For those present, many of whom reside in and around Medford, Oregon, it was a long-awaited collision course of seemingly Homeric proportions, as the Black Tornado football team of North Medford High School faced off against their South Medford High School counterparts, the Panthers, at Spiegelberg Stadium, on the evening of Friday, October 24, 2014, in the 29th annual occurrence of an event known as the “Black and Blue Bowl.”

MVP

Troy Fowler

North Medford

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Isaac Grether & Tristen Holmes

North Medford

Jahan Kahusi is a senior where he currently serves as Student Body President and National Torch Honor Society for 3 years. He is a 2-year varsity letterman and captain for offensive line. He plans to attend college but is currently undecided on where he is attending and his major. Jahan would like to thank his parents for guiding him in the right direction. Currently, for his senior project he is an intern at the Britt Festival. Isaac Grether currently serves as the Student Body President and National Torch Honor Society Secretary. He has been a 3-sport Varsity athlete since his sophomore year participating in wrestling, track & field and football. Isaac is currently completing his Eagle Service Project for the Boy Scouts of America and is a Pokémon enthusiast. His future plans include serving a 2-year mission for his church and he plans to earn his MBA degree with a minor in Engineering at OSU, BYU or Texas A&M.

Jahan Kahusi

South Medford

Tristen has always been a kid who works very hard on and off the field and court. He is an AP student and was one of the kids selected who received the rotary student of the month. He has been a varsity starter on both the basketball and football teams since his sophomore year earning 1st team all-conference awards in both and was also voted player of the year in basketball and all state defensive back in football last year. His future plans are to play football at a Division 1 college while working on his career to be a dentist or orthodontist.

HALL OF FAME

Kerry Curtis

North Medford

Kerry was a 3 sport athlete in 1991-1994 in football, basketball and baseball. He was a 3-year starter in football, finishing his senior season record holder for rushing yards and touchdowns. He was a First Team All-Conference Running and Defensive Back, First Team All-State Running Back and the SOC Offensive Player of the year. As captain, Kerry led the football team to the State Championship game, which they won in 1993. Kerry went on to accept a baseball scholarship at Portland State University. In 1993, Kerry set the all-time Black and Blue Bowl game record with 4 touchdowns in a 34-14 victory over South. Kerry is now a sergeant for the Medford Police Department.

Matt Retzlaff

South Medford

Matt played in the North South Football games in 2009, 2010 and 2011, his Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. During these three years, Matt had a tremendous career playing for the Panthers and was a big part of some of the biggest wins in the schools’ history. In the North South games, South was victorious and Matt’s performance was very much a part of the reason for the wins for the Panthers. As a junior, Matt was selected All Conference First Team Defensive Back and as a senior he was selected as an All Conference First Team Wide Receiver and First Team Defensive Back. Matt is currently playing for Southern Oregon University where he is a starting receiver and has helped the Raiders to a 6-1 start and a number 7 national ranking. It with great pleasure we induct Matt Retzlaff into the Great American Rivalry Hall of Fame. Accepting this award on his behalf will be Matt’s Godfather—Ed Singler.

GAME SUMMARY

Both teams' quarterbacks had excellent nights, as the Panthers' had 216 yards and three touchdown passes, while the Black Tornado hit on 22 of 30 for 362 yards and four touchdown passes. For nearly one half, South Medford made quite a game of it, and took a pass and scored, the game became 21-14, the outcome was still up in the air. But North Medford then struck for two crushing blows, first taking the kickoff back 70 yards for a touchdown, and less than a minute later, the Black Tornado was in the end zone again when they caught a 48-yard pass from quarterback Fowler. North Medford scored the only touchdown of the third quarter, this time on a 22-yard strike from Fowler, and the game's momentum was squarely with North Medford, who won its second game in a row. North Medford was expected to win the game over South Medford, and they did as the game came to a close 49-22, final score– North Medford.