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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mt. Ashland gets too much of a good thing ... UPDATED: Heavy snow in Siskiyous and Cascades puts travelers on alert ... Fire destroys two RVs, leaves man homeless ... Mt. Ashland gets too much of a good thing ... UPDATED: Heavy snow in Siskiyous and Cascades puts travelers on alert ... Fire destroys two RVs, leaves man homeless ... COLLEGE FOOTBALL Raiders ready to roll in title game They keep it loose in final practice for today's contest Comment By Chris Boyle for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Chris Boyle for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 18, 2015 at 7:48 PM Updated Dec 18, 2015 at 7:51 PM By Chris Boyle for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 18, 2015 at 7:48 PM Updated Dec 18, 2015 at 7:51 PM --> No. 7 Southern Oregon vs. No. 6 Marian (Ind.) WHEN, WHERE: Today, 3 p.m. PST, Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, Fla. ONLINE: To view the game, visit watchespn.com WHO'S SHOWING IT... » Read more X No. 7 Southern Oregon vs. No. 6 Marian (Ind.) WHEN, WHERE: Today, 3 p.m. PST, Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, Fla. ONLINE: To view the game, visit watchespn.com WHO'S SHOWING IT: For a list of local businesses airing the game, visit http://bit.ly/1PeTjVN » Social News DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Dark clouds and a quick, but heavy, rain shower couldn’t dampen the spirits of Southern Oregon’s football team on Friday morning. Instead, the Raiders danced their way through their final dress rehearsal for the NAIA football championship. And that’s exactly what Craig Howard wants to see on the eve of the team’s first title defense. “You don’t want them all uptight and nervous. I want them dancing the day before the game,” Howard said. “The next time we’ll dance will be after the game, hopefully.” The Raiders kept it loose during their walkthrough but remain focused on bringing the trophy back to Ashland. They’ll square off with Marian (Ind.) at 3 p.m. PST today, an opponent SOU thrashed 55-31 last December to capture the first championship in program history. With a win, SOU would be the first program to win back-to-back championships since former NAIA member Sioux Falls (S.D.) did so in 2008 and ’09. In 2014, SOU and Marian set a single-game championship record for combined points. The Raiders forced eight turnovers and led by four touchdowns by halftime. Calling Friday’s practice a “walkthrough” would be an injustice. SOU wasted little time walking on the artificial surface of Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium. Instead, taking a page out of Chip Kelly’s book, Craig Howard uses Thursdays as a day of mental preparation and opts for an intense, though abbreviated, non-contact Friday regimen with an additional focus on special teams. “There’s something to it,” Howard said. “We’ve been doing it for four years now, and it’s been successful for us.” Howard has put a premium on keeping the pre-game routine as close to identical as it was a year ago. The Raiders are staying in the same beachfront hotel and raced around the high banks of Daytona International Speedway in a pace car prior to a Thursday press conference. Junior safety Julius Rucker felt the need for speed twice. “My stomach sank down to the bottom, and I felt a little sick,” Rucker said. “We got our fun out of the way. It’s time to be dialed in and take care of what’s ahead of us.” What lies ahead is a Marian defense which ranked among the top 10 nationally in virtually every statistical category. The Knights (11-2) allow only 14.4 points and 267.2 yards per game. They have also sacked opposing quarterbacks 47 times. Senior linebacker Dwayne Beckford, who began his college career at Purdue, led the nation with 13 sacks. Senior wide receiver Jeremy Scottow, a North Medford product, believes the Raiders have seen comparable defensive units in Montana Western, Carroll and Montana Tech. Setting the tone early, as the Raiders did last season with a 10-0 lead inside the opening four minutes, could prove to be crucial, Scottow added. “We’re trying to get them off their game,” Scottow said. “Get to the line first, get them tired quick and just march it right down the field in six or seven plays. If we can put it in and continue that pace, we’ll be fine.” The Knights also feature a balanced offense. Quarterback Hayden Northern, who tossed six interceptions in last year’s championship game, amassed 3,380 yards and 27 touchdowns. Robert Gibson rushed for 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns. And then there’s AFCA-NAIA All-American wide receiver Krishawn Hogan. The 6-foot-4 junior has 90 receptions for 1,677 yards. He’s scored 14 touchdowns in three playoff games, 11 on the ground where he’s seen snaps as a Wildcat quarterback. Howard said Hogan might be the “best player in the country.” He burned the Raiders for 132 yards and a touchdown on six receptions last year. On the whole, Howard has been pleased with his team’s effort since landing in Florida on Tuesday. As they broke their final practice, the Raiders concluded with a kneeldown in “Victory Formation” and charged midfield to celebrate. It’s the play Howard wants most to run today. “The sign up there (in the visiting bleachers) says, ’16 teams, 1 champion.’ And we are the champion,” Howard said. “We are the reigning national champion, and (Marian) is trying to take that trophy back from us. We try to use that psychology — that we have it, they want to take it back, and we want to keep it.” By Chris Boyle for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Chris Boyle for the Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 18, 2015 at 7:48 PM Updated Dec 18, 2015 at 7:51 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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