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(Matt Bighouse) Back in the Spotlight By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — The lure of football will once again bring some big names back to the gridiron at 7 tonight when Eagle Point takes on South Medford in the 24th alumni football game at Eagle Stadium. Launched as a fundraiser by former Eagle Point head coach and current assistant Mike Johnston and Eagle Alumni president Phil Cam in 1983, the game has become a fall ritual for many of the area's finest. "I just can't seem to keep myself away from any type of football experience, and this game is special," says former Eagle Point High standout quarterback Dan Woodward, who has missed only two alumni games since graduating in 1996. "The chance to put the pads on and go play is a big reason I play," adds the 28-year-old, "but most of all I think it's the tradition of the whole alumni game that brings me back." The game traditionally nets about $3,000 for the Eagle Alumni, which in turn uses the proceeds to help disadvantaged athletes pay for gear, get to camps, fulfill pay-to-play requirements and meet other expenses. Advertisement "It's pretty amazing we've kept it going this long," says Johnston. "The neat thing is almost everybody who plays has been a beneficiary of money raised by this game. It provides them an opportunity to give back now, which is nice." And it provides the Rogue Valley an opportunity to gear up for the football season with the first full-contact game of the fall. "Normally it's a fairly hard-hitting game," says Johnston, whose Eagles have suffered only one loss (to South in 2004) and one tie (to Crater in the late 1980s) in the event's history. "Participants from both sides have played football before so it's a little bit easier to get people up to speed." Both teams have spent a week practicing for tonight's game, which won't include special teams plays to help curtail potential injuries. There are no kickoffs and a team desiring to punt simply states their intentions and the ball is moved 40 yards upfield for the changeover. The latter may not be much of an issue for Eagle Point tonight considering the Eagle offense will be led by the likes of quarterbacks Woodward and Jered McClellan, who was the Southern Oregon Conference offensive player of the year in 2004. Woodward led Eagle Point to a runner-up finish in the Class 4A state playoffs in 1995, and went on to quarterback Southern Oregon University into the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs in 2002. He missed last year's alumni game to complete his master's degree in teaching at Concordia University. Also expected to participate for the Eagles are former standouts Sean Johnston, Blake Cam, R.J. Josephson, Mychal Williams and Jeremy Carvajal. "That's the unique thing about the game," says Woodward, who begins his teaching career this fall at South Middle School in Grants Pass. "You get guys from 1981 through 2005 that are all playing together." And then you throw in an opponent like South Medford, which has its own fair share of talented returners, and the action can get intense. Some of the Panthers expected to participate tonight include Dave Alonzo, Andrew Petersen, Bjorn Johnson, Trevor Reed, Dan Hilgendorf, Jon Lang and Marcelo Leyva. "We don't have a whole lot of numbers this year, probably about 18," says Alonzo, who will be playing in his seventh game and is the primary organizer for South's squad. "There'll be a lot of iron man going on." A little extra playing time isn't enough to dissuade Alonzo, however. "This is fun for me ... I just love doing it every year," he says. "I've always liked football and it gives me another chance once a year to suit up and go play some ball and hit some people." Which, after all, is what draws many to the sport in the first place. And although Woodward is put in direct conflict with those trying to dent his helmet, he has no plans to sit on the sidelines anytime soon. "As long as I can still walk, I think I'll play in it," Woodward says of the alumni game. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s