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52 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, January 28, 2005 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 Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? 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 October 22, 2004 Chancler gets chance to shine for South By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Dan Chancler may very well be the fastest player on the South Medford football team, he just hasn’t had much chance to show it the past two years. That may be changing, however, as the senior wide receiver/cornerback finally feels like he’s firing on all cylinders as the fourth-ranked Panthers head into tonight’s Southern Oregon Conference matchup with Ashland (1-5, 0-4 SOC) at Spiegelberg Stadium. In other SOC games tonight, seventh-ranked North Medford (5-1, 2-1 SOC) plays at ninth-ranked Eagle Point (6-0, 4-0), independent Klamath Union (6-0) is at Crater (0-6, 0-4) and Roseburg (4-2, 2-1) at Grants Pass (2-4, 1-2). All games start at 7 p.m. A broken collarbone cut short Chancler’s junior campaign after four games last season, and various cramps and pulled muscles have been a hindrance this year. But after a promising effort in South’s 21-14 win over Grants Pass last week, Chancler finally feels healthy and ready to supply the Panthers another weapon in an already potent arsenal of playmakers. Advertisement "The first four games I was worried about my calves cramping and worried about pulling a muscle," he says. "Now that I’m finally healthy, it’s going to be fun being out there (on the field)." To remedy his ailments, Chancler has been taking potassium pills, drinking two liters of Gatorade every Friday before games and getting Icy Hot rubbed on his calves prior to kickoff. He’s even gone so far as to cut the sides of his pants so they wouldn’t be so tight around his calves. "It’s been a struggle, but I think I’ve finally got it under control," says Chancler. And the timing couldn’t be better as South (5-1, 3-0 SOC) settles in for a run toward its second SOC title in three years. "Dan’s a guy with speed and has proven to be a guy who can run with the ball after the catch, so hopefully last week is a good indication of things to come," says South coach Bill Singler. Chancler caught only two passes against GP, but both set up touchdown runs for Logan Boyd. One was a 36-yard reception on a post pattern and the other a 20-yard hookup with quarterback Jon Weaver on a third-and-19 play that helped South take a 14-0 lead. The Panthers will be looking for more big plays like that tonight against an Ashland team brimming with confidence following last week’s positive showing in a 49-29 loss to Eagle Point. "We feel pretty good," says Ashland coach David Coldiron, whose team had the Eagles on their heels early. "Anytime you play a No. 9 team in the state and you have them on the ropes for a little bit, it should give you confidence." Junior quarterback Sam Littleton carved up the EP secondary for 259 yards and three touchdowns in his breakout performance, but will be without one of his top targets as tight end Jeff Skinner sits out tonight’s game following complications from a concussion three weeks ago. Skinner ranks fifth among SOC receivers with 24 receptions for 532 yards and four TDs. One spot ahead is teammate Steve Jorgensen, who has 26 receptions for 411 yards and five scores. Coldiron says the Grizzlies will turn to Josh Cornelius and Wes Dodds to offset Skinner’s absence and will rely on an improving ground attack behind David Jacobson-Fried and Dylan Steeves, who is hampered by a sore toe but is expected to play. Singler says his team is well aware of Ashland’s quick-strike ability and will focus on doing everything they can to keep Littleton and company off the field. "For us defensively, it’s going to be a complete reversal from last week," says Singler. "Last week we had to play a real physical ballgame up front and defend the run. This week, I look for Ashland to spread us out a little bit and throw the ball up the field because that’s where they’ve had success." "It’s the same philosophy, though," adds the coach. "We have to bend but not break. We can’t give up the 80-yard bombs that Eagle Point did to these guys last week." KLAMATH UNION AT CRATER — Klamath Union is in the second year of an independent schedule that features mostly Class 3A programs. The Pelicans have taken advantage, posting a 6-0 record this year after going 4-5 in 2003 and notching wins over Crater (32-28) and Eagle Point (23-14). "I don’t know if we’re any better than we were in the past," says eighth-year KU coach Wayne Amos, "it’s just that we’re playing a different schedule that’s more conducive to the number of kids we have in school." Crater, meanwhile, is eager to shed its winless label. "We’re getting better," says first-year Comets coach John Beck. "Sometimes you just play teams that are farther along in their program than you are." KU features the fly offense, led by 5-10, 175-pound quarterback Daniel Bennett. The senior leader provides a dual threat, just as capable of topping 100 yards rushing as he is tossing three touchdown passes. Sophomore tailback Jon Saxton (5-7, 150 pounds) has rushed for more than 100 yards in all three of his starts, while senior slotback Christian Anderson joins leading receiver Alex Foster in giving KU a well-rounded attack. "They’re offense is something we’re definitely going to have to deal with," says Beck, "but we’re kinda used to having to deal with good offenses having played the schedule we’ve played." The Comets are still waiting for a breakthrough performance from its own offense. Crater is averaging 7.2 points per game and is coming off a 49-0 loss to Roseburg in which the Comets passed for minus-20 yards. ROSEBURG AT GRANTS PASS — Thurman Bell’s Indians will attempt to cope with a revamped Grants Pass attack that features the single- wing offense. In contrast, Tom Blanchard’s Cavemen will have to contend with the pass-happy Indians. My, how times have changed. "It’s kinda like turnabout’s fair play," says Bell, whose Indians have historically been run-oriented and GP more inclined to air it out. Roseburg’s Brett Stephens has completed 71 of 117 passes for 1,133 yards, 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions to lead the SOC in passing, but he’ll be facing a stiff challenge in a Grants Pass defense that ranks No. 1 in total defense (250.2 yards per game) and scoring defense (16.3 points per game). On defense, the Indians must contend with GP sophomore sensation Craig Dolmage. In three games, Dolmage has risen to No. 2 in SOC rushing with 501 yards and five TDs on 75 carries. Tonight’s game opens a pivotal stretch for the Indians that includes dates with North and South Medford. 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 © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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