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South rips N. Eugene By Greg Stiles South Medford tuned up for its biggest game in years with a 35-6 non-conference triumph over visiting North Eugene Friday night at Spiegelberg Stadium. The Panthers, who evened their season record at 4-4, spent little time relishing their rout. Instead they quickly turned their attention to next Friday�s game at Grants Pass. At stake is South�s first winning season since 1996 and their first Class 4A state playoff berth since 1994. "Our kids have been preparing for this moment since the first of the year," said third-year coach Bill Singler. "Our goals were to have a winning season and get a playoff berth. We looked at the schedule and said, �Wouldn�t it be great to go to Grants Pass with the playoffs on the line.�" It was just a year ago that South�s only win came at North Eugene�s expense. This time the Highlanders were the sparring partner for what the Panthers hope to be a breakout season. South began both halves with long marches to paydirt, dominated the line of scrimmage, kept the Highlanders from breaking off the big play and sent the Midwestern League cellar-dweller home with its eighth loss without a win. "It�s definitely a different atmosphere and much more preferred," said senior John McKay, who weathered back-to-back 1-8 seasons as South�s quarterback before a broken thumb forced him to wide receiver this fall. "We played hard, but we didn�t play the way we�re capable." South outgained the Highlanders 291-193 and didn�t allow a yard on the ground in the first half. The Panthers took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in nine plays with Jimmie Maddox packing the ball seven times for 37 yards. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior powered over right guard for the final two yards and Jared Mulhollen toed the first of five PATs to make it 7-0 with 7:47 to go in the first quarter. The key plays in the drive were McKay�s diving, 23-yard catch of sophomore Boomer Marshall�s pass at the North Eugene 32 and Maddox�s 13-yard sweep around the right side for a first down at the NE 11 after Marshall fumbled the snap. But the Panthers were unable to add to their total until the closing moments of the half. "I think that maybe we lost a little steam and started taking them too lightly," said South tight end Bjorn Johnson. "We needed to get the ball in the end zone one more time." And just when it appeared that the Highlanders were going to make a goal-line stand and remain within seven points at the half, Marshall and Johnson combined to double South�s advantage. After Maddox rammed down to the North 6 for a first-and-goal, the Highlanders;� David Lamberg blew through to down Maddox for a 1-yard loss. Then Chase Oyler sacked Marshall for a 5-yard loss at the 12 to bring up third down. This time Marshall had time and threaded the needle to Johnson in the front right corner of the end zone with defender Jason Normansen all over him. "It was just a corner route," Johnson said. "I came into the middle then hustled to the outside and Boomer placed the ball pretty well." South forced the Highlanders to punt early in the third period then drove 64 yards in eight plays with Maddox again figuring prominently. He carried the final four snaps of the march and carried North Eugene�s Micah Thompson into the end zone as he scored from the 6. Maddox finished the night with 115 yards on 23 carries. McKay, who caught a 23-yard pass in the drive, finished with seven catches for 88 yards. North Eugene finally sprung to life offensively, moving 80 yards in 10 plays with quarterback Justin Wrightman hooking up for a 21-yard pass to Oyler for a first down at the South 3. Jason Normansen powered straight ahead for the score on the next play, but North�s conversion pass failed. Just to make sure the Highlanders didn�t conjure up any comeback thoughts, Rob Brown returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards as South upped its advantage to 28-6. "I bobbled it and then I saw everything open up," Brown said. "It was wide open. There was one guy, I put a little move on him and my blockers took care of the rest." The kickoff return was South�s first since Andy Scaglione�s school-record 98-yarder against North Medford five years ago. "The difference between this year and years past is that we are able to recapture the momentum," Singler said. "In the past we couldn�t do that, things would snowball and then teams would put us away. It was a sign of maturity that we didn�t panic." And now the Panthers will find out if they�ve matured enough to become a playoff team Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.