Document text
Ashland is far from ready to let playoff streak be snapped By DON HUNT Some would say the Ashland High football team is on the state playoff respirator. The Grizzlies have lost only once in the Southern Oregon Conference, but with games looming against Grants Pass, North Medford and Roseburg during the final month of the season, their string of 16 straight playoff appearances seems to be in jeopardy. But don't count out the Grizz just yet. Ashland (2-2 overall, 1-1 SOC) kept its playoff hopes alive with a 19-15 victory over Klamath Union last week and tries to make it two straight on Friday when it plays host to Grants Pass at Walter A. Phillips Field. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. In other SOC games Friday, Crater (0-4, 0-2) visits ninth-ranked South Medford (4-0, 2-0); North Medford (2-2, 0-2) journeys to Klamath Union (2-2, 1-1) and Eagle Point (1-3, 0-2) travels to No. 2 Roseburg (4-0, 2-0). Ashland coach Jim Nagel would be the first to admit that the Grizz aren't the same caliber of team that has advanced to the state championship game five times in the past 12 years. But he was encouraged after watching the Grizz finally put together a solid defensive effort in the win over Klamath. Ashland had been horrendous on defense in losses to Gresham and South Medford. "We did a pretty good job on assignments and a much better job of tackling," Nagel says. "We flew around and went to the ball. We played hard from the snap to the whistle on each play, and that's something we hadn't really done in our earlier games." Nagel was also tickled with the play of junior quarterback Bryan Clevenger, who completed 10-of-15 passes for 210 yards against Klamath. Clevenger earns his second start Friday in place of senior Cameron Voget, who is serving a two-game suspension for disciplinary reasons. "(Clevenger) had a fumble and an interception, but he also had a lot of good plays," Nagel says. Nagel knows the Grizzlies must crank up their effort another notch to defeat the 4-0 Cavemen, who are coming off an impressive 20-3 victory over North Medford. "They're a good, solid football team," Nagel says. "They've got some good kids up front. "What we need to do is put together a balanced offense and just play inspired football on defense. If we can do that and avoid turnovers, then we certainly have a chance." The Grizzlies squeaked out a 16-14 victory over Grants Pass last season when Ryan Goodman thumped a 40-yard field goal in the final seconds. "We had them fourth-and-10 on their own 30 and let them off the hook," Grants Pass coach Jeff Weiss says. "That was a tough pill to swallow, and I'm hoping our kids haven't forgotten it." The Cavemen lead the SOC in total defense (189.5 yards per game) and scoring defense (7.3 points per contest). Led by unheralded linemen Matt Davenport and Mitch Coe, they held North Medford to just three points last Friday while recording five sacks. "Those two (Davenport and Coe) were sharing the same position, but we moved Davenport to tackle and kept Coe at end," Weiss says. "We like to get our 11 best athletes on the field at the same time, and we decided they both fit that category." Offensively, GP is led by senior quarterback Tom Cohen, the No. 2-ranked passer in the SOC with 684 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception. Senior tailback Tom Martin is also having a good year with 404 yards rushing and eight scores. CRATER AT SOUTH MEDFORD - The unbeaten Panthers are off to their best start in seven years, and some fans are already looking forward to the showdown against Roseburg the following week. South Medford coach Bill Singler has emphasized the importance of not overlooking the winless Comets during Friday's homecoming game. "We've put ourselves in position to have a decent season, and now isn't the time to stub our toe," he says. "And right now we're not good enough to overlook anybody. "I hope our seniors remember that we lost to this team (Crater) when they were freshmen and sophomores." Junior quarterback Boomer Marshall is coming off a monster game in which he threw for 363 yards and four touchdowns in the Panthers' 36-13 romp over Eagle Point. Marshall has completed 65-of-98 passes (66.3 percent) for 982 yards, 12 TDs and two interceptions. South Medford tailback Andres Reed has shot to the top of the SOC rushing list with 556 yards, and wide receiver Ryan Heil paces the SOC receivers with 19 catches for 380 yards and eight TDs. EAGLE POINT AT ROSEBURG - Adam Hazel is coming off his best game as the Roseburg quarterback, having completed 11-of-15 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the Indians' 42-2 win over Crater last Friday. Hazel complements a punishing Indians ground game led by tailback Rod Cope (499 yards, three TDs) and a stout defense that is yielding only 12.5 points per game. Eagle Point has dropped three in a row since opening the season with a 42-7 victory over Summit. 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.