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Borelli makes North very defensive The Black Tornado's standout linebacker is the heart and soul of a North defense that has yielded just 30 points over the past three games By DON HUNT Alan Borelli is a straight-A student and a personable young man. He's in the honor society, belongs to the Future Business Leaders of America and participates on the North Medford High Brain Bowl team. But Borelli has a mischievous look in his eyes that tells the observer that he wouldn't mind knocking a fella on his fanny once in a while. Football is the perfect activity for someone with such motives, and Borelli knocks a lot of fellows on their fannies every Friday night while manning his outside linebacker position for the Black Tornado. One of only two returning starters intact from last season's defense that fueled a run to the Class 4A state championship game, Borelli headlines another swarming pack of Tornado defenders that has become increasingly ornery in recent games. "You've got to be able to run and tackle to play defense, but heart, hustle and emotion are what I'm all about," says Borelli. Borelli's heart sank into the ground on Sept. 28 when North Medford suffered a 20-3 loss to Grants Pass. The defeat came on the heels of a 47-0 loss to Roseburg and left the Tornado with an 0-2 record in the Southern Oregon Conference. A return trip to the state playoffs appeared in doubt. Puzzled and distressed, Borelli went home and met with fellow seniors Travis Poulton, Dan Johnson, Brian Weeks and Kyle Jensen. The five players stayed up until 6 a.m. the next day, pinpointing the team's problems and hashing out solutions. Borelli then met with head coach John Beck. Borelli won't discuss everything that was said, but the team has won its last three games by a combined score of 152-30 heading into tonight's contest against Eagle Point at Spiegelberg Stadium. "More than anything, the younger guys needed to know what kind of intensity it takes to play at this level," Borelli says. "This team isn't as emotional as last year's and I guess it was up to me to raise some ruckus." That ruckus has led to five touchdowns by the special teams over the past three games and helped elevate the Tornado to the No. 1 defense in the SOC. North Medford is now allowing just 181 yards per game. The Tornado players have taken up a new slogan to energize themselves. They yell out "Rev that diesel!" followed by "Waaa! Waaa!" "It's all about bringing the load," Borelli explains. And no one brings a bigger load for his size than Borelli, who stands 6-feet, weighs 195 pounds and has the speed to run on the school's district champion 4x400-meter relay team. Borelli has yet to get many looks from college teams, who view him as too small to play linebacker at the next level. He plans on proving them wrong - just wait until they see that look in his eyes and those emotions on his sleeves. But first, he's got some unfinished business to tend to at North Medford. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.