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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us September 29, 2005 Ashland High players , from left to right, Jamal Pautsch, Dylan Steeves, Sam Littleton, Aaron San Nicholas and Josh Cornelius have helped the Grizzlies become a state playoff contender again. Making a name for themselves Ashland football team flying high heading into Roseburg game; offense sizzling By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Coming into the season, the Ashland High football team returned enough skill position players to uncork the occasional big play. The real question was whether or not the Grizzlies would be able to sustain long drives consistently against Southern Oregon Conference-caliber defenses. The answer so far has been a resounding ‘yes.’ Ashland enters Friday night’s monster matchup with Roseburg with the SOC’s No. 1 offense, both in terms of yards gained (374.3 per game) and points scored (35.0). Senior quarterback Sam Littleton is having a banner year, as is senior wide receiver Josh Cornelius and running backs Dylan Steeves and Justin Meza. But while those skill players are basking in the glory, another group of Grizzlies has managed to fly under the radar: the offensive line. Led by center Chris Petetit, tackles Jason LeFever and Ryan Pittman and guards Bronz Kaae and Nick Fitzpatrick, the Ashland O-line is both opening up holes for Steeves and Meza to run through and buying precious time for Littleton to scan the field on passing plays. That didn’t come as a shock to most during Ashland’s lightweight preseason schedule. Then the Grizzlies torched North Medford to the tune of 46 points and suddenly cameras started showing up at Ashland’s practice field. “It’s a combination of things,” Ashland head coach Charlie Hall said of the success of the offense. “It’s our ability to be balanced, because certainly people have to stop the pass when they play us. I think when you make people think about the passing game you open up some running lanes because of the way the defense deploys.” And for the Grizzlies, it usually happens in the same order Hall described. Reverse psychology Using the pass to set up the run, Ashland’s non-traditional approach has helped the Grizzlies achieve balance this season. Ashland has gained 856 yards through the air and 641 yards on the ground. Steeves and Meza have combined for 526 rushing yards on 75 carries, a healthy seven-yards-per-carry average. CORNELIUS , a senior wide reciever, leans forward in an attempt to pick up extra yards after a catch during a preseason game. Cornelius is the Southern Oregon Conference’s top reciever. Photos by Orville Hector | Ashland Daily Tidings That’s a huge improvement over last season, when Ashland’s ground attack was virtually nonexistent during league play. Fitzpatrick, listed at 6-foot, 220-pounds, said the revival of the running game has been a team effort. “I think our O-line is a lot quicker and stronger this year, but our backs are doing a really good job, especially Dylan Steeves and Justin Meza,” Fitzpatrick said. “They’re really packing a punch in their running game.” Making that punch harder to block is the fact that it comes in two varieties: the jab and the uppercut. Steeves is the speed-burner who can turn on the jets and break a game open at any moment. Meza, who didn’t play against North Medford and won’t against Roseburg either (Hall did not say why), is more of a bruiser who’s capable of picking up tough yards between the tackles. Put that combination behind an offensive line that’s having success employing a new zone blocking scheme, and suddenly you have something formidable: an offense that forces opposing defenses to respect the pass and the run. Hall said the success of the running game — a pleasant surprise after last season’s unspectacular 90-yards-per-game effort — is part talent, part scheme. “It’s no secret that we block a lot of zone concepts,” he said, “and so when you’re blocking zone it’s not always predicated on you blocking a particular man. You get a lot of double-team blocks at the first level of the defensive line and you work up to a linebacker, so therefore with smaller players … we can hold our own with two guys on one for a while, and then we come up to the next level and the backs will read their blocks from there. “So the system or the scheme helps our linemen because I think they’re quick, I think they’re smart and I think all those combinations help them have success.” Passing fancy Of course, it helps that Ashland can loosen up defenses with a passing game that’s been both efficient and bombastic. Littleton has completed 64 percent of his passes (63-for-99) for 778 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions. His favorite target is Cornelius, who’s exceeded expectations by becoming the best receiver in the conference. He has 20 receptions for 368 yards and seven touchdowns, tops in the SOC in each category. There are other options. Aaron San Nicholas, another speed demon, has 10 catches for 160 yards, while tight end Wes Dodds has 13 catches for 131 yards and two TDs. The Grizzlies (4-0) will probably have to utilize all of the weapons in their considerable offensive arsenal to beat the ninth-ranked Indians (3-1). Though both teams enter the game 1-0 in league play, the Indians, with their deceptive triple-option offense, will take Phillips Field as the clear favorites — Roseburg was rated No. 1 in a preseason SOC coaches poll, while Ashland was rated dead last. That doesn’t bother Petetit, who says Roseburg’s size advantage up front won’t be the difference in the game if Ashland plays smart. “They’re fast, they hit hard, but if we’re technique perfect it doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m 6-foot, 220-ish, going up against guys a lot bigger than that, so I’m the underdog. But we have great coaches, so if we do what we’re taught it should work.” Grizzly notes: All-purpose senior Robby Bruce is out indefinitely after aggravating a knee injury against North Medford. He is the only Grizzly who will be held out of Friday’s game with an injury. … The winner of the Roseburg-Ashland game will take over sole possession of first place in the SOC, though only by a half-game. South Medford, the other 1-0 team, is idle this week. … Ashland’s offense isn’t the only reason why the team is still undefeated. The Grizzlies’ defense is rated No. 2 in the conference in yards surrendered (242.8 yards per game) and No. 3 in points allowed (21.8). Also, the Grizzlies lead the league in turnover ratio (plus-four). Sports editor Joe Zavala can be reached at 482-3456 ext. 3020 or [email protected]. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Online Pharmacy Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations Hammocks Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams