Siuslaw coach Tim Dodson either knocks on wood or offers a well-studied observation when discussing football and, well, luck, good or bad.

Take turnovers.

In seven games this season, the Vikings have turned the ball over just three times, once on a fumble and twice by interception, according to official game statisticians Jo De and Bob Hylton.

In stark contrast, Vikings opponents have turned the ball over 16 times, six on fumbles and 10 on interceptions.

Nice 16-3 edge, Siuslaw. But Dodson doesn't want to discuss it. He knocks on wood.

"You start talking about those things and those things start to happen," he said. "And they all add up."

What he had been talking about is the low number of team injuries as the Vikings prepare to head to Brookings for a regular-season-ending game Friday with the Bruins of Brookings-Harbor.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. The Vikings will leave for Brookings at 1 p.m. Friday, play a game, and return to Florence, probably by 3 a.m. Saturday and hopefully just as healthy.

"It's been an amazing blessing this year, not having injuries," Dodson said, knocking on wood. "It goes one, to their conditioning, and two, to their technique. Those are two big things.

"Over the past few years we haven't had a lot of injuries."

The only Viking sidelined is sophomore wide receiver-defensive back Evan Teter, who is on a waiting list to see a specialist in Eugene. Teter is not likely to return this season.

Dodson suspects the low number of injuries and turnovers have a common root.

"It's a recognition of the fundamental way we practice," he said.

And it all adds up to a good run of fortune as the Vikings prepare for their final Far West League game and then the postseason.

It would seem no amount of luck will help Brookings-Harbor win Friday night.

Dodson begs to differ. This time he doesn't knock on wood. He starts with the basics, the football, which has been known to take a crazy bounce, from time to time.

"That ball is funny shaped, and it bounces funny," he said. "Sometimes it bounces your way, and sometimes it doesn't."

But Dodson doesn't stop there, shaking his head at any thought of the 5-2 Vikings being heavy favorites against the 2-5 Bruins.

"I think we will have to play pretty well to win," he said. "One, you have to travel. It's always difficult to travel. That in itself is hard.

"We have to tackle well, and we have to be able to defend the pass better. Those are kinda big things."

Then there's the extra motivation that seems to come from being an underdog.

"It's their last football game of the season," Dodson said. "Their seniors are playing their last game, so they're going to come out and play hard.

"They're not playing for anything, so they should be very excited about getting a chance to beat us."

But odds are they won't. Knock on wood.

NOTES: Sophomore Trent Reavis turned 16 Tuesday, and the team ended practice with a "Happy Birthday" serenade ... Of the 16 takeaways by the Vikings, Reavis has 5 (3 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions) ... Preston Mitchell has grabbed 4 interceptions, Scott Gordon 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery, Marshall Teter 2 fumble recoveries, and Kenneth Thrall  and Reese Siegel 1 interception each ... The Vikings have not lost a ball by fumble since the season opener against Newport ... Gordon's 90-yard interception return for a touchdown against Douglas was the second-longest in school history (Collin Cram-Watkins went 100 yards for a score in 2003 vs. Klamath Union) ... Thrall is 28 for 29 on extra-point kicks this season and 109 for 123 for his career, an .886 percentage ... OregonPrepSports.net, in its Week 7 prep football playoff predictions, has Siuslaw playing at Baker next week in a play-in game ...