Document text
Tornado captures playoff berth Saturday Oct 28, 2017 at 12:10 AM Oct 28, 2017 at 12:11 AM EUGENE — The North Medford football team defeated host Willamette 45-19 on Friday night to claim fourth place in the Southwest Conference and an automatic berth in the Class 6A state playoffs. North Medford controlled the game with its rushing attack, spearheaded by senior Isaac Manuel (182 yards on 28 carries) and junior Eli Spence (155 yards on 14 carries). Manuel had three short touchdown runs and Spence added a 37-yard touchdown. “I think the running game was the best it’s been all year,” North coach Mike Mitchell said. The Black Tornado (3-6, 3-3 SWC) pulled away in the second half with 24 straight points, including an 87-yard interception return by senior defensive back Tyler Evans and a 31-yard field goal by junior kicker Tucker Houck. The Wolverines (2-7, 1-5) lost their fourth straight game to close out the regular season. “We expected a tough game, so I really like the way we physically handled them,” Mitchell said. “We only have 13 seniors and to them (making the playoffs is) really a big deal and we’re happy we got it for them,” he added. “They’re pumped up.” SHELDON 62, GRANTS PASS 20: At Grants Pass, in a battle for second place in the Southwest Conference, Sheldon’s offensive weapons were too much for Grants Pass in the regular-season finale. Vincent Washington ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries for the Cavemen (6-3, 4-2 SWC), who earned a Class 6A state playoff berth with a third-place finish in the SWC. Quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. collected five touchdowns — three rushing and two passing — for the Irish (8-1, 5-1) and Jaren Banks added three TDs on the ground. CHURCHILL 63, CRATER 21: At Eugene, Crater’s defense could not harness running back Dalton McDaniel and the Churchill ground game in the Midwestern League road loss. Second-ranked Churchill (9-0, 7-0 MWL) clinched the MWL title with the victory and Crater (5-4, 4-3) secured fourth place in the league standings and the conference’s final state playoff spot. McDaniel, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior, scored five touchdowns and rushed for 267 of the Lancers’ 405 rushing yards. Myles Green-Richards’ 96-yard second-quarter interception return for a touchdown gave the Lancers a 34-0 lead. Cade Weaver paced Crater with 51 yards rushing and caught three passes for 18 yards. Trever Davis, Ethan Scott and Brady Brock each had short scoring runs for the Comets. MARIST 49, EAGLE POINT 16: At Eagle Point, Aavonte Clark rushed for five touchdowns and gained 183 yards as Marist registered its fourth straight win over Eagle Point in the Midwestern League contest at Eagle Stadium. Devin Bradd led the Eagles’ running game with 114 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown. Bradd scored on a 6-yard run in the second quarter. The freshman running back also ran in a pair of two-point conversions. Junior quarterback Cameron Morgan was 8-of-15 passing for 110 yards and two interceptions for Eagle Point (3-6, 2-5 MWL). Morgan found Eric Parliament on an 18-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter. Marist (5-4, 5-2) totaled 412 yards in offense to 283 for the Eagles. Marist;0;21;7;21;—;49 Eagle Point;0;8;0;8;—;16 M — Clark 2 run (kick good) EP — Bradd 6 run (Bradd run) M — Clark 10 run (kick good) M — 61 pass (kick good) M — Clark 1 run (kick good) M — Clark 10 run (kick good) EP — Parliament 18 pass from Morgan (Bradd run) M — Clark 4 run (kick good) M — Collins 29 interception return (kick good) NORTH EUGENE 24, ASHLAND 21: At Ashland, DaMario Watson’s second touchdown run of the game gave Ashland its first lead midway through the fourth quarter but North Eugene responded on its next drive to snare the victory at Walter A. Phillips Field. After Watson found paydirt, North Eugene’s Isaiah Sego punched in his third TD of the evening from 10 yards out, completing a nine-play, 80-yard drive with 5:17 remaining Sego rushed for 148 yards on 23 carries for North Eugene (3-6, 3-4 MWL). Watson finished with 60 yards rushing on 14 totes and added another 15 yards on a catch for the Grizzlies (2-7, 1-6) while quarterback Rieger Sayre finished 9 of 18 for 183 yards.