Ryan Brennecke / The BulletinSummits Zach Sundborg dives on a loose ball during the first half against Ashland in Bend on Friday.

Summit played well in spurts Friday night, but the Storm turned the ball over five times in their home stadium as visiting Ashland rolled to a 35-14 nonleague football victory.

Summit’s Jason Garcia ran for 109 yards on 21 carries and Sean Kent added 103 yards and two touchdowns on just seven rushes. But three interceptions, two lost fumbles and a botched punt attempt doomed the Storm against the Grizzlies (3-0).

“Our kids needed to see this,” Storm coach Joe Padilla said, referring to what a highly ranked team looks like. “In the long term, this is going to be good for us. But you can’t give a good team like that the ball so many times.”

Ashland quarterback Kyle Weinberg completed 11 of 12 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns, and Grizzly running back Ryne Robitz pounded away for 108 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Ashland, the No. 2-ranked team in 5A, scored 21 points off two Summit turnovers and a muffed punt attempt.

“We’ve got to take care of the ball,” Garcia said. “Those turnovers just kill you.”

The Grizzlies, who returned 14 starters from last year’s squad that went 11-1 and advanced to the state semifinals, grabbed a 20-7 lead in the first quarter and held a 28-14 lead at halftime. The Grizzlies set the tone for the first half early, scoring on the first play after the opening kickoff when Weinberg connected with receiver Max Montgomery for an 80-yard touchdown reception.

“We’re young,” Padilla said. “And a sophomore bit and got beat in the secondary that first play. Unfortunately as a defensive back, if you make a mistake, a lot of times it goes for a touchdown.”

Kent, a dynamic 5-foot-6, 150-pound tailback and situational quarterback, kept the Storm (2-1) in the game with touchdown runs of 39 and 30 yards in the first half.

Summit’s defense kept Weinberg and company in check for most of the second half, but the Storm could not find a way into the end zone. Early in the fourth quarter, still down 28-14, Summit had a chance to narrow Ashland’s lead, but sophomore quarterback John Bledsoe was intercepted for a third and final time on third down and 5 at the Grizzlies’ 20-yard line.

The Storm forced Ashland to punt on its ensuing possession, but Summit turned the ball over on downs four plays later when punter Kyle Cornett had to make a run for it on fourth and 6 from his own 20 because of a bad snap. The Grizzlies took over on their own 22, and five plays later Robitz blasted into the end zone from 6 yards out to secure the victory.

“That was the dagger,” said Weinberg, a first-year starter, about Robtiz’s second touchdown. “Getting 35 points was a big deal. They’re a very good team with some really fast guys. But that ended it.”

Summit looks to get back on track next week at The Dalles, its final nonleague matchup before the start of Intermountain Conference play.

“This team’s got a lot of potential,” Garcia said. “We’ve just got to learn from our mistakes.”

—Reporter: 541-383-0305; beastes@bendbulletin.com.