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North eager to show it belongs in title picture By Kris Henry Nov 04, 2022 07:45 AM A A 3 View all photos Few teams in the Class 6A football bracket are ready to embrace the opportunity of a second season more than North Medford. The Black Tornado spent much of this season playing catch-up in the eyes of many outsiders after an 0-2 start. But with a clean slate and a spot in the top 16 vying for a potential state championship, North Medford will be looking to build upon the momentum gained by a 6-1 finish to the regular season when the 10th-seeded Black Tornado opens the playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at No. 7 Lake Oswego. “Our kids and coaches have done a phenomenal job of living up to the standard of what Black Tornado football needs to be and the expectation behind it,” North Medford head coach Nathan Chin said. “It takes us all, and everyone in the program is doing a great job of buying into it all. “I think our kids feel excited about making it to the postseason,” he added, “and I know that they are up for the challenge.” North Medford (6-3) lost in the first round at McNary last year so the Black Tornado will be seeking its first playoff win since going 1-1 in 2019. The Lakers (6-3) and head coach Steve Coury carry an accomplished resume into Friday’s tilt, with Lake Oswego winning the 2018 state title and finishing runner-up in 2019 before a quarterfinal run last year. “Lake Oswego has experience,” Chin said. “They’re always here, they understand the playoff system and the success that coach Coury has built up there is impressive. We’ve got to come with our ‘A’ game this week.” Coming out of what is probably the toughest football division at the 6A level in the Three Rivers League, the Lakers don’t necessarily have one or two marquee players to pin their hopes on, just a really solid all-around crew that is definitely battle-tested. Lake Oswego also expects to be chomping at the bit to get the taste out of its mouth from last week’s 14-9 rivalry game loss to Lakeridge, which was the Lakers’ first loss in that series in nine years. Sophomore quarterback Liam Davis offers a different spin at quarterback as a left-hander and has a big-play threat at receiver in senior Owen West, who went 97 yards for a TD to cut Lakeridge’s lead in half last week. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, senior running back Calvin Macy gives the Lakers a punishing presence on the ground, while senior Ethan Park is a key contributor at receiver and in the defensive secondary. “They play hard and they’re sound,” Chin said, “and, obviously, when you have a coach that’s been there as long as coach Coury has, you know they’re going to be a disciplined team. On defense, they just really get after you up front.” If it’s a game in the trenches, however, North Medford has no qualms about that kind of contest. The Black Tornado has pinned its identity all season on its ability to run the football behind a stout offensive line and play behind its opponents line of scrimmage with an aggressive push by its first two levels on defense. North Medford is averaging 178 yards rushing per game and has limited its opponents to 78 yards rushing and 248 overall in each outing. The confidence built in each has only grown from week to week. “The longer you play, the better we get,” Chin said. “That’s something (former SOU coach Craig Howard) used to say and I believe in it, and that’s been true for us this year. I think it’s helped us continue to be more solid in our identity as a team this year.” Senior running back Ty Pugliano has run for 827 yards and seven TDs on 142 carries thus far behind a positive push from linemen David Fuiava, Connor Trinca, Terrell Kim, Cody Carlson and Robbie Caster. North Medford took a big hit, however, in last week’s 35-0 win over South Medford when junior tight end AJ Pugliano, who committed to Oregon earlier in the week, suffered a knee injury. Chin said the star recruit has not gotten an official diagnosis on his injury but he will not be suiting up Friday. That said, the Black Tornado was able to hit on some key passes from senior QB Caiden Lacey to junior receiver Connor Cesaro last week in Lacey’s return to action after being stretchered out due to essentially a whiplash injury suffered three weeks prior after taking a hit against Roseburg. “It was kind of nice to get a little rhythm put in the passing game going into the postseason,” Chin said. “It was a good mixture of offense and nice to be able to end the regular season on that note.” Lacey has completed 77 of 120 passes for 859 yards with eight TDs and four interceptions, while Cesaro leads North with 40 catches for 476 yards and six scores. Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected] or via Twitter @Kris_Henry PHOTO BY: LARRY STAUTH JRNorth Medford TE Kellen Thomey fights through South Medford defenders at Spiegelberg Stadium on Friday. PHOTO BY: LARRY STAUTH JRNorth Medford DB DeAndre Card steches out to grab the Interception against South Medford at Spiegelberg Stadium on Friday. Nathan Chin, North Medford football coach