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55 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, September 20, 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 How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest 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 September 9, 2004 Fresh off upset, Panthers brace for massive Lions By DON HUNT Mail Tribune A lot of people thought the South Medford High football team, faced with an extremely tough early-season schedule, would start the season 0-3. Now there’s talk the Panthers might go 3-0. Oh, what a victory over the No. 1-ranked team can do to change perceptions and perspective. The Panthers shocked the Oregon high school football world with last week’s 24-21 overtime win over defending state champion and then top-ranked Tigard. It was surely the biggest nonconference victory in coach Bill Singler’s seven seasons at South Medford. But the Panthers can’t celebrate for long, because Friday they’re back on the road to face West Linn, which was ranked No. 10 in the OregonLive.com preseason poll. Advertisement South Medford hosts eighth-ranked Lake Oswego on Sept. 17. In other games involving Southern Oregon Conference teams Friday, Ashland travels to Rex Putnam, Grants Pass ventures to Lake Oswego, Crater hosts Lincoln, Eagle Point entertains Madison and Roseburg hosts Clackamas. "It was no fluke that we beat Tigard," Singler says. "We held our own physically and we matched their athletes. "A win like that gives your program credibility, but we don’t have time to rest on our laurels. We’ve got another tough game Friday." In West Linn, the Panthers will face what could be the biggest offensive line in state history. Known as "the Great Wall of West Linn," it features center Mac Gerber (6-5, 285), guards T.C. Hoveke (5-10, 275) and Jake McKown (6-4, 265) and tackles Ben Loebner (6-9, 325) and Ryne Holstrom (6-7, 305). Loebner and Holstrom are both Division I recruits, according to West Linn coach Ron Chappel. "These guys want to prove that they’re not just a bunch of big bodies out there," Chappel says. Chappel thinks he might have his best team at West Linn since he took the job 11 years ago, although the Lions, who play in the competitive Three Rivers League, have a schedule that rivals South Medford’s. "Our goal is to get in the playoffs and make a run," he says. "And playing a team like South Medford should help get us ready." Singler was most proud of his defense last Friday as it held Tigard to just 60 yards rushing and 269 yards in total offense. Linebackers Justin Meyer, Jon Lang and Ben Koziol all logged strong outings, and the Panthers’ defensive line, much-maligned the past few years, held its own. "Defense has been a point of emphasis all fall," Singler says. "Those kids played tough. "They’ve got another big challenge Friday. Our kids are going to have to play low and beat those big West Linn kids to the punch." Junior tailback Ryan Odell made a nice debut offensively, rushing for 63 yards on 16 carries and catching seven passes for 58 yards in the win over Tigard. He’ll be joined in the backfield Friday by senior fullback Logan Boyd, who missed the opener after undergoing a hernia operation. Boyd will also play linebacker on defense. "Logan gives us another versatile back who can run the ball and catch it," Singler says of his nephew. "We’re anxious to see what he can do." West Linn returns only one skill position starter on offense — senior fullback Nick Hunt. That gives the Lions reason to pound the ball behind its massive front, but Chappel wants a balanced attack. Two quarterbacks with contrasting styles — seniors Kyle Robinson and Kevin Coddington — are expected to share the job Friday for West Linn. Robinson, who started in the defensive backfield last season, is considered the better runner while Coddington is a prototypical dropback passer. Their favorite receiver is expected to be 6-2, 197-pound senior Sean Fullerton. "When I first saw our schedule last winter my eyes immediately focused on South Medford," Chappel says. "I knew they had a lot of quality kids returning from a tough conference. "To tell you the truth, it didn’t surprise me they beat Tigard." GRANTS PASS AT LAKE OSWEGO — Tom Blanchard returns to the Grants Pass sideline for the first time since 1999, but the big news in Lake Oswego is the quarterback debut of Nick Lomax, the son of former Portland State University and St. Louis Cardinals quarterback Neil Lomax. The 6-foot-8 Nick Lomax has played in the shadow of Mike Stutes the past two seasons and finally gets his chance at running the Laker offense. The Cavemen have a fine QB of their own in 6-5, 210-pound Nolan Morgan, who threw for 1,220 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. "Nolan did OK last year but we’re expecting a lot more of him," Blanchard says. Blanchard is also excited about Austin Wiersma, a transfer from Crater who will start at flanker and defensive back. "He’s a quality kid and we’re trying to find ways to get him the ball," Blanchard says. Outside linebacker Mike Mills, inside linebacker Mike Schlottig, end J.D. Haer and safety Kevin Berg headline a Grants Pass defense that returns seven starters. LINCOLN AT CRATER — John Beck makes his much-anticipated debut at Crater, hoping to resurrect a woebegone program that hasn’t posted a winning record in 10 years. Beck admits the Comets’ offense could take time to develop, but he expects his defense — headlined by tackle Charlie Alexander and linebackers Ronnie Lee and Cody Clark — to make an immediate impact. Crater’s defense may need to play well in order to stop Lincoln’s Collin Beeson, who is considered the top quarterback in the Portland Interscholastic League. The Cardinals, who finished 7-3 last season, have been picked to finish second in the PIL. MADISON AT EAGLE POINT — Eagle Point looked the sharpest of the five teams at last week’s Grants Pass jamboree and seem poised to notch its first winning season in seven years. Quarterback Jered McClellan, running back Nate Idrogo and wide receiver Jeremy Carvajal give the Eagles three quality skill position players to go with an experienced offensive line. Madison, which went 2-7 a year ago, has been picked to finish eighth (out of 10 teams) in the PIL. The Senators are led by senior tailback Andy Jackson. ASHLAND AT REX PUTNAM — Ashland also had some good moments at last week’s jamboree as second-year coach David Coldiron looks to put the Grizzlies, 3-6 a year ago, back on the football map. Wide receiver Steve Jorgensen, tight end Jeff Skinner and running back David Jacobsen-Fried hope to jump-start a Grizzly offense that averaged only 14 points per game last season and was shut out twice. Rex Putnam is led by senior quarterback Daniel Thompson, who can hurt opponents as much with his legs as with his arm. The Kingsmen went 4-5 last season. CLACKAMAS AT ROSEBURG — This could be the game of the week in the state as top-ranked Clackamas squares off against a Roseburg team that walloped Willamette 39-7 last Friday. Junior quarterback Brett Stephens passed for 273 yards and three touchdowns in the victory over the Wolverines as Roseburg coach Thurman Bell unveiled a wide-open passing attack that stunned longtime Indians fans. Clackamas went 9-4 last season and reached the state semifinals for a second straight year. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, 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