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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 19, 2006 Grizz, Pels eye playoff spot By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings While the Ashland High football team's rivalries with both North Medford and Roseburg have gained more attention, its annual clash with Klamath Union has, at least in recent years, produced far more on-the-field drama. Three out of the last four games between the Grizzlies and Pelicans have been decided by six points or less, including two that were won in the final seconds. None of those meetings can qualify as classics, however, since playoff implications were usually nonexistent. That won't be the case when the two teams meet again Friday night at Modoc Field in Klamath Falls, where the Grizzlies the Pelicans both will be looking to greatly improve their position in the first-ever Southern Sky Conference playoff race. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Ashland High senior Rafeeq Wilson, left, catches the ball in front of junior Sam Gaviglio during practice Wednesday at Walter A. Phillips Field. The Grizzlies play Klamath Union Friday night. Juliet Hayden | For the Tidings Ashland is 1-1 in league play after last week's win over Mazama, while Klamath Union is 1-0 in the SSC following last week's 24-12 win over Eagle Point. Only the league's top two teams qualify for the playoffs. The fourth-ranked Crater Comets (1-0) already beat Ashland and are heavily favored to take the top spot, making Friday's KU-Ashland game the probable battle for second place. The last time Ashland played a league game at Klamath Falls it took a miraculous comeback capped by a last-second touchdown pass for the Grizzlies to escape with the win. This time, Ashland hopes the game doesn't come down to its passing game. The Grizzlies controlled the clock and the ball against Mazama and plan to do the same against KU, which has the SSC's second-ranked defense in terms of yards allowed (207.7 per game) and points allowed (13.3 per game). Offensively, the run-oriented Pels are led by tailback Mark Brooks, quarterback Tory Snyder and lightning-fast receiver Matt Porter. Brooks is averaging 9.2 yards per rush, Snyder has 214 rushing yards and 741 passing yards with six TD tosses and Porter, who's playing on a torn ACL, according to Hall, has 10 catches for 213 yards and three scores. "Offensively, they present numerous problems because of their ability to be balanced," Hall said. "They run the ball well, they throw the ball well and they have the option, which (requires) the defense to be very disciplined." The Grizzlies again will lean on running back Justin Meza, who's coming off consecutive 100-yard rushing performances after missing the previous two games with a pulled hamstring. While Meza and the offensive line he runs behind has been stellar, the rest of the Grizzlies' offense is still a work in progress. A few constants have emerged: Charlie Sebrell (24 catches, 259 yards) is quarterback Gus Gaviglio's favorite target and running backs Pat Hutchinson (60 rushes, 240 yards) and Charlie Lindsay (45 rushes, 184 yards) are both capable of turning a dive between the tackles into a quick 10 yards. If the game turns into another nip-and-tuck battle, special teams could play a major role. The advantage there may go to Ashland, thanks to punter/place kicker Sheldon Cotts. The senior is averaging 35.8 yards per punt (that's nearly six yards better than Ashland opponents average), has proven adept at pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line and is 7-for-8 on point-after attempts. "I hope our offense get some points on the board so I don't have to go out there and (punt)," Cotts said. "The best job I can do is sit on the sideline and let the offense take care of what they need to take care of." Klamath Union beat Ashland for the first time since 1984 last season, clinching the 31-28 victory on Alex Foster's 35-yard field goal with 18 seconds left. Some of the Grizzlies who played in that game would love to return the favor. "I definitely have a sour taste in my mouth and a lot of kids on the team have some revenge (ideas)," Gaviglio said. "It's big, especially for a senior looking at it. They're good, and we need to beat them pretty much to make the playoffs." Cotts agreed. "They took one from us," he said, "and now we want to go over to their house and take one from them." AHS Team Stats Ash Opp Points 111 135 First Downs 104 102 Rushes-Yards 230-1,000 230-984 Passing Yards 820 861 Comp-Att-Int 78-150-16 66-132-6 Plays-Yards 380-1,820 362-1,845 Fumbles-Lost 13-8 15-9 Penalties-Yards 49-405 45-380 Punts-Avg. 22-35.8 26-30.0 Sacks-Yards 12-88 4-32 Time of Possession avg. 24:57 23:03 Third Down Conv. 29-74 33-80 Fourth Down Conv. 9-19 6-11 Individual Leaders RUSHING--Meza 59-388, Hutchinson 60-240, Lindsay 45-184, L. Sebrell 19-108. PASSING--G. Gaviglio 72-131-11-746, Dierks 6-17-4-74. RECEIVING--C. Sebrell 24-259, Cornelius 16-178, Haggard 15-132, S. Gaviglio 8-84, Lindsay 5-29, Case 4-57. PUNT RETURNS--Hogeland 10-38, Hutchinson 3-13, Harris 1-12. KICKOFF RETURNS--Hogeland 7-129, Scarminach 3-90, Hutchinson 2-61, Haggard 2-52, L. Sebrell 2-40. TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS--Kaae 27-20-3, Paustian 23-15-0, Lindsay 17-21-0, Case 12-13-0, Haggard 15-7-1, S. Gaviglio 11-12-0, Fitzpatrick 11-11-1, Wilson 9-14-2, Patton 9-11-1, Dierks 9-3-0, Cornelius 7-4-0, Steele 7-3-1. INTERCEPTIONS--Bradley 2-11, Case 1-28, Fitzpatrick 1-16. Sports editor Joe Zavala can be reached at 482-3456 x 224 or joe. [email protected] Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.