Varsity 541

PREP FOOTBALL

Panthers pummel Scots

No. 2 South builds quick 21-0 lead and limits David Douglas to 211 yards total offense in win

Second-ranked South Medford played a little out of character on Friday night, but in a good way.

Typically a slow-starting team, the Panthers stormed out of the gate against David Douglas and never really gave the visiting Scots a chance in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs.

South Medford scored three touchdowns inside the first nine minutes of play and never looked back en route to a 42-20 victory at Spiegelberg Stadium.

The Panthers (10-1) advance to face No. 7 Southridge, which toppled Lincoln 45-7, in next Friday's state quarterfinals. Kickoff at Spiegelberg will be at 7 p.m.

"They're going to be a very formidable opponent, we know that," said South Medford coach Bill Singler of the Skyhawks. "They're a big, physical team and they played Jesuit toe-to-toe earlier in the year and could've beaten them. We know we're in for a battle, but we've got some talented and physical players, too, so we're excited about the matchup and about playing again at home."

South Medford posted 314 yards of total offense by intermission, including 190 on the ground, and limited the Scots to only 84 yards of total offense even though they ran one less play than the Panthers.

"I don't know what happened in the first half," said David Douglas coach Dan Wood. "I felt like our kids were ready to play emotionally and mentally, but (South Medford) came out and executed extremely well in the first half both running it and passing it. A huge strength of theirs is their balance and they were very balanced in the first half."

The Southwest Conference champions built a 35-6 lead by intermission, then lost a little focus in the second half against the determined Scots (8-4).

"We didn't finish the game the way we wanted to, but if you're griping about that at 42-20 something's wrong," added coach Singler. "It's a good win for our first playoff game, especially for not playing last week."

Panthers quarterback Josh Milhollin connected with E.J. Singler on a 16-yarder and Mitch Singler on an 18-yarder to cap a pair of drives that lasted less than 75 seconds apiece to open the scoring.

Patrick Thibeault tacked on a 51-yard touchdown run with 3:11 to go in the first quarter to put South Medford comfortably ahead 21-0.

Greg Anderson's 2-yard run for David Douglas cut into the deficit 21-6, but Thibeault responded with a 37-yard touchdown run and Mitch Singler hauled in a 6-yard scoring strike from Milhollin to send South Medford into halftime with a sizable lead.

"We came prepared and knew what we had to do and came out there and did it," said South senior Austin Randall, who had a team-high 10 tackles. "We slacked off a little bit and kinda got too happy in the second half, but that's not going to happen again."

Thibeault added a 4-yard TD run in the fourth quarter and finished with 223 yards rushing on 21 carries for the Panthers.

"Patrick was really good tonight," said coach Singler. "He really looked like he was running with emotion. He really wants to finish this year on a high note. He's a real warrior running the football now."

Thibeault had the luxury of running through some gaping holes in the David Douglas defense, with four carries of 21 yards or more and six in double digits overall.

"They were playing bump-and-run against possibly the best receivers in the state in Mitch and E.J., and when they're so keyed in on watching them run down the field, once I get past the linemen I'm in the secondary quick," said the senior tailback.

Mitch Singler finished with five receptions for 83 yards and two scores, while E.J. Singler hauled in three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown for South Medford.

Milhollin completed 13 of 20 passes for three touchdowns with one interception, while Scots quarterback Tyler Maes was 6-for-15 passing for 51 yards, one TD and one interception by Josh Havird.

Dominique McCallister paced the Scots with 113 yards rushing on 21 carries. His 10-yard touchdown run was the lone score in the third quarter.

David Douglas senior Brian Teague made a sensational one-handed grab en route to a 17-yard touchdown to cap the scoring with 9:52 to play.

"Penalties really hurt us in the second half," said Wood. "It seemed like every time we'd get something going we'd end up with second-and-15 or first-and-20. We're not the kind of team that overcomes that easily. Some teams are, but we're not."

Overall, the Panthers limited the Scots to 211 yards of total offense — countering with 386 of their own — with Daniel Kinney adding eight tackles and Brett Wallan and Steve Lankford each totaling seven to pace South Medford.

David Reed, E.J. Singler, Sam McLaughlin and Jordan Lundgren pitched in with five tackles apiece.

Kyle Almond had eight tackles and Owa Odighiquwa six to lead David Douglas, the No. 2 seed from the Mt. Hood Conference. Odighiquwa, the Mt. Hood defensive player of the year, injured an ankle with 11:44 to play and didn't return.

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com