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SUNNY Temp: 41 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 28, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 1, 2002 Traditional SOC powers clash with state berth on the line By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Between them, Ashland and Roseburg have won six of the past seven Southern Oregon Conference football championships and 12 of the past 15. Each school has collected three state titles over that span, and the two have combined to appear in a dozen state championship games since 1987. No other Class 4A school can claim such success on the grid iron since the late 1980s. Both teams are down a bit this season, but the SOC’s fourth and final state playoff berth will be on the line tonight (7:30) when the Grizzlies and Indians square off at Finlay Field in Roseburg. In other SOC games tonight, Grants Pass (5-3 overall, 4-2 SOC), travels to Eagle Point (3-5, 2-4), Klamath Union (1-7, 0-6) journeys to Crater (1-7, 0-6) and 10-ranked South Medford (7-1, 6-0) meets fourth-ranked North Medford (8-0, 6-0) at Spiegelberg Stadium with the conference championship on the line. Ashland’s chances for a state playoff berth looked dubious two weeks ago, but the Grizzlies (4-4, 3-3 SOC) have posted impressive back-to-back victories over Eagle Point and Crater to put themselves back in the hunt. "It’s always a challenge to play at Roseburg but our kids are playing with a lot of confidence right now," says Ashland coach Jim Nagel, who has guided the Grizzlies to 16 playoff appearances in the past 17 years. "We’ve been executing pretty well the past two games and we think we’ve got a decent shot (to beat Roseburg)." Ashland will hinge much of its hopes around senior quarterback Bryan Clevenger, who has thrown for 1,605 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Clevenger has thrown seven TD passes the past two weeks. "There isn’t much argument that he’s our best player and he’s having a great year," says Nagel of Clevenger. "If we can give him time to throw I’m sure he’ll have a good game." The Grizzlies also feature two top-caliber receivers in Nick Palmesano and David Morris. Palmesano ranks fourth in the SOC with 35 catches for 554 yards and seven touchdowns and Morris is tied for eighth with 24 catches for 371 yards and four scores. Morris is also one of the top defensive backs in the conference. But the keys for the Grizzlies will be how well they can run the ball to take some heat off Clevenger, and how well they can contain a Roseburg ground attack that averages 260 yards per game, tops in the SOC. Ashland was effective in both areas last Friday, running for a season-high 161 yards against Crater while holding the Comets to 52 yards rushing on 21 carries. Nagel knows the duel tasks will be far more difficult tonight. "Our guys up front need to step up," Nagel says. "And we have to be disciplined on defense against their veer option attack." The Indians (4-4, 3-3) are paced by senior tailback Jake Dorsey, who ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns during last week’s 60-0 romp over Klamath Union. Dorsey now has 1,030 yards on the season and is in a race with North Medford’s Reese Lamson (1,045 yards) for the SOC rushing title. "He’s a great back," Roseburg coach Thurman Bell says of the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Dorsey. "And what some people don’t realize is that he’s on the field defensively the whole game." The winner of tonight’s contest will travel to Mount Hood Conference champion and No. 8 ranked Central Catholic next week in the first round of the state playoffs. GRANTS PASS AT EAGLE POINT — This game has no state playoff implications as Grants Pass is locked in as the No. 3 team from the SOC and will travel to Metro League champion and No. 2-ranked Beaverton next week. Still, Caveman coach Jeff Weiss wants his club to regain some momentum after last week’s 28-21 loss to South Medford. "We want to go up there (Beaverton) with a good mindset," Weiss says. "We need a momentum boost." Grants Pass outgained South Medford 386-277 in total offense but two bad punt snaps and a lost fumble led to its demise. KLAMATH UNION AT CRATER — Pride is the only item at stake in this matchup of SOC cellar-dwellers. First-year Crater coach Rich Cable hopes to use this game as springboard to next season. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S