Tonight my wife and I will be at the Oregon state 6A high school playoff football game between the South Medford Panthers and the Barlow Bruins here in Medford at Spiegelberg Stadium. Go South. The following is the Oregonians preview of the game
This first-round game will feature a contrast in styles. Barlow is run-first and, at times, run-only. No. 8 South Medford boasts one of the top passing offenses in the state. Both schools' losses were to playoff teams. The Bruins, the Mt. Hood Conference No. 4 seed, are led by workhorse Malcolm Johnson, who ran for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns last week during a 41-17 win over Reynolds. The junior scored on runs of five, 36, 65, 44 and 19 yards. Johnson leads the state this season with 2,299 yards rushing for 21 touchdowns. "He is the real deal," South Medford coach Bill Singler said. "They are physical and happy gaining four or five yards a pop. If they break one then that is just icing on the cake. Either way they are controlling the clock and keeping the other offense off the field." South Medford, the Southwest Conference runner-up, has won four in a row and recently has shown offensive balance. Running back Patrick Thibeault ran for 228 yards and a touchdown last week in a 21-12 win over North Medford. The junior has rushed for more than 600 yards in the last four games and provides a counterpoint to quarterback A.J. Palazzolo, who is second in the state in passing with 2,348 yards and has 21 touchdowns and a 63 percent completion rate. Receiver Mitch Singler caught seven passes for 167 yards against North Medford. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder has caught at least one touchdown and gained 100 yards receiving in every game this season. He leads the state in receiving yardage with 1,094 yards and 14 touchdowns on 53 receptions. Cousin E.J. Singler also has 53 receptions for 816 yards and six touchdowns.
The teams regular schedule records are as follows:
SOUTH MEDFORD HIGH PANTHERS(7-2)
9/07 Summit 48 - 15(W)
9/14 at Tualatin 38 - 41 (L) OT
9/21 Sunset 28 - 21 (W)
9/28 at Wilson 28 - 14 (W)
10/05 Sheldon 13 - 34 (L)
10/12 at South Eugene 26 - 14 (W)
10/19 Grants Pass 44 - 22 (W)
10/26 at Roseburg 28 - 21 (W)
11/02 North Medford 21 - 12 (W)
11/09 Barlow 7 p.m. (playoff game 11/9/07)
BARLOW BRUINS (5-5)
8/31 Oregon City 21 - 14 (W)
9/07 at West Salem 0 - 42 (L)
9/14 Clackamas 24 - 55 (L)
9/21 at Sandy 52 - 18 (W)
9/28 Central Catholic 10 - 16 (L)
10/05 David Douglas 34 - 35 (L)
10/11 at Hood River Valley 20 - 7 (W)
10/19 at Gresham 24 - 7 (W)
10/26 Centennial 15 - 43 (L)
11/02 at Reynolds 41 - 17 (W)
11/09 at South Medford 7 p.m.
UPDATE
South Medford spotted Barlow 13 points in the 1st quarter before they woke up and took over the game. Barlow ran the ball much of the game and gained a lot of yardage. South scored quickly with a passing game that Barlow could not defend. South Medford now moves to the second round of the Oregon State 6A football playoffs and will travel next weekend to Tualatin a suberb of Portland.
Earlier in the season South Medford lost to Tualatin in overtime in their second game.
