Tornado players steal spotlight at SOC meeting

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— — Seven first-team — all-conference selections on offense. — — Six on defense. — — Offensive player of the — year. — — Defensive player of the — year. — — Co-coach of the year. — It was a clean sweep for the North Medford High football team at last week's Southern Oregon Conference all-star meeting. The unbeaten, No. 3-ranked Black Tornado dominated the all-conference voting in the same fashion it dominated on the field.

Quarterback Kevin Foreman and inside linebacker Tyler Graham highlighted the voting for the Tornado by being named the offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Foreman, a senior, completed 55 of 98 passes for 930 yards, 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also ran for 444 yards and 11 scores.

North Medford coach Rod Rumrey says he knew Foreman was going to be an impact player in the summer of 1999, just prior to his junior year. Foreman began working with offensive coordinator Brent Barry when the starting quarterback at that time — Nate Mayben — missed several workouts while playing baseball.

Brent felt very comfortable that Foreman could get the job done as we went into daily doubles last season, Rumrey says. I kept telling Brent that we had this other guy (Mayben) who was probably going to be our starter and he had a hard time believing that.

Foreman started on defense while Mayben ran the show a year ago. But Foreman was the starting QB from Day — this season and has yet to have a bad game.

He was one of our best hitters on defense last year so the other kids knew he was a tough guy, Rumrey says. He's been voted one of our captains every single week — that tells what kind of respect he has.

The 5-11, 185-pound Graham anchored a swarming Tornado defense that led the SOC in rushing defense (64.7 yards per game), total defense (181.3) and scoring defense (6.4).

Graham is a worker, North Medford defensive coordinator John Beck says. He gives 100 percent on every rep in practice.

He's also one of the most coachable kids I've had. He does exactly what he's told and nothing else gets in the way.

Beck says Graham was shocked at being named the SOC's defensive MVP.

He didn't even know they had the award — he was totally surprised, Beck says.

Joining Graham on the first-team defense were two of his fellow linebackers — senior Matt Havniear and junior Alan Borelli. North Medford's other starting linebacker in their 4-4 defense — senior Shad Thomas — was chosen to the second team.

None of the other coaches could ever recall three ?backers being selected to the first team.

All were deserving but it's still pretty amazing, Beck says. Obviously, each of them made an impact and caught the attention of the other coaches.

Also chosen to the first-team defense for North were senior lineman Norris Bier and junior safety Travis Poulton.

Offensively, North Medford's line stole the show. Center Dan Crawford, guards Justin Baehmann and Dan Johnson and tackle Scott Myers were all named to the first team. Tight end Shawn Backstrom was selected to the second team. And tackle Mark Schmor was tabbed honorable mention.

Those guys were the ones who came into the season with the most experience, Rumrey says. And they played like it. They really came together as a group.

Until last Friday I don't think those guys were penalized more than two or three times the whole season. It's a very disciplined group.

Also picked to the first-team offense was Tornado running back Phil Ouellette, who finished second in the SOC in rushing with 758 yards despite missing the final two games with a hamstring injury.

Ouellette had his best game during North Medford's 31-0 romp over Roseburg on Oct. 6 when he churned out 136 yards on 18 carries.

Ouellette's a gamer, Rumrey says. We always talk about champions rising to the challenge, and that's what he did against Roseburg. That's the best game Phil has ever played.

Rumrey, meanwhile, was named coach of the year for the second time in his 13 seasons at North. He shared the award with South Medford's Bill Singler, who guided the Panthers to their first winning season since 1996 and to their first state playoff berth since 1994.

Making the dream team for South was tight end Bjorn Johnson and wide receiver John McKay, who was also named the first-team punter.

Ashland's Ryan Goodman pulled off a rare triple when he was tabbed first-team all-conference at wide receiver, defensive back and place-kicker. Goodman also finished second in the offensive player of the year balloting.

— FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

C? Dan Crawford, North Medford, sr., 6-0, 222

G — Justin Baehmann, North Medford, sr., 6-1, 220

G — Dan Johnson, North Medford, jr., 6-3, 266

T — Scott Myers, North Medford, sr., 6-1, 250

T — Willie Kingry, Roseburg, jr., 6-4, 280

TE — Bjorn Johnson, South Medford, sr., 6-2, 200

TE — Joe Newton, Roseburg, jr., 6-7, 220

RB — Phil Ouellette, North Medford, sr., 5-7, 160

RB — Brandon Hamada, Grants Pass, sr., 5-8, 160

RB — Mac Contreras, Ashland, sr., 5-11, 195

WR — Mike Olson, North Medford, sr., 6-1, 176

WR — Ryan Goodman, Ashland, sr., 5-9, 168

WR — John McKay, South Medford, sr., 6-2, 195

QB — Kevin Foreman, North Medford, sr., 6-3, 178

PK — Ryan Goodman, Ashland, sr., 5-9, 168

— FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

DL — Ben Holtey, Ashland, sr., 5-11, 206

DL — Jeff Bond, Roseburg, sr., 6-3, 256

DL — Norris Bier, North Medford, sr., 5-9, 208

DL — Blake Cam, Eagle Point, sr., 6-1, 265

LB — Tyler Graham, North Medford, sr., 5-10, 188

LB — Alan Borelli, North Medford, jr., 5-11, 170

LB — Matt Havniear, North Medford, sr., 5-11, 208

LB — Craig Berg, Grants Pass, sr., 6-0, 190

DB — Mike Olson, North Medford, sr., 6-1, 176

DB — Travis Poulton, North Medford, jr., 6-3, 202

DB — Parker Lane, Grants Pass, sr., 5-10, 180

DB — Ryan Goodman, Ashland, sr., 5-9, 168

P — John McKay, South Medford, sr., 6-2, 195

— OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR ?

Kevin Foreman, North Medford.

— DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR ?

Tyler Graham, North Medford.

— CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR ?

Rod Rumrey, North Medford, and Bill Singler, South Medford.

— SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

C — James Metcalf, Roseburg, jr., 6-1, 220

G — Dan Gregory, South Medford, sr., 6-0, 222

G — Dan Jeff Bond, Roseburg, sr., 6-3, 256

T — Trenton Ray, Grants Pass, sr., 5-11, 250

T — Blake Cam, Eagle Point, sr., 6-1, 265

TE — Brian Richard, Grants Pass, sr., 6-2, 190

TE — Shawn Backstrom, North Medford, sr., 6-0, 178

RB — Jimmie Maddox, South Medford, sr., 5-9, 180

RB — Rod Cope, Roseburg, jr., 6-1, 165

RB — Conway Bixby, Roseburg, sr., 5-9, 160

WR — Parker Lane, Grants Pass, sr., 5-10, 180

WR — Greg Horn, Eagle Point, sr., 6-2, 185

QB — Boomer Marshall, South Medford, so., 6-3, 225

PK — Kelly Brown, North Medford, sr., 5-10, 166

PK — Bruce Voges, Grants Pass, jr., 6-1, 180

— SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

DL — Zach Williams, Ashland, sr., 6-4, 195

DL — Curtis Stout, North Medford, sr., 5-8, 174

DL — Brian Richard, Grants Pass, sr., 6-2, 190

DL — Scott Myers, North Medford, sr., 6-1, 250

LB — Kellen Walker, Roseburg, jr., 5-8, 155

LB — Bjorn Johnson, South Medford, sr., 6-2, 200

LB — Shad Thomas, North Medford, sr., 5-11, 164

LB — Speedy Ortiz, Grants Pass, jr., 5-8, 169

DB — John McKay, South Medford, sr., 6-2, 195

DB — Cory Whitman, Roseburg, jr., 6-0, 145

DB — Mac Contreras, Ashland, sr., 5-11, 195

DB — Aaron Breitenbach, North Medford, sr., 5-10, 146

P — Zach Williams, Ashland, sr., 6-4, 195

— HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE

C — Justin Samples, Crater, sr., 5-11, 210; Joe Chambers, South Medford, sr., 6-2, 239; Jimmy Johnson, Klamath Union, jr., 6-0, 240; Ben Holtey, Ashland, sr., 5-11, 206.

G — Bill Harmon, Ashland, sr., 5-11, 254.

T — Brian Frasnelly, Roseburg, sr., 6-6, 280; Scott McClain, South Medford, sr., 6-0, 253; Mark Schmor, North Medford, sr.,6-2, 215.

TE — Jared Leeper, Klamath Union, jr., 6-0, 195.

WR — Ryan Benson, South Medford, so., 6-3, 173; Brian Weeks, North Medford, jr., 6-0, 166.

RB — Victor Shelton, Eagle Point, jr., 5-10, 170; Dan Casey, Crater, jr., 5-8, 175; Curtis Stout, North Medford, sr., 5-8, 174.

QB — Nate Olson, Grants Pass, sr., 5-11, 170; Jason Mortenson, Klamath Union, sr., 5-11, 174.

— HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE

DL — Joe Newton, Roseburg, jr., 6-7, 220; Caleb Burns, South Medford, sr., 5-11, 175; ron Nork, Klamath Union, sr., 5-11, 160; Dan Crawford, North Medford, sr., 6-0, 222.

LB — James Mannenbach, Eagle Point, sr., 5-10, 186; Brandon Clark, Ashland, sr., 6-0, 175; Andrew Fish, Grants Pass, jr., 5-10, 210; David Trujillo, Klamath Union, sr., 5-9, 182.

DB — Lucas Schauffler, Eagle Point, sr., 5-10, 175; Ryan Gipson, Crater, sr., 5-11, 165; Scott Pisan, Klamath Union, sr., 5-10, 165.

P — Chris Gray, Roseburg, sr., 6-1, 170; Bruce Voges, Grants Pass, jr., 6-1, 180.

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