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MT file photo North Medford's Nate Mayben was voted co-offensive player of the year in the SOC. North Medford's Nate Mayben was voted co-offensive player of the year in the SOC Mayben shares in top player award By DON HUNT orth Medford High quarterback Nate Mayben admitted he was surprised to be named co-offensive player of the year in the Southern Oregon Conference with Roseburg's Kevin Linderman. Linderman, after all, guided the Indians to a 28-14 victory when the two teams met head-to-head on Oct. 8, and his team didn't taste defeat in conference play this season. But Mayben led the SOC in passing with 1,796 yards and 16 touchdowns, and his performance during a 31-21 comeback victory over Grants Pass on Oct. 29 will go down as one of the top Black Tornado performances of all time. "It's a great honor and I'm very thankful to get it," Mayben said of his MVP award. "But as everyone who has seen us play knows, I've got the best receivers maybe in the whole state. "My job was pretty easy." It wasn't easy on the night North Medford trailed Grants Pass 21-3 early in the third period. But Mayben engineered the improbable comeback, leading the Tornado to 28 unanswered points and the win. The defining moment for Mayben came when he scrambled around in the pocket for a full 10 seconds, eluding six Grants Pass defenders before launching a 26-yard touchdown pass to Tate Mellbye that put North Medford in the lead for good. "When I'm back there running around, I really have no idea where I'm going or who I'm going to throw the ball to," Mayben said. "I'm just trying to buy some time so I can avoid the sack and maybe connect on the big play. "It's all instinct. "The Grants Pass game is one I'll never forget. The crowd was going crazy and once we got the momentum, there was no stopping us." Mayben completed 59 percent of his passes (94-of-158) and was intercepted just seven times. Although he doesn't possess a particularly strong arm, the 5-foot-9, 160-pound Mayben was adept at putting the ball in the right spot. "A lot of guys have the arm strength but not much touch," North Medford coach Rod Rumrey said. "Nate can get the ball downfield if he has to, but a lot of our passes are crossing routes, screens and quick sideline stuff. It's pretty rare when he doesn't deliver the ball to the right spot, and if one of our receivers is wide open, then Nate will take a little off and lay the ball in there softly. "He throws a very catchable pass." Two of Mayben's targets -- fullback Ken Halpin and wide receiver Mike Olson -- were also chosen to the first team. Halpin led the SOC in receiving yardage (710) and touchdowns (19), while Olson had 23 catches and averaged 20.4 yards per reception. Linderman, meanwhile, was as steady as an ocean breeze. The three-year starter passed for 1,357 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 460 yards and seven scores in leading Roseburg to a 7-0 SOC record and an 8-1 overall mark. "He ranks right up there with the best quarterbacks we've had at Roseburg," said Indians coach Thurman Bell, who was named the SOC coach of the year. "He's a good passer and a good runner, but most of all, he's a great leader." Linderman, who was also a first-team pick at defensive back, had plenty of company on the first team. Roseburg teammate Matt Brock was a unanimous first-team selection at offensive guard and defensive end and was named the SOC's player of the year on defense. All told, the Indians had 10 players chosen to the first team at 12 positions, including 6-foot-7 tight end Joe Newton, the lone sophomore. Ashland was represented by Kris Pavilionis, who made the dream team at both wide receiver and defensive back, and defensive lineman Tyson George. Crater's lone representative on offense was running back Scott Toney, the SOC's leading rusher with 953 yards on 219 carries, but the Comets had three selections on defense -- lineman Anders Vetch, linebacker Tanner Hillyer and punter Brent Foster. Linderman, Roseburg tackle Robin Knebel, Roseburg place-kicker Ryan Holt and Grants Pass linebacker Len Nuanez made the first team for the second straight year. The all-star squad was chosen by the SOC coaches at a dinner in Medford last week. SOC football all-stars First Team Offense * SCHOOL* Ht.* Wt.* Yr.* C --Ryan Waffer * Roseburg* 5-10* 240* Sr.* G -- Justin Baehmann* N. Medford* 6-0* 210* Jr.* G -- Matt Brock * Roseburg* 6-3* 260* Sr.* T -- Mike DeLaGrange * G. Pass* 6-6* 294* Sr.* T -- Robin Knebel * Roseburg* 6-6* 305* Sr.* TE -- Joe Newton * Roseburg* 6-7* 215* So.* WR -- Mike Olson * N. Medford* 6-0* 182* Jr.* WR -- Kris Pavilionis * Ashland* 5-8* 160* Sr.* RB -- Conway Bixby * Roseburg* 5-9* 155* Jr.* RB -- Ken Halpin * N. Medford* 6-0* 196* Sr.* RB -- Scott Toney* Crater* 6-1* 215* Sr.* QB -- Nate Mayben* N. Medford* 5-9* 160* Sr.* QB -- Kevin Linderman* Roseburg* 6-0* 180* Sr.* PK -- Ryan Holt* Roseburg* 6-0* 160* Sr.* OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR -- Nate Mayben, North Medford, and Kevin Linderman, Roseburg. First Team Defense * SCHOOL* Ht.* Wt.* Yr.* DL -- Anders Vetch* Crater* 6-3* 230* Sr.* DL -- Matt Brock * Roseburg* 6-3* 260* Sr.* DL -- Tyson George * Ashland* 6-1* 212* Sr.* DL -- Matt Ledbetter * Roseburg* 6-2* 260* Sr.* LB -- Len Nuanez * G. Pass* 6-2* 210* Sr.* LB -- Sean Schorovsky * Ashland* 6-3* 187* Sr.* LB -- Geoff Kirkendall * Roseburg* 6-1* 225* Sr.* LB -- Steve Bennett* Roseburg* 6-1* 195* Sr.* LB -- Tanner Hillyer * Crater* 5-11* 205* Sr.* DB -- Kevin Johnston * E. Point* 5-9* 150* Sr.* DB -- Kevin Linderman * Roseburg* 6-0* 180* Sr.* DB -- Kris Pavilionis* Ashland* 5-8* 160* Sr.* DB -- Parker Lane* G. Pass* 5-10* 163* Jr.* P -- Brent Foster* Crater* 6-3* 185* Sr.* P -- Jay Slack * G. Pass* 6-2* 141* Sr.* DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Matt Brock, Roseburg. COACH OF THE YEAR -- Thurman Bell, Roseburg. Second Team Offense * SCHOOL* Ht.* Wt.* Yr.* C -- Dan Crawford* N. Medford* 6-0* 205* Jr.* G -- Blake Cam * E. Point* 6-2* 255* Jr.* G -- Chris Cummings * Roseburg* 6-1* 245* Sr.* T -- Brian Frasnelly * Roseburg* 6-6* 280* Jr.* T -- Tyson George * Ashland* 6-1* 212* Sr.* TE -- Sean Schorovsky * Ashland* 6-3* 187* Sr.* WR -- Jimmie Maddox* S.Medford* 5-7* 170* Jr.* WR -- L.J. Newsom* K. Union* 5-10* 160* Sr.* RB -- Jeremy Boyd * S. Medford* 5-7* 155* Sr.* RB -- Evan Pogue * E. Point* 5-11* 175* Sr.* RB -- Brandon Hamada* G. Pass* 5-7* 145* Jr.* QB -- Dylan Woodrum* K. Union* 6-3* 200* Sr.* QB -- John McKay* S. Medford* 6-2* 182* Jr.* PK -- Brent Foster* Crater* 6-3* 185* Sr.* PK -- Kelly Brown* N. Medford* 5-10* 150* Jr.* Second Team Defense * SCHOOL* Ht.* Wt.* Yr.* DL -- John Bracken* N. Medford* 6-4* 198* Sr.* DL -- Chris Cummings* Roseburg* 6-1* 245* Sr.* DL -- Ryan Hansen * Ashland* 6-4* 225* Sr.* DL -- Blake Cam* E. Point* 6-2* 255* Jr.* LB -- Joel Gibson * N. Medford* 5-8* 165* Sr.* LB -- James Mannenbach* E. Point* 5-10* 180* Jr.* LB -- Brian Richard * G. Pass* 6-2* 181* Jr.* LB -- Diego Apodaca* N. Medford* 5-9* 200* Sr.* DB -- Charlie Jensen * N. Medford* 5-10* 165* Sr.* DB -- Robbie Lesher * G. Pass* 5-9* 145* Sr.* DB -- Ken Halpin * N. Medford* 6-0* 196* Sr.* DB -- Ben Thurman* Ashland* 5-9* 165* Sr.* P -- Nate Mayben* N. Medford* 5-9* 160* Sr.* HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE C -- Jake Kleker, Eagle Point, 6-4, 260, Sr. G -- Ben Holtey, Ashland, 5-11, 206, Jr.; Brian Smith, Crater, 6-1, 220, Sr.. T -- Jess Hawkins, Eagle Point, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Brandon Aaronson, Crater, 5-11, 240, Sr.; Scott Myers, North Medford, 6-0, 250, Jr. TE -- Colby Gonzales, North Medford, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Bjorn Johnson, South Medford, 6-1, 190, Jr. WR -- Nick Pappas, Roseburg, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Jake Scheid, North Medford, 5-7, 165, Sr.; Kirk Roberts, Eagle Point, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Ben Thurman, Ashland, 5-9, 165, Sr. RB -- Tanner Hillyer, Crater, 5-11, 205, Jr.; Phil Ouellette, North Medford, 5-7, 154, Jr. HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE DL -- Adam Barr, North Medford, 5-9, 162, Sr.; Kim Ray, Grants Pass, 6-5, 185, Sr.; Scott Toney, Crater, 6-1, 215, Sr.; LB -- Zach Hassell, Ashland, 6-0, 200, Sr. DB -- Andrew Smith, Klamath Union, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Chris Wright, Crater, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Conway Bixby, Roseburg, 5-9, 155, Jr.; Dan Severs, Roseburg, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Lucas Schauffler, Eagle Point, 5-9, 160, Jr. P -- Kirk Roberts, Eagle Point, 5-10, 175, sr.; Jason Mortenson, Klamath Union, 6-0, 165, Jr. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.