Ashland

Ashland embraces new 4A landscape

Grizzlies return bevy of skill players eager to snap winless streak

By Danny Penza

Mail Tribune

ASHLAND — Ashland head coach Beau Lehnerz entered the 2021 season knowing full well that his young Grizzlies would likely take their lumps.

Twelve months later, he’s approaching 2022 as the chance for his still-young squad to take a step forward. And if they do so, it will come in a new league at a level that Lehnerz and the rest of his coaching staff believe is more appropriate for their current situation.

“It’s been a weird two years to say the least,” said Lehnerz. “It’s just been kind of the declining enrollment overall and just the kids playing football, so the competitor in me sees the tradition of where we already were, but the reality is that our numbers are dwindling and (Class) 4A is a good fit for us.”

Even though the Grizzlies went 0-8 a year ago, Lehnerz was able to identify pieces to build around going into 2022 and beyond.

And just like the last time Ashland came off a tough season with few victories after going 2-7 in 2017, a lot of those names are players that are still underclassmen.

The Grizzlies are also hoping that their move down from 5A to the newlook Big Sky Conference will result in more success as compared to the sometimes gauntlet-like schedule of the Midwestern League.

With Phoenix also moving down a level from 4A to 3A, Ashland steps into their neighbor to the north’s spot in the Big Sky. The drop won’t guarantee Ashland more wins right off the bat, Lehnerz

GRIZZLIES

HEAD COACH

Beau Lehnerz (sixth year, 1522)

GENERAL INFORMATION

ASSISTANTS: Scott Chadick (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Eric Sullivan (special teams/ linebackers/running backs), Bubba Rylance (linemen), Austin Brower (linemen), Tim Hernandez (receivers/defensive backs), Greg White (offensive quality control). 2021 LEAGUE RECORD: 0-7 (eighth, MWL). 2021 OVERALL RECORD: 0-8.

PREDICTED FINISH THIS YEAR: Fifth.

2021 RESULTS Lehnerz

ASHLAND OPPONENTS

14 ..................................... Henley 35 6 ...................................North Bend 27 0 ..................................... Churchill 32 0 ............................. Springfield 2 (forfeit) 14 .................................. Willamette 20 6 ................................... Eagle Point 56 6 .....................................Thurston 44 0 ....................................... Crater 45

RETURNING STARTERS

OFFENSE (9): Receiver Caden Negra (6-3, 175, jr.), tackle Ray Hart (6-0, 180, sr.), guard Kekoa Kaho’okaulana (6-2, 230, so.), center Alan Helsel (5-10, 200, sr.), guard Jack Bauer (6-0, 215, sr.), tackle Talon Hernandez (6-3, 190, jr.), running back Gavin White (5-9, 170, jr.), quarterback Jojo Harrower (6-3, 175, so.), receiver Crosby Lehnerz (6-4, 160, jr.).

DEFENSE (5): Linebacker Jacob Ortega (6-1, 220, so.), end Ray Hart, tackle Jack Bauer, safety Noah Schrader (5-9, 170, jr.), cornerback Crosby Lehnerz.

OTHER NOTABLES

Tight end/linebacker Marcelo Saturen (6-2, 195, jr.), lineman Dutch Linerud (6-3, 175, so.), receiver/tight end/ linebacker Wilson Wildman (6-1, 170, sr.).

2022 SCHEDULE

Sept. 2 ........................ at Eagle Point, 7 p.m. Sept. 9 ...................... at North Eugene, 7 p.m. Sept. 16 ............................ HENLEY, 7 p.m. Sept. 23 ..................... HIDDEN VALLEY, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 ......................... at Mazama, 7 p.m. Oct. 7 ......................... MARSHFIELD, 7 p.m. Oct. 14 ....................... at Sweet Home, 7 p.m. Oct. 21 ........................ at North Bend, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 ..................... KLAMATH UNION, 7 p.m.

PHOTO BY DENISE BARATTA

Ashland receiver Caden Negra, seen here throwing the ball during warm-ups, was an all-Midwestern League selection last season as a sophomore.

notes, as they have joined a league that also consists of last season’s 4A state champion in Marshfield and postseason regulars in Mazama and Henley.

Ironically, the Grizzlies will face former Midwestern League foes in the first two weeks of the season, opening the year on the road Friday night against Eagle Point and then heading up I-5 to North Eugene.

“The kids are excited for the change of scenery,” said Lehnerz. “Some of them are like, ‘Oh, we’re going to dominate,’ but we have to show them that Mazama won it two years ago, Marshfield won it last year, Hidden Valley won it in 3A a few years ago — granted, some of those kids have moved on, but those are winning programs.

“It’s going to be a super tough league and it’s going to be a fight for those three playoff spots.”

Ashland graduated just seven seniors from last season’s team, and have virtually all of their top skill position players back. Unlike a year ago when there were a few options at quarterback, there is no question who is leading the Grizzlies under center in 2022: sophomore Jojo Harrower.

Harrower appeared in three games — starting two of them — before things quickly changed when he suffered a season-ending concussion in Ashland’s Week 3 loss to Churchill.

“He’s always had the athletic ability, so the thing we’ve talked about over the years has been how you go from being a good quarterback with physical talents to becoming great,” said Lehnerz. “It’s also so hard to remember he’s only a sophomore and he only played 1 ½ varsity games last year, so he doesn’t have a ton of the high school experience under his belt at all. Really, this is going to be his rookie year and we’re going to see what he can do, see what he’s capable of and manage the expectations.”

His top target, 6-foot-3 Caden Negra, is still just a junior and is coming off a season where he earned second-team all-MWL recognition — one of the few sophomores to be included on the list. Negra combines his big frame with topend speed, which was on display last May when he helped Ashland capture the 4x400 relay title at the 5A track and field state championships.

SEE ASHLAND, 18