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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW Reports say Albertsons bidding on former Ashland Safeway store ... Veteran shares memories of WWII Pacific campaign ... Winter and the holidays increase indoor fire risks ... Reports say Albertsons bidding on former Ashland Safeway store ... Veteran shares memories of WWII Pacific campaign ... Winter and the holidays increase indoor fire risks ... PREP FOOTBALL Here we go again MWL rivals Ashland, Springfield set for quarterfinal clash By Kris Henry For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Kris Henry For the Tidings Posted Nov. 11, 2015 @ 7:10 pm By Kris Henry For the Tidings Posted Nov. 11, 2015 @ 7:10 pm Class 5A Quarterfinals --> WHAT: No. 5 Ashland at No. 4 Springfield. WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday. WHERE: At Springfield High. LIVE STREAM/STATS: Links available at ashlandfootballclub.com. AT STAKE: The winne... » Read more X Class 5A Quarterfinals WHAT: No. 5 Ashland at No. 4 Springfield. WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday. WHERE: At Springfield High. LIVE STREAM/STATS: Links available at ashlandfootballclub.com. AT STAKE: The winner will advance to the 5A state semifinals against either top-seeded Liberty or ninth-seeded Wilsonville. » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Facing a conference rival isn’t necessarily an ideal situation when it comes to the Class 5A football state quarterfinals, but Ashland head coach Charlie Hall is ever the optimist when it comes to his Grizzlies. Fifth-seeded Ashland (8-2) will look to secure its second trip to the state semifinals in three seasons when it travels to face No. 4 Springfield (9-1) for the second time this season at 7 p.m. Friday. The Millers ripped off 20 unanswered points in the Oct. 16 meeting to win going away, 44-21. “It’s the cards we’re dealt and over my years of coaching, that’s kind of been my mentality,” Hall said of the Midwestern League rematch. “It is what it is and I’m going to look at all the opportunistic things it does present us given we can learn from our mistakes from the last time, and we made a lot of them.” In the first meeting, junior Tucker Atteberry started in place of senior Kyle Weinberg and uncharacteristically was intercepted five times against three touchdown passes. Overall, Springfield limited Ashland to 87 yards rushing and 291 overall while countering with 451 yards rushing and 594 overall. “There’s still some confidence for us even though we didn’t play well,” Hall said of Friday’s rematch. “We were in the game in the fourth quarter even with the wheels falling off in a one-score game, we just made way too many mistakes. I feel like those mistakes we made were all correctable.” “Our kids know what to expect going back to Springfield, it’s not going to be foreign place,” added the coach. “I feel like our kids are going into this game with a good frame of mind and confidence built on the things we’ve done since the last Springfield game.” Ashland has won three straight since that span, including last week’s playoff-opening 39-21 win over Bend, but will challenged to make it four in a row against a Millers team directed by MWL offensive player of the year Trever Watson. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound quarterback has thrown and rushed for more than 1,600 yards this season and was on top of his game the last time against the Grizzlies, rushing 22 times for 249 yards and two TDs to go with 10-for-24 passing for 143 yards and two interceptions. “Everything goes through him,” says Hall. “He’s definitely the catalyst to make things go and his ability to escape in passing situations and run with the ball makes him dangerous.” Springfield took a hit when two-time MWL defensive player of the year Nicolas Ah Sam suffered a broken hand against Marist on Oct. 30. Ah Sam (6-1, 205) ran for 123 yards and three scores to go with 51 yards receiving against Ashland, and also spearheaded the defense from his linebacker spot. Ah Sam, who is also a standout in basketball, is considered doubtful for Friday but Hall said his team was planning as if he’ll be on the field. Senior Daniel Wilson (5-11, 180) is Watson’s top target at receiver. All-conference linebacker and offensive lineman Chance Swenson missed the first meeting with the Millers and his ability to pair with senior linebacker Michael Pruitt hopefully will help the Grizzlies’ defensive effort this time around. Another key ingredient, according to Hall, is the fact that Ashland will be able to start the same five players on the offensive line for consecutive weeks for the first time this season on Friday. “Having that offensive line intact and that confidence coming off a Bend game where we had 474 yards of offense in 48 plays with 240 yards rushing and 234 passing is important,” said Hall. “It was a balanced attack that was pretty explosive.” Ashland showed some signs of that against Springfield with Atteberry passing for 204 yards but a few tipped balls led to turnovers among other things. Weinberg, who was injured and did not face the Millers, will get the start on Friday but Hall isn’t ruling out using both QBs. Weinberg has completed 81 of 140 passes for 1,202 yards, 15 TDs and seven interceptions, while Atteberry has completed 74 of 123 passes for 888 yards, 11 TDs and seven interceptions. Ashland also got a big boost last week from senior running back Mason Dow, who rushed 13 times for 100 yards and two scores to bump his season totals to 96 carries for 605 yards and five scores. At receiver, Walker Shibley has been a consistent threat in totaling 45 receptions for 655 yards and seven TDs while fellow senior Shashi Penn is prime playmaker after turning 24 catches into 366 yards and five scores. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry By Kris Henry For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Kris Henry For the Tidings Posted Nov. 11, 2015 @ 7:10 pm » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 Week 10 Waiver-Wire Sleepers Who May Still Be Available Nov. 11, 2015 at 9:00 am Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: Updated for All Positions Nov. 11, 2015 at 9:00 am Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 10: Fantasy Football Fringe Starters Nov. 11, 2015 at 7:00 am Hasselbeck's Fantasy Outlook After Luck's Injury Nov. 10, 2015 at 4:12 pm Gore, Hilton's Fantasy Outlook After Luck Injury Nov. 10, 2015 at 3:52 pm Fantasy Football: Trade Targets to Sell High on Before Week 10 Nov. 10, 2015 at 1:19 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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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