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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 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 Passport to the Rogue Valley 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 November 18, 2004 When not in the outdoors, South Medford�s Jon Weaver can be found playing quarterback for the Panthers. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Roving QB South Medford’s Jon Weaver prefers to be somewhere in the great outdoors By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Most teenagers take every opportunity to sleep in on a weekend, especially if they’ve played a football game the previous night. But you won’t find Jon Weaver’s head attached to a pillow in the late morning hours. The South Medford High senior quarterback is almost always up and Adam by 8 a.m., out the door by 8:30 and somewhere in the great outdoors by 9. He might be on the Rogue River fishing for steelhead. He might be at Howard Prairie Lake fishing for trout. He might be in the Siskiyou Mountains hunting for deer or elk. He might be in the Klamath Basin stalking ducks and geese. Or he might be backpacking along the Red Butte Mountains in California. Advertisement One place he won’t be is in front of his television. Unless, of course, the Green Bay Packers and his football idol — Brett Favre — are playing. "Brett Favre is the only person who can keep me indoors on a weekend," he says. "I’m not one of those people who sits around. I love getting outside and doing stuff." Weaver bagged a four-point buck the week South Medford beat North Medford. Four weeks later, after the Panthers had beaten Roseburg on the Indians’ home field to clinch the Southern Oregon Conference championship, Weaver jumped in a car with teammate Dan Chancler and drove to Eastern Oregon for an elk hunting trip with Chancler’s father near the town of John Day. "We got up in some steep cliffs in two feet of snow," Weaver says. "We didn’t get our elk, but we probably walked 18 miles. It was a great workout." Weaver’s habit of enduring hardship in the outdoors undoubtedly helps him on the gridiron, where he’s known as much for his toughness as he is for his talent. When he took over for an injured Ryan Fiegi in Game 4 last season, Weaver was sacked five times and harassed throughout during a 30-20 loss to Service, Alaska. The following week he was sacked 11 times and dealt a concussion as the Panthers were crushed 60-17 by North Medford. But Weaver persevered, and since that bleak night against the Black Tornado, he’s gone 13-2 as a starter and engineered two wins against No. 1- ranked teams, including a 28-21 victory over his cross-town rival. Friday, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Weaver will lead the fourth-ranked Panthers against McNary of Salem in a second-round state playoff game at Spiegelberg Stadium. "Those first two games as a varsity starter, Jon was thrown to the wolves," says South Medford coach Bill Singler. "But he regrouped and he’s established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the state. "He might not have the most glowing statistics, but he makes plays in our offense and he wins football games. What else can you ask for?" Not that Weaver’s stats are shabby. He’s completed 63.5 percent of his passes (120 of 189) for 1,738 yards, 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions this season, and has been especially sharp the past two weeks in wins over Roseburg and Madison when he’s gone 27 of 41 for 497 yards and three TDs. Singler was incredulous that Weaver was able to earn no better than honorable mention status when the all-conference voting took place last week. First- team honors went to Eagle Point’s Jered McClellan and second-team accolades went to Roseburg’s Brett Stephens. It was one of those seasons when any of the three — all had magnificent seasons — could have emerged with the most votes. Weaver had written a note in August that said: "It doesn’t matter if I get all-conference. All I care about is for our team to win the SOC and make the playoffs." Adds Weaver now: "I’m sure McClellan would trade what he has for what I have. Getting to the playoffs is what it’s all about." With all three quarterbacks getting placed on the all-state ballot, Weaver may yet have the last laugh. And he’s almost certain to have the most fun. Like Favre, Weaver almost always has a smile on his face when he plays. He’ll clap his hands to encourage teammates and jump into a receiver’s arms after throwing a touchdown pass. He also made a Favre-like play against Roseburg when, just as he was about to be sacked, he flipped an underhand pass to fullback Logan Boyd. Boyd gained 25 yards on the impromptu play to set up a South Medford touchdown. "He’s out there having a good time," Boyd says. "And that attitude rubs off on the rest of us. Instead of being stressed out, we’re having fun and making plays." Weaver hopes to spend the next four weekends playing football, culminating with a state championship on Dec. 10. But if the Panthers fall short, there’s a good chance he’ll find something else to do. 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. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities