POULSBO — Two weeks into the football season, the North Kitsap Vikings are down 0-2 in non-league play.

The team’s first two opponents were Bainbridge Island (Sept. 2) and Centralia (Sept. 9), both expected to be playoff contenders.

Facing difficult opponents early in the season has hurt the team’s overall record, but it may be better for them in the long run.

The Vikings face North Mason today in the team’s first league game. Varsity quarterback AJ Milyard said playing Bainbridge and Centralia early in the season will give the Vikings an advantage.

“Our two games have been pretty tough compared to our league opponents,” Milyard said.

With two losses against high-caliber teams, Milyard said the Vikings have seen positive growth on the field, without becoming overconfident.

“I think our ego won’t get in the way,” he said of the Vikings’ upcoming game. “But we’ll still have the confidence that we will be able to hang with anyone.”

The team still has work to do.

The Vikings lost 13-7 to Bainbridge and 20-15 to Centralia. The game against Bainbridge included a missed snap and a few missed passes and catches.

Playing Centralia, the Vikings were up 13-7 in the second quarter, after back-to-back field goals (36 yards and 22 yards) by Kyler Gracey. However, the team was unable to finish two drives, which ended at the goal line and would have been enough to take the win.

Vikings head coach Jeff Weible said the team needs to cut down on mistakes and penalties and be more effective in blocking and tackling.

“We beat ourselves more than they beat us,” Weible said of the two non-league games. The team has a total of 14 penalties for the two games.

As far as conditioning goes, the team is in good shape. Out of both games, one person has cramped up, Weible said.

Milyard said he is not displeased with the blocking, either. He typically gets about a three-second pocket from the snap.

For the most part, the Vikings’ movement downfield consists of mostly passing yardage. Milyard threw for 130 total yards against Bainbridge and 124 yards against Centralia. Viking quarterback Kendal Gill added to the total against Centralia with 50 passing yards. Compared to the total passing yards of 304, the Vikings have 84 rushing yards.

In order to create more scoring opportunities and better passing lanes, Milyard said he would like the Vikings’ running game start off stronger.

“We need to improve our run,” he said. “That way our opponents respect our running game and then we start to open up our running lanes.”

Though still without a win, Weible said one of the main goals — creating a positive, hardworking attitude — has been accomplished.

The Vikings’ league opener is today in North Mason Kickoff is at 7 p.m.