Local businesses celebrate team by ‘Ringing in the Season’

Dec. 13, 2021 — The celebration of the undefeated 3A state champion Siuslaw Viking football team continues as the list of individual and team awards for the team continue to get longer. 

As a team, Siuslaw was awarded the Oregon School Athletic Association (OSAA)/Les Schwab November Team of the Month for 3A. As winners of the Team of the Month, the Vikings will receive a commemorative trophy and $100 will be donated to the team's program, courtesy of Les Schwab Tires. Joining Siuslaw, the following schools were also named teams of the month for their respective division: Echo (1A, volleyball), Culver (2A boys cross country), Marshfield (4A, football), Thurston (5A, girls soccer) and Cove (6A, football).

On Dec. 5, a group of 3A coaches voted to determine the 3A All-State Team. Remarkably, more Siuslaw players were selected than at any time in program history. Nine different Vikings were selected for 14 different spots on the team. 

The dynamic duo Camp Lacouture and Braydon Thornton led the list of Vikings who were chosen, with each being awarded three spots on the all-state team. 

Lacouture, captain of the Viking defense, was chosen as 3A Defensive Player of the Year. The senior linebacker was named to the 1st team for that position. Lacouture also rushed for 1,607 yards this year, the second most in SHS history, which earned him the spot of 1st team running back. The multi-positional star also was named to the 3rd team as a place kicker. 

Thornton, also a senior, was named Offensive Player of the Year by the 3A coaches. After smashing the Oregon single-game record for receiving touchdowns against Pleasant Hill on Oct. 14 with seven, the wide receiver finished with the most receiving touchdowns in a single season for any Viking ever with 18. He also set the single-season receiving yards mark with 1,507. This performance earned Thornton the 1st team wide receiver spot. His standout play on defense also earned him 2nd team honors at defensive back. With three return touchdowns this season, he was also named the 1st team kick returner.

Senior lineman Avery Hart and Rhys Fleming also earned more than one spot on the team. Hart was awarded 1st team for defensive line and 2nd team for offensive while Fleming was on the 2nd team for both tight end and defensive line. The list of additional Viking honorees can be found in the Scoreboard, sponsored by Coast Pavement, on page B2.

In addition, the community has decided to come together to help the Siuslaw Viking football team members pay for their championship rings from winning the Oregon 3A state championship. The series of events has been termed “Ring in the Season.”

On Dec. 6, Dutch Bros in Florence donated $1 from every drink sold to the championship ring fund. On Dec. 9, The Pono Hukilau donated 100% of proceeds from the purchase of any pineapple teriyaki chicken plate to the ring fund.

The next event, planned for Dec. 28, Homegrown Public House & Brewery will host a “State Football Championship Celebration” to honor the entire Viking team from 6 to 8 p.m. Homegrown will provide burgers and fries for coaches and players and a special “Siuslaw Burger” special for the public. 

“We are inviting the public to come celebrate with the team, coaches and families,” said Scott and Elaine McMillan, owners of Homegrown. “We are working on fundraising for the football team this evening as well. The goal is State Championship Rings, and we would love to join in the effort to make this a reality.” 
Further details on the event can be found here: https://fb.me/e/12sjqgRja.

Those wishing to make a cash donation to the ring fund can do so through myteamworks.org/siuslawfootballstatechampionshiprings.