OTHELLO – After two dominating performances to start the season and CWAC play, 10th-ranked Selah faced its biggest challenge of the young season.

And the Vikings passed with flying colors.

Riding the five-touchdown performance of star running back Calen Wuitschick, Selah pulled away late for a 33-18 victory against Othello on Thursday night at Huskie Stadium.

It’s the first victory for the Vikings against the Huskies since the 2018 season.

“It was a surreal experience,” third-year Selah coach Greg Haste said on the bus ride back. “I told them, ‘You just went into one of the toughest places to play in 2A and got a win – and you had to earn it.’”

Wuitschick rushed for four touchdowns – including a pair of long scampers – and finished with 274 yards on 21 carries. He has 591 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

He also caught two passes for 21 yards, including his second receiving touchdown of the season.

Haste gave credit to the Vikings offensive line, which paved the way for Wuitschick, and an offense that is averaging more than 40 points per game.

Selah opened the season by winning 48-20 at Ephrata, a road trip that has tripped up plenty of conference contenders. The Vikings followed that with a 47-0 handling of Quincy in the first game played on the new turf field at Karl Graf Field.

The Vikings now face a backloaded schedule, with a trip to fourth-ranked Prosser on Oct. 23, followed by a home contest against defending conference champion East Valley.

Both the Mustangs and the Red Devils entered Week 3 looking to improve to 3-0.

“It was back and forth,” Haste said. “It was exciting and it was gut-wrenching. I’ve never been in a game like that.”

Selah hosts Grandview on Sept. 25, while Othello (1-2) heads to Ephrata.