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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us October 25, 2004 Bearcats get dirty, topple Raiders By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings It wasn't so much the icy rain and muddy field that dampened spirits at the Raider homecoming football game. Southern Oregon Senior wide receiver Chris Hill sprints ahead of Willamette defensive back Roderick Edwards during college football action, Saturday at Raider Stadium. Photos by Andrew Mariman | Ashland Daily Tidings It was the 21-10 loss at the hands of NCAA Division III strength Willamette University. The defeat dropped Southern Oregon to 3-5 on the year and dashed any chances of the Raiders finishing with a school-record sixth-straight winning season. "To be a part of this program for so long, as seniors we want to keep that legacy going," Raider senior quarterback Brandon Griffith said. "Our legacy wasn't to be that. In the long run, that's harder." With just one game left on the schedule - a Nov. 6 home showdown against Eastern Oregon - SOU can't salvage a winning record, but the Raiders can finish with a 4-1 mark against fellow NAIA squads. "There can still be a positive out of this," ninth-year Raider head coach Jeff Olson said. "Right now we have to work on the mental side of things." Even though Southern will have two weeks to prepare for the Mountaineers, there's not a lot on the physical side of things the Raiders can do to improve so late in the season. Instead, the Raiders will try to get their heads back in the game and get psyched to upset Eastern. EOU toppled Willamette 20-13 earlier this fall. "Our focus can't be who they've played or what they've done," Olson said. "Hopefully, now the guys can find enough resolve." Not just the streak The past four meetings between the Bearcats and the Raiders have been decided by a total of 22 points, making Saturday night's 11-point romp the worst loss to WU since a 41-21 beating in 1997. "I hate losing," Raider senior wide receiver Carl Dice said. "It's very hard personally for us to lose." Although the Raiders did limit the mysterious Bearcat "Fly" offense to just over 350 yards and 21 points - WU averaged 400 yards and 30 points coming in - Willamette dominated almost every statistical category. "What I'm very disappointed in is we've taken a step backwards and that's really hard for me to deal with," Olson said. "But it starts with me and I can't point any fingers." Southern netted 178 yards in total offense, including a dismal 60 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, the Bearcats forged across the soupy field for 259 rushing yards. "Our success in the past has been predicated on being able to run the ball," Olson said. SOU did have the edge in pass completions (13-9) and passing yardage (118-93), though neither team had much luck throwing the ball. "We've become a passing team this season, for whatever reason," Griffith said. "But it's tough to pass when you can't feel the ball." One last shot As frustrating as Saturday night's loss was, Southern has the opportunity to wrap up the season on a high note at home against longtime rival Eastern Oregon University. "I want to win and just to have some fun," Griffith said. "It's my last time out there with my brothers. I just hope we play like we can." The Raiders came together in 2003 to put one past Eastern 35-12 and clinch their fifth- straight winning season. The Mountaineers haven't beat SOU since 1998, also the last year the team finished with a record under .500. "We're going to try to start a new streak of winning out," Dice said. "Hopefully, we'll get a little better weather." DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Isotoner Slippers Dsw Shoes Ceramic Piggy Banks Fanny Mae Eloans Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Citibank Student Loans Acs Loan Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation helzberg diamonds Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams