Document text
40 °F 5 Day Forecast Tuesday, December 9, 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 November 27, 2003 Cougars, Tornado brace for semifinal showdown By DON HUNT Mail Tribune No team has come close to beating the Canby High football team this season. But then, the Cougars probably haven’t met an opponent as talented as North Medford. The top-ranked Cougars (12-0) and the third-ranked Black Tornado (11-1) square off Friday at PGE Park in Portland in a Class 4A state semifinal showdown that some are calling the state-title game in disguise. The contest is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. and is the second of a 4A semifinal doubleheader at PGE Park. Sixth-ranked Tigard and unranked Clackamas meet at 5 p.m. The North Medford players have looked forward to knocking helmets with the Pacific-9 Conference-champion Cougars ever since the brackets were drawn up three weeks ago. Advertisement Both teams pride themselves on punishing ground games, efficient passing attacks, ornery defenses and dangerous special teams — and now they’re eager to initiate the conflict. "They’re an in-your-face team as far as running the football goes — and that’s what we love," says North Medford inside linebacker Brian Jimenez. "We respect them, but we’re saying, ‘Bring it on and let’s see what you’ve got.’" What the Cougars have — among other assets — is the best group of running backs in the state. Fullback Dan Lever and wingbacks Kenny Scharmota, Brett Allee and Shawn Doman all have more than 500 yards rushing this season. For that matter, so does quarterback Sam Doman, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior who also has more than 1,000 yards passing and 11 touchdowns through the air. The Cougars, who operate out of a wing-T offense, are averaging 320 yards rushing and 36.4 points per game. "We’ve got to read our keys, get off blocks and run to the football," says North Medford coach John Beck. "And we’ve got to get penetration. "If you play flat along the line of scrimmage against a team like that, then you’re going to get worked." North Medford hasn’t been "worked" very often this season. Led by standout tackles David Faaeteete and Lorenzo Arenas, end Ethan Barrus and linebackers Jimenez, Russ Vandell, Rob Folsom and Ryan Weisz, the Tornado defense is yielding just 95 yards per game and 2.9 yards per rushing attempt. Last Friday, North Medford held the state’s leading rusher — Matt Sieverson of Bend — to 85 yards on 22 carries in a 52-7 Tornado victory. "We won’t be able to go toe-to-toe with them," admits Canby coach Mike Doty, whose Cougars advanced to the semifinals last season before losing to Lake Oswego. "But then our plan isn’t predicated on that, anyway. "We like to pull our guards and tackles and get them good angles on down blocks." Canby is led up front by center Dillon Jeli (6-0, 220), guard Joe Mannix (6-0, 215), tackle David Wolery (6-3, 200) and tight end Joe Seifert (6-1, 215). Wolery and Seifert were first-team all-conference selections. The Cougars didn’t have their usual success running the ball against Beaverton last Friday — they finished with 217 yards — but Sam Doman completed five of his first six passes for 89 yards and Allee finished off two drives with touchdown runs of 16 and 10 yards as the Cougars took a 14-0 halftime lead en route to a 24-13 victory. Sam Doman finished the game with 117 yards in the air, but passed only once in the second half. "We’re not a one-dimensional team," says Doty. "We have the ability to throw when we need to or want to. Beaverton was showing eight- and nine-man fronts, and that left things open in our passing game." The Canby defense, meanwhile, has been rock-solid throughout the season. The Cougars are yielding only 10.8 points per game, and no opponent has scored more than 21 on them. Beaverton amassed 436 yards last Friday but failed to score on four red-zone opportunities in the first half. "We think we can move the ball against them," says Beck, whose team is averaging 385 yards and 42.7 points per game and has put up a whopping 150 points in its three playoff tilts. "They play a 4-3 with four deep, and that makes them a little soft on the perimeter and in the flat." Folsom, who ran for 135 yards on 21 carries last Friday to push his season rushing total to 1,211 yards, and quarterback Beau Hovland, who has passed for 1,888 yards and 20 scores, pace the North Medford attack. With neither team having a distinct advantage in any area, Friday’s outcome could be decided by which team has the fewest penalties and turnovers. "It’s probably going to come down to which team plays the cleanest," nods Doty. "At this stage of the season, with two good teams going at it, it usually does." 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 © 1997-2003 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