Ashland, Marshfield Meet For Oregon Title

EUGENE, Ore. - Unbeaten Ashland will seek its second straight Oregon Class 4A high school football championship today when the Grizzlies meet the Marshfield Pirates in Autzen Stadium.

The top-ranked Grizzlies have won 24 straight games since a 7-3 loss to South Medford Sept. 20, 1991. The Grizzlies (13-0) will make their third championship appearance in four seasons.

No. 6 Marshfield of Coos Bay (12-1) is in the title game for the first time in 24 years.

"This is our Super Bowl," Marshfield Coach Kent Wigle said.

The health of the quarterbacks could be a big factor.

Marshfield's Jeff Messerle suffered a deep bruise on the top of his right foot in the Pirates' 14-6 semifinal victory over Tigard last weekend.

Messerle missed practice early this week and his injury won't be healed by Saturday, Wigle said.

Ashland quarterback Chad Guthrie is suffering from the flu, in addition to recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered two weeks ago in the playoffs. Guthrie was "about 80 percent" in practice Thursday before Coach Jim Nagel sent him home, Nagel said.

Messerle has accounted for a major part of Marshfield's offense this season. The senior has thrown for 1,721 yards and 21 touchdowns and run for another 514 yards and 11 scores.

If Messerle can't play, quarterback duties will go to Justin Ainsworth, a junior who is Marshfield's starting free safety on defense.

Ashland's Guthrie has completed 125 of 209 passes for 1,931 yards and 16 touchdowns. He's been intercepted only six times. Guthrie threw just 10 passes in a 21-6 semifinal victory over No. 2 Beaverton last Saturday.

"It's been a long time since a quarterback of ours has thrown so few passes, but we got off to a quick lead and then had such poor field position in the second half," Nagel said. "And Guthrie resprained his ankle right before the game. It was prudent to get conservative."

Ashland relies on fullback Brendan Appleberry to carry the brunt of the rushing load. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior has responded with 1,533 yards and 20 touchdowns, including 150 yards against Beaverton last week.

Marshfield often uses option plays. Pirates back John Lemmons has run for 990 yards and 13 touchdowns. Joe Lehman, a 6-3, 200-pound fullback, has 790 yards and nine TDs.

Lemmons is also a standout on defense as a linebacker. He's led Marshfield in tackles for the past three seasons.