Document text
45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, November 13, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 11, 2004 Barlow to meet North head-on in state playoffs Running game propels Mount Hood champs to first-round home date with Tornado By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Beyond a counter reverse or two, Terry Summerfield’s Barlow football team is as straight-forward as they come. No gadgets or on-field trickery, just good ol’ contact football where it’s helmet-on-helmet and execution that determines success. "We are a running football team," the seventh-year coach says matter-of-factly. "There’s no mystery about it. That’s where our strengths are and we’re not going to go away from that." It’s a scheme that allowed Barlow (8-1) to go undefeated in the Mount Hood Conference, earning its first title since the Bruins shared the crown in 1987 with Central Catholic. It’s a scheme that lulls you to sleep with constant jabs to the gut and then catches you off-guard with a knockout punch. Advertisement It’s a scheme the Bruins will look to impose on North Medford in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham. And it’s a scheme that should bring about plenty of conflict since the Black Tornado (7-2) doesn’t plan on being as accommodating as the Bruins would like. "I feel like we’re a very physical team and they are as well," says North senior fullback/linebacker Ryan Weisz. "I know it’s going to be a long battle but hopefully we can stick with them." It’s not like North hasn’t been in this situation before. The Black Tornado dealt with a punishing ground attack and a must-win scenario in last Friday’s 14-3 win over Grants Pass, and head coach Rod Rumrey says his team will be able to draw confidence from that experience. "In a way, our playoffs started last week," he says. "It was win or go home against Grants Pass, and it’s the same thing now." North limited the run-oriented attack of the Cavemen to 180 yards of total offense, and will need more of the same Friday against a Barlow team that features a three-pronged running game led by senior tailback Aaron Mumford. Mumford, a 6-foot, 165-pound team captain, is one of the leading rushers in the state with 1,606 yards and 20 touchdowns on 201 carries. He toted the rock 43 times for 346 yards in last Friday’s title-clinching, 17-14 win over Central Catholic at PGE Park. "He’s not a big kid but he’s got very good feet and tremendous vision," Summerfield says of Mumford, who’s also an all-league point guard for the basketball team and has a 4.0 GPA. "He changes direction very well and knows he’s not going to blow people over so he does whatever he can to get around them." Running out of an I-formation, Barlow likes to utilize Mumford’s skills on the outside with a toss sweep to the tight end’s side, leading with fullback Zac Meyer (6-0, 190) and bringing both guards along for the ride. "It looks like there’s not enough room to get that many bodies in there, but they do," says Rumrey. Good things usually happen for the Bruins when all the pieces fall into place, with Barlow racking up an average of 425 yards of total offense and 35.2 points per game. Meyer, whom Summerfield says is "a brick," has bulled his way through the middle for 650 yards and 12 TDs on 112 carries, while senior Sam Michener, who finished ninth in the 100 meters at the Junior Olympic Nationals with a time of 10.87, has come off the wing to average 11.5 yards per carry with five rushing scores and 10 TDs overall. "I think the stuff that they do off the power sweep is what’s scary," Rumrey says of defending Barlow. Rumrey says, like with Grants Pass, the Tornado will try to take an aggressive approach defensively against the Bruins. "If you sit and wait for it, you’re in trouble," the coach says of Barlow’s scheme. "You’ve got to attack that sweep, but we also have to have people on the backside staying at home being very aware of Michener." Barlow quarterback Alex Grandjean is a 6-2 junior who started half of the Bruins’ games last season and has completed 53 percent of his passes with 12 TDs and five interceptions. Anchoring a Barlow defense that allows an average of 199 yards and 9.7 points per game is all-league defensive ends Brady Camp (6-4, 220) and Nate Wisbeck (6-4, 225) interior lineman Bo Thran (6-6, 265) and a host of athletes who enjoy flying to the ball. "They have a lot of guys that can really run to the football," says Rumrey. "They bring a lot of people pretty much every snap and like to pressure from the inside to force you outside into their speed." Barlow also features senior kicker Riley Flickinger, who has converted five field goals with a long of 45 yards this season and has allowed the Bruins to control field position with booming punts and kickoffs routinely in the end zone. While North may be in position for an upset, Summerfield says his players won’t be taking the Tornado lightly, either. "They’re a well-coached machine and we’ve got our work cut out for us," he says of North. "We have not faced an opponent like North Medford. They’re big and physical and they’ve been there (to the state finals) before so they know what they’re doing in the playoffs." Rumrey credits North’s playoff prowess to a tough Southern Oregon Conference schedule. "This conference really prepares you for the playoffs," he says. "Teams are physical, they’re well-coached and you have to bring it every Friday night or you’re in trouble. That’s the way it is right now in the playoffs. We’re going to face good, physical football teams and if you take any kind of break against them, you’re done." And an early end to the season is maybe the only thing North isn’t willing to take head-on Friday. "We’re not ready for this to end," said Weisz. "It’s going to be a challenge but we like a challenge. It’s kind of fun to play in a hostile territory with your back to the wall." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities