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Grizz plan to Hassell Panthers By DON HUNT The Ashland High football team got off to its worst start in 14 years, but the bleeding has stopped and now the Grizzlies are primed to make their customary run to the state playoffs. Not only do the Grizzlies have a favorable schedule the rest of the way, but one of their best players returns to the lineup tonight at Walter A. Phillips Field when Ashland plays host to winless South Medford. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Zach Hassell, who has been sidelined since Sept. 3 after suffering a severely sprained ankle against the Japanese All-Stars, will start at quarterback and is expected to log a few plays on defense, where he was the team's leading tackler a year ago. Sophomore Mike Allen, who started the first four games at QB, missed the first part of the week with the flu and was still ailing Thursday. Allen's illness made the decision to start Hassell much easier for coach Jim Nagel. "As I told Mike, Zach is starting not because of Mike's poor play but rather because of the circumstances, namely Mike having the flu," Nagel says. "And Zach has looked good in practice this week. He's a senior and one of the team leaders and he deserves a shot." Allen, who completed 13 of 22 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown during last week's 47-7 victory over Klamath Union, won't be on the bench the entire night, Nagel says. "They're both going to get some playing time," Nagel says. "Zach will be in there for the first series or two and then we'll probably alternate them." Grizzly fullback Mac Contreras, who sat out the Klamath game with an ankle sprain, also returns to the lineup tonight. Contreras rumbled for 131 yards against Grants Pass two weeks ago and is the No. 8 rusher in the Southern Oregon Conference with 193 yards. Ashland (1-3, 1-2 SOC) lost its first three games for the first time since 1985 but now has a chance to run the table and advance to the playoffs for the 15th straight season. The Grizzlies are a big favorite against South Medford, which is 0-4 under second-year coach Bill Singler and looks to be a year away from being competitive. The Panthers have a few good players, including junior quarterback John McKay and senior tailback Jeremy Boyd, but their lack of speed at the skill positions has proved lethal in most of their games. It was evident last week when South Eugene quarterback Blake Stepp burned South Medford for 296 yards and four touchdowns in a 32-12 Axeman victory. "You don't need to be a tremendous football scout to figure out we don't have much team speed, not to mention depth or experience," Singler says. "These kids are trying like heck. I think we're getting the most out of our ability, but sometimes we get overmatched and there's just nothing we can do." Boyd, one of the SOC's smallest backs at 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds, gave the Panthers reason to cheer against South Eugene when he ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns. "He ran hard and made some guys miss," Singler says. "He's a tough kid, regardless of his size." The Panthers racked up a season-high 264 yards in total offense last week, but crippled themselves with penalties in the first half when they fell behind 19-0. In other SOC games tonight, North Medford (4-0, 3-0 SOC) meets Roseburg (4-1, 3-0) at Spiegelberg Stadium and Eagle Point (2-2, 2-1) travels to Grants Pass (3-1, 2-1). Klamath Union (0-4, 0-3) is host to North Bend in a non-league game, and Crater has a bye. Eagle Point is in the thick of the state playoff picture following last week's impressive 26-7 win over Crater. Senior quarterback Nick Rouhier, a first-year starter, had a breakout game with 104 yards rushing, 124 yards passing and three touchdown runs. "He certainly got our attention," Grants Pass coach Tom Blanchard says of Rouhier. "He's got to be one of the five or six best athletes in the SOC. He's very fast for a quarterback and we can't allow him to get to the perimeter like he did against Crater." The Cavemen have some speedsters of their own, including Brandon Hamada, the SOC's leading rusher with 491 yards, six touchdowns and a 6.1 per-carry average. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.