ROSEBURG – The Roseburg football team couldn’t hold on to a 24-6 lead midway through the third quarter and wound up losing 30-27 in overtime against the North Medford Black Tornado on Friday night at Finlay Field.
North Medford (2-4; 2-2 SWC) spoiled Roseburg’s homecoming night by scoring 18-unanswered points over the final 17 minutes of the contest. The Black Tornado scored the game-tying touchdown with 23.5 seconds remaining, but couldn’t convert the extra point to win the game in regulation.
In overtime, both teams get a chance to score, much like the system used by college football. Roseburg (2-4; 1-3 SWC) got first crack, but settled for a 30-yard field goal after the offense stalled at the 15 yard line. Stephen Lake nailed the field goal. The junior went 2-for-3 on field goal attempts in the game. All three attempts were from 30 yards.
North Medford gained only four yards on its first three plays in overtime and faced 4th down and six. Quarterback Josh Robbins connected with Tyler Evans over the middle for a first down, but Evans didn’t quit and continued to spin out of tackles and with a second effort managed to cross the goal line for the victory.
The loss drops Roseburg from a tie for fourth in the Southwest Conference to sixth place. North Medford moves ahead of Willamette for fourth place. The Wolverines played a non-conference game against Lebanon on Friday.
Roseburg jumped out to a big lead in the first half thanks to three touchdowns by quarterback Collin Warmouth. The junior ran in a touchdown from 32 yards out for Roseburg’s first score. In the second quarter, Warmouth connected with Brandon Jeffers for a 3-yard touchdown. Warmouth added a third score on a 6-yard keeper just before the half.
It appeared like Roseburg might have secured the victory in regulation on a fourth down stop with only seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. North Medford was facing 4th and goal from the 20 yard line when Robbins threw for Elias Spence on a fade route to the end zone. Garrett Russell was in coverage and disrupted Spence enough that he couldn’t get to the ball.
The play would have ended the game, but a controversial flag was thrown from the opposite side of the field calling pass interference on Russell. The penalty gave the Black Tornado a first down with the ball on the 10 and they cashed in on the next play to tie the game.
Warmouth led Roseburg with 91 yards rushing on 17 carries. He also threw 18-for-23 for 136 yards and no interceptions.
Robbins passed for three touchdowns. Senior running back Isaac Manuel rushed for 142 yards on 20 carries to lead the Black Tornado ground game.
Up next, Roseburg will host South Medford for its final home game of the regular season.
SCORES BY QUARTER
North Medford 0;6;6;12;6 – 30
Roseburg 7;14;3;0;3 – 27
SCORING PLAYS
1st Quarter:
R – Warmouth 32 run (Lake Kick)
2nd Quarter:
R – Jeffers 3 pass from Warmouth (Lake Kick)
N – Evans 55 pass from Robbins (Kick fail)
R – Warmouth 6 run (Lake Kick)
3rd Quarter:
R – Lake 30 Field Goal
N – Borja 98 kickoff return (Kick fail)
4th Quarter:
N – Evans 9 pass from Robbins (2pt fail)
N – Manuel 10 pass from Robbins (Kick fail)
Overtime:
R – Lake 30 Field Goal
N – Evans 21 pass from Robbins (No kick)
