Prep Football: Defense leads in Roseburg’s 18-7 season-opening win over Ashland
Rivalry renewed? Maybe not. But for one night the Finlay Field crowd cheered on a classic high school football battle that has provided some all-time great matchups.
With hall of fame coaches Thurman Bell and Jim Nagel serving as honorary captains, the Roseburg Indians capitalized on three second half takeaways to seal an 18-7 win over the Ashland Grizzlies Friday night at Roseburg’s Finlay Field.
“That was a tight game and a stressful game up until the very last kneel down. So, I can’t imagine that on a yearly basis, back-and-forth for however long Roseburg and Ashland went after it,” Roseburg coach Matt Watson said after his third consecutive season-opening win.
The two former rivals hadn’t played since 2005 when they were conference opponents. With Ashland now playing football at the Class 4A level and Roseburg at Class 5A, it’s not a given that they’ll meet again any time soon.
Roseburg (1-0) led wire-to-wire in the contest, but didn’t put the game away until the fourth quarter. Touchdown runs by Elias Rush and Oscar Kostner kept the Indians ahead of Ashland as Grizzlies’ quarterback Colton Hernandez tried to will his team to victory.
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Leto White got Roseburg on the board with a one-yard run that capped off an 11-play opening drive. The junior was making his first varsity start and proved to be a workhorse for the Tribe.
White carried 20 times for 126 yards, including a couple of 23 yards breakaways in the second half that helped the Indians hold off the Grizzlies.
Both teams failed to keep drives going the rest of the first half and RHS led 6-0 at the break.
The score remained the same through the third quarter, which was scoreless thanks mainly to two takeaways by Roseburg’s defense.
Eli Bell recovered a fumbled pitch to the running back on Ashland’s opening drive of the second half. Emery Hurtienne picked off a Hernandez pass later in the third quarter.
Roseburg’s final drive of the third quarter looked like it had stalled out, but the Indians were bailed out with a roughing the kicker penalty on a punt as the period came to an end.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Rush refused to go down and broke free from the crowd for a 62-yard touchdown run that put the Indians ahead 12-0.
Ashland answered on the ensuing drive. Hernandez carried the Grizzlies with a couple of big passes and timely scrambles. The junior finally got Ashland on the board with a one-yard QB keeper to get the Grizzlies within 12-7.
The Indians provided a timely rebuttal with a nine-play, 71-yard scoring drive to stretch the advantage back to two scores. Kostner carried the ball 3-yards to the end zone to finish off Roseburg’s scoring.
Max Chrisenbery finished off the Grizzlies with a game-sealing interception on Ashland’s final possession.
“There’s so many guys that need a shoutout. That entire defense needs to be celebrated, but shout out to Max (Chrisenbery) getting the pick to really just stop everything and say ‘that’s enough’.”
The Indians out-gained the Grizzlies in total yardage 369-136.
Roseburg’s sophomore quarterback RJ Elliott made his first varsity start and completed 10-of-23 passes for 120 yards and one interception. Caden Moon was the leading target with four catches for 31 yards.
Rush complemented White on the ground adding 90 yards on six carries.
Hernandez finished the game 10-for-25 through the air for 96 yards and two interceptions. He was also Ashland’s leading rusher with 37 yards on seven carries.
“(Hernandez) was, wow,” Watson said. “He’s going to give some people some fits.”
Roseburg will host Rex Putnam in a nonleague game at 7 p.m. Friday.
Ashland;0;0;0;7;—;7
Roseburg;6;0;0;12;—;18
First Quarter
R — White 1 run (kick fail)
Fourth Quarter
R — Rush 62 run (pass fail)
A — Hernandez 1 run (Atanes kick)
R — Kostner 3 run (pass fail)
