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56 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, May 7, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 5, 2005 Southern Oregon�s Boomer Marshall and the Raiders will play at Spiegelberg Stadium on Saturday. Raiders prepare for spring game Southern Oregon University will play controlled scrimmage at Spiegelberg Stadium on Saturday afternoon By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune The Southern Oregon University football team has spent the past four weeks trying to answer questions. Its findings will be on display at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Spiegelberg Stadium in a controlled scrimmage that completes spring drills. There will be no admission charge for spectators. Some questions revolved around the coaching staff after nine-year mentor Jeff Olson stepped down shortly before practices began. Others pertained to players, notably on offense, where the quarterback, tailback and the offensive line positions received much scrutiny. Advertisement Under the circumstances, says Shay McClure, the defensive coordinator who has also served as acting head coach, spring drills went smoothly. "I think the transition has been very easy for myself and the coaching staff," he says. "As far as the kids are concerned, they’re more resilient than anybody. After the initial reaction (to Olson’s departure) wears off, it’s ‘Put the ball down and let’s play.’" When they do so Saturday, there will be some former Medford players in prominent roles returning to the stadium where they competed in high school ball. Wide receiver Mike Olson (North Medford) heads a deep cast of talented wide receivers, and fullback Curt Stout (South Medford) is No. 1 at his position. Quarterback Boomer Marshall is in a three- way battle to run the offense, and defensive end Dan Crawford (North Medford) adjusts to that side of the ball after moving from center. The Raiders came out of 2004 with their first losing record, 3-6, in six years and the aforementioned questions. Gone is last year’s starting quarterback, Brandon Griffith. Senior Justin Despotakis tops the depth chart heading into the scrimmage, followed by Dan Downey and Marshall. "Is there a 1, 2 and 3? Yeah, there is," says McClure. "Will it change after Saturday? I don’t know. We’ll put them under the microscope a little more and see how the kids react in adverse situations." The Raiders have been scrimmaging in recent weeks, and each quarterback has taken his turns. But with a crowd, officials and the resulting intensity, they’ll be under the gun this weekend. At tailback, Jacobe Krizman has emerged as the starter. He got most of the carries at the end of last season and averaged 75.5 yards in the four games he played. "He’s really established himself as the guy," says McClure. "He’s really learning how to run. He finished the season as the starter and really came out this spring with renewed vigor. He’s dropping his pad level and hitting the hole, not dancing around so much. He’s really separated himself as the No. 1 tailback." Stout will line up in the backfield with him. "He’s doing a great job," says McClure of Stout. "Nothing but business." Another standout is Olson, the best of a corps of a half-dozen wide receivers who figure to play regularly. "He does special things you don’t know about," says McClure. "His game speed is outstanding, and he’s more slippery than people think." The offensive line was inexperienced at the start of last fall, but through the season, then the off-season weight program and into this spring, it has gained maturity. That’s one reason McClure is pleased with the Raiders’ progress. "I’m very happy on that side of the ball," he says. "Things have gone better than I anticipated. We’re a lot better right now than we probably were when we finished last fall. Guys have risen up, taken on leadership responsibilities and gotten better on the football field. We’ve improved." There were fewer areas of concern on the defensive side, where there’s "depth on top of depth" at linebacker, says McClure, and two of three starters return up front. The Raiders lost their starting safeties, but capable replacements are on hand. Southern Oregon has 12 returning starters and 34 letterwinners from 2004. "It’ll be fun," McClure says of the scrimmage. "Fans will see a lot of action and a lot of different things from us. It’ll be exciting." Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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