Exmouth skipper Richard Baggs said North Devon should have been amongst the title chasers this season after the way they thrashed his side by 117 runs.
Somerset's Jamie Overton belted 69 off 56 balls as North Devon accelerated from 66 for four to 197 for nine.
However, it was the bowling that blew Exmouth away.
The hosts bowled too straight and too fast for Exmouth and Baggs' team were all out for 80 in just 15.4 overs.
Jamie Tapper and David Lye made 17 each to save Exmouth from total humiliation after they had been 19 for five.
"We were blown away by a minor First Class and very good Minor County bowler," said Exmouth skipper Baggs.
"North Devon should be ashamed to be fifth and not really challenging as they have some very fast bowling
"A couple of the North Devon guys said that's by far the best they have bowled and that's what's been happening to us this season."
Exmouth, the defending champions, are going to finish fourth or fifth having failed to live up to last season's standards. Baggs said a period of reflection will be followed by some squad strengthening in an attempt to wrestle the title back from Sidmouth in 2015.Heathcoat crashed to a 206-run defeat against Sidmouth after being bowled out for the lowest total in the top flight this season.
Former Heathcoat keeper-batsman Pete Randerson top scored with 69 and Luke Bess made 61 in a Sidmouth total of 247 all out.
Heathcoat were then dispatched for 41 in just 15.3 overs, with Scott Barlow leading the assault with five for 20 from an eight-over spell.
The good news for Heathcoat is they were safely clear of the relegation zone going into the match.
However, more batting firepower has to be top of the wish list for skipper Sam Smith next season if they are going to avoid further trouble.
Heathcoat wind up with the short trip to relegated Sandford this Saturday.Sandford showed what they can do on a good day when they won by four wickets at Bovey Tracey.
The Creedy Park club were already resigned to relegation before the game having only won twice in the previous 16 outings. And it looked like the same old story as Bovey amassed 260 for four in their 50 overs, with skipper Andy Fairbairn making the top score of 89.
But an unbeaten century from South African Luandre van Wyk saw Sandford chase down the total with nearly two overs to spare.
Sandford made an uncertain start with Ryan Glass, Russ Discombe and Richard Tucker all out with 46 on the board.
Van Wyk and Adrian Small then embarked on a 167-run stand that put Sandford on course for victory.
Small was out for 71 at 213 for four, but by then the outcome wasn't in doubt.
Sandford can only wonder what they might have achieved had Small been fit all season.
No one currently playing has scored more top division runs than Small.
He belongs to an elite group of players to make 1,000 runs in a Premier season. Small only needs five runs this Saturday against Heathcoat to reach 9,000 in first XI Devon League cricket since making his debut for Exmouth in 1993.
Bovey's Fairbairn said Sandford deserved credit for chasing a big total, but added that his side didn't help themselves.
"We let ourselves down with our bowling performance, which is a rarity for us this year," said Fairbairn.
"Our bowling has been the best in the division, based on bowling points gained, so I'm not going to dwell on one performance too much. Everyone is allowed an off day."Exeter go into their final game of the season against Cornwood on a four-match winning streak after beating Plymouth by four wickets.
Gionne Koopman's knock of exactly 100 formed the backbone of Plymouth's total of 190 all out.
However, Exeter were only troubled briefly in the latter stages of the chase and got home comfortably enough with three overs to spare.
Plymouth grabbed an early breakthrough to remove Exeter captain Miles Lenygon, but Alec Bosomworth and Sean Morris (31) kept the target coming down with a stand of 54.
The match-winning parternship was one of 82 between Alec Bosomworth (57) and Neal Prowse (48) that took Exeter to 150 for three.
Exeter slowed from 150 for two to 167 for six, but Will Steward (19no) and Dominic Bess (7) ensured there were no further mishaps en route.
