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Vandals damage Iron Mike statue, steal its rifle ... Calendar: Friday, Oct. 17 ... Calendar: Saturday, Oct. 18 ... Vandals damage Iron Mike statue, steal its rifle ... Calendar: Friday, Oct. 17 ... PREP FOOTBALL Ashland hopes soft shells can reduce head injuries Hall says Guardian caps, good technique make a difference By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Oct. 16, 2014 @ 2:54 pm Updated Oct 16, 2014 at 5:14 PM By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Oct. 16, 2014 @ 2:54 pm Updated Oct 16, 2014 at 5:14 PM » Social News An ominous message greets those who visit guardiancaps.com. “No helmet, practice apparatus, or helmet pad can prevent or eliminate the risk of concussions or other serious head injuries while playing sports,” it begins. “Researchers have not reached an agreement on how the results of impact obsorption tests relate to concussions. No conclusions about a reduction of risk or severity of concussive injury should be drawn from impact absorption tests.” Those looking to purchase the soft-shell helmet covers that Guardian sells must click on a box under the orange-tinted alert to acknowledge that they’ve read it. Once they do that the box disappears, allowing potential customers to browse through Guardian’s extensive catalogue. Ashland High head coach Charlie Hall didn’t have to read Guardian’s warning to know the dangers football poses to young athletes. But the Grizzlies’ 10th-year head coach believes that proper tackling technique combined with soft-shell covers such as the ones AHS has purchased from Guardian can at least minimize the risk. “We felt it was worth a very good insurance policy,” he said. “We’re trying to take care of our kids in practice situations considering the attention that this issue has received. But there’s also incidental contact, there are hits to the ground, there are hits coming in sideways. But if we can avoid some of those things in practice and use these (shells), then I think we’re doing our part to minimize some of those issues.” A donation from the Ashland Football Club along with school funds allowed AHS to make an initial purchase of 50 caps. The bulk rate, says Hall, was about $50 each. They arrived in late September and have become a fixture in the Grizzlies’ Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday two-hour practice sessions. Ashland recently purchased 20 more caps so that every player in the program could have one of their own. Cushioned and somewhat bulky looking, the caps fit onto traditional hard-shell helmets, weigh less than seven ounces and, according to Guardian, can reduce impact up to 33 percent. Guardian boasts that since 2012 more than 30,000 players have worn their caps. Now, 70 of those players are Grizzlies. Hall hopes the new shells help reduce the number of head injuries and says he’s already seen results, but believes proper tackling fundamentals are also a big part of the equation. “Teaching proper technique is so important,” he said. “But when they get in trouble they sometimes abandon technique and put their heads down. In the heat of battle those things unfortunately happen and you can’t avoid some of that. But that could happen in a soccer game, a basketball game or a baseball game. I think every sport has its element of risk. Football may have more than others, but if we control what we can control — tackling, keeping eyes up — then we’re doing our share.” Hall said fear of head injuries may have a serious impact on football participation at the high school level in the near future. Even in Ashland, he points out, Pop Warner has seen a noticeable decline in participation, particularly at the fifth- and sixth-grade level. What has yet to be determined is whether or not that will carry through to high school football. “It’s not so much a question of (varsity) parents, it’s more about parents at younger levels making decisions that football is not for my kids,” he said. “There’s a shrinking population of kids that are playing football right now. I can’t say that concussions are a part of that, but that’s a concern by any parent. Hearing about it, we just want to do what we can and show people that we’re doing the right thing.” Ashland will have to do plenty right tonight against Springfield in order to remain undefeated. In one of the biggest prep football games of the week and certainly the most important at the Class 5A level, first place in the Midwestern League will be on the line when the No. 2-ranked Grizzlies (6-0, 2-0 MWL) and No. 3-ranked Millers (5-1, 2-0) square off at Walter A. Phillips Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. While the Grizzlies have been living on the edge the last three weeks, beating Ridgeview on Sept. 26 with a last-gasp field goal that hit the crossbar and edging Crater last week thanks to a trick play in the fourth quarter, Springfield has enjoyed a mostly drama-free existence. The Millers, whose lone loss was a 28-21 setback to No. 4 Hermiston on Sept. 19, have won their last two games over Eagle Point and Churchill by a combined score of 101-0 and are tied for seventh in the state in points scored. The Millers are led by quarterback Trever Watson, running back Daniel Wilson and a defense that held Churchill to 139 yards of total offense. In last week’s 46-0 win, Watson completed 12 of 14 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 57 yards and two more scores. Wilson rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and also had four catches for 79 yards. Hall says Ashland’s defense, which is holding opponents to 13 points a game, will be tested. “Trever Watson is a huge key,” Hall said. “He’s a guy that can do a little of everything — he’s a great runner and he’s got some good guys around him. And they run the option, so you really can’t just stop Watson.” Hall said that for the Grizzlies, playing Springfield will be a little like facing their mirror image, a team that’s somewhat undersized but athletic, and equipped with a dual-threat quarterback and a shutdown defense. Ashland is scoring 33 points a game and its defense, led by linebacker Parker Layton (47 tackles), Max Montgomery (39 tackles, two interceptions), Theo Whitcomb (seven interceptions) and a host of others, has been stellar. Ashland’s chances may depend on its ability to limit Watson and company early and give the Grizzly offense a chance to get in a groove. “If we can keep our offense on the field and get three-and-outs on defense that’ll help a lot,” Hall said. Joe Zavala can be reached at 541-776-4469 or [email protected]. By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Oct. 16, 2014 @ 2:54 pm Updated Oct 16, 2014 at 5:14 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Bishop Sankey's Not Worth Starting in Week 7 Despite Injury to Shonn Greene Oct. 18, 2014 at 7:28 pm Fantasy Busts to Avoid in Week 7 Oct. 18, 2014 at 7:10 pm Baldwin Is Fantasy Stud for Hawks After Harvin Trade Oct. 18, 2014 at 5:53 pm Graham's Injury Will Have Minimal Impact on Week 7 Output Oct. 18, 2014 at 5:52 pm Richardson Not Worth Fantasy Spot Despite Harvin's Departure Oct. 18, 2014 at 3:57 pm Crowded Backfield Situations to Avoid for Fantasy Oct. 18, 2014 at 3:12 pm calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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