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Defenses get a big helping of Halpin MT file photo Ken Halpin (24) combines power and speed into a versatile package. Fullback topped SOC in scoring, receiving yards By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN North Medford High football coach Rod Rumrey says Black Tornado senior Kenny Halpin is a fullback unlike any he's coached. Halpin is big. He's fast. He's tough. And he's a gifted all-around player on offense and defense. "He can do a lot of things, and we wanted to take advantage of them this year," says Rumrey, who has opened up the Black Tornado offense to throw the ball more effectively and take advantage of Halpin's numerous skills. Halpin is a big reason North Medford (7-2) was runner-up in the Southern Oregon Conference. The Black Tornado opens the Class 4A state playoffs Friday against visiting North Bend at Spiegelberg Stadium. Halpin, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior, plays a number of positions: fullback, tailback and receiver on offense and inside and outside linebacker and strong safety on defense. The combination of speed -- he runs a 4.55 40-yard dash -- and strength makes him valuable in a lot of areas. "I like playing a lot of positions," says Halpin, who had his versatility curtailed a few weeks ago when he suffered a torn ligament in his left shoulder. He's playing through the pain and might face surgery after the season. "I like to run the ball at people and try to run over them, but I also like to catch the ball outside and use my moves." The results are impressive. Halpin finished first in the SOC in receiving yards (710) and first in yards-per-catch (23.0). He was second in receptions (31). Halpin also was the conference's leading scorer with 118 points, most of them coming on his 19 touchdowns. "I don't know what else Kenny could do for us," says Rumrey. One thing he's trying to do this week is get his teammates to forget Friday's 33-22 loss to Ashland. "He used to be a pretty quiet kid, but he's become a vocal leader for us this year," says Rumrey. "All the kids respect him because of everything he does. "Kenny is a lot like E.F. Hutton. When he talks, people listen. Our kids definitely respond to him." He should have a captive audience this week. "It was a frustrating night last Friday," says Halpin, referring to North's numerous mental and physical mistakes that led to five turnovers. "It seemed like everybody picked that night to have their worst game." Halpin started playing tackle football in the second grade in Coppell, Texas, near Dallas. "Football is real big down there in Texas, and I got a real good start there," he said. "I was a running quarterback in the second grade. I was tall and pretty fast." Back then, he didn't welcome contact the way he does now. "I ran away from people back then," says Halpin. "But not now. I like to run into defensive backs and try to run them over as much as go around. It's fun to try to knock them down and keep going on a long run." Blocking is one of his strengths. Halpin is the lead blocker for tailback Phil Ouellette. Ouellette has had good views of some big hits. "He lays out more than one defensive player a lot of times with one block," says Ouellette. "I've seen him take two or three down, which opens it up for me." Halpin, who carries a 3.2 grade-point average, but earned a perfect 4.0 mark during the first quarter of his senior season, says he's being recruited most heavily by Oregon State and Portland State. "I want to play football in college somewhere," he says. "I'm being recruited mostly as an outside linebacker, but I can play a lot of positions." Rumrey knows that well. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.