they have some tricks up their sleeves.”
Nyssa and Vale run the same style of offense, and that is run first and the run again, but both teams will put the ball in the air when needed.
The Bulldogs will show the Viking offense a 4-3 look with plenty of blitzing.
“I expect Nyssa to bring everything defensively at us, including the kitchen sink,” Jacobs said. “We will have to move the ball around and keep Nyssa guessing. We will not be able to trick them. They know us too well.”
The Bulldogs are playing for their playoff lives and need to win the game to make the playoffs outright.
“Right now, we are in the hole,” Nyssa head coach Lee Long said. “We’d lose out in the point system, but, if we win this game today, we’re automatically the third seed.”
Long added, regardless of what his team does, if Umatilla wins at Burns, the Bulldogs will still pick up the No. 3 seed, but he prefers to settle the matter on the field today with a win.
“The playoffs are huge for any team. If you’re not playing in November, you’re simply not one of the better teams,” Long said. “Our kids know this, and this is our goal. Regardless of what happens in the playoffs, we want to be a playoff-caliber team. We will give it our all, and hope for the best.”
Vale and Nyssa will kick off at 7 p.m. today in Nyssa.
