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Comets nearly crush Roseburg's perfect run CENTRAL POINT -- Top-rated Roseburg completed a perfect Southern Oregon Conference football season Friday night. But it wasn't easy. The Indians had to earn every point and every yard they got, until they received a gift touchdown late in their 23-7 win over the determined Crater Comets at Dutch Meyer Field. With a bullish running game and the big-play passing of quarterback Kevin Linderman in the second half, Roseburg pulled away with 13 points in the fourth quarter to fend off the enlivened Comets before a standing-room-only homecoming crowd. With just over 10 minutes left in the game, the Indians (8-1, 7-0 SOC) found themselves clinging to a 10-7 lead. Things got more precarious when tailback Conway Bixby fumbled the ball away to Crater linebacker Tanner Hillyer at the Indians' 28-yard line. "It was a real wakeup call for us," said Roseburg coach Thurman Bell. "We settled down after that and played pretty well, but we were in trouble there for a while." Hillyer's fumble recovery ignited the Comets and the big crowd. But Roseburg's physical defense stepped up and shoved the Comets backwards for two plays before linebacker Geoff Kirkendall intercepted a tipped pass by Crater quarterback P.J. Price, foiling the upset hopes of the Comets. Roseburg proceeded to drive 77 yards on its next series to score a touchdown on an 8-yard run by Bixby as the Indians took a 17-7 lead with 5:56 left in the game. The Indians cashed in a final touchdown with 2:29 left in the game on a 1-yard drive after the Comets went for a first down on a 4th-and-10 situation from their own 1-yard line. Bixby scored the ensuing touchdown on Roseburg's first play. "With the situation in the Ashland-North Medford game (Ashland leading and on its way to victory), we had to get a win to stay in playoff contention," said Crater coach Randy Heath. "We knew if we didn't pick up a first down, they (the Indians) would be able to get an easy one (touchdown). "But we had to take the chance. I wasn't going to deny my kids one last chance to get in the playoffs. "They played real hard and gave Roseburg a tough fight," said Heath. "I'm very proud of them." "I hated to score after that situation," said Bell. "I argued with my offensive coordinator about it, but he convinced me that with 2 minutes left, we needed to score to make sure we wouldn't lose. "I feel bad because Crater played us tougher than it looks," said Bell. "They deserve the credit for that. If those kids had played like this all season, they'd be going to the playoffs." Roseburg totaled 217 yards in the first half, but could only manage a 10-0 lead. Linderman scored the only touchdown of the first half on a 12-yard scramble to cap a 67-yard drive, and Ryan Holt kicked a 37-yard field goal with 9:57 left in the second quarter. Bell said a bye last Friday took the sharpness away from his team, especially early in the game. "You can't make the mistakes and penalties we made (tonight) in the playoffs," said Bell. "Crater did us a favor tonight by waking us up and helping us get ready for the playoffs. "Give credit to Crater. They came out here and played us tough. Since our opening loss (a non-league setback at Beaverton), Crater played us tougher than anybody else has." The Comets finished the season with a 3-6 overall record and a 3-4 SOC mark, and were denied a state playoff spot with the loss. By nature of its win Friday, Ashland claimed the SOC's fourth and final state playoff berth. Roseburg, North Medford and Grants Pass had already qualified for the playoffs as the top three teams, respectively, in the SOC. Crater cut the Roseburg lead to 10-7 on the final play of the third quarter when Price connected with Kenny Strate on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Bixby rushed for 101 yards on 14 carries for Roseburg, while Crater's Scott Toney, the SOC's rushing leader entering the game, picked up 56 yards on 25 carries. Linderman completed 10 of 18 passes for 173 yards for the Indians, and Price completed four of his 20 throws for 79 yards. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.