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Marshall, South rip Eagle Point By TIM PYLE EAGLE POINT - Bill Singler was eager to see how his South Medford football team would fare when playing from behind. His wish was granted Friday night at Eagle Stadium, where Eagle Point took an early 7-0 edge and led 7-6 after one quarter. The Panthers showed their coach they have the mettle to come back - and then some - by scoring 20 unanswered second-quarter points and cruising to a 36-13 Southern Oregon Conference victory. "I was a little worried about our football team coming into this game about maybe being overconfident," said Singler, in his fourth year at South. "It was good for us to have to play without the lead for the first time." Junior quarterback Boomer Marshall, junior tailback Andres Reed, senior fullback Rob Brown and the Panthers' terrific trio of receivers - senior Ryan Heil and juniors Ryan Benson and Eric Fischer - proved more than the Eagles could handle, as South (4-0 overall, 2-0 SOC) rolled to 585 yards in total offense. In keeping with the Panthers' style so far this season, the individual statistics were gaudy but well-balanced. Marshall was 23 of 32 for 363 yards passing, tossing three of his four touchdowns during the definitive second quarter. Reed carried 21 times for 169 yards and a score, while Brown had nine carries for 40 tough yards and hauled in a TD catch. Heil caught seven balls for 131 yards and three scores, Benson nabbed six passes for 96 yards and Fischer brought down six receptions for 86 yards. "They take advantage of what you give them," said 10th-year Eagle Point coach Mike Johnston. "I thought Reed was the key. We don't have anybody that can match up with him speed-wise. "Boomer takes those three-step drops, throws quick and he's real accurate." After allowing a 10-play, 86-yard march by the Eagles (1-3, 0-2) that started the scoring in the first quarter, the Panthers' defense was also up to the task. South recovered four of the five fumbles it forced and held Eagle Point to 211 yards in total output. "I'm happy with both sides of the ball," Singler said. "We got good linebacker play. And the D-line has really stepped up this year." The Eagles forced a Panthers' punt on the game's opening series, then held on fourth down deep in their own territory after giving away a fumble. The home crowd really got excited when sophomore tailback James Byrne tore off a 46-yard run to get the EP offense rolling. Two first downs later, senior quarterback Robert Slayton kept from 1-yard out to earn the Eagles a 7-0 lead. South responded just how Singler had hoped - quickly and efficiently. Reed carried three times for 42 yards, including the 8-yard capping TD, as the Panthers rolled 75 yards in six plays. Brown had an 18-yard burst up the gut to help key the drive. South took the lead for good with 8 minutes, 46 seconds to play in the second period when Marshall connected with Brown for a 6-yard TD on third-and-goal. The Panthers and EP had exchanged lost fumbles on consecutive snaps a few plays before, South taking over at the Eagles' 7-yard line and capitalizing. Following an EP punt, Reed broke 20- and 16-yard runs to set up Marshall's 9-yard slant to Heil, again on third-and-goal. The Panthers' ability to convert on third down was something Johnston lamented afterward. "We played real well at times," he said. "But when we got into one-on-one situations, like on third downs, we couldn't stay with them. They were too athletic." South survived the Eagles' fourth-down failure on the ensuring series, and the Panthers' took over at their 45. On the second play, Marshall hit a wide-open Heil in stride down the middle of the field, and 55 yards later, it was 26-7. "We really didn't get to being ourselves until the start of the second quarter," said Marshall, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 215 pounds. "We've got so many weapons and the offensive line does such a great job, it's easy pickings for me." In the second half, Marshall added a 36-yard TD hook-up with Heil, and sophomore kicker Cory O'Neill booted a 29-yard field goal. EP got a determined 19-yard touchdown romp from junior running back Chris Boyd at 8:56 of the fourth to complete the scoring. Byrne, who carried 14 times for 90 yards, and Boyd, 12 for 65, did the bulk of the Eagles' damage. Johnston was especially encouraged by Byrne, who was getting his first extended varsity action in the absence of senior Victor Shelton, suspended after being ejected from last week's loss at Klamath Union. EP travels to Roseburg next week. As for South, which is coming off its first postseason berth since 1994 last season, Crater, then Roseburg await. Reed was pleased with the Panthers' performance, but he knows the improvement must continue if they are to beat the '94 squad's 5-0 start and challenge for the SOC title. "We need to work on the little things," said the 6-0, 185-pound speedster. Cross coming from behind off that list. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.