Conference Roundup

Sheldon eager to restore position in SWC

By Kris Henry

Mail Tribune

Being on the wrong side of a Southwest Conference drubbing was an unfamiliar position for Sheldon this past spring, and one the Irish don’t plan on repeating anytime soon.

When North Medford came to Eugene in Week 6 and walked away with a physically imposing 48-16 victory to wrap up the 2020-21 season, it definitely got Sheldon’s attention.

Finishing a close third behind the favored Black Tornado and runner-up South Medford in this year’s preseason SWC coaches poll only stokes the fire for a Sheldon program that has placed first in nine of the 14 contested conference campaigns.

“We’re kind of on the outside looking in right now and we’ve got to get a chip on our shoulder and reassert our position in the league,” said fifth-year Irish coach Josh Line. “We’ve been one of the top teams in the league but we’ve got a tough

CHRIS PIETSCH / THE EUGENE REGISTER-GUARD

Sheldon’s Brock Thomas, left, works out under the watchful eye of coach Josh Line as practice begins last month.

road ahead of us to get back to that spot. Certainly that’s what our goal is, but it’s not going to be easy because the league has got great coaches.” Fortunately for Line and company, Sheldon has some pretty special players who, after a spring seasoning, are primed for a breakout campaign.

Leading that charge is junior quarterback Brock Thomas, a 6-foot, 175-pounder with vast potential, according to Line. Thomas passed for nearly 800 yards and ran for another 300 in spearheading Sheldon’s attack in the spring, thrust into the fire with an inexperienced crew around him.

The son of former Oregon player Aaron Thomas, the dual-threat QB boasts good speed and a strong arm, which fit perfectly into Sheldon’s offensive scheme. Line said Thomas also has the intangibles you want in any player.

“Brock is a special talent and he just gets better and better every day,” said the coach. “He has a great attitude and a great work ethic. He really wants to be the best quarterback that he can be and he invests the time. He’s a lot better than he was last year, and I thought he was pretty good last year.”

SEE SWC, 12

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LARRY STAUTH JR. / FOR THE MAIL TRIBUNE

South Medford running back Carson Joe, left, rushed for 378 yards and six touchdowns during his junior season in the spring.

SOUTH

From Page 3

“He just looks more confident and seems more confident and understands the offense better,” said Singler. “I think his frame of mind about himself is more positive and I think he believes in himself more now than he did last year at this time, obviously. And I think the kids certainly respect him in how the season played out and how he played. He definitely has the team’s respect.”

As such, Edgar expects to shoulder a little more responsibility this time around.

“I think the more you get to know a kid as a coach, especially at the quarterback position, the more rope you’re willing to give him,” said Singler. “I think you’ll see him getting a little bit more rope than he had last year.”

“We’ve got to utilize his ability as a runner a little bit more than we did last year,” added the coach, “because he definitely can run the ball a little bit. He has a knack for getting some yards with his legs.”

The biggest challenge for the Panthers will be that they graduated nine senior linemen and will be relatively young up front this season, with senior Jackson Robertson (6-3, 200) expected to anchor the group on both sides of the ball.

“With our inexperience up front,” said Singler, “we’re probably going to have to lean on the pass a little more this year than obviously we did last year when we had a big line and could push some people backwards. Right now we’re not strong enough yet up front, because most of the kids are sophomores and they haven’t been in the weight room long enough.”

Hopefully making things easier will be the return of versatile senior running backs Carson Joe, a first-team all-SOC pick in the spring, and Brycen Guches, a second-teamer.

At 5-10, 200 pounds, Joe has the power to run through the tackles (57 carries, 378 yards, six TDs in the spring) and is also adept at blocking and catching the ball out of the backfield.

The shifty Guches (5-7, 175) provides a breakaway threat after averaging 6 yards per carry in the spring and gives South another set of trusty hands in four-receiver schemes (10 catches, 55 yards).

The area Singler finds the most potential for breakout performance is in the receiver position, where senior Colton Samis (5-11, 165) returns as a starter and is complemented by a host of playmakers whose average height is 6-2 in senior Asher Johnson and juniors Andrew Walker, Josh Phillips and Ty Henry.

“I’m excited for our receiver corps,” said Singler. “I think our skill positions at the varsity level, we’re somewhat experienced but we do have some talent and size and speed, which is nice.”

Samis expects to be more involved in a variety of ways this fall as South’s Swiss Army knife, so to speak, as a capable receiver and runner.

Walker bumped up to the varsity level as a mainstay midway through the spring and the speedy 6-1, 175-pounder made a big impact in wins over Grants Pass and North Medford. Walker, whose 11.08 seconds in the 100 meters made him one of the state track leaders as a sophomore, finished as the Panthers’ second-leading receiver with

Samis 121 yards and two TDs on six catches. Johnson, Phillips and Henry were leading receivers on the JV team who offer big targets for Edgar. Phillips, especially, has the potential for a breakout year and showed his athleticism in shifting from receiver to quarterback due Robertson to an injury that sidelined Henry Williams for most of the spring. Johnson (6-3, 185) is a hurdler in track with good speed and athleticism that allowed him to make an impact when he saw varsity time at safety last year. He,

Samis and Guches expect to anchor the secondary for South. Joe headlines an athletic linebacker corps that expects to include juniors

Dylan Espinosa (6-1, 205), Isaack Valdez (6-0, 160) and Diego Rios (5-9, 175) and seniors Khedive Robinson (5-11, 175) and

Tabor Wheeler (5-9, 170). With lower program numbers, South is in the low 50s, Singler said he expects to have more players going both ways this year but the continued development of younger players could help offset that wear and tear throughout the season.

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Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, khenry@ rosebudmedia.com or www.twitter.com/

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HEAD COACH

Bill Singler (24th year, 142-93)

GENERAL

INFORMATION

ASSISTANTS: Jason Bauer (assistant head coach/running backs/defensive line), Chris Parnell (defensive coordinator/secondary), Da- Singler mian Jackson (offensive line), Tony Akpan (defensive linemen), Jack Singler (JV head coach/quarterbacks), Matt Boudreaux (receivers), Mike Tejada (linebackers), Sean Johnston (freshman head coach), Dave Alonzo (freshman), Mike Johnston (freshman), Logan Emonds (freshman). 2020-21 OVERALL RECORD: 4-1.

PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR: Second. 2019 RESULTS SOUTH MEDFORD OPPONENTS 40 ........................Centennial 13 16 ........................... Canby 13 41 ...........................Liberty 53 21 ....................... McMinnville 7 31 ........................... McNary 9 34 .......................... Roseburg 6 14 .......................... Sheldon 34 19 ....................... Grants Pass 14 21 .................... North Medford 52 State Playoffs 0 .......................... Newberg 28 2020-21 RESULTS SOUTH MEDFORD OPPONENTS 6 ............................. Crater 9 28 ......................... Roseburg 14 34 ........................ Eagle Point 7 56 ..................Grants Pass 55 (3OT) 35 .................... North Medford 34 RETURNING STARTERS

OFFENSE (4): Running back Carson Joe (5-10, 200, sr.), running back Brycen Guches (5-7, 175, sr.), receiver/punter Colton Samis (5-11, 165, sr.), quarterback Deacon Edgar (5-11, 175, jr.).

DEFENSE (0): No returning starters.

OTHER NOTABLES

Tight end/safety Asher Johnson (6-3, 185, sr.), lineman Jackson Robertson (6-3, 200, sr.), receiver/defensive back Andrew Walker (6-1, 175, jr.), receiver/defensive back Josh Phillips (6-1, 165, jr.), running back/ linebacker Dylan Espinosa (6-1, 205, jr.), receiver/defensive back Ty Henry (6-2, 145, jr.), quarterback/defensive back Henry Williams (6-1, 185, jr.), running back/linebacker Tabor Wheeler (5-9, 170, sr.), receiver/linebacker Isaack Valdez (6-0, 160, jr.), receiver/defensive back Hayden Powell (5-8, 135, sr.), lineman Hunter Hernandez-Cline (5-11, 200, jr.), lineman Elijah Qualls (5-11, 215, jr.), lineman Anthony DelPizzo (5-10, 245, so.), lineman Diego Luna (5-10, 230, so.), lineman Bowen Johnson (6-1, 265, so.), lineman Spencer King (6-3, 200, jr.), lineman/linebacker Khedive Robinson (5-11, 175, sr.), lineman/linebacker Diego Rios (5-9, 175, jr.), lineman Li Moala (5-9, 210, so.), lineman Makani Manuwai (511, 230, so.).

2021 SCHEDULE

Sept. 3 ................ at McNary, 7 p.m. Sept. 10 ................... BEND, 7 p.m. Sept. 17 ...........at Lake Oswego, 7 p.m. Sept. 24 .............. LAKERIDGE, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 ................. at Sheldon, 7 p.m. Oct. 8 .............. GRANTS PASS, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 ................ROSEBURG, 7 p.m. Oct. 22 ............... at Westview, 7 p.m. Oct. 29 .......... at North Medford, 7 p.m.

“I’m excited for our receiver corps. I think our skill positions at the varsity level, we’re somewhat experienced but we do have some talent and size and speed, which is nice.”

NORTH

From Page 2

Kim has been especially impressive with his ability to move well for his size, leading Chin to consider moving him in from tackle to center due to his athleticism.

If that weren’t enough, the line of candidates to fill in includes sophomore Connor Trinca (6-0, 240) and seniors Adam Burkett (6-2, 220), Kyler Steel (5-11, 270), Conner McDougall (5-9, 220) and O’Shea Miller (6-5, 255).

“We almost have two full groups to go after things with our linemen,” said Chin.

That group will be tasked with giving time for senior quarterback Mason Warren to find the likes of Dyer and Pugliano on the perimeter. Warren served mostly in the Black Tornado secondary this past spring but was also the backup QB so there’s plenty of familiarity with the position.

“He carries himself well back there and he does a pretty good job,” said Chin. “He poses a multiple-option game because he’s not just a thrower. He’s a fairly athletic kid that moves well and he likes the physical side of football, for sure.”

After graduating one of the state’s leading rushers in Devin Bradd, who averaged 27 carries and 173 yards per game in the spring, the Black Tornado will feature more of a committee approach this fall.

Ty Pugliano (5-10, 185) was the JV’s leading rusher and boasts quick feet with a hard-charging approach to each carry, while fellow junior Kilohana

Wailehua (5-11, 180) is equally adept at helping North move the chains. Ty

Pugliano ran four times for 56 yards in a season-ending rout of Sheldon, 48-16. “They’re good, physical runners,” said Chin. “They’re athletic and they run well. They’re not the same back obviously as Devin, they don’t have that downhill, but both of them are strong runners.” Each expects to get a good Johnson amount of carries, with junior Alex Angulo (5-6, 170) complementing as a change-of-pace slot receiver who can move into the backfield, but it may not be in the same vein that Turner’s troops carried the ball in recent years. “We’re going to be more of Santacruz a spread offense,” said Chin. “Obviously that’s kind of my take on football so we’ll be a little bit more in that fashion. I’m not saying that we’re going to throw the ball 50 times per game, we’re just going to line up in that kind of look. They’ve

Fuiava always had a sprinkle of it in the past here so it won’t be completely new.” What also won’t be new is the focus of the aerial attack: Dyer (6-5, 200) and AJ Pugliano (6-4, 220), who offer matchup nightmares due to their size and agility.

Kim Dyer had 16 catches for 264 yards and three TDs to be

North’s leading receiver in the spring, while AJ Pugliano burst on the scene with 14 catches for 215 yards and one

TD to rank a close third.

GRANTS PASS

From Page 4

“We’re not going to be in a lot of traditional tight end sets where the tight end will be connected to the line of scrimmage and have a hand in the dirt,” said Musser. “They’ll be more flexed out or playing as wings, but they’re long, athletic kids and that’s exciting to me.”

Junior receiver Jackson Tunick (6-0, 165) may well be the most dynamic player for the Cavemen and leads a core group of outside targets for Blanchard that includes converted QB Troy Osborne (6-3, 182) and Jayce Jordan (6-2, 170).

Defensively, the Cavemen plan to move from their traditional 4-2 alignment to a 4-3 look that, although schematically similar, will add another linebacker and give GP more size to help stop running attacks.

Senior Braeden Lesina (6-0, 203) started every game in the spring and returns as the team’s second-leading tackler at middle linebacker. Musser calls Lesina an “old-school Mike linebacker who can fit tackle to tackle in the box” and is “tougher than nails.”

“He kind of sets the tone defensively with his toughness and his intelligence,” said Musser.

Osborne and senior Bug Galli (6-0, 201) complement at linebacker, along with North Valley senior transfer Chase Comyford (6-1, 185).

Up front, GP has considerable size on the line in junior Parker Jarvis (6-3, 300) and senior Tholo Vainuku-Johnson (6-0, 233).

The Cavemen haven’t missed the playoffs since 2009 and suffered only two losses in the spring, both in heartbreak fashion to North Medford (27-20) and South Medford (56-55 3OT).

Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, khenry@ rosebudmedia.com or www.twitter. com/Kris_Henry

ANDY ATKINSON / MAIL TRIBUNE

North Medford running back Ty Pugliano carries the ball during a practice last month.

“Bryce and AJ, those guys are going to get heavy targets,” said Chin. “They’re going to definitely be heavy load-carriers for us. We’re going to try to get them the ball in space and let them do stuff with the ball.”

Defensively, senior Brandon Dominguez (6-2, 250) returns to lead an odd-front set that will take advantage of North’s depth at the line of scrimmage. The linebacker corps is equally deep, with Wailehua joined by AJ Pugliano and junior Hudson Greisen (6-1, 185) in leading the charge. Dyer, a safety, will get new help in the secondary but Chin is excited by a host of options at his disposal.

Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, khenry@ rosebudmedia.com or www.twitter. com/Kris_Henry