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North, South brace for crosstown battle By Kris Henry Oct 28, 2022 07:30 AM A A 6 View all photos Black and Blue Bowl series stands even entering top-15 clash Friday at Spiegelberg The series is even, the venue is neutral and the football teams set to square off are each among the top-15 Class 6A programs in the state. There’s certainly a lot to love about Friday’s annual matchup between North Medford and South Medford, which will be the 37th Black and Blue Bowl played at Spiegelberg Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m., with a pregame tailgate also planned on the outskirts of the stadium. “It’s been a solid week,” North Medford head coach Nathan Chin said. “The kids have been locked in and had some good practices. Now it’s about being able to put it all together on Friday night.” The Black Tornado and Panthers have each won 18 games in series history, with South Medford claiming five of the last six meetings and 11 of the last 15 to close the gap. North Medford enters with a 5-3 overall record and 5-1 mark in South/Central Football Conference play, while South Medford stands 6-2 overall and 4-2 in league play. An added twist to a game that already carries significant interest due to its crosstown history will be how the result impacts each team moving forward into a new playoff structure making its debut next week. In the offseason, the state’s 6A football coaches and respective administrators came together to create two 16-team brackets for the state playoffs. The top 16 teams will play for the state championship, the next 16 vie for the Columbia Cup. In most years, South Medford at No. 10 in the 6A power rankings and North Medford at No. 13 would suggest little movement for the bracket-determining rankings regardless of Friday’s outcome, but that’s not necessarily the case anymore. In the addendum to determining the top-16 field, all six 6A league champions are guaranteed a spot in the championship bracket — regardless of power ranking — and any league champion that lands inside the top 16 in the final rankings is assured of a home playoff game in the first round next week. That becomes important for North Medford and South Medford, as well as Grants Pass at No. 12, because the Portland Interscholastic League’s top team is Grant, ranked No. 17 entering its season finale against No. 27 Roosevelt. The Generals likely could see themselves fall outside the top 16 even with a victory, bumping out the eventual 16th-ranked team. A loss by Grant could also result in a three-way tie for the PIL title that includes current No. 18 Jefferson, which most certainly would mean bumping whoever winds up 16th when the rankings freeze Saturday. Another league title to be settled Friday includes the Pacific Conference, where No. 14 Sherwood faces No. 15 Liberty. All other prospective league champions, including the SCFC’s lone unbeaten in Sheldon, are well within the top-5 statewide rankings. The intriguing position for North Medford and South Medford is that a deeper playoff run likely could be had if either or both were to drop down and become one of the top teams in the Columbia Cup bracket, but Panthers head coach Bill Singler and Chin each assured in the preseason that their goal is always to make the championship bracket. “I’m not a big bracket watcher,” Singler said. “I’m not on the computer looking at power rankings, I really more worry about each game. It’s the old coaching adage where you just take one game at a time and let the chips fall where they may.” “We’re playing North, who’s a ranked team, and we’re a ranked team,” he added. “We’d certainly both like to be higher but there’s 16 teams that go into that championship bracket and my feeling is, win or lose, I think we have an opportunity to stay in the top 16 because of where we are and where North is also positioned. I’m not too worried about all of that.” Each coach said they have more than enough on the field to occupy their concerns Friday night as it is. North Medford has steadily built momentum since an 0-2 start to its season and taken its cue from linemen like seniors David Fuiava and Easton Abbott and juniors Connor Trinca, Terrell Kim and AJ Pugliano to carve out an identity. Senior running backs Ty Pugliano and Alexander Angulo have also been instrumental on the offensive side of the ball, where the Black Tornado averages 171.3 yards rushing per game among 322.3 overall. North’s stout defense is limiting opponents to 261.3 yards and 23.3 points per game. “With the linemen they have and Ty as a runner, their identity was going to become running the football and they’re going to be a handful, there’s no question about it,” Singler said. “They are playing confidently, they’re running the ball and throwing the ball and they have obviously a major college talent in AJ.” AJ Pugliano, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end, committed to the Oregon Ducks on Monday and is the state’s No. 2-ranked prospect for the Class of 2024. He has caught 29 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns thus far. Ty Pugliano sat out last week’s win at McNary but is expected to be a full-go Friday. He has run for 677 yards and six TDs on 124 carries, with Angulo stepping up when the opportunity has arisen to amass 393 yards and four TDs on 56 carries. North also expects to get a boost with the return of senior quarterback Caiden Lacey, who suffered a scary injury three weeks ago against Roseburg but has split practice reps with JT Knobloch-Scott this week and has earned Chin’s approval. “Both of them have abilities to make the plays and make the throws,” Chin said. “Both of them are ready, but I’d say I’m leaning toward Caiden just from an experience standpoint.” Lacey has completed 63 of 99 passes for 657 yards with five TDs and four interceptions, while Knobloch-Scott took his sudden move from kicker to QB in stride and has completed 37 of 63 passes for 551 yards with six TDs and four interceptions. Connor Cesaro leads North in receiving with 32 receptions for 343 yards and three scores. For South Medford, Chin said it all starts with senior QB Deacon Edgar (5-11, 180) and senior receiver Andrew Walker (6-1, 175). Edgar has gone 121-for-177 for 1,756 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions through the air and used his athleticism to also run for 286 yards and eight TDs on 68 carries. Walker, the reigning 100- and 200-meter 6A state champion, stands as one of the state’s leading receivers at 731 yards and 10 TDs on 47 receptions. “With Deacon being a run threat as well as throwing the ball extremely well,” said Chin, “and then having Walker as one of the fastest kids in the state, obviously they have two major pieces. You put those two kids on the field at the same time, you’ve got to know where they are.” Junior running back Ryder Scheid has proven his versatility out of the backfield with 360 yards and two TDs rushing on 72 carries while also pulling in 18 passes for 240 yards and a score. South Medford stormed out of the gates with its first 5-0 start since 2011, but injuries have continued to mount and created for a little tougher sledding as of late. The Panthers were dealt another significant blow Tuesday night when senior Ty Henry suffered a fractured collarbone in practice. The 6-4 Henry has been South’s second-leading receiver and a top-10 SCFC producer this season, recording 24 receptions for 442 yards and four TDs, and also thrust into action as a starting cornerback (one interception) and occasional placekicker (eight PATs). That leaves South minus six starters now due to season-ending injuries and the continued onus on a solid group of underclassmen to step up into their new roles and respond to next-man-up responsibilities. The Panthers have averaged 369 yards and 32.6 points per game, while limiting opponents to 308 yards and 19.6 points per game behind the senior leadership of linebacker Dylan Espinosa and a host of key cogs on the front end of the defense. BLACK AND BLUE BOWL 7 p.m. Friday at Spiegelberg Stadium Series tied 18-18 2021 — South Medford 40, North Medford 34 2020-21 Spring — South Medford 35, North Medford 34 2019 — North Medford 52, South Medford 21 2018 — South Medford 35, North Medford 0 2017 — South Medford 55, North Medford 6 2016 — South Medford 31, North Medford 21 2015 — North Medford 24, South Medford 14 2014 — North Medford 49, South Medford 22 2013 — North Medford 42, South Medford 14 2012 — South Medford 38, North Medford 3 2011 — South Medford 56, North Medford 0 2010 — South Medford 31, North Medford 7 2009 — South Medford 28, North Medford 21 2008 — South Medford 35, North Medford 14 2007 — South Medford 21, North Medford 12 2006 — North Medford 21, South Medford 0 2005 — North Medford 20, South Medford 19 2004 — South Medford 28, North Medford 21 2003 — North Medford 60, South Medford 17 2002 — South Medford 45, North Medford 41 2001 — North Medford 31, South Medford 28 2000 — North Medford 45, South Medford 6 1999 — North Medford 40, South Medford 7 1998 — North Medford 33, South Medford 0 1997 — North Medford 36, South Medford 12 1996 — South Medford 22, North Medford 19 1995 — North Medford 28, South Medford 21 1994 — North Medford 13, South Medford 7 1993 — North Medford 34, South Medford 14 1992 — North Medford 34, South Medford 21 1991 — South Medford 35, North Medford 8 1990 — North Medford 20, South Medford 19 1989 — North Medford 20, South Medford 6 1988 — South Medford 27, North Medford 12 1987 — South Medford 13, North Medford 0 1986 — South Medford 26, North Medford 0 Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected] or via Twitter @Kris_Henry North Medford senior running back Ty Pugliano dashes toward the end zone at Spiegelberg Stadium. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] South Medford senior quarterback Deacon Edgar scoots in for a touchdown at Spiegelberg Stadium. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] North Medford senior quarterback Caiden Lacey drops back for a pass at Spiegelberg Stadium. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] South Medford senior receiver Andrew Walker slices through the defense at Spiegelberg Stadium. [Andy Atkinson/Mail Tribune] Photo by Denise Baratta. North Medford junior AJ Pugliano breaks into the open field at Spiegelberg Stadium. Photo by Denise Baratta. South Medford junior Ryder Scheid runs upfield at Spiegelberg Stadium.