Varsity 541

PREP FOOTBALL

Panthers pull one out

Milhollin TD pass to Havird caps big rally in the fourth

Emotionally drained by two straight weeks of rivalry games, No. 3-ranked South Medford still found a little something in the tank Friday night at Spiegelberg Stadium to keep their Southwest Conference title hopes alive.

Josh Milhollin connected with Josh Havird on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 59.8 seconds left to cap a fourth-quarter comeback by South Medford and deny South Eugene a chance at snapping its SWC losing streak in a 21-17 nail-biter.

Milhollin had earlier pointed out that the hitch-and-go route might work against the overanxious Axemen, but didn't go to it until his final pass of the game.

"We saved it to the end and it was worth it," said a grinning Havird, who hauled in a 33-yard TD pass earlier in the game and finished with four catches for 69 yards.

The game-winning catch was initially ruled incomplete by the side judge, but quickly overturned by the back judge who had a better angle on Havird's toe-dragging effort.

"Milhollin has really thrown the ball well this year and Havird made an exceptional play there," said South Medford head coach Bill Singler. "That's two guys making a play, and we needed one. We were really kind of fighting to find plays tonight. South Eugene had a real good game plan and we just had no emotion tonight. Everything just kind of caught up with us tonight."

The Axemen led 10-0 at one point and 17-7 in the fourth quarter before the Panthers came roaring back behind a 1-yard touchdown run by Milhollin and the eventual game-winner by Havird.

"Our defense played extremely well, and that was a question mark," said South Eugene head coach Travis Johnson. "I'm happy for that, but I'm upset that we lost. We had an opportunity to beat them, but all that you can do is move on and I know our kids are looking forward to playing the guys in green (Sheldon)."

The loss marked South Eugene's 14th straight conference loss dating back to 2006, while the Panthers (6-1, 3-0 SWC) showed enough fortitude to win their third straight game in the fourth quarter.

"We're a worn-out football team mentally right now," said Singler. "It's hard to get your team up every week, and after going into the Grants Pass buzz saw and the whirlwind against North Medford in a rivalry game, I was afraid we'd be flat and we were."

"Our team still plays the game 48 minutes," added the coach, "they understand that part. We've learned how to compete with some very good football teams the last few years going down to the wire. The team shows grit when they're down and out and shows character and finds a way to win the ballgame when it really maybe wasn't in the cards."

While South Eugene's defense rose to the occasion, the Panthers didn't do themselves any favors. They turned the ball over twice inside the Axemen 20, missed two field goals and had a 24-yard loss on a bad snap and ensuing fumble recovery that put South Eugene in position for its final score at the Panther 25.

"We continue to kinda self-destruct the last two weeks with the turnover issue and we have to resolve that," said Singler, whose team overcame five turnovers last week against the Black Tornado.

Colton Hubler's 37-yard field goal marked the only scoring in the first quarter, and South Eugene (4-3, 0-3) went up 10-0 when quarterback Cameron Ofner lofted a 5-yard TD pass to Spencer Coleman with 4:49 to play in the first half. The second scoring drive was kept alive by a roughing the kicker penalty on fourth-and-six at South Eugene's own 13-yard line.

South Medford answered right back on its ensuing possession, moving 64 yards in six plays. Milhollin's 33-yard scoring strike to Havird and Parker Thomas' point-after kick made it 10-7.

The Axemen had some good fortune help their cause in the third quarter after Ofner rolled right and squeezed in a pass to Gus Craig, who turned upfield for an 18-yard gain before having the ball pried out of his arms just ahead of the goal line. The ball spun in the air but made its way right into the arms of Taylor Vanderkley, who took it over for a touchdown and a 17-7 lead with 3:59 to go in the third.

Milhollin's TD run with 7:37 to play capped a four-play, 17-yard drive that included three runs by Mario Sainez. The Panthers advanced to the South Eugene 11 on their next drive before moving backward and having to settle for a 30-yard field goal attempt by Thomas that was pulled wide left.

After getting the ball back with 2:04 to play, Milhollin took matters into his own hands with five straight completions — the last secured on Havird's sensational catch.

"We saw their corners bitting all game on the shorter routes so we knew Josh Havird had a chance at the hitch and go and he made a great catch," said Milhollin. "I knew that was a touchdown all the way. The only thing I was worried about was ball security and he obviously came down with it. That back line judge made a great call."

After missing out on three potential interceptions from his safety position, Havird was just happy to finally make a play on a ball in the air.

"Milhollin just seems to put the ball right on the money when it matters most," said the junior receiver. "It was senior night and I just wanted to do it for them. I couldn't catch a ball on defense all night so I just decided to catch one on offense, I guess."

Milhollin completed 20 of 25 passes for 226 yards for South Medford, with Sainez hauling in seven passes for 54 yards and Brandon Dollarhide adding two receptions for 45 yards. The Panthers, however, were limited to only 43 yards rushing on 28 carries.

Ofner threw for 96 yards on 12-for-22 passing with two interceptions. The Axemen rushed 35 times for 135 yards, led by Aaron Moville's 91 yards on 17 carries. Keenan Jordan also added 47 yards on nine attempts.

The comeback didn't come without a cost, though, for the Panthers. Senior Austin Randall intercepted Ofner's final pass with 9.5 seconds to play but was immediately hit right on his right knee by a lunging Moville. Singler said an update on Randall's status will come in a few days once the swelling goes down on his right knee and X-rays can be taken.

"It doesn't look too promising at this point," added the coach. "It's certainly sad as the last play of the game."

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