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South, Ashland square off in crucial SOC tilt By DON HUNT The benchmark game in Bill Singler's three-plus years as the South Medford High football coach came on Nov. 3, 2000. The Panthers upset Grants Pass that day, 14-9, to qualify for the state playoffs for the first time in six years. The program was already on the way up, but that victory added credibility to the Singler regime and served as a steppingstone for 2001. Friday night at 7:30, the Panthers hope to leap over another big hurdle when they meet the Ashland Grizzlies at Spiegelberg Stadium. With 16 straight state playoff berths, five trips to the state championship game and three state titles on their resume since 1985, the Grizzlies have been one of the marquee football programs in Oregon. Friday's game is the Southern Oregon Conference opener for both teams, but its significance takes on greater value than usual because the SOC only qualifies three teams to the playoffs this fall. "Everyone knows the importance of this game," says Singler, whose Panthers have gotten off to a 2-0 start. "This is an opponent we haven't beaten since I've been at South." The Panthers have been impressive in their first two games, beating Del Norte Calif., 43-19, and blasting highly-regarded Redmond, 44-2, last Friday. Quarterback Boomer Marshall passed for 346 yards and a school-record five touchdowns in the win over Redmond and leads the SOC in yardage (513) and touchdowns (seven) through the first two weeks of the season. Ryan Heil has also gotten off to a fast start with a conference-leading 11 catches for 229 yards and five TDs, and Andres Reed and Rob Brown fuel a solid Panthers ground attack, combining for 262 yards and four scores. Add it all up and the unbeaten, unranked Panthers are one of the best-kept secrets in the state. "We've got better athletes now - we've got guys who can make plays," Singler says. "Plus, this team has so much more confidence than before. And believing you can win is half the battle." Ashland, meanwhile, has posted a 1-1 record and doesn't appear to be quite as strong as in past seasons. As usual, the Grizzlies have a standout quarterback in 6-foot-2, 215-pound Cameron Voget, who has thrown for 371 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception in his two starts. But Ashland has struggled to establish a running game and struggled even more at stopping the run. The Grizz allowed 320 yards on the ground against College Park, Calif., in its opener and then 298 yards to Gresham last Friday in a 27-20 loss. And that doesn't count the 310 yards rushing the Grizzlies yielded in a 48-0 exhibition game loss to Japan on Sept. 1. "We've been missing tackles and giving up long runs," Ashland coach Jim Nagel says. "It's not like the other teams are knocking us off the ball and getting five and six yards a pop. But we're giving up 50-, 60- and 70-yard runs, and those kind of plays kill you." Tackle James MacCormack, a 6-2, 220-pound senior, is the only Grizzly who has consistently performed well up front. Sophomore Preston Lehr and junior Dillon Houshour, a transfer from Idaho, were thrown into the mix last week and showed promise, Nagel says. "Based on the video, Lehr played as well as anyone (on defense against Gresham)," Nagel says. The Grizzlies have had similar problems in their offensive line and that has led to a measly ground attack that averages 81 yards per game. Nagel hopes the return of starting guards Koko Amadeus and Dan Timmons will help beef up the run game. Both saw limited action last week after coming back from injuries. "They're pretty healthy now, and that should help," Nagel says. Despite all their woes, the Grizzlies have had a history of overcoming adversity and could turn their season around in a hurry with a victory over the Panthers. "They're still Ashland," Singler says, "and our kids expect a dogfight." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.