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North backfield will be in motion Photo by Drew Fleming North Medford's offensive line is young but talented. Returners form imposing threat on `O' By DON HUNT Outwardly, North Medford coach Rod Rumrey is downplaying an offensive backfield that some think is among the best in the state. Inwardly, though, one suspects Rumrey has seldom been so excited about a group of skill-position players. In quarterback Nate Mayben, fullback Ken Halpin and tailback Phil Ouellette, the Black Tornado boasts a backfield that looks to be among the best in school history, or at least since the school split in 1986. If North Medford can rebuild an offensive line that was dismantled by graduation, it should improve on last season's 6-4 record and possibly contend for the Southern Oregon Conference championship. Mayben and Halpin were both second-team all-conference performers a year ago, while the speedy Ouellette came on strong at the end of the season and rushed for more than 500 yards. "We feel fortunate to have three kids of that caliber in the same backfield," Rumrey says, "and even more fortunate that we've got some other kids who are making them work to keep their spots." Chuckle if you must at the last part of Rumrey's statement, but he's serious. Junior quarterback Kevin Foreman threw 24 touchdown passes and junior tailback Curtis Stout ran for more than 1,000 yards in leading the Tornado JVs to an 8-1 record last season, and both are hungry for playing time. But barring injury, they'll have to wait their turns. Mayben, who got off to a slow start in 1998 while battling a staph infection in his knee, still managed to complete 89 of 161 passes for 1,459 yards and 12 touchdowns. He comes to fall camp much more prepared than a year ago, when he missed several practices and started the season on the bench, weighing just 145 pounds. "I can't wait to put on the pads and get going," says Mayben, who now tips the scales at 165. "I've been throwing the ball around all summer." Halpin did a little bit of everything in 1998, ranking third in the SOC in receiving (24 catches, 360 yards), 10th in rushing (471 yards) and fourth in scoring (eight touchdowns, 50 points). The 6-2, 195-pound Halpin has exceptional speed for a fullback. He'll line up as a single back and split out as a receiver in certain offensive sets this season, Rumrey says. "He can run with power and he's got breakaway speed," Rumrey says. "He's very close to being a major college caliber football player, and we've got to get the ball in his hands." The Tornado is also well-stocked at wide receiver, where Jake Scheid returns as a starter and Tate Mellbye and Mike Olson return with experience. Scheid and Olson both suffered season-ending injuries in North Medford's sixth game last fall, Scheid with a concussion and Olson with a lacerated kidney, but both have recovered. Colby Gonzales is back as the starting tight end, giving North Medford no less than seven seasoned skill position players. Up front, power lifting phenom Sean Preston is the only player with experience. The Tornado will be hard-pressed to match last season's line that saw three players make the first or second teams in all-conference voting, but there is no dearth of talent. Junior Scott Myers, a 6-foot, 260-pounder who transferred from Stayton last spring, has the potential to become one of the better tackles in the SOC. Junior guard Justin Baehmann was the top lineman on the JV team last year, senior Mark Fenton brings size (6-1, 240) to the other tackle position and junior Dan Crawford looks like the choice at center after attending every camp and weight workout he could find over the summer. Rumrey is also high on 6-2, 260-pound sophomore Dan Johnson, who will immediately challenge for playing time, and senior Adam Barr, who can play any of the three interior line positions. "We feel like we've got the bodies to get the job done up front, but it's a little scary to go into a season without any experience," Rumrey says. "We've got to work hard at keeping mistakes to a minimum." Defensively, Diego Apodaca returns as a second-team all-conference inside linebacker, Halpin and Joel Gibson return at outside linebacker, John Bracken is back at end and Mellbye and Scheid are incumbents in the secondary. North Medford gave up 20.4 points per game and had a minus-6 turnover ratio last season, statistics Rumrey hopes to improve on. If the outcome of a game comes down to an extra point or field goal, North should have an edge with Kelly Brown. The junior was next-to-flawless on extra points last season and regularly thumped kickoffs inside the 10-yard line to earn honorable mention all-conference honors. Another factor North has in its favor this season is a schedule that finds the Tornado at home in six of its nine regular-season games. Last year, North faced four highly ranked teams on the road (Roseburg, Ashland, Marshfield and Westview), losing to three of them. "It's definitely a more favorable situation," Rumrey says. A loaded backfield. An advantageous schedule. A line that seemingly needs only a bit of time. Could this be the year the Tornado wins its first SOC title since 1985, the year before the split? "That's one of our goals, and I think it's realistic," Mayben says. "We had a shot at winning it last year, and we've got just as good of a team." Tornado at a glance COACH : Rod Rumrey (12th year, 58-51; career, 182-94). ASSISTANTS : John Beck (defensive coordinator), Mike Schaan (offensive line), Chris Parnell (defensive backs), Brent Barry (offensive coordinator), Gordy Crowston (junior varsity), Mark Hodges (junior varsity), Ross Meador (freshmen), Brent Bowker (freshmen), Tom Marrier (volunteer), Phil Cam (volunteer), David Bailey (volunteer), Ron Fawcett (volunteer), Scott Engle (volunteer). 1998 LEAGUE RECORD : 5-2 (tie for second, SOC). 1998 OVERALL RECORD : 6-4. PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR : Third. 1998 REGULAR SEASON SCORES North Medford Opponents 26 Roseburg 21 56 Klamath Union 13 16 Ashland 32 35 Eagle Point 0 28 Crater 20 6 Grants Pass 28 35 Marshfield 49 35 Crook County 21 42 Eagle Point 0 RETURNING STARTERS OFFENSE (5) : Quarterback Nate Mayben (5-10, 165, sr.), fullback Ken Halpin (6-1, 195, sr.), wide receiver Jake Scheid (5-8, 170, sr.), tight end Colby Gonzales (6-1, 188, sr.), place-kicker Kelly Brown. DEFENSE (5) : Free safety Tate Mellbye (6-2, 185, sr.), outside linebacker Ken Halpin (6-1, 195, sr.), outside linebacker Joel Gibson (5-7, 170, sr.), inside linebacker Diego Apodaca (5-11, 192, sr.), end John Bracken (6-3, 190, sr.). OTHER NOTABLES Running back Phil Ouellette (5-9, 155, jr.), wide receiver Tim Miner (5-10, 164, sr.), wide receiver Mike Olson (6-0, 170, jr.), wide receiver Charlie Jensen (5-10, 180, sr.), guard Sean Preston (5-8, 210, sr.), guard Justin Braehmann (6-1, 215, jr.), tackle Scott Meyers (6-0, 260, jr.), guard/tackle Adam Barr (5-10, 195, sr.), tackle Mark Fenton (6-1, 240, sr.), tackle Dan Johnson (6-2, 260, so.), center Dan Crawford (5-11, 215, jr.), center Mike Taylor (6-0, 170, sr.), outside linebacker Shad Thomas (5-10, 165, jr.). 1999 Schedule Sept. 10 at Eagle Point, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17 CRATER, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 SOUTH MEDFORD, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 EUREKA, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 ROSEBURG, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Thurston, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 KLAMATH UNION, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 GRANTS PASS, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Ashland, 7:30 p.m. FOOTBALL 99 Index Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.