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53 °F 5 Day Forecast Saturday, November 29, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend October 11, 2003 Eagles bull rush Ashland By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — By definition, deception isn’t supposed to be in-your-face. Definition probably didn’t see it coming, but it was bulldozed by the Eagle Point football team Friday night. Operating out of their triple-option flexbone, the Eagles amassed 405 yards rushing to overpower Ashland at Eagle Stadium, 32-27. Seven different EP players carried the ball, and three separate Eagles routinely appeared they might have it on a given play. Advertisement Leading the way was junior halfback Nate Idrogo, who punished the Grizzly defense for 106 physical yards on 17 carries, including a 7-yard touchdown to virtually seal the victory with three minutes remaining. The Eagles (4-2 overall), who improved to 2-2 to stay in the race for the Southern Oregon Conference’s third and final state-playoff berth, also came up with a pair of key turnovers on defense to aid their homecoming cause. They are a half-game behind South Medford and Grants Pass, both 2-1, for third place in the SOC standings. "It’s amazing to be in this spot," said Idrogo, who topped the century mark in rushing for the third time this fall. With its four overall victories, Eagle Point, 3-6 a year ago, already owns its most successful season since 1997, when it also last made the playoffs. "We’re just in a situation now where we’ve got two league games left here, and we’ve gotta have something happen and take care of ourselves and get in the playoffs," said second-year Eagles head coach Harry Hedrick, whose team faces North and South Medford to close its SOC slate. "But at this point in the year to have a shot at the playoffs, it’s still good for us to be in that hunt." Ashland (2-4, 0-4 SOC), meanwhile, is now out of the race. The Grizzlies can, however, be pleased with the fact they rallied from a 19-7 halftime deficit to lead EP, 20-19, with 10:17 remaining. After being limited to 107 yards of offense in the first half, Ashland accumulated 225 in the second. Junior quarterback Beau Lewis completed seven passes of 20 yards or longer in going 18 of 35 for 306 yards, with four touchdowns and two interceptions. "We did have some big plays," said first-year Ashland head coach David Coldiron, whose squad has now suffered four straight defeats. "We have a couple kids that are playmakers, and if you get them the ball, they’re gonna get you something." EP scored twice in a 4:08 span of the fourth quarter to take command for good. Following junior tight end Jeff Skinner’s pretty, 33-yard TD reception from Lewis that gave Ashland its first lead since 7-6, the Eagles marched 68 yards in eight plays. Sophomore A.J. Nichols’ 30-yard dash up the middle lifted EP to a 25-20 edge with 7:08 left. On the Grizz’s ensuing possession, Lewis scrambled for a first down on fourth-and-three with about four minutes left. But on the next play, with Ashland on its own 47-yard line, Lewis’ pass was tipped and intercepted by a diving Yoni Turcios. The pick was the first of Turcios’ varsity career, as was a fumble recovery he grabbed after junior Jared Hawkins sacked Lewis in the first quarter to nix a Grizz drive that advanced as far as the Eagles’ 1. If it felt like a birthday, that’s because it was for Turcios, a junior offensive lineman/linebacker who turned 17 Friday. EP turned Turcios’ interception into a three-play, 56-yard drive that wasn’t without its own drama. The first play featured Nichols’ reverse down the left sideline for 49 yards, on the end of which he fumbled. A couple Ashland defenders appeared to have a bead on the loose ball, but hustling senior running back Steve Wyatt came up with it. Idrogo scored his second TD on the next snap. The Grizzlies came back with a six-play, 56-yard surge in 1:33 that ended on junior wideout Steve Jorgensen’s second TD reception, a 27-yard weave from the left side to the right end zone. Ashland’s onside kickoff was recovered by Hawkins to clinch the Eagles’ victory. "That’s the Ashland kids that we’ve seen all year, save for maybe the Grants Pass game," Coldiron said. "They’re just real battlers, real hard fighters." On the other sideline, EP again showcased its physical-yet-crafty style. "Physically up front, I thought we dominated the game at the line of scrimmage," Hedrick said. "(Our offense) is deceptive, it’s physical, and I thought it matched our kids, and we’re getting better at running it, so I’m happy with that." Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! 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