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Alegria in the spotlight as North takes on Ashland By Don Hunt Prior to last Friday, Manny Alegria might have been the best-kept secret in the Southern Oregon Conference. Former North Medford football coach Rod Rumrey raved about Alegria's speed, strength and athleticism during the Black Tornado's run to the Class 4A state championship game last season. The problem was, Alegria had two players in front of him at tailback - Phil Ouellette and Justin MacLauchlan - and a bad ankle that hindered him most of the season. Alegria came to fall camp this year healthy and eager, but with MacLauchlan No. 1 on the depth chart, he carried the ball only seven times for 31 yards in the Tornado's opening four games. Alegria finally got his chance to start last Friday against Klamath Union, and the 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior responded with 154 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-0 Tornado victory. Alegria got his opportunity for extended minutes when the North Medford coaches decided to move MacLauchlan to wide receiver, and he'll be at tailback again Friday when the Tornado travels to Ashland. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. In other SOC games, Eagle Point (1-4) travels to Crater (0-5), Klamath Union (2-3) journeys to Grants Pass (5-0) and South Medford (5-0) plays host to Roseburg (4-0) in a battle of unbeatens. "No one on our team was surprised at what Manny did last Friday," says North Medford coach John Beck, who took over for the retired Rumrey this season. "He's a very physical back and we needed to get him on the field." Alegria had a 24-yard touchdown run on North Medford's first possession and later added scoring runs of 1 and 8 yards. Inordinately strong for someone his size - Alegria hoists over 1,000 pounds combined in the bench press, power clean and squat - he punishes opponents with his physical style of play. And yet once Alegria breaks into the open, he's a threat to go the distance. "He's one of the fastest guys on our team," Beck says. Alegria could have an even bigger game against the Grizzlies, who are yielding an SOC-worst 285 yards per game rushing. After starting 0-2 in SOC play, North Medford is on a mission to win its final four games of the regular season and advance to the state playoffs for the fourth straight year. Ashland, meanwhile, is coming off a 36-7 loss to Grants Pass and is in danger of seeing its string of 16 straight playoff berths come to an end. The Grizzlies are 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the SOC with games against North Medford and Roseburg left on their schedule. "We've still got some pride," Ashland coach Jim Nagel says. "And I don't think we'll have any problem getting pumped up for North Medford." The Grizzlies have been without starting quarterback and outside linebacker Cameron Voget the past two weeks because of disciplinary reasons, but he'll return to action against the Tornado. Voget has thrown for 412 yards and six touchdowns in three games. "He's got a strong arm, and on defense he might be their best player," Beck says of Voget. "They're definitely a better team with him on the field." EAGLE POINT AT CRATER - Crater has played inspired football the past two weeks in losses to Roseburg and South Medford and has a realistic chance at snapping its 15-game losing streak that dates to 1999. Hard-nosed running back Dan Casey gained 127 yards rushing against Roseburg and 138 against South Medford, and quarterback D.J. Beatty is coming off a career-best performance: 18 of 31 passing for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Eagle Point is in the midst of a four-game losing streak and hasn't won since opening night. With the two school districts bordering one another, the intensity level always ratchets up a notch in this rivalry that began in 1979 when Eagle Point became a 4A school. KLAMATH UNION AT GRANTS PASS - Grants Pass squares off against Roseburg next Friday and may overlook Klamath Union, but it probably won't matter. The Pelicans will have trouble moving the ball against a Caveman defense that ranks first in the SOC in scoring defense (7.2) and second in overall defense (195.2). Grants Pass quarterback Tom Cohen is the No. 2-ranked passer in the SOC with 778 yards, 10 touchdowns and just one interception. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.