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Big plays doom Black Tornado in state opener By Ray Hacke for the Mail Tribune Updated: Nov 04, 2022 11:57 PM A A 3 View all photos Lake Oswego scores 21 straight second-quarter points to break away from North LAKE OSWEGO — All the rain that came down in buckets only served to propel seventh-seeded Lake Oswego forward Friday night as the Lakers used a host of big plays to coast by No. 10 North Medford in the opening round of Class 6A football state championship bracket play. The Black Tornado surrendered nearly 300 yards of offense and three touchdowns through the air, and a 60-yard TD run to boot, as its season came to a soggy end with a 28-13 loss to host Lake Oswego. Liam Davis, Lake Oswego’s left-handed, gun-slinging quarterback, completed 20 of 23 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns against North Medford (6-4). All three of the sophomore’s TD passes came in the first half, when he completed 11 straight passes for 206 yards before Tornado defensive back Antonio Martinez broke up a pass to end the completion streak just before halftime. “They’ve got some playmakers,” Black Tornado coach Nathan Chin said of the Lakers. “They did an unbelievable job of getting the ball out quick and catching the ball.” It didn’t help that North Medford struggled to move the ball offensively for much of the contest — especially after running back Ty Pugliano went down with a shoulder injury in the first half. The Black Tornado managed just 85 yards on the ground with their star senior sidelined and didn’t fare much better passing-wise, as senior quarterback Caiden Lacey finished 7-for-22 for 132 yards and one TD. “We just did not operate really well offensively,” Chin said. North Medford drew first blood in the opening moments of the second quarter when senior running back Kilohana Wailehua hauled in a 7-yard TD pass from Lacey, putting the Black Tornado up 6-0. Almost instantaneously, however, the lead vanished: On Lake Oswego’s first play from scrimmage on the ensuing possession, Davis hit a streaking Ethan Park over the middle for a 65-yard score. Senior placekicker Mark Mankin’s extra point put the Lakers (7-3) ahead to stay, and from there, Lake Oswego took control. Davis hit junior wideout Matt Layne for a 20-yard touchdown pass on Lake Oswego’s next drive, and senior running back Calvin Macy burst 60 yards up the middle for a rushing TD to help give the Lakers a 21-6 lead at the intermission. Park caught another TD pass from Davis, this one an 18-yarder, to widen the Lakers’ lead to 28-6 in the third quarter. The senior finished with six catches for 169 yards and also preserved the win for Lake Oswego with an interception on North Medford’s final possession. Despite falling so far behind, North Medford showed signs of life in the fourth quarter: Repeatedly snapping the ball to junior running back Jeremiah Robbins while in the wildcat formation, the Black Tornado marched down the field from their own 5-yard line for the game’s final score. Robbins carried in from a yard out with 6:37 remaining. DeAndre Card also contributed significantly to that drive, catching a 41-yard pass. The senior finished with two catches for 68 yards to lead the Tornado in receiving. Chin praised his team for the way it overcame an 0-2 start to go 6-1 in league play before succumbing in the playoffs. “I’m proud of the kids and their belief in one another,” the coach said. “To keep pushing forward after a start like that, to have a mental shift after an 0-2 start, it was incredible for them to do what they did.” North Medford0607—13 Lake Oswego02170—28 NM — Wailehua 7 pass from Lacey (kick failed) LO — Park 65 pass from Davis (Mankin kick) LO — Layne 20 pass from Davis (Mankin kick) LO — Macy 60 run (Mankin kick) LO — Park 18 pass from Davis (Mankin kick) NM — Robbins 1 run (Knobloch-Scott kick) Jeremiah Robbins, North Medford football Kilohana Wailehua, North Medford football Caiden Lacey, North Medford football