The Siuslaw-Harrisburg football rivalry hasn't exactly been competitive since the Vikings were relegated to Class 3A in 2018.

Harrisburg won the first meeting, in Harrisburg, by 56 points, 63-7, in the forgettable 0-8 campaign that sentenced the Vikings to four seasons of 3A play.

Sam Johnson took over coaching duties in 2019, and the Vikings posted their own 56-point win, 64-8 at Hans Petersen Field.

Friday is the rubber match between two 0-2 teams, each playing as if their backs were to the wall.

Kickoff is 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on Coast Radio and the NFHS Network.

"I think you will see a Siuslaw football team who plays with fire and passion," Johnson said. "A football team who loves each other and leaves it all on the line for one another. A football team that plays with a chip on their shoulder, and one who is done taking crap."

The Vikings opened with a tough loss in the high desert, 26-24 to La Pine. La Pine scored with a little more than a minute to play for the win.

Siuslaw fell to 0-2 last Friday, losing at home to Santiam Christian, the defending state champions, 47-21.

Harrisburg is 0-2 and has been outscored 77-6, losing to Junction City, 35-0, and to Sisters, 42-6.

"Over the last eight quarters of football we have played we have genuinely played one good quarter of football, one average quarter of football, and six bad quarters of football." Johnson said.

"We have a lot of room to grow as a team and we need to do that growing quick. We have started to find our identity and believe in each other. Our players are learning to just do their jobs and not worry about everyone else's jobs but instead trusting the guy to do it. 

"I am excited for (Friday's) game at Harrisburg because our kids seem ready and this is a group of kids who has an extraordinary amount of potential if they choose to buy in and believe in each other fully."

The Vikings will close their regular season with two home games, Sisters on March 26 and Junction City on April 2. Both opponents 4A schools playing down to 3A.

Siuslaw caps its season April 9 with a Culminating Week game against an opponent to be named.

VIKIINGS STATISTICS

vs. La Pine

PASSING — Elijah Blankenship 11-18-0—146.
RUSHING — Camp Lacouture 5-58, 1 TD; Skyler Loomis 11-42; Braydon Thornton 2-20, 1 TD; Elijah Blankenship 12-20, 1 TD.
RECEIVING — Braydon Thornton 6-82, Camp Lacouture 5-64.
DEFENSE — Isaac Garza 1 interception; Camp Lacouture 1 interception.

vs. Santiam Christian

PASSING — Elijah Blankenship 16-24-2—119, 1 TD.
RUSHING — Elijah Blankenship 8-137, 2 TDs; Camp Lacouture 7-73; Skyler Loomis 12-53.
RECEIVING — Camp Lacouture 8-67; Braydon Thornton 5-40; Rhys Fleming 1-7, 1 TD; Skyler Loomis 1-5; team 1-0.
DEFENSE — Braydon Thornton 1 forced fumble; Elijah Blankenship 1 forced fumble.

SCHEDULE
Record: 0-2 league, 0-2 overall
March 5 — at La Pine 26, Siuslaw 24
March 12 — Santiam Christian 47, at Siuslaw 21
March 19 — at Harrisburg, 7 p.m., Coast Radio, NFHS Network
March 26 — Sisters, 7 p.m., Coast Radio
April 2 — Junction City, 7 p.m., Coast Radio
April 9 — Culminating Week game, to be announced

VIKINGS ROSTER
Seniors (5)
  4 Elijah Blankenship, QB/DB
12 Hector Garcia, RB/LB
23 Skyler Loomis, RB/LB
68 Christian Newlan, OL/LB
72 Michael Shick, OL/DL
Juniors (11)
  1 Rhys Fleming, TE/LB
  2 Isaac Garza, WR/DB
  5 Camp Lacouture, RB/LB
  8 Braydon Thornton, WR/DB
  9 Avery Hart, TE/DL
10 Beau Erickson, QB/DB
24 James Smith, WR/DB
50 Joe Slaughter, OL/DL
51 Henry Rankin, OL/DL
52 John Corser, OL/DL
69 Ethan Aaron, OL/DL
Sophomores (7)
  7 Ian Sissel, RB/LB
15 Noah Dotson, TE/DL
16 Hunter Petterson, RB/DB
22 Odin Smith, RB/LB
53 John Rose, OL/LB
54 Victor Ayala, OL/LB
56 Julian Loftis, OL/DL
Freshmen (8)
  3 Talin Loomis, WR/DB
  6 Tate Bottensek, WR/DB
13 Owen Garneau, RB/LB
14 Dayne Muller, QB/LB
55 Billie Massey, OL/DL
58 Cort Waggnoner, OL/DL
70 Landon Severy, OL/DL
71 Daniel Schick, OL/DL
Coach: Sam Johnson
Assistants: Andy Johnson, Billy Jones, Bob Teter, Dennis Davidson, Gerald Fleming, Jeff Gray, Lane Johnson, Nick Johnson, Tom Shinn