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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 13, 2006 Eagles making a run at respectability By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Three weeks ago, Eagle Point High running back Shane Tomich was as anonymous as the team manager. With just 58 yards rushing on 29 carries, Tomich barely made the small print, let alone headlines. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior had a breakout game on Sept. 22 when he gained 123 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown in a 35-14 win over Jefferson and followed up the next week with a 132-yard, 23-carry, two-TD performance during a wild, 62-51 loss to Roosevelt. But Tomich still failed to find the spotlight as he was overshadowed by Roosevelt's Isaiah Johnson, who amassed a stunning 467 yards against the Eagles — the second-highest rushing total in 11-man football in state history. However, Tomich was just getting warmed up. Last Friday, during a 26-20 win over Mazama in the Eagles' Southern Sky Conference opener, Tomich piled up 263 yards on 26 attempts and three touchdowns. Advertisement That's 518 yards in his last three games. Tomich and his teammates hope to keep the chains moving and the scoreboard clicking tonight when they host Klamath Union at Eagle Stadium. In tonight's other Southern Sky game, Mazama (2-4, 0-1 Southern Sky) travels to Ashland (2-4, 0-1). Fourth-ranked Crater (5-1, 1-0) hosts Hudson's Bay (3-3) of Vancouver, Wash., in a nonconference affair. "He's the dive back on our triple option and he's doing a great job of running between the tackles," says Eagle Point coach Harry Hedrick of Tomich. "He started to get some confidence a couple weeks back, and he just keeps building on it." Tomich isn't blessed with excessive size or speed, but he has a quick burst, a deceptive first cut and he has a knack for breaking tackles. "I feel like I'm as quick as anyone in our league for the first 10 yards," says Tomich. "And I can get it going for 30 or 40 yards." Tomich's emergence as a top-flight back — he's now second among Southern Sky rushers with 576 yards and eight touchdowns — has coincided with a vast improvement in the EP offensive line. Guard Cory Nielsen, who missed one game and part of another with a shoulder injury early on, anchors the unit that averages 6-0 and 232 pounds. Zach Heppner, a 6-1, 190-pound junior who played guard last season, has moved to tight end and gives the Eagles a sixth blocker up front. "We didn't even use a tight end the first two games," says Hedrick. "But as time went on, we realized that running the ball was going to be our forte. The linemen are really getting after it now, throwing blocks downfield as well as at the line of scrimmage." To aid the running game even more, Hedrick has incorporated a "jumbo formation" that features blocking backs Mert Bradsaw and Aaron Willis, who tips the scales at 255 pounds. Like Tomich, senior quarterback Brandt Nevin has benefitted from the "smashmouth" approach. Nevin had 180 yards in the win over Mazama and the Eagles ran for 499 as a team. Suddenly, a team that started the season 0-3 is thinking state playoffs. "If we get a win (tonight), we'll be in pretty good shape," says Hedrick, whose team is 2-4 overall and 1-0 in the Southern Sky. Klamath Union, meanwhile, had a bye last week and used it to heal some banged-up skill players, namely fullback Cougar Cruz (sprained ankle) and halfbacks Mark Brooks (concussion) and Matt Porter (knee). Porter, a sprinter in track who torched Eagle Point for five touchdowns last season even though the Eagles escaped with a 33-32 win, tore anterior cruciate and medial collateral knee ligaments during practice two weeks ago but has vowed to keep playing. "He can still run straight-ahead pretty fast," says Klamath Union coach Wayne Amos of Porter. The Pelicans are 3-2 overall and 0-0 in league play. Their two losses have come by a total of three points. MAZAMA AT ASHLAND — Based on Mazama's porous run defense last week, Ashland's Justin Meza figures to have a big game on the ground. Meza ran for 102 yards on 16 carries in the Grizzlies' 21-7 loss to Crater last Friday. Mazama quarterback Larry Wagner leads the Southern Sky Conference in passing with 887 yards and seven touchdowns. His favorite target — Mike Padget ­-- ranks second in receiving with 34 catches for 467 yards and two scores. HUDSON'S BAY AT CRATER — Hudson's Bay figures to be the most athletic team Crater has faced since its loss to Sherwood five weeks ago. The Vancouver, Wash., team features a 6-5 quarterback and receivers who stand 6-4 and 6-3, Crater coach John Beck says. "They're kind of a scary team," says Beck. "They've got good athletes all over the place, but at times they're not very disciplined. They'll bite on play-action and get fooled on misdirection plays. "It should be an interesting game." Crater running back Charlie Reina has piled up 274 yards and two touchdowns the past two games. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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