North Medford Black Tornado Football 21-27 West Salem

West Salem handed North Medford a 27-21 football loss Friday night, ending what had been a promising home stand for the Black Tornado. The game was played in Medford, Oregon, where North Medford competes as a Southwest Conference (6A) program, though this non-league matchup brought a tough West Salem squad into town to test the Tornado's early-season momentum. North Medford dropped to 2-2 on the year after the defeat, a setback that stings after the team had built a 2-1 record through three games. The six-point margin suggests a competitive contest throughout, with the Tornado showing enough fight to keep it close but unable to pull ahead when it mattered most. Non-league games like this one serve as valuable measuring sticks heading into conference play, and the lessons from Friday will carry weight in the weeks ahead. North Medford will look to regroup and return to the win column as Southwest Conference competition approaches on the schedule.