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Grizz needs win over North to clinch 15th straight playoff berth By DON HUNT With 14 straight playoff appearances, three state championships and two runner-up finishes on their football resume since 1985, the Ashland Grizzlies have put together quite a run under veteran coach Jim Nagel. The streak is on dubious footing, however, as the Grizzlies meet No. 8-ranked North Medford Friday night (7:30) at Walter A. Phillips Field in Ashland. A victory over the Black Tornado, combined with a Crater loss to No. 1 Roseburg, would clinch a 15th consecutive playoff berth for the Grizzlies. Crater and Ashland are tied for fourth place in the Southern Oregon Conference with 3-3 records, but the Comets have the tiebreaker by virtue of their 24-14 victory over the Grizzlies on Oct. 22. Eagle Point could also enter the picture if the Eagles defeat Klamath Union and both Ashland and Crater lose. That would leave Ashland, Crater and Eagle Point tied for fourth and would necessitate a coin flip to determine the SOC's final playoff berth. A series of injuries, a lack of depth and an occasional lapse of mental toughness have combined to put the defending state champion Grizzlies on the playoff fence. But last week's impressive 28-0 victory over Eagle Point might have signaled a rebirth for the Grizz, and just in the nick of time. "I think there's still some pride in Grizzlyville," Nagel says. "Our kids were humiliated a couple of weeks ago (in the loss to Crater) and they didn't like the feeling." North Medford, meanwhile, has won seven of its first eight games for the first time since the split of the Medford high schools in 1986. The Tornado has already clinched the No. 2 state playoff berth from the SOC and a home playoff game against North Bend on Nov. 12. But while the game means more to the Grizzlies in terms of playoff implications, Tornado coach Rod Rumrey says his teams wants to be the first in school history to go 8-1. "That means something to our kids," Rumrey says. "And we want to go into the playoffs on a high note." North Medford showed its mettle last Friday by rallying from a 21-3 third-period deficit to pin a 31-21 defeat on Grants Pass. Tornado quarterback Nate Mayben was paramount in the comeback. His 26-yard touchdown pass to Tate Mellbye with 6:35 to play, following a spectacular scramble that saw him elude several would-be tacklers, put North Medford ahead to stay. On the season, Mayben has completed 83 of 134 passes (61.9 percent) for 1,585 yards, 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He leads the SOC passing efficiency rankings. "In that second half Nate just wouldn't be denied," Rumrey says. "Without a doubt, that's one of the better comebacks I've seen a team make." The Tornado's versatile offense that averages an SOC-leading 197 yards passing and 410 yards overall worries Nagel. Fullback Ken Halpin leads the SOC in scoring (18 TDs, 110 points) and receiving yardage (670 on 29 catches) and tailback Phil Ouellette is the No. 5 ranked rusher (616 yards on 111 carries). Split end Mike Olson (18 catches, 345 yards) and tight end Colby Gonzales (11 catches, 265 yards) are also big threats. "They're very talented across the board and they're playing with a great deal of confidence," Nagel says. "In the past you could stack up the run and then react to the pass, but now you've got to be balanced defensively. You've got to be ready for anything and everything. "They've got a wealth of talent and they're utilizing it all." Ashland has been up and down offensively but senior quarterback Zach Hassell is coming off his best game. Hassell, playing in just his third game at QB due to an ankle injury, completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the Grizzlies' win over Eagle Point. "He played at the level we thought he'd be at when the season started," Nagel says. "He made some good reads and good throws and did a nice job running the offense. And our line protected him very well." Sophomore Mike Allen, who was blossoming into one of the better quarterbacks in the SOC during Hassell's absence, has missed practice for more than a week with mononucleosis and isn't expected to dress down for the second straight game. Ashland's most consistent offensive threat has been senior halfback Kris Pavilionis, who ranks No. 4 in the SOC in receiving (27 catches, 415 yards, five TDs) and No. 10 in rushing (305 yards, two TDs). "When he's healthy, he's definitely one of the better backs in the SOC," Nagel says., Hassell, Pavilionis and the rest of the Ashland offense will likely need to step it up a notch if the Grizzlies are to beat North Medford for the sixth straight time. North's last and only win over Ashland was a 27-24 triumph in the 1993 state championship game. "They're such an explosive team that I can't see us holding them down for an entire game," Nagel says. "But there could be a lot of points go on the board from both teams. This game could be a real shootout." In other SOC games Friday, Roseburg (7-1, 6-0 SOC) visits Crater (4-4, 3-3), Grants Pass (5-3, 4-2) travels to South Medford (1-7, 0-6) and Eagle Point (2-6, 2-4) journeys to Klamath Union (107, 1-5). ROSEBURG AT CRATER --Crater can clinch a state playoff berth for the first time since 1985 with a victory, but the Comets will have their hands full against the No. 1 team in the state. Roseburg scored 60 points in three quarters against South Medford two weeks ago on the way to a 60-6 victory. The Indians, who have won seven straight since a season-opening loss to Beaverton, had a bye last week. "We're going to have to play our best game of the year to beat them," says Crater coach Randy Heath, whose Comets have a two-game winning streak. The game will feature the SOC's top two running backs, Crater's Scott Toney (897 yards) and Roseburg's Conway Bixby (818 yards). Toney has rumbled for 371 yards the past two weeks, but Heath knows the going will be tough against the Indians. GRANTS PASS AT SOUTH MEDFORD --Grants Pass lost yet another one of its best players when linebacker Len Nuanez suffered a concussion during last week's loss to North Medford. Nuanez won't play Friday but should be available the following week when the Cavemen, who have clinched the No. 3 state playoff berth in the SOC, travel to Portland to meet either Benson or Jefferson in the opening round of the playoffs. The Cavemen lost their other inside linebacker -- Matt Major -- to a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 15. Fullback Jesse Lara (ankle) and wide receiver Gabe Barbee (suspension) also remain sidelined. Grants Pass coach Tom Blanchard was as frustrated as anyone that the Cavemen squandered a 21-3 lead against North Medford, but is confident they can regain momentum for the playoffs. "No one is pushing the panic button," Blanchard says. "We still think we've got enough healthy players to win football games." South Medford beat North Eugene 35-13 for its first victory of the season last week. Panthers tailback Jeremy Boyd gained a career-high 176 yards on 28 carries, pushing his season total to 627 yards, fifth-best in the SOC. EAGLE POINT AT KLAMATH UNION --Eagle Point needs a victory over Klamath Union, some help from Roseburg and North Medford and the luck of winning a coin flip in order to advance to the state playoffs. But as long as there's hope, the will to win is a little bit stronger. Eagle Point will lean on running back Evan Pogue, the SOC's No. 3 rusher with 772 yards, to spark an offense that has struggled since quarterback Nick Rouhier went down with a broken collarbone against Roseburg on Oct. 15. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.