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--> --> Nov. 15: Bearcats will run, run, run By Bobby Heiken Ashland Daily Tidings There's no hiding it, McKendree College is going to run the ball Saturday when the No. 16-ranked Bearcats travel to Ashland to face seventh-ranked Southern Oregon University in the opening round of the NAIA playoffs. The numbers are staggering. McKendree (8-2) has battered opponents for 2,471 yards rushing compared to a meager 665 yards through the air. Passing just isn't an option with the Bearcats. "There's no question they are a running team," Raider head coach Jeff Olson said. "They are big and strong and get off the ball extremely well. They have a mindset to control the ball, the clock and the line of scrimmage." Not only do the Bearcats run the ball, they run it with just about everyone carrying it. Allen Walter leads the rushing attack with 505 total yards. Next is Anthony Roland with 413 yards, followed by Mark Albertini (371), Bart King (310) and Drew Cofty (271). Even starting quarterback Tyler Pankey prefers the ground, having run the ball (81 times) nearly as often as he's thrown it (84). The Raiders will see many different variations of the old Wing-T offense. "They'll pitch it out and have the quarterback go out and block," Olson said. As a unit the Bearcats rank eighth in the NAIA in rushing, averaging 246.6 an outing. "This game is going to be won at the line of scrimmage," Raider defensive coordinator Roger VanDeZande said. "It's going to be more of a physical test." One thing to ponder is the fact that McKendree probably hasn't faced a defense like the one they'll see when they face SOU (8-1). VanDeZande's defensive unit ranks seventh in the NAIA in rushing defense and is only giving up 89.78 yards a game. Overall the Raiders rank ninth in the NAIA and are only allowing 264.33 yards. According to VanDeZande the key will be the depth of the Raiders in winning this physical war. "We're going to shuffle in a lot of players," the fifth-year defensive coordinator said. "We've got a lot of people who can play and those guys have worked hard to get themselves into this position." Leading the Raider squad up front will be seniors James Powers and Kodiak Malmstrom and sophomores Byron Rinaker, Corey Sanborn and Shawn Wing. Powers leads SOU with 17 tackles-for-losses and 6.5 sacks. Malmstrom follows with five sacks, while Sanborn and Rinaker each have two. "A key for us will be how strong and fast we are," Olson said. "Coach V's style is to get after it and if we do that we'll create a problem for them behind the line of scrimmage." If the Bearcats fall behind and are forced to pass, expect the Raider defensive backs' eyes to light up as senior Mike Seedborg and juniors Nick Daniken and Brad Kudlac all have three interceptions each on the season and sophomore Vaughn Morris has two picks. Tickets for Saturday's 3 p.m. kickoff are still on sale at the Raider athletic office at McNeal Hall. Ticket prices are $10 for grandstand reserved, $7 for grandstand general admission, $5 for uncovered general admission and $4 for students. All tickets bought the day of the game are $10. Tomorrow the SOU offense as it stacks up against McKendree's defense. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing