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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 10, 2005 South Medford quarterback Tommy George looks for an opening in Friday�s game against West Linn. George passed for 265 yards and two scores. Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman Panthers fall Turnovers doom South in loss to West Linn By DON HUNT Mail Tribune South Medford High football coach Bill Singler spent nearly a half hour playing the role of psychologist following his team’s 20-13 nonconference loss to West Linn Friday night at Spiegelberg Stadium. Viewed as one of the best teams in the Southern Oregon Conference when the season began, the Panthers find themselves 0-2 with another tough opponent — Lake Oswego — on the schedule next Friday. South Medford has been without perhaps its two best players — quarterback/free safety Kyle Singler and tailback/linebacker Ryan Odell — because of knee injuries. But coach Singler won’t use their absence as an excuse. "It’s character-building time," he said. "We need to look at ourselves in the mirror and decide what direction we want to go. I’m hoping our players believe in our system because if they don’t, it could be a long year. "We showed signs of getting better tonight, and I’m hoping we can build on that." Advertisement Senior quarterback Tommy George completed 25 of 46 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns, but he was intercepted three times and also lost the ball on a fumble. All told, South Medford suffered five turnovers, which negated a 313-229 advantage in total offense. "We had a couple of good drives, but the rest of the time we shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers," George said. "And the good Lord knows, turnovers will kill you." Brendon Pitts’ 4-yard touchdown run with 7:47 left in the game gave the Lions a 20-6 lead. George then led South Medford on a 78-yard drive that was capped by his 18-yard touchdown strike to Kelly Kline. George’s PAT kick got the Panthers to within 20-13. The problem was, the drive took 16 plays and more than five minutes as the score came with just 2:09 remaining. South Medford held West Linn on its next possession, but the Panthers were forced to use all of their timeouts. When they got the ball back at their own 20, just 1:15 remained. Two plays later, Kyle Murto made a diving interception of a George pass to seal the season-opening win for West Linn. "It feels great to get this win because last year we lost to these guys and started the season 0-3," West Linn coach Ron Chappell said. The Lions wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. They needed just four plays to go 58 yards, highlighted by Nick Kalantari’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Sam Oltman on a corner fade route that gave West Linn a quick 7-0 lead. The score came just one minute and 56 seconds into the game. After Tigard torched South Medford’s secondary for 457 yards passing the previous week, Kalantari said West Linn’s game plan was to come out throwing. Kalantari went 3-for-3 on the opening drive for 52 yards. "That was a great confidence-booster to get that early touchdown," Kalantari said. "We thought our receivers were more athletic than their defensive backs, and we went right after them." Kalantari threw for just 35 yards the rest of the game, but his early success opened the door for Pitts, the Lions’ outstanding senior tailback who finished with 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The Lions threatened to take a two-touchdown lead in the first half after George fumbled the ball away. The Lions drove from the South Medford 35 to the 6, but Panthers defensive back Michael Harthun stepped in front of a West Linn receiver and intercepted the ball at the 5. South Medford then drove 95 yards in 13 plays, culminated by George’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Harthun. The big play on the drive was a 42-yard reception by senior wide receiver Jared Adamson, who snagged a pass near the sideline, broke a tackle and advanced from the West Linn 47 to the 5. George’s PAT kick sailed wide to the right, however, allowing West Linn to hold a 7-6 halftime lead. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail Panthers fall ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s