South Medford Panthers Football 13-42 Oregon City

Oregon City handed South Medford a 42-13 defeat Friday night in a non-league football season opener, sending the Medford, Oregon squad home with a 0-1 record to start the 2026 campaign. South Medford, which competes in the Southwest Conference (6A), traveled north to face the Pioneers in what proved to be a difficult road test. The 29-point margin reflected a strong performance from the host Pioneers, who controlled much of the contest. South Medford managed 13 points on the evening, but could not generate enough consistent offense or defensive stops to keep pace with Oregon City's attack. Road non-league openers against quality programs can expose areas that need attention, and this game gave South Medford's coaching staff a clear picture of where work remains heading into conference play. The team returns to the Rogue Valley with an early wake-up call and time to respond before Southwest Conference competition begins. How South Medford bounces back in the coming weeks will define the early tone of their 2026 season.