Oskaloosa ? Oskaloosa High might have considered Valley Falls too selfish with the ball Friday night.

The Dragons chewed up a large portion of the clock with their running game in a 28-0 rout of the Bears.

Valley Falls also was Self-ish — as in Doug Self, who caught a pass for 39 yards as a wide receiver, and, as a cornerback, returned a fumble recovery 50 yards for a touchdown and returned an interception 100 yards for another TD.

The Dragons (2-1) had running backs Jordan Sloop and Michael Hager combine for 142 yards off 24 carries. Hager capped a 64-yard, 14-play drive with a 26-yard run that swallowed the third quarter and broke the game open.

Oskie (0-3) had its chances but couldn’t overcome seven turnovers, five in the first half.

On a night in which only one punt was attempted (by Oskie) and blocked (by Valley Falls), the Bears failed to move the chains on fourth down six times.

Still, Oskie coach Terry Porter said he was glad to escape without losing a starter. The injury-plagued team lost seven players to injuries last weekend against Jefferson County North.

“The kids played a pretty good game. We got to look for victories in small places, but this is one we should have had,” Porter said. “I used to think injures were caused because you’re not in shape, but that’s not the case.”

Bears senior running back Travis Stalkfleet shared his coach’s frustration.

“We got down on ourselves when we got down. We’ve just got to try harder, I guess,” said Stalkfleet, who ran for 137 yards on 18 carries. “We do more conditioning than anyone in this league, and we don’t show it on the field.”

Oskaloosa High's Travis Stalkfleet (22) slips away from would-be tackler Derek Brown in the Bears' 28-0 loss to Valley Falls. Oskie lost its homecoming game Friday night in Oskaloosa.

“Stuff happens,” said Oskie senior quarterback Tony Barnes, who finished 2-for-7 for 12 yards and one interception. “You can’t stop injuries. It’s just part of football. It’s a contact sport.”

Stuff does happen.

Porter thought he was having a heart attack after practice Wednesday. After being hospitalized for two days, the coach was diagnosed was an enflamed esophagus and stomach.

“I feel fine, other than I feel like a swallowed a garden hose,” Porter joked.

Oskaloosa travels Friday to Jackson Heights.