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Raiders go out with upset By Kris Henry ASHLAND -- Southern Oregon finally returned to the form that had Raider football fans on the edge of their seats earlier this season, using the big-play capabilities of Mike Long, Dan Walters and Griff Yates to upset Western Washington 28-21 Saturday at Raider Stadium. Playing in the final game of the season, SOU showed no signs of a team that had lost its previous four games as the Raiders spoiled the Vikings' Columbia Football Association title hopes. Walters and Long connected on touchdown passes of 53 and 80 yards, while Yates gave the Raiders their first lead at 14-13 with a 57-yard TD romp. Southern Oregon's big-play presence had been missing since the losing streak began, but the Raiders mustered more than enough magic on Saturday. "It finally came down to everything clicking at once," said Long. "In the past, just one little slip up is what has cost us. Today we just put it all together. We had the attitude that we would not be denied." Long helped the Raiders tie the game in the second quarter, snaring a perfectly thrown pass from Walters on the sidelines and then outrunning the Vikings to the end zone. The 80-yard connection brought a 21-13 lead and a little more excitement. Walters' pass to Long was tipped by Western Washington's Erik Totten before the Raider senior hauled it in and raced for the TD. "In the last four weeks, that ball probably gets knocked down," SOU coach Jeff Olson said. "Today, it gets tipped up to Mike Long and he takes it in for a touchdown." Even with the trio's high-powered antics, SOU (4-6 overall, 2-3 CFA) needed two late defensive stands and the 1-2 punch of Yates and Casey Jackson to secure the victory. Western Washington (5-5, 3-2 CFA) tied the contest with 8:24 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 55-yard pass from Sam Hanson to Ben Clampitt and a two-point conversion pass from Hanson to Sean Marshall. The Vikings forced a Raider punt on the ensuing series, only to have SOU's defense stand firm and force a punt with six minutes to play. After a 15-yard return by Jackson put SOU on the Viking 40, the Raiders stuck to the ground. Jackson dashed for 27 yards on two carries and Yates took over with tough runs of 2, 6 and 6 yards for the game-winning TD. Jason McGregor tacked on his fourth extra point to give SOU a 28-21 lead with 3:19 to play. Seizing the opportunity, SOU's defense allowed Western Washington 13 yards before putting the clamps on the Vikings to secure the well-earned upset. "I'm very proud of them," said Olson. "After four weeks in a row coming off the wrong end of the scoreboard, this whole team could have just folded the tents today against a very good football team. I think it shows the character of this team to come back and beat an outstanding football team. "I think they proved today that they can play with anybody." The Raider defense more than proved its merit, keeping the CFA's most potent passing attack at bay for most of the contest. "The defense has carried us all year long," said Long, who gained 133 yards on three receptions. "They didn't let down today, and I didn't think they would. They've been the backbone of this team." The final game proved extra-special for Jackson, who moved past Dennis Shields (1974-77) into second place behind Yates on the school's all-time rushing list. Jackson closed out his Raider career with a game-high 138 yards on 31 carries, giving him 2,481 yards in his SOU career. Yates added 92 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. "Considering things haven't gone our way in a while, the season couldn't have ended on a better note," Jackson said. "This is really nice because it takes a disappointing and makes it not so disappointing. It's great to go out like this. This is how I wanted it to be." The end fit Walters nicely as well, with the quarterback completing 19 of 26 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns in one of the sophomore's most poised efforts of the season. The win snapped a five-game losing streak against the Vikings, and also proved to be a role reversal from last season, when Western Washington quashed Raider CFA title hopes in the final game of the regular season. "It's nice to play the role of spoiler," Olson said. "If it has to be that way, at least we were able to fulfill our role." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford,