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47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, October 10, 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 Menu Guide 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 24, 2004 South Medford�s Jon Weaver guides the 2-1 Panthers against winless Crater tonight in the SOC opener. Panthers, Comets collide in SOC opener Beck has Comets playing with passion, but they’re still looking for their first victory By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Two games into the 2004 football season, the John Beck era has yet to produce a victory at win-starved Crater High School. But don’t tell the players it’s d�j� vu from past seasons, when the Comets made their home in the Southern Oregon Conference basement. They would give up a dozen trips to the pizza parlor in exchange for a victory, but they’re convinced that Beck — who took over the Crater reins in February after three seasons as the head coach at North Medford — has them headed in the right direction. The Comets (0-2) open play in the Southern Oregon Conference against ninth-ranked South Medford (2-1) at 7 tonight at Spiegelberg Stadium. Advertisement "It’s been frustrating because we really expected to win our first two games," Crater two-way tackle Charles Alexander says. "But we know it’s a matter of time before we turn this thing around. "And even though we’re 0-2, it’s a lot more fun than last year when we were getting killed every game." The Comets had a chance to send last Friday’s game against Gresham into overtime, but a 23-yard field goal attempt by Jason Juveland with six seconds remaining sailed wide of the uprights and the Gophers escaped with a 13-10 victory. Crater lost to Lincoln 21-7 in its season opener. Beck has the Comets playing aggressively on defense. They held Lincoln to just 159 total yards and Gresham to 147, but a sputtering offense that ranks last in the SOC at 140.5 yards and 8.5 points per game has prevented them from winning. "Our offense made a lot of improvement from Week 1 to Week 2," Beck says. "The line play was much better (against Gresham) and we made a couple of good drives in the fourth quarter that should have resulted in points, but didn’t. "We’re getting there." The Comets’ stifling defense, led by Alexander, linebackers Cody Clark and Ron Lee and cornerback Charlie Reina, has gotten the attention of South Medford coach Bill Singler. "They’ve got some quality players on defense and it looks like defense is their rallying cry," Singler says. "Our kids on offense know they could be tested." Following victories on the road over defending state champion Tigard and West Linn, the Panthers stubbed their toe last Friday with a 35-9 loss to second-ranked Lake Oswego. Singler said after the game that his team was mentally and physically tired from the two long road trips, along with playing three highly touted opponents. But Singler says his squad had its best practices of the season this week and is eager to play a conference game. "We gained a lot of experience those first three games and I would hope we can use that to our advantage," Singler says. The Panthers are led by senior quarterback Jon Weaver, who has thrown for 404 yards and four touchdowns; junior tailback Ryan Odell, the SOC’s second-leading rusher with 222 yards; and 6- foot-7 sophomore tight end Kyle Singler, the SOC’s third-leading receiver with 16 catches for 206 yards and two scores. South Medford also has a home run threat in senior wide receiver Dan Chancler, who has yet to get untracked. "I think South might have its best overall team since Bill (Singler) has been their coach," Beck says. "They had that great offensive team in 2002, but this team is much better defensively and it can still put points on the board. "Our kids on defense like a challenge and they’re certainly going to get one Friday." 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. 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