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Tornado domination By Kris Henry Considering how Lincoln�s football team was treated Friday night by North Medford, the Cardinals may want to wait another 34 years before testing the state playoff waters again. The third-ranked Black Tornado steamrolled through Lincoln in dominating style, pounding the Cardinals 56-7 for the school�s worst playoff loss in its 100-year history. Lincoln�s previous postseason low came in 1956 with a 40-6 loss courtesy of Marshfield. With the resounding win, North Medford (10-0) advances to play at Glencoe next Friday in a second-round state playoff contest. Glencoe won its first-round game at Hood River Valley, 58-44. Making its first postseason appearance since 1966, Lincoln (6-4) was no match for a Tornado team unwilling to accept anything less than a state title this season. "It was kind of a tough game to prepare for," said North coach Rod Rumrey. "The film that we had on Lincoln didn�t show the same type of football that�s played here in the Southern Oregon Conference. I think we got off to a kind of unemotional start, but the players still did a lot of good things." North put up gaudy numbers against a Lincoln team unable to match the size and power of the Tornado�s offensive line. For the game, North rumbled for 331 yards on 63 carries and had 211 yards passing despite having its second- and third-teamers in the game for much of the second half. Justin MacLauchlan paced the Tornado with 100 yards rushing and a touchdown on 15 carries. The junior tailback also hauled in three passes for 85 yards, including a 53-yard TD pass from receiver Mike Olson that made it 28-7 to start the second quarter. "Justin MacLauchlan probably had his best running game tonight," said Rumrey. Rumrey also had praise for Curt Stout, who along with MacLauchlan has helped pick up the slack the past few weeks with starter Phil Ouellette sidelined by a hamstring injury. Ouellette did make two token appearances Friday, acting as a decoy on Stout�s two touchdown runs. "Stout and MacLauchlan are getting better every week," said Rumrey. "I really think we�ll have Phil back next week, and that�s going to be a good boost to our offense. But those guys have stepped it up, and every opportunity they get to carry the ball they seem to get better." When the Tornado wasn�t busy grinding the ball down Lincoln�s throat, quarterback Kevin Foreman was providing a potent air attack despite the bitterly cold conditions. Foreman completed 7 of 17 passes for 158 yards and two TDs and also ran for a touchdown. Foreman also played a part in the play of the night. With North up 42-7 in the third, the senior quarterback threw a seemingly harmless pass toward Olson waiting near the sideline. Both Olson and Foreman said the pass was short and behind the receiver. They also said made a spectacular one-handed catch � startling even the Lincoln defenders � and then raced untouched 40 yards to paydirt. "It was an out pattern and I threw it behind him but he turned around and made a great catch," said Foreman. "It was amazing." "That was just the way we drew it up," added Olson, who had four receptions for 98 yards. The referees went along with the North tandem�s story, but many others thought the ball hit the ground near Olson and then popped up into his left hand. "He swears it was a catch; I swear it bounced 2 feet behind his hand," said Rumrey. "If it was a catch, then it was an absolutely amazing catch." Not to be outdone, North�s defense hauled in a few passes of its own. It intercepted Lincoln quarterback Cameron Spies five times, including two by Travis Poulton. Poulton made his presence known on the first play from scrimmage as Lincoln attempted a little trickery. With Spies lined up at receiver, running back T.J. Jones took the snap and lofted a pass to an uncovered Spies in the left flat. Recovering from his safety spot, Poulton laid out Spies and forced a fumble after a 12-yard gain. North recovered the ball on the Lincoln 32 and scored seven plays later. The Black Tornado then successfully pulled off an onside kick by Kelly Brown that was recovered by Shawn Backstrom at the Lincoln 46. Foreman immediately hit Olson on a 41-yard bomb and then the quarterback took care of the rest two plays later on a 2-yard TD run. "One of our main goals tonight was to get off to a good start and get the ball in the end zone on our first drive," said Rumrey. "Then we had the good onside kick, and all of a sudden they had one play and we had two touchdowns." Rumrey and crew don�t expect the rest of the postseason to play out like Friday�s romp. "We�re just taking it a week at a time like we�ve been doing every game this year," said Foreman. "We�ll just prepare to go to Glencoe and try to get the job done." Rumrey doesn�t believe traveling to Hillsboro will have an affect on his seasoned team. "This is a real focused group of guys," said Rumrey. "They�ve definitely set their goals high, but they�re a team that every time they take the field I have a feeling they can get it done." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.