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56 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, December 23, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend December 7, 2003 North Medford assistant coach Rod Rumrey tries to console running back Rob Folsom as the clock runs down in the Black Tornado�s loss to Tigard in the Class 4A championship game. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Tornado denied With the state championship on the line, relentless Tigard outplays game but error-prone North Medford By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune EUGENE — A day that began with such joyous promise ended in somber tears for the North Medford football team Saturday in the Class 4A state championship at Autzen Stadium. The third-ranked Black Tornado opened a 6-0 lead on its second series against Tigard (13-1), but failed to dent the scoreboard over the remaining 42½ minutes. In the meantime, the fifth-ranked Tigers posted 18 unanswered points to claim the school’s second state title in as many appearances with the 18-6 victory. "They were the better team today," said third-year North coach John Beck. "They played better than we did and they deserved to win." Advertisement North Medford (12-2) committed six turnovers and managed only 152 yards of total offense to snap a 10-game winning streak at the most inopportune time. "We didn’t do what we normally do," said North senior quarterback Beau Hovland, who completed 6 of 20 passes for 50 yards but was intercepted four times. "We didn’t come to play. We came with our heart but we didn’t come with the ability to play tonight. We made a lot of mistakes on the field, and it just didn’t work out for us." It was Hovland who supplied the hope for the Black Tornado’s eighth state title in 15 appearances, picking off an errant pass by Tigard quarterback Scott Bonnono on the Tigers’ second series to put North in prime scoring position at the Tigard 32. After a handful of runs by senior tailback Rob Folsom, who carried 21 times for 74 yards, Hovland took matters into his own hands — or feet in this case — as he scored from 4 yards out on a naked bootleg to the right corner of the end zone. Folsom took the brunt of Tigard’s defense in his direction after the fake handoff, with Hovland outracing linebackers David Lucas and Bill Banash to pay dirt. A high snap led to a missed extra-point attempt by North place-kicker Nick Taylor, keeping the Tornado ahead 6-0 with 6:28 to go in the first quarter. Few on the North sideline would have envisioned a shutout from that point, unless it had to do with Tigard’s scoring, but that’s exactly what happened as the Tigers stiffened defensively in front of 9,112 fans. "We knew deep down they weren’t going to score on us," said eighth-year Tigard head coach Frank Geske. "Even that touchdown they had was set up by the pick." Entering the game yielding only 8.6 points per game with an average of three takeaways, Tigard showed it was capable of playing the kind of smashmouth, fly-to-the-football defense North has typically only seen in practice. "They’ve got a phenomenal group of athletes," Beck said of the Tigers. "They’re big, they’re fast, they’re physical and play well together." They’re also capable of seizing the moment, which is what led to Saturday’s win as much as anything. "It was kinda shaky in the beginning, but we stepped it up," said Tigard senior lineman Ryan Hunt. "We made the plays when we needed to." The Tigers drove 80 yards on seven plays to take a 7-6 lead in the second quarter, with Bonnono capping the drive with a 17-yard touchdown run. The 6-foot-5, 175-pound senior dashed left on an option play but, finding no room, cut back right to take advantage of North’s pursuit on the play for an easy score. That one-point margin followed both teams into the locker room at halftime, but the tide turned quick in the second half as North senior Sammy McHenry couldn’t find the handle on the opening kickoff and had his progress stopped at the 1-yard line just prior to fumbling into the end zone. The Tigers broke through North’s line on the first play from scrimmage, with Hunt smothering Folsom in the end zone for a safety and a 9-6 lead 11 seconds into the third quarter. Although Beck said the Tornado was able to rebound from that early shock, the game’s momentum took its biggest turn 6½ minutes later when Tigard tailback Joey Nobriga took a fourth- and-one handoff from the North 35 around the right corner and raced untouched to pay dirt to give the Tigers a 16-6 lead. "I just bounced it outside and saw the light and took it," said Nobriga, who rushed 33 times for 124 yards. "Once I turned that corner, it was a great feeling to see the end zone, and I just ran for it." The feeling certainly wasn’t great on the North sideline, although the Tornado was more than confident its time would come. "We felt like we could get back in it all the way to the end," said Hovland. "But there was nothing we could do. We just had some breakdowns and mishaps, and there’s nothing you can do about it." The Tornado managed only 2 yards of total offense on 13 plays in the fourth quarter, with Tigard putting its final stamp on the victory with 44 seconds to play as Mark Lucas tackled Folsom in the end zone for another safety. The third-down play at North’s 9 broke down when Hovland came under pressure on a rollout and tossed a desperation, underhand pass to Folsom, who was hit immediately at the goal line and had no chance of gaining ground. It was the kind of ending that left North players, coaches and fans astounded by the day’s events. "Our kids were playing their hearts out out there, but it just didn’t happen," said Beck. "It wasn’t for lack of effort. Sometimes you’re trying so hard you just end up trying a little too hard here or there and things happen. "(The Tigers) wanted to win really bad and so did we. They just came out on the breaks a little better than we did." 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 © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times