The first official game/match/meet/whatever of the 2010-11 Ashland High school year is now in the books – Ashland’s freshman football team fell short in a comeback bid and lost its season opener to Klamath Union, 31-28, tonight at Walter A. Phillips Field. The fans had to watch from the portable bleachers near the school-side end zone since the stadium is still being repaired following the mid-summer fire. Too bad, because there was a lot to see Thursday. Ashland’s Danial White threw a touchdown pass with about a minute to go to get the Grizzlies within striking distance, but the Pelicans recovered the onside kick to put the game away.
Ashland’s volleyball and soccer teams (boys and girls) also were in action Thursday – jamboree action, that is. The first varsity event of the school year is Friday night’s prep football clash between Ashland and Klamath Union, at Klamath Falls.
I talked to Ashland coach Charlie Hall after practice Thursday and he seems pretty excited about this year’s team, especially when it comes to the speed the Grizzlies are expected to field. And if anyone can figure out how to best utilize that speed, it’s Hall.
Ashland returns a host of starters on both offense (5) and defense (9), but that still leaves plenty of first-year starters who will be asked to make major leaps in terms of production this season.
“I think we’ve got some good experience, but there’s still a lot of question marks and that’s really going to be the key thing,” Hall said. “Do those newcomers step up and fill in the gaps of the kids that left the program?”
Friday night’s game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Modoc Field. It will be broadcast live locally on 580-AM.
