Document text
Photo by Drew Fleming South Medford defenders Adam Dendauw (63), Jeremy Boyd (20) and Chris McQuillan (hidden) attempt to tackle North Medford's Ken Halpin (24). North picks up steam, routs South By DAVE DAUGHERTY It's becoming a familiar scene for the North Medford football team -- rely on the defense while the offense stammers and sputters for two quarters before coming to life. Friday night was no different for the Black Tornado, as its defense left South Medford black and blue before its offense geared up to post a convincing 40-7 Southern Oregon Conference football victory in the 14th installment of the Black and Blue Bowl at Spiegelberg Stadium. The win improved North to 3-0 in the SOC standings and upped its overall lead in the series to 9-5. The Panthers fell to 0-3. "When one group is down, the other picks it up," said North defensive end John Bracken, of the first-team defense, which has yet to yield a touchdown this season, "It's just kind of the way our defense works." Bracken and his North defensive linemates shut down the South ground attack, limiting South to minus-6 yards on 37 carries, "The defense, again, stepped it up," said North coach Rod Rumrey. "They (the Panthers) did a great job controlling the football in the first half, but our guys were really flying around to the ball." With his running game stalled, South quarterback John McKay dictated the contests' early tempo with a quick passing attack. South collected four first downs before North could register its first, but three early drives ended in two punts and a turnover on downs. After a determined Panther defensive unit shut down the North offense in the first quarter, the Black Tornado got things going early in the second quarter. Ken Halpin plunged across the goal line from five yards out, giving his team a 6-0 lead, but kicker Kelly Brown missed the PAT to the left. After forcing a South punt on its next series, the North offense looked for more, but a crushing hit on quarterback Nate Mayben forced a fumble and the Panthers Jason Roberts scooped up the ball and rumbled 32 yards to the North 10-yard line. Two plays later, McKay scrambled to the North 2 and things looked great for South. But Roberts was stopped for a 3-yard loss on third down and the Tornado defense stopped Jeremy Boyd short of the goal line on fourth down to thwart the threat. "That stand was huge," said Rumrey. "If they (South) take it in, they take the lead. That's what they needed and who knows what would have happened then. It could have been really costly for us." "If we score it's tied and we have the emotion," said South coach Bill Singler. "Our kids need that, but we couldn't take advantage and you have to in a spot like that." South still kept up the fight, as its defense forced a North punt on its next series, setting up the Panther offense for a run at evening the contest at the break. But with 2:32 to play in the half, Bracken intercepted a McKay screen pass and Mayben converted, hitting receiver Mike Olson on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds to play when South defensive back Mike Lunsford slipped on the turf. "It was a total surprise," said Bracken, who also registered two sacks on the night. "The coaches told us a pump-fake would probably lead to a screen pass. I layed off the quarterback and went with the back. It was my first catch ever as a football player." The second half, once again, proved to be the wake up call for the North offense so desperately needed. The Tornado defense held the Panthers on three plays to force a punt, but the would-be snap effort sailed over the head of punter Quentin Clayton and the Tornado jumped on the loose ball at the South 1 yard line. North wasted no time taking advantage, as Halpin plunged over the goal line on the first play to for a 20-0 lead. One minute later, Halpin made Black and Blue Bowl history, corralling a Mayben screen pass on a third and 20 situation and zig-zagged his way across the field for a 64-yard touchdown thanks to some great blocking from the offensive line and Olson. "I saw the guys in front of me, so I cut across the field to use my blocks," said Halpin. "It was just a matter of running it in." The touchdown was Halpin's third of the night and his eighth in three games. "Sometimes I think I'm the fortunate one," said Halpin, who rushed for only 15 yards, but caught two passes for 86 yards. "I wouldn't say anything I do is out of the ordinary." North solidified its final margin on Curt Stout 58-yard touchdown run and a Colby Gonzales 30-yard touchdown pass from Mayben, which were sandwiched around South's lone score of the night. A Rob Brown 1-yard touchdown run, which was set up by a nifty 40-yard pass from McKay to Jimmie Maddox. "As long as I've coached I've never had this type of big-play potential," said Rumrey of his offensive unit, which never used more than two minutes and 12 seconds of the clock on any of its scoring drives. "But it's like we're sitting back and waiting for the big play and that hurts us." "We knew going in they (North) had players," said Singler. "You can't defend everyone. We just didn't have the guys to catch them." Even with the lopsided victory, Rumrey still praised the Panthers' effort, knowing this win was just a warm up for what lies ahead on the schedule. "In this type of game the underdog really presents a problem," said a relieved Rumrey after the victory. "We have the hardest part of our schedule ahead of us, But we're right where we want to be. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.