CORVALLIS - Sewing up the fourth straight Mid-Willamette Conference football title was anything but easy for West Albany on Friday night.

The Bulldogs built a three-score lead in the fourth-quarter lead only to see host Crescent Valley make a late run.

Alec Olson's recovery of a CV onside kick attempt with less than a minute left finally sealed it, allowing West to hold on for a 34-28 victory.

The second-ranked Bulldogs (9-1, 7-0) have now won all 28 games of their games in the four-year history of the league.

West claimed the Mid-Willamette's first seed for the state playoffs and will have a bye before hosting a second-round game.

With just a few returning players who had major roles, West was a completely different team from the ones that captured consecutive 5A state titles.

Coach Randy Nyquist told his team to establish its own identity.

The Bulldogs did, having now won nine straight games since losing their season opener against Sherwood.

"We're a new team," senior Anthony LaCoste said. "We've got a lot of new guys, but they're stepping up and making the plays when we needed them to."

Against No. 6 Crescent Valley (8-2, 6-1), LaCoste had 158 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries. He had another potential score recovered by teammate Paul McHenry in the end zone.

The West defensive and special teams came up big with six Crescent Valley turnovers.

Kyle Connelly recovered two fumbles, while Connor Magnuson, Travis McMasters and Jake Conser had one apiece. Chase Thomas intercepted a pass in the end zone.

McHenry's fumble recovery on LaCoste's run from the CV 3 gave the Bulldogs a 34-14 lead with 4:16 remaining, providing West what appeared to be a chance to rest easy.

But CV came back quickly, scoring on an Andre Oglesby 26-yard run.

The Raiders recovered an onside kick and scored six plays later on a 14-yard pass from Grant Mattes to Eric Aust with 59 seconds remaining.

It was the Raiders' only completed pass of the night.

But Olson, a senior running back and linebacker, made sure the league win streak stayed alive in the onside kick recovery.

"I was trying to get relaxed," Olson said. "The ball was kicked right to me, so I'm just thinking, just get the ball, get the ball."

He did, and West ran out the clock.

In its four-year run, the Bulldogs hadn't had a league title game on the final week of the regular season.

Nyquist wasn't happy about not being able to finish Friday's game stronger.

But he was pleased with the progress the team has made.

"I'm really proud of their growth and development," he said. "I'm especially proud of this group."

West's Thomas caught three Nick Orsborn passes for 62 yards, and Jackson Ruckert added 47 yards on three catches.

Oglesby rushed for 137 yards on 25 carries for Crescent Valley. Colby Eason added 119 on six carries, including a 70-yard touchdown that tied the game at 14-14 in the third quarter.

West Albany 34, Crescent Valley 28

West Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 0 6 14 - 34

Crescent Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 7 7 14 - 28

First quarter

WA-Nick Orsborn 1 run (Tyler Davis kick), 7:10

WA-Anthony LaCoste 4 run (Davis kick), :56

Second quarter

CV-Andre Oglesby 1 run (Mark Geniza kick), 3:17

Third quarter

CV-Colby Eason 70 run (Geniza kick), 7:21

WA-LaCoste 21 run (kick failed), 1:54

Fourth quarter

WA-LaCoste 35 run (Jackson Ruckert pass from Orsborn), 7:26

WA-Paul McHenry fumble recovery in end zone (kick failed), 4:16

CV-Oglesby 26 run (Geniza kick), 2:26

CV-Eric Aust 14 pass from Grant Mattes (Geniza kick), :59

Individual statistics

Rushing: West Albany, LaCoste 30-158, McHenry 8-27, Ruckert 1-26, Orsborn 4-17, Jarrett 3-14, TEAM 4-(minus-12); Crescent Valley, Oglesby 25-137, Eason 6-119, Mattes 5-25, Cochran 4-32, Gardner 2-9, TEAM 2-(minus-16).

Passing: West Albany, Orsborn 7-20-1-120; Crescent Valley, Mattes 1-10-1-14

Receiving: West Albany, Thomas 3-62, Ruckert 3-47, Reid 1-11; Crescent Valley, Aust 1-14