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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 8, 2005 Tornado vs. Rams: Another shootout? By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Central Catholic High football coach Steve Pyne was happy he no longer has to face North Medford quarterback Ben Running, who passed for 293 yards and three touchdowns during the Black Tornado’s 45-28 win over the Rams last season. But then Pyne watched the video of North Medford’s 41-23 season-opening win over Lakeridge last Friday and almost broke out in a cold sweat. The reason? New Tornado signal caller Darren Bruhns looked like a Running clone, passing for 199 yards and three touchdowns and running for 112 yards and another score. "That quarterback (Bruhns) is every bit the threat that Running was," Pyne says. "He runs it, he throws it, he throws it on the run. Don’t they ever run out of quarterbacks down there?" Bruhns sparked an inexperienced North Medford offense to 371 yards, five touchdowns, one field goal and only one turnover in a surprising display of efficient production, considering the Tornado returns only one offensive starter from last season. And suddenly, the Tornado, which some prognosticators thought might be in a rebuilding mode, looks more like a contender to win the Southern Oregon Conference for the third time in the past six years. Advertisement North Medford coach Rod Rumrey doesn’t expect another one-sided game Friday, however. The Tornado may have Bruhns, but Central Catholic boasts two of the top players in the state in senior running back Brad Lindsey and senior linebacker Andy Gonzalez. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Lindsey, who is touted as the state’s No. 1 running back by Oregon Live, shredded McMinnville for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Not many people know about him because he missed nearly all of last season with a ruptured spleen, and part of his sophomore year with a broken leg. "He has a great first step and the ability to cut on a dime," says Pyne of Lindsey. "He changes directions as well as anyone I’ve coached and he has unbelievable vision. "He’s excited to be back and we’re excited to have him back." Gonzalez was also injured last season with a broken foot but returned to record 18 tackles against Mount Hood League rival Barlow. He posted 87 tackles in just 4½ games. Gonzalez, a 6-0, 225-pound senior who is being recruited by Colorado State and Army, was a factor on both sides of the ball last Friday, snaring a 39- yard touchdown pass that gave Central Catholic an 18-0 lead. "Gonzalez is kind of the heart and soul of our team," Pyne says. "He’s great on defense. He has a knack for getting to the ball." But the way both teams came out of the gate on offense, Friday’s contest could turn into a shootout reminiscent of last season when 10 touchdowns and a field goal went on the board. North Medford has plenty of weapons surrounding Bruhns, notably senior wide receivers Brian Beadle, who caught a 69-yard touchdown pass last week, and A.J. Nichols, who hauled in a 52-yard scoring strike. A third wideout, junior Troy Driskell, broke his finger in pregame warmups last week and isn’t expected to play Friday, but senior tight end Eric Stroh is another threat North Medford can utilize. Senior tailback Ryan Folsom, who had 62 yards rushing on 18 carries against Lakeridge, rounds out the North Medford skill players. Bruhns is the one that worries Pyne, however. "They like to run the speed option but with him, it’s more like the speed sweep," Pyne says. "And when he’s in the shotgun, he’ll fake the ball to a back and run. If we can contain that kid, our chances of winning go way up." Rumrey says North Medford’s young offensive line started slowly last week in the win over Lakeridge, but "took over" in the third quarter when the Tornado began to dominate. Center Jon Volgarino and guard Jason Slowey provided the spark. "We’re going to need an even bigger effort from those guys this week," Rumrey says. Central Catholic also has a first-year starting quarterback in senior Kevin Dowsett. Like Bruhns, he performed splendidly last Friday, competing 15 of 21 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. "He does a good job of running our offense," Pyne says. "He’s a competitor and he’s tough. He’s not the greatest scrambler in the world but he’ll stand in the pocket and take a hit." Up front, the Rams are led by 6-2, 240-pound junior Kevin Frahm, a second-team, all-Mount Hood League performer a year ago, and seniors Brad Morse (5-11, 210) and Daniel Walsh (5-11, 225). Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail Tornado vs. Rams: Another shootout? ">[email protected] . 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