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South faces tall task in defending champions By Kris Henry Nov 04, 2022 07:30 AM A A 3 View all photos Midway through the season, South Medford had the looks of a football team bound to shake things up in the Class 6A state playoffs. Beset by injuries ever since opening the season 5-0, including a resounding win on South Salem’s home turf, the 12th-seeded Panthers have lost three of their last four games to limp into Friday’s first-round matchup against a Central Catholic team well above the caliber of a traditional No. 5 seed. “They’re very good,” South Medford head coach Bill Singler said of the Rams. “It’s kind of funny, you look at the power rankings and wonder, ‘How is this team ranked No. 5?’ They haven’t lost to an Oregon team. The only team they lost to (St. John Bosco of California) was ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time, and (the Rams are) the two-time defending state champions.” How that results in a No. 5 state power ranking has more to do with a strength of schedule diminished by the Mt. Hood Conference that Central Catholic continues to dominate. The Mt. Hood Conference boasts three top-15 teams but no others with a winning record, which makes it tough for the Rams to compete against the likes of the Three Rivers League for higher placement despite its 8-1 record. However it shapes up, South Medford certainly has its hands full after sporting such high hopes entering the final half of its season. For the past few weeks, the Panthers have played without as many as seven starters and that won’t be any better come Friday night. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Hillsboro Stadium. “It’s unfortunate that you see a proud team that was playing pretty darn well in the state halfway through the season and where they’re at now,” Singler said. “Not too many people know that, all they do is look at the scores and wonder, ‘What in the hell happened to South Medford?’ But it doesn’t matter what level you’re at, when you have kids that are out and hurt, it affects you and we are definitely affected.” In one way, that allows the Panthers (6-3) to play unencumbered in the playoffs, having already solidified what has been a stellar season coming off last year’s two-win campaign. “I am extremely proud of this team in how we approached this season and how we got off to a great start,” Singler said. “That means that the kids were very attentive during the summer, they worked out hard to get themselves ready for the season and came out like gangbusters to go 5-0. “Sometimes when the injury bug hits, it hits,” he continued, “and you can’t do much about it, but these kids set the table for a really good season and enabled them, even with the way we’re finishing, to still be in the top bracket because we elevated ourselves at the start of the year and into the midseason.” Central Catholic junior quarterback Cru Newman guides a prolific and balanced offense. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder has completed 109 of 170 passes for 1,783 yards with 21 touchdowns and one interception while also running 68 times for 550 yards and eight scores. Zhaiel Smith leads a diverse passing attack with 22 catches for 507 yards and nine TDs, while Cade Gehlen and Tyler Newbury have gotten a lion’s share of the carries when Newman is toting the rock. The Rams got a boost to their run and punt return game last week with the return of junior standout Timothy Mitchell, who has missed the previous six games with a high ankle sprain. “They’ve got talent all across the board, both on offense and defense,” Singler said. “They play very aggressive and they attack you so we’ve got our hands full. It’s like the North game but amped up a few notches.” In hopes of its first playoff win since finishing as state runner-up in 2017, South Medford expects to utilize the playmaking abilities of seniors Deacon Edgar and Andrew Walker to spur the offense Friday. Edgar has completed 129 of 203 passes for 1,848 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The three-year starter has also run 78 times for 330 yards and eight scores. Walker finished as one of the top receivers in the South/Central Football Conference with 51 catches for 776 yards and 10 scores. The Panthers’ passing attack was thrown off a little during preparation for last week’s Black and Blue Bowl when second-leading receiver Ty Henry (24 catches, 442 yards, four TDs) suffered a broken collarbone in practice, but Singler has high hopes that underclassmen Tanner Tuggle, Gannen Jones and Ajani Ingram will be settled in more for the playoffs. Ryder Scheid, a junior, has been South’s leading rusher with 376 yards on 80 carries with two TDs but senior Dylan Espinosa and sophomore Bridger Foss have averaged at least 4.1 yards per carry and may be called upon to help shoulder the load. Scheid also has 18 catches for 240 yards and one score. Defensively, South Medford has been able to hold its own throughout the season behind the leadership of Espinosa and Isaack Valdez at linebacker and the Panthers’ own blend of diverse contributions in the trenches, anchored by Makani Manuwai, Logan Crocker, Remy Rodriguez and Gabe Staszak. Another boost on defense has been the development of linebackers like Tuggle, twins JT and Jacob Dalton in the wake of losing early-season leading tackler Gio Livingston. “I’m really proud of how the defense has played all year for the most part,” Singler said. “They’ve really come through for us and helped give us a chance.” Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected] or via Twitter @Kris_Henry PHOTO BY: LARRY STAUTH JRNorth Medford's Alexander Angulo (2) attempts to wrap up South Medford High QB Deacon Edgar, as teammates Jeremiah Robbins (9), David Fuiava (70) and Cameron Nix (24) race in to assist, at Spiegelberg Stadium on Friday. PHOTO BY: LARRY STAUTH JRSouth Medford RB Ryder Scheid races through North Medford defenders at Spiegelberg Stadium on Friday. Bill Singler, South Medford head coachAndy Atkinson / Mail Tribune