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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels September 23, 2004 Looking for the shocker By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland has no shot at beating North Medford. At least that would be the consensus if an online poll were taken of prep football fans throughout the state of Oregon. Ashland High quarterback Sam Littleton pulls the trigger on a pass during last Friday's 48-13 win over Cleveland. Littleton will get a much stiffer test this Friday, when the Grizzlies host top-ranked North Medford. Andrew Mariman | Ashland Daily Tidings Three straight wins to open the season, including last week's 25-19 road win over previous No. 1 Clackamas, has earned the Black Tornado the top spot in the latest Class 4A football poll. Along the way, North Medford has revealed few weaknesses and many strengths: A quarterback (Ben Running) capable of taking over a game, a running back (Josh Casebere) with breakaway speed plus power to boot, and a defense that held Clackamas to just 174 total yards despite playing without four defensive starters - three out with injuries and another suspended. But to Ashland second-year head coach David Coldiron, all those impressive numbers are out the window once the Black Tornado visits Phillips Field on Friday night for both teams' Southern Oregon Conference opener. "We're just encouraging the kids with the fact that this is man-on-man," Coldiron said before Wednesday's practice. "Our men have to go against their men and see who can win. We're not going to win all the battles, but we tell them we want to eventually win the war. So wage your battles every down against your guy and whip them when you can." "It's going to have to be that kind of game for us," added Coldiron. "We're going to have to take it almost personally." Showing promise Ashland's preseason wasn't nearly as impressive as North Medford's, but the Grizzlies (1-1) showed potential - especially on the offensive side of the ball - during last week's 48-13 home win over Cleveland. Ashland amassed 300 yards on just 38 plays in the blowout, including a solid 8-for-13, 162-yard, three-touchdown passing effort by junior quarterback Sam Littleton. Littleton's efficiency and command of the offense improved considerably from the previous week, when he was picked off three times in a 13-9 loss to Rex Putnam. Coldiron provided one example from the Cleveland game that particularly impressed him. Late in the first quarter, Coldiron relayed in a pass play aimed at getting the ball to Grizzly tight end Jeff Skinner. Littleton called the play, broke the huddle, then noticed single coverage on Ashland speedster Steve Jorgensen. Moments later, Littleton hit Jorgensen in stride for a 43-yard touchdown pass. "That was (Littleton) making the check to the right guy," Coldiron said. Against North, however, the windows of opportunity will be more like small cracks. Size, speed and overall athleticism will all be decidedly in the Black Tornado's favor, so Ashland will have to put together an almost flawless performance. That means no turnovers and no missed assignments. Or else. "North's a good football team, so because of that we have to make sure that our mistakes are almost nil," Coldiron said. "We have to make sure that on offense, when we have an assignment, we have to execute that assignment because some of their athleticism, some of their size is just going to overcome that. But, if we do our assignments on a consistent basis, eventually we'll find a seam, we'll get in there somewhere." Stopping North Defensively, the Grizzlies will attempt to do what two Oregon powerhouses couldn't: stop North Medford's vaunted offense, starting with a running game that's produced 581 yards, tops in the SOC. If North is able to impose its will on the ground, controlling the clock and tiring out Ashland's defense in the process, the game could get ugly in a hurry. Ashland's best bet at keeping the ball out of North Medford's hands is to establish its own running game. That's a long shot. Through two games, the Grizzlies have gained just 145 yards on 42 carries, an average of 3.6 yards per rush. Coldiron would love for those averages to skyrocket against North, but if not, he won't force the issue. "I still believe we need to be able to move the ball with the run," he said. "At some point, we need to move the ball with the run, but on the other hand, we throw the ball really well here in Ashland and if North is going to let us throw the ball - if that's their thing, they're going to take away our run - then we'll throw the ball. We have confidence in [Littleton]." Coldiron knows better than to put all his eggs in one basket. Regardless of what happens Friday night, he says, the Grizzlies will still be in position to meet their goal of qualifying for the playoffs. After North, Ashland travels to take on Roseburg before hosting Grants Pass and Eagle Point. The Grizzlies then travel to face both South Medford and Klamath Union (non-conference) before finishing with Crater at home. Only the top three SOC teams earn playoff berths, which means Ashland will probably have to win at least three of its six league games to go to state. That quest begins Friday night, against a team that's the talk of the state. "We think our kids are resilient enough to have that kind of mind set to battle every single play," Coldiron said. "If we do that, I think we're going to have a chance at the end of the game. "One way or another, I think we're going to have a chance at the end." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams