PREP FB: Panthers ousted in 6A first round

Nov. 5—HILLSBORO — After limping into the Class 6A state championship bracket, 12th-seeded South Medford simply couldn't keep up with No. 5 Central Catholic in a 63-6 opening-round loss at Hillsboro Stadium.

In a game played in sheets of steady rain, the two-time defending state champion Rams opened a 14-0 lead with a pair of touchdown runs by quarterback Cru Newman and didn't look back to earn a spot in next week's quarterfinals.

South Medford (6-4) was able to trim its deficit to 14-6 after senior quarterback Deacon Edgar was able to connect with sophomore Ajani Ingram for a 10-yard touchdown, but moments like that were few and far between. Senior receiver Andrew Walker helped set up the opportunity with a leaping 45-yard catch over a pair of Central Catholic defenders.

Newman saw his first pass deflected on a nice effort by linebacker Dylan Espinosa but then put the ball in his own hands on the Rams' second play and hustled 55 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. His 33-yard keeper on Central Catholic's next possession created the two-score advantage.

The Rams (9-1) answered South Medford's touchdown with 35 straight points to close out the half, although another diving catch by Walker for a 31-yard gain gave the Panthers an opportunity to score before the end of the half at the 4-yard line. With a running clock limiting what South could do, Edgar was incomplete twice and dropped for a 1-yard loss on a run to keep the Rams' lead at 49-6 heading to halftime.

Zhaiel Smith scored on receptions of 76 and 40 yards to highlight Central Catholic's first-half effort.

Timothy Mitchell, who returned last week after a six-week absence, showed his fresh legs with a 23-yard run to end the first quarter and then a 52-yarder for a TD to open the second for the Rams.

Already down six starters, the Panthers also played without starting running back Ryder Scheid and lineman Spencer King due to concussion protocols.

South Medford was led defensively by Espinosa and junior Makani Manuwai, while sophomore Bridger Foss provided another bright spot on offense and in the kick return game.

Unofficially, Walker finished with two catches for 76 yards while Edgar completed 6 of 20 passes for 103 yards in sloppy conditions.

The Rams advanced to the state quarterfinals for the 10th time in the last 11 years.

South Medford6000—6

Central Catholic212877—63

CC — Newman 55 run (Robertson kick)

CC — Newman 33 run (Robertson kick)

SM — Ingram 10 pass from Edgar (run failed)

CC — Smith 76 pass from Newman (Robertson kick)

CC — Mitchell 52 run (Robertson kick)

CC — Gehlen 2 run (Robertson kick)

CC — Smith 40 pass from Newman (Robertson kick)

CC — Davis 19 run (Robertson kick)

CC — Newman 8 run (Robertson kick)

CC — Anthony 6 run (Robertson kick)

TUALATIN 36, GRANTS PASS 6: At Tualatin, Grants Pass avoided a shutout with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jace Blanchard to Jackson Tunick with two minutes to play of the first-round loss in the Class 6A state championship bracket.

Third-seeded Tualatin (8-2) scored one minute into the game after quarterback Jack Wagner used a long pass completion to set up a 2-yard TD run by Luke Ash. A 60-yard fumble recovery by Jayden Fortier made it 14-0, and Wagner hit Richie Anderson for a score to build a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

Two more TD passes by Wagner and a field goal pushed Tualatin's lead to 36-0 before the 14th-seeded Cavemen (6-4) were able to reach the end zone in a game played under a steady rain.

Blanchard was 5-for-28 for 69 yards as GP was limited to 173 yards of total offense.

Grants Pass0006—6

Tualatin21690—36

T — Ash 2 run (Evans kick)

T — Fortier 60 fumble return (Evans kick)

T — Anderson 9 pass from Wagner (Evans kick)

T — Noland 24 pass from Wagner (pass failed)

T — FG Evans 37

T — Elder 24 pass from Wagner (kick failed)

GP — Tunick 21 pass from Blanchard (kick failed)

CENTRAL 10, EAGLE POINT 6: At Independence, ninth-seeded Eagle Point and No. 8 Central played a nip-and-tuck contest in the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs, with the Eagles coming up short in their first playoff game since 2016.

David Brown entered the game as the top rusher in 5A with 1,515 yards and 23 TDs during the regular season for Eagle Point (6-4). His 33-yard touchdown run in the third quarter allowed the Eagles to go up 6-3.

Chase Nelson scored on a 5-yard run to answer in the third to boost Central (7-2), which also got a 40-yard field goal by Dominic Castanon, into the quarterfinal round.

Brown ran 31 times for 178 yards, while Bryton Livingston was 5-for-17 passing for 35 yards for EP.

Eagle Point0060—6

Central0370—10

C — FG Castanon 40

EP — Brown 33 run (kick failed)

C — Nelson 5 run (Castanon kick)

SANTIAM CHRISTIAN 28, ST. MARY'S 0: At Adair Village, St. Mary's had difficulty sustaining drives in the pouring rain and turned the ball over at inopportune times as fifth-seeded host Santiam Christian took advantage and seized the first-round win in the Class 3A state playoffs.

The 12th-seeded Crusaders (6-4), who tied for third place in the Far West League, came up with some key defensive stops of their own but offensively were unable to produce points despite getting deep into Santiam Christian territory a few times. St. Mary's also had three turnovers, losing two of three fumbles to go with an interception.

The elements also played a big factor in the lack of success in the St. Mary's passing game, as Tyson Delplanche completed just 2 of 9 passes for 3 yards.

TJ Flowers paced the Crusaders' ground attack with 58 yards on 14 carries while Indiana Olson went for 30 yards on 15 attempts.

The Eagles (9-1) will take on fourth-seeded Banks in the quarterfinals.

St. Mary's0000—0

Santiam Christian15076—28