If Siuslaw Vikings football coach Jamin Pool were putting together a wish list for Friday's home opener against Newport, it might include his first win.

But it assuredly would include more enthusiasm to start the game, and more consistent defense throughout.

"We came out flat, and we stayed flat for awhile," Pool said Friday, after his Vikings fell to 0-2 with a 41-14 loss at Pleasant Hill. "Last week (at Elmira, a 35-14 loss), was kind of the same thing, too.

"Traveling, inexperience, it's hard. You can't do much about it but continue to fight."

Friday was a bad night for a low-energy start against a spirited Pleasant Hill Billies team.

"They were amped up, they had a bit of adrenaline going, and you could just feel it," Pool said of the Billies.

"And we were deer in the headlights."

They also were a quick two touchdowns down, the Billies taking the opening kickoff back 74 yards for a touchdown and then going 62 yards in three plays on their next possession for a second TD.

"Again, our defense didn't step up to the plate," Pool said. "We did a little better with assignments than last week, but we still had plays where we took breaks."

Once again the opposition picked up good yardage on the ground, the Billies rushing 34 times for 239 yards, just over 7 yards an attempt. Against Elmira, the Vikings gave up 356 rushing yards on 50 touches, also just over 7 yards an attempt.

Offensively, the Vikings were better, with the three longest drives of the night — 12 plays in the first quarter (turning the ball over on downs), 13 plays in the second quarter (a 9-yard TD strike from Jared Brandt to Brogan Cornish) and 16 plays in the fourth quarter (again over on downs).

For the night, the Vikings ran 67 plays — 37 passing and 30 rushing — to 36 by the Billies — 2 passing and 34 rushing.

"We'll get there on defense," Pool said. "We're a little late in making our reads, and the speed (of the game) is a bit different on Friday night.

"The other thing is being mentally tough to the point that you can continue to do your job ... every ... single ... play, and not take breaks."

Getting Newport next also could be on a wish list. The Cubs have been outscored 108-7 in their first two games, losing 59-7 at Cottage Grove in their season opener and 49-0 at home last Friday to Elmira.

Pool already is putting the Vikings' 0-2 start in the rearview mirror.

"We'll take this as a learning experience, and move forward with it," he said.

"Give credit to Pleasant Hill. You can tell they had a lot of heart, and it's something we're working to."

Something more for his wish list.

NOTES

Kickoff for Friday's Vikings-Cubs game at Hans Petersen Field is 7 p.m. ...

Siuslaw and Newport have met 60 times since 1949, with the Vikings holding a 32-27-1 edge, according to records kept by Siuslaw High School football historian Don Hunt. ...

Siuslaw coach Len Lutero was 13-10 against Newport in his 29 seasons, all against Cubs coaching legend Gene Morrow. ... Tim Dodson was 15-4 against Newport in his 20 seasons as Vikings coach. ...

The Vikings open Far West League play a week from Friday at South Umpqua. ... The Cubs open Oregon West Conference play that same night, hosting North Marion. ...

Junior Evan Teter is 4-for-4 in extra-point attempts in his first season as the Vikings' placekicker. ...

SUMMARY

Friday, Sept. 9, at Pleasant Hill

SIUSLAW                 0      7     7     0     —    14
PLEASANT HILL   12    22     0     7     —     41

First quarter
Pleasant Hill — Vance Pierce 74-yard kickoff return (kick failed), 11:50.
Pleasant Hill — Wyatt Craig 34-yard pass from Zachary Hart (kick failed), 5:35

Second quarter
Pleasant Hill — Bryce Cox 13-yard run (pass failed), 10:36
Siuslaw — Brogan Cornish 9-yard pass from Jared Brandt (Evan Teter kick), 4:54
Pleasant Hill — Bryce Cox 68-yard run (Trevin Hoyt run), 4:34
Pleasant Hill — Wyatt Craig 8-yard run (Trevin Hoyt pass from Zachary Hart), :15

Third quarter
Siuslaw — Jake Hickson 33-yard pass from Jared Brandt (Evan Teter kick), 4:54

Fourth quarter
Pleasant Hill — Zachary Hart 6-yard run (Cody Drews kick), 11:56

RUSHING
Siuslaw — Quincy Rusk 16-69, Jared Brandt 6-62, Trent Reavis 4-50, Mason Wampler 4-10.
Pleasant Hill — Bryce Cox 5-94, Trevin Hoyt 6-59, Vance Pierce 6-24, Zachary Hart 9-23, Collin Good 3-13, Cody Morrell 3-12, Wyatt Craig 1-8, Rowan Von Ortloft 1-6.

PASSING
Siuslaw — Jared Brandt 22-31-234-2, Trent Reavis 3-6-2-0.
Pleasant Hill — Zachary Hart 2-2-63-0.

RECEIVING
Siuslaw — Trent Reavis 7-143, Jake Hickson 3-37, Brogan Cornish 6-20, Evan Teter 4-20, Quincy Rusk 3-3, Mason Wampler 2-3.
Pleasant Hill — Wyatt Craig 1-34, Trent Hoyt 1-29.

Siuslaw statistics courtesy team statistician Natalie Blankenship