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Ashland blanks Crater By Greg Stiles ASHLAND � The Ashland Grizzlies washed away a painful memory as persistent rain bathed Walter A. Phillips Field Friday night. The sixth-ranked Grizzlies moved a step closer to a showdown for a share of the Southern Oregon Conference title as they blanked Crater, 37-0, to remain one game behind third-ranked North Medford. Ashland improved to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in conference, while avenging last year�s 24-14 loss to the Comets. Ashland dominated the scrimmage line, outgaining the Comets 235-45 in total offense. The Grizzlies also capitalized on three fumble recoveries. "They played well against Grants Pass last week and they beat us last year," said Ashland running back Noah Hayes-McKeirnan. "We wanted to let them know it wasn�t something that could happen every year." The victory also marked sophomore quarterback Bryan Clevenger�s first start, as junior Cameron Voget rested an ailing knee much of the evening. "We didn�t have to count on (Clevenger) carrying us because our ground game was working so well," Ashland coach Jim Nagel said. "He made a few errors, but overall he played pretty good." Crater�s first fumble led to Ashland�s initial score after Mac Contreras recovered Crater quarterback Derek Petersen�s errant pitch to Shayne Lumpkin at the Crater 11. On first down, Clevenger connected with Ryan Goodman in the front right corner of the end zone for the touchdown. Goodman, who hadn�t missed in 18 previous PAT kicks this fall, missed wide to the left, leaving the Grizzlies with a 6-0 advantage with 6:42 left in the first quarter. Goodman�s punt return to the Crater 20 was nullified by an illegal block that pushed the Grizzlies back to the 35. That only served to make Hayes-McKeirnan�s next carry go even farther. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound fullback ran into a couple of tacklers on the right side, rolled over the top of one and then sped off in a diagonal direction for a 35-yard score. Ashland�s two-point conversion failed, but the Grizzlies had done their damage. "It was important to strike early," said Clevenger. "They�re a team that rides a lot on emotion and we wanted to take away their confidence." While the stadium clock failed at the start of the second quarter, the Grizzlies continued to score like clockwork. They drove 72 yards in five plays after a Crater punt to open up an 18-0 lead with 6:37 to play. Clevenger connected with Goodman for 26 yards and a first down at the Crater 46. Two plays later, Hayes-McKeirnan tried the left side and followed blockers all the way to the Crater 21. Then Contreras carried 15 yards and bulled through the center of the Comet defense on the next for a 6-yard score. "Both Hayes and Mac were breaking arm tackles all night," Clevenger said. "They�re hard to take down straight up. They had a great effort and it made it easier for me." Both backs packed the ball eight times. Contreras had 88 yards while Hayes-McKeirnan finished with 83. Again the PAT run went afoul, but Ashland was firmly in command. The Grizzlies took advantage of another break when Crater punter Levi Wisdom slipped to the turf at his own 16. Five players later, Tyler Haggard banged into the end zone behind blocks from Kip Trickel and Contreras. But with two minutes left in the half, Ashland�s lead remained 24-0 when Clevenger�s PAT pass sailed out of the end zone. Crater�s best hope for a score came late in the half when Goodman�s fumble was recovered at the Ashland 34. But the Grizzlies rose to the challenge and the Comets turned the ball over on downs when Petersen was sacked on fourth down at the Ashland 42. Crater picked up one first down on a penalty in the first half. It got its first on the ground midway through the third quarter. With 9:36 to play, Contreras zigzagged for a 36-yard score and Goodman�s kick again was off the mark. Matthew Williams� fumble recovery at the Crater 8 led to the final score of the night, a 3-yard plunge by Eric Lehr. This time Goodman�s kick was good. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.