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37 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 30, 2004 Despite loss, Panthers kept their chins up Prep Notebook By DON HUNT Mail Tribune The game had ended some 30 minutes before, and the South Medford High football team was still milling around the field at Lake Oswego School District Stadium following its 57-27 loss to Lake Oswego on Friday night. Most teams would have rushed to their locker rooms following such a thorough defeat in a state playoff game. But the Panthers stuck around and interacted with parents, fans and alumni to reflect on one of the finest seasons in school history. Their storybook run had ended on a bone-chilling night in the quarterfinal round, but they were doing their best to stretch just a little bit further the esprit de corps that was such a big part of their team. There were two or three smiles for every tear that was shed. There was an understanding that this team had exceeded expectations and had come about as far as it possibly could. It had won with a credible amount of talent in posting a 10-2 record, but its forte was out-executing its opponents. Friday, the Panthers lost to another team that functioned like a well-oiled machine. And this one — Lake Oswego — had superior talent at a lot of positions as it beat the Panthers for the second time this year. Advertisement You can bet that at least two Lake Oswego players — quarterback Nick Lomax and tight end/free safety Kevin Maher — will be playing Division I football next season. South Medford had no one close to that caliber. Lomax completed 15 of 19 passes for 360 yards and five touchdowns while Maher caught four passes for 125 yards, including touchdowns of 49 and 63 yards. Personifying the Panthers’ outlook was their quarterback, Jon Weaver, who kept his spirits up despite the imminent defeat. He drove the Panthers 73 yards the last time they had the ball, capping the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dan Chancler with 16.8 seconds left in the game. On the previous play, Weaver talked the coaches into a trick play in which fullback Logan Boyd rolled to the right and throws back to Weaver on the far side of the field. Weaver made a diving, albeit vain, attempt to catch the slightly overthrown pass in the end zone, then re-entered the huddle with a grin. ONE OTHER THING that shouldn’t be lost on local football enthusiasts was the common courtesy and sportsmanship exhibited by both the South Medford and Lake Oswego teams. There were no cheap shots, trash talking or grandstanding on the part of either team, and players from one club could be seen helping up players from the other squad after making tackles. "They’re a bunch of class guys," said Weaver of the Lakers. "They’re a good, clean team, and that makes it a lot more fun to be out there. "I wish we would have played better, but I know most of our guys will be rooting for them to win it all." THE HIGH SCHOOL basketball season officially got under way Monday with a smattering of games around the Rogue Valley. More are on tap tonight, including a jamboree at North Medford High at 6 o’clock that will feature both of the Medford schools. The game to watch, though, is Friday night’s matchup between South Medford and South Eugene on the Panthers’ home court. Both teams advanced to the Class 4A state tournament last season and both return the nucleus of their 2003-04 squads. One player who won’t be in uniform for roughly a month is Kyle Singler, the Panthers’ 6-foot-7 sophomore standout. Singler broke his right (shooting) thumb in football and has been in a cast for the past two weeks. He’s scheduled to have the cast removed on Dec. 13, but probably won’t be able to play until the Medford Holiday Classic on Dec. 28. Singler is also recovering from a sore back and a shoulder "stinger" that he suffered in the loss to Lake Oswego. "What he needs right now is about a week’s worth of rest," says his father, Ed Singer. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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