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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 12, 2006 Just like old times: GP, Tornado eager for showdown By DON HUNT Mail Tribune The two teams moved to a new classification and a different conference, but don't be fooled: North Medford vs. Grants Pass remains one of the state's most spirited high school football rivalries. The Black Tornado and the Cavemen, who have exchanged unpleasantries for more than 100 years — oftentimes with conference championships on the line — will renew their duel Friday at 7 p.m. at Grants Pass' Mel Ingram Field. The rivalry has lacked substance in recent years because Grants Pass, which hasn't secured a winning record or snagged a state playoff berth since 2002, has been on a downward cycle. But the Cavemen have regrouped. They enter Friday's game with a 6-0 record, including a 1-0 mark in the new Southwest Conference, and a No. 4 ranking in the Class 6A state poll. North Medford, which faced a tough nonconference schedule, is 3-2 and 1-0. In other SWC games, 10th-ranked South Eugene (4-1, 0-1) visits South Medford (3-2, 0-1) and third-ranked Sheldon (5-0, 1-0) journeys to Roseburg (3-2, 0-1). Advertisement "I've only been a part of this rivalry for one year but I used to listen to the games on the radio when they were making their championship runs," says North Medford coach Jeff Olson, a former head coach at Southern Oregon University. "Each school has a tremendous following and with the way Grants Pass is currently playing I'm sure they'll pack out that stadium on Friday night." The Cavemen, fortified by seven returning starters on offense and five on defense from last season's squad that went 4-6, blitzed their way through a rather soft nonleague schedule and then edged South Eugene, 20-17, in their SWC opener last week. GP is led by senior tailback Craig Dolmage, the state's leading rusher with 1,006 yards and 13 touchdowns. With the Cavemen trailing South Eugene 17-14 in overtime, Dolmage converted a fourth-and-1 situation inside the Axemen 5-yard line, then scored on the following play to win the game. "He got hit two or three times on that fourth-down play but he got the yard he needed," Grants Pass coach Tom Blanchard says. "That was a very exciting night for us and a huge win on the road." Olson compares the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Dolmage to former Southern Oregon University All-American Griff Yates. "He's got the same kind of balance and just his determination and the way he breaks tackles reminds me of Griff," says Olson. "I thought he (Dolmage) was ready to play college football last year. He's that good." Dolmage has averaged nearly 24 carries per game. He was even busier against South Eugene, packing the pigskin 30 times for 99 yards as the Cavemen played without starting quarterback Buddy Saxon, who was sidelined with a concussion suffered the previous week against Forest Grove. Saxon, a 6-5, 190-pound junior who's completed 35 of 56 passes for 521 yards, was cleared to play by his doctor Wednesday and is expected to start against the Black Tornado. "We know we can't keep leaning on Dolmage so much, but when you've got a kid that talented there's a tendency to keep calling his number," Blanchard says. "But Buddy's having a good season, too. We're not afraid to throw the ball." While Dolmage has captured most of the headlines, Grants Pass' swarming defense has continually kept opponents in check. The Cavemen are allowing just 204.8 yards and 13.2 points per game, and they held Josh Tobar — South Eugene's standout running back — to just 31 yards on 19 carries. Linebackers Ryan Peterson and Gabe Kasiah, who double as Grants Pass' starting offensive tackles, were tabbed the players of the game in the win over South Eugene and they've been rock-solid all season. "Those two were all over the field last week and they've been our leaders all year," says Blanchard. North Medford, meanwhile, has been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde team. The Black Tornado started the season with impressive 48-3 and 38-9 wins over Oregon City and McKay, then turned the ball over six times in an embarrassing 44-7 loss to Westview. The following week, North Medford nearly upset second-ranked Lincoln, losing 28-26, and then suffered five more turnovers last Friday but did enough things right to post a 33-20 win over Roseburg in its SWC opener. "We can't continue to turn the ball over like we have and win games in this league," Olson says. North Medford has also botched a number of extra points, including two last week. Grants Pass placekicker Spencer Fogelquist, on the other hand, has converted 27 of 28 PATs and booted three field goals this season. But the Black Tornado is far from helpless. It boasts two first-rate running backs in Kris Carey and Jacob Colmenero, who combined for 171 yards rushing in the win over Roseburg. It features speedy wide receiver Troy Driskell, who snagged six catches for 74 yards last week, and up-and-coming tight end Skylar Mlasko, who added two catches for 67 yards. It also has a run-pass threat at quarterback in Darren Bruhns, who has passed for 741 yards and three touchdowns and run for 204 yards and six scores this season. "Bruhns is a scary player because of his speed and what he can do as a scrambler," says Blanchard. "We voted for him as the all-conference quarterback last year. "They have a lot of weapons and we know our defense is going to be challenged more than it has all year. It sounds like a cliche, but our plan is to keep the ball out of their hands." SOUTH EUGENE AT SOUTH MEDFORD — South Eugene is still stinging from its overtime loss to Grants Pass and will attempt to take out its frustrations on injury-plagued South Medford. The Panthers lost starting quarterback Ben Weaver for at least a month when he suffered a separated shoulder during last week's 49-6 loss to Sheldon. Junior A.J. Palazzolo, who came off the bench to complete 14 of 26 passes for 163 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, will take over at QB in Weaver's absence. "We're battling through adversity --nobody feels sorry for you in this business," says Singler, who lost starting tackle Marshall Adrian to a season-ending injury three weeks ago. Singler says that Palazzolo, other than an interception he served up for a touchdown, "stood in the pocket and threw some nice balls." "A.J. has his opportunity now," adds the South Medford coach. Singler is hoping that the Panthers' rushing attack, which averages 194 yards but managed only 96 against Sheldon, can get untracked and take some pressure off Palazzolo. The Panthers will be facing the SWC's top defense, however. The Axemen are yielding just 172.2 yards and 7.4 points per game. "Their kids play with a little arrogance," says Singler of the Axemen defense. "They'll challenge you with an eight-man front and they'll come at you with a number of blitzes. Our offensive line will need to be on its toes." Quarterback Logan Beal and tailback Tobar, the SWC's second-leading rusher with 560 yards and eight touchdowns, lead the South Eugene offense. SHELDON AT ROSEBURG ­-- Last week it was the power running attack of North Medford. Now Roseburg must contend with the spread-the-field passing scheme of undefeated Sheldon. Quarterback Alex Besaw has completed an eye-catching 71.5 percent of his passes for 1,035 yards and nine touchdowns in the Irish's five games. "They spread you all over the field and they have great skill players," says Roseburg coach Thurman Bell. The Indians' best hope to pull an upset is to win a high-scoring game. They're averaging a respectable 333.8 yards and 29.4 points per game but their defense, which lost three starting linebackers for the season last month, is allowing an SWC-worst 317.2 yards and 25 points per outing. "We're kind of limping from Friday to Friday," says Bell. "With the kids we've lost, we can't slug it out anymore." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com