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Grizzlies silence Eagles, improve playoff hopes By DAVID DAUGHERTY for the Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT -- After getting pushed around a week ago by Crater, the Ashland High defense went into Friday's game with Eagle Point looking to make a statement. Mission accomplished. Behind a stingy defense, the Grizzlies kept their state playoff hopes alive in a 28-0 Southern Oregon Conference victory over the Eagles at Eagles Stadium. The victory improves Ashland to 3-3 in league play, tied with Crater with one game to play. The Eagles' hopes of a playoff berth took a damaging blow, falling to 2-4. The playoff picture remains jumbled with one week to go, but Ashland knows if it can beat North Medford in the regular-season finale next week, its hopes of advancing improve greatly. "This game was very important for us," said Ashland coach Jim Nagel, whose team will wrap up SOC play next week with a home date against North Medford. "Last week's loss really got our kids' attention." The loss particularly caught the attention of the defense, which sacked Eagle Point quarterback Ben Scott six times and limited the Eagles' offense to 193 yards of total offense. "We played, maybe, our best defensive game of the year," said Nagel. "We played with intensity and put a lot of pressure on the quarterback." Every time Scott dropped back to pass he was staring into the faces of Ashland defenders Tyson George, Zach Hassell and Zach Williams. The trio and the rest of their defensive mates limited Scott and the Eagles to just 65 yards passing. "Their linemen were tipping their plays," said George, who collected three sacks. "Their guards were really sitting back in their stances, so we just ran upfield." The Grizzlies' defense was immediately put to the test. On the fourth play of its opening drive, wide receiver Ryan Goodman fumbled the ball after a 2-yard catch. Eagle Point's Scott Stockton picked up the loose ball and raced deep into Ashland territory. But seven plays later, with the Eagles inside the Ashland 20-yard line, cornerback Ben Bryan intercepted a Scott pass in the end zone to thwart the threat. The turnover cued the offense, which marched 80 yards in 10 plays, culminating with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Hassell to tailback Kris Pavilionis. Hassell and his receiving corps took advantage of a soft Eagle Point secondary, throwing numerous passes underneath coverage. The main recipient of Hassell's passes was senior Jesse Jones, who hauled in four passes for 60 yards in the first half. "The offensive line did a great job tonight," said Hassell. "I told them I'd buy them doughnuts if they didn't give up a sack. I guess I'm in debt." Ashland had an impressive two-minute drill late in the first half. With 3:11 left and the ball at their own 20, the Grizzlies netted 13 yards on two running plays before Hassell hit Jones on a 24-yard strike over the middle. Two plays later, Hassell hit Jones for 28 yards to the Eagle Point 15, and before the Eagles could catch their breath, Hassell drilled Sean Schorovsky in the back of the end zone. "They (Ashland) played really well," said Eagle Point coach Mike Johnston. "They just out-quicked us." After the half, Eagle Point appeared to seize the momentum after Alex Georgeson picked off a Hassell pass on the Grizzlies' first drive of the third period. The Eagles methodically marched the ball down to the Ashland 5-yard line on 16 plays, but a fourth-down pass fell incomplete. "That goal-line stand was the key," said Hassell, "We just believed we could do it and it worked out for us." "It would have been nice to put that one in," said Johnston. "We just didn't get it done." With its defense dominating the line of scrimmage, the Ashland offense put finally got going in the second half. Hassell hit Pavilionis on a 5-yard out pattern and Pavilionis turned the corner for a 54-yard touchdown. "That was pretty much all him (Pavilionis)," said Hassell, who completed 15-of-23 passes for 198 yards. "I thought I made the wrong read when I first threw it, but Kris has a way of doing those things." After forcing the Eagles to punt on their next series, Ryan Goodman corralled Kirk Roberts' punt and raced 64 yards for a touchdown to produce the final margin. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.