COEUR d'ALENE - It wasn't pretty.

Not even close.

But championship teams find ways to win football games when it matters most.

After coming inches short in a 13-10 loss to visiting Highland High of Pocatello last Friday, the Coeur d'Alene Vikings did just enough to get past the Hermiston Bulldogs - ranked fifth in the 5A Oregon Associated Press poll - to win 31-27 on Friday night at Viking Stadium.

Coeur d'Alene quarterback Austin Lee scored on a 2-yard run up the middle to give the Vikings a 31-27 lead with 58.5 seconds remaining. Coeur d'Alene senior defensive back Myles Mahaffy sealed the win with an interception of a deep pass following the ensuing kickoff.

"Nothing comes easy, especially when you're playing really good teams," Coeur d'Alene coach Shawn Amos said. "They're ranked fifth (in Oregon) for a reason. They were unbeaten coming in, played physical and hard and those are the kinds of games we want. The last two games are what you want to get ready for the playoffs."

Trailing 27-24 with a little over two minutes remaining, Coeur d'Alene defensive back Clayton Carter recovered a Hermiston fumble on the Bulldogs' 30-yard line, setting the stage for the Vikings' final drive.

On the play, it appeared that Hermiston's Samuel Colbray had recovered the ball, but the officials awarded the ball to Coeur d'Alene.

"We got a bad break on the play," Hermiston coach Mark Hodges said. "I thought our guy came away with the ball and I don't understand the call on that. Everyone in the stadium was mystified with how our guy came up with the ball and they gave it to them. Not to take away from the kids and coaching on both sides, it was a great game, but it was a break that went against us."

"I think both teams would say they played a little sloppier than they would have liked," Amos said. "But we made the final play, so to speak. Championship teams, they find a way to win, and we found a way tonight."

After playing a 14-all tie at halftime, Coeur d'Alene linebacker Drew Berger intercepted a pass off a deflection for a 43-yard touchdown return to give the Vikings a 21-14 lead.

"He's had a lot of those plays for us," said Amos of Berger. "It was pretty crazy. He made a big play and we finally found a way. It wasn't pretty, but they found a way. We didn't get in sync on offense, but credit to them, they're a pretty good defense."

Lee finished with 216 yards passing, with Berger finishing with a team-high 69 yards on the ground, including a 43-yard touchdown run to give Coeur d'Alene a 14-7 lead in the first quarter.

Coeur d'Alene (5-1) opens 5A Inland Empire League play at Lewiston next Friday.

"Now the games start counting," Amos said. "These last two games are what we're looking for heading into league to get us ready, and that's what's important right now."

Colbray finished with 115 yards and three touchdowns for Hermiston (4-1).

"They got their big plays and put the ball in the end zone when they needed to," Hodges said. "We need to fix a couple things offensively, but I think we'll be better down the road."

Hermiston 7 7 0 13 - 27

Coeur d'Alene 14 0 7 14 - 31

First quarter

Herm - Samuel Colbray 15 run (Luis Medina kick), 4:11

Cd'A - Brian Skinner 55 pass from Austin Lee (Brennan Barber kick), 3:59

Cd'A - Drew Berger 43 run (Barber kick), 1:29

Second quarter

Herm - Colbray 4 run (Medina kick), 10:44

Third quarter

Cd'A - Berger 43 interception return (Barber kick), 9:55

Fourth quarter

Cd'A - FG, Barber, 32

Herm - Colbray 2 run (kick blocked), 8:21

Herm - Carson Morter 5 pass from Chase Knutz (Medina kick), 5:43

Cd'A - Lee 2 run (Barber kick), 58.5.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Herm, Adams, 10-16, Knutz, 3-(-16), Colbray, 23-115. Cd'A, Lee, 17-17, Berger, 7-69, Schneider, 2-(-3), Le, 2-0, Bonacci, 1-(-4), Green, 6-16.

PASSING - Herm, Knutz, 12-22-2-95. Cd'A, Lee, 16-33-1-216.

RECEIVING - Herm, Smith, 1-30, Adams, 1-1, Morter, 6-43, Green, 3-22, Colbray, 1-2. Cd'A, Daniels 5-81, Skinner, 2-73, Schneider, 4-31, Williams, 2-10, Green, 1-2, Berger, 1-12, Hutchings, 1-12.