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Mistakes hurt South in loss to Eagle Point EAGLE POINT -- Through three quarters, South Medford's sputtering Panthers were still in position to spring the upset. But big plays by Eagle Point and mistakes by the Panthers allowed the Eagles to score two touchdowns in the final nine minutes to claim a 21-6 Southern Oregon Conference football win over South Friday night at Eagle Stadium. The win gave the Eagles their first win of the season and a 1-1 record, while South Medford fell to 0-2. "Right now, we continue to be our own worst enemy," said South Medford coach Bill Singler, referring to costly errors, including two in the final period, that set up both of Eagle Point's closing touchdowns. "The kids are playing hard and making a good effort. The mistakes are probably coming from trying too hard." The Eagles were quick to cash in their first break in the fourth quarter when a high snap on a punting situation resulted in a 31-yard loss. Eagle Point needed just five plays to convert the mistake into a touchdown when Evan Pogue ran 9 yards for a touchdown on a blast play off right tackle. Minutes later, South Medford was self-destructing again when quarterback John McKay was jolted from the back side -- and then from the front -- and coughed up the football. Eagle Point's Kalen Larson pounced on the loose ball to give the Eagles the ball at the South 8-yard line. Pogue pounded the ball on two runs to the South 5, and Eagles quarterback Nick Rouhier finished the drive when he hit wide receiver Nick Newmann with a 5-yard touchdown pass. Rouhier added his third straight conversion kick for a 21-6 Eagle Point lead. "This (win) could become a major confidence-builder for us," said Rouhier, who completed just 3 of 12 passes for 35 yards. "If we had gotten out of here with only a 7-6 win, I think some of our guys might have been doubting themselves more than they are. "South played hard, and they're improved. I think they're very much underrated. They are way better than people think. "We had a size advantage and we finally took advantage of that," said Rouhier, a senior quarterback who did not play last season due to a knee injury. "Once I get this quarterback thing down, we'll be better." Pogue, a 5-11, 180-pound tailback, rushed for 113 of Eagle Point's 164 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns. "Evan ran hard, and our line blocked very well," said Eagle Point coach Mike Johnston. "I thought both of our lines dominated, which is a good sign. "It was frustrating for a while because we had our chances to break it open. We were moving the ball and we won the trenches. "It's a satisfying win in the end," said Johnston. "We usually make a lot of progress between week No. 1 and week No. 2. We did that." Eagle Point center and defensive tackle Jake Kleker agreed. "The coaches worked us real hard after losing to North Medford last week," he said. "But North Medford is a great team. I think they're better than they were when they won the state championship (1993). "They're either going to finish first or second (in the SOC)," said Kleker. "It's between them and Roseburg." Trailing 7-0 near halftime, the Panthers scored their only touchdown with 10 seconds left after a punted ball by the Eagles hit an Eagle Point player in the helmet and South Medford recovered at the Eagles' 3-yard line. On third down, McKay rolled to his right and threw back across the middle of the field. Jonathan Wright caught the ball behind Eagle Point's Joe Kyttle. Kyttle blew out his knee straining to break up the pass and is expected to be out for the season. Eagle Point drove 65 yards in 10 plays to score a touchdown on a 5-yard run by Pogue with 11:55 left in the second quarter. The Eagles took over the ball on the drive after South Medford botched a field goal attempt from 34 yards out when the holder dropped the snap. "You can't do things like that," said Singler. "Those are the kinds of mistakes we have to eliminate. But I like the effort the kids are giving." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.