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Tornado runs past Pels, 54-7 By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN KLAMATH FALLS -- North Medford High's football team exploded for 27 points in the third quarter on Friday night and ran over Klamath Union 54-7 at Modoc Field. The Black Tornado ran for 386 and added 127 more passing for a 513-yard total as it tuned up for a meeting with top-ranked Ashland next Friday at Spiegelberg Stadium. "We wanted to come out and take control in the third quarter and that's exactly what we did," said North Medford coach Rod Rumrey. "Our line took control and our backs showed us they can run tonight." North Medford improved its Southern Oregon Conference and season record to 1-1. The Black Tornado lost to two-time defending state champion Roseburg 21-14 in its opener. "We're not looking back," said Rumrey. "Only ahead. We did some good things tonight, and we hope to keep getting better next week." "We think we could have beaten Roseburg, but that's over." Junior tailback Steve DeClerck, who missed the Roseburg game with a leg injury, started his first varsity game and made the Pelicans pay by rushing for 66 yards on seven carries. He scored touchdowns on runs of 3 and 25 yards. "He showed some real good speed," said Rumrey. "He may have separated himself from the other tailbacks. But overall we're pretty good at the tailback spot." Senior quarterback K.C. Rumrey, son of the Black Tornado coach, completed 5 of 10 passes for 127 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown pass to tight end Seth McEwen as North rolled to a 35-0 with 7:48 to play in the third quarter. K.C. Rumrey opened the third quarter with his second touchdown run, a 2-yard quarterback sneak, to give North its first touchdown of the third quarter. Rumrey helped North take a 21-0 lead a halftime with a 34-yard touchdown run. He rolled out to his left looking to pass, but found an open lane down the left side and took off running. He angled back to the middle of the field, eluding several Klamath defenders and rumbled into the end zone. "Our offensive line did a great job," said the younger Rumrey. "Our tailbacks stepped up, but they had huge holes. We had a size advantage on them, and we used it." With North Medford leading 35-0, DeClerck scored his second touchdown on a 25-yard run through the middle of the Klamath defense. "Our offensive line was just incredible," said DeClerck. "That run was wide open." After Jacob Hawkins successfully kicked his sixth straight conversion to give North a 42-0 lead, Rod Rumrey gave his young backs a chance to run. One of them, sophomore Kenny Halpin, ran 33 yards for a touchdown as the North lead grew to 54-0. Defensive back Evan Gordon scored North's seventh touchdown just prior to Halpin's scoring run. Gordon intercepted a pass from Klamath Union sophomore quarterback Dylan Woodrum and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. Woodrum completed 18 of 38 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown, but threw three interceptions for first-year coach Wayne Amos. Woodrum completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to running back Danny King to end the scoring. "Despite the score, Klamath is doing a lot of good things," said Rod Rumrey. "Wayne's players never gave up. They kept playing hard."