Ashland gives Roseburg a scare

By TED BURNHAM
for the Mail Tribune

ASHLAND - It was just like old times Friday night at Walter Phillips Field.

In a highscoring battle, the Ashland and Roseburg high school football teams traded leads all night and the result came down to the final minutes as the Indians beat Ashland, 4235, to remain undefeated.

Roseburg (80, 70 Southern Oregon Conference) will host the No. 3 seed from the Intermountain Conference next Saturday in the first round of the state 4A football playoffs. Ashland (36, 25 SOC) ends its season and will not be in the playoffs for the first time since 1984.

"Ashland played awesome," Roseburg head coach Thurman Bell said after the game. "This was a big eyeopener for us. I am really glad Ashland played so well. ... They helped us out a lot as we go into the playoffs."

Ashland head coach Jim Nagel said the Grizzlies should be proud of their lateseason wins and that the team showed courage against one of the best teams in the state.

"I think it hit most seniors that this was their last opportunity to play football," Nagel said. "They wanted to prove something. They had been written off."

Offensively, the teams were evenly matched. Second-ranked Roseburg ended the night with 398 yards and nine firsts downs while Ashland gained 11 first downs and 359 yards.

Roseburg's Adam Hazel passed for 140 yards, a touchdown and a pair of two-point conversions. Ashland quarterback Cameron Voget ended the night with 200 yards passing and three TDs, and ran eight times for 60 yards.

Roseburg's Rod Cope rushed 30 times for 167 yards and three touchdowns while Grizzly senior Tyler Haggard ended the night with 98 hardfought yards on 22 carries.

"Like I said last week, we were going to give them a run for their money," Haggard said. "The offensive line was great again, for the second week in a row. We played our best."

Ashland's Ryan Decker caught six passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns while Haggard and Eddie Griffin combined for 112 yards receiving. Roseburg tight end Joe Newton led the Indians with three receptions and a touchdown.

Roseburg managed a 4228 lead, and appeared to have the win sewn up when Blair Brundige intercepted Voget with five minutes left in the game.

But Ashland's defense held. And on second down on the ensuing series, Griffin made the most dramatic catch of the night for the Grizzlies when he snagged a pass tipped up by Cory Whitman and ran it in for a 50yard touchdown with 2:20 remaining on the game clock.

In the next series, Ashland held Roseburg on third down, but the Indians drew the Grizzly defense offsides on fourth and short and the Indians sat on the ball for the remaining 42 seconds for the victory.

Ashland opened the scoring just five minutes into the game when Decker caught a 14yard touchdown pass to cap a 70yard drive. Roseburg answered a minute later when Cope ran in a 54yard touchdown to tie the game, 77.

Ashland then put together an 82yard, fiveminute drive that ended when Haggard ran in a pitchout to the left side for a 20yard TD, giving Ashland a 147 edge going into the second quarter.

But Roseburg scored three unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter to lead, 2614, at the half.

The Grizzlies gained momentum in the third with a Haggard TD but never did regain the lead.

Roseburg went ahead, 4228, with 51/2 minutes remaining when Matt Manser scampered 61 yards for a touchdown and Joe Newton caught a twopoint conversion.

An exhausted Haggard said the game was bittersweet.

"I have so many emotions I don't know which to choose," he said. "I am happy we played well and I am happy for the guys for next year but I am sad we have to finish."

Bell said the game gives the Indians "a second wind."

"This is much better than to win by 30 points," he said.

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