Document text
Raiders plan to take it one game at a time By KRIS HENRY ASHLAND - Looking past Simon Fraser is a mistake Southern Oregon coach Jeff Olson is confident his team won't make heading into Saturday's game at Raider Stadium. Why? Because the sixth-year coach simply won't allow it. "Simon Fraser is the most-important game on our schedule right now," says Olson. "There is nobody else. After Saturday, then Puget Sound becomes our most important game. That's just the way we look at it." It's not uncommon for a coach to tell his team to take it one game at a time, it's just unusual when the players abide by that doctrine. "We're just building off each game and starting to get something rolling," SOU safety Nick Daniken said following last Friday's 29-0 romp over Linfield. "We've got a great bunch of guys who just want to keep the momentum going." Most teams would have difficulty maintaining their focus coming off such a dominating effort against a perennial powerhouse, but Olson says the Raiders realize the test they have in Simon Fraser (1-0). Also hanging in the balance is a chance for SOU to open at 3-0, marking the school's best season start since the Raiders last made the playoffs in 1987. "I've discouraged the guys from using the word 'letdown,'" says Olson. "I don't like talking in negatives. Simon Fraser is another opportunity for us." The Clan opened their season with a 39-0 rout of Puget Sounds - the Raiders next opponent on Sept. 29 - but had last week's game against Pacific Lutheran postponed. Against Puget Sound, Simon Fraser limited the Loggers to 182 yards and countered with senior running back Mike Vilimek, who rumbled for 164 yards on 23 carries. No stranger to the Raiders, Vilimek amassed 199 of his 948 season yards and two of his 10 touchdowns in last year's 42-29 loss to SOU. "He's on some NFL lists so the kid is obviously drawing some big-time attention," says Olson. "He's legitimate. They list him as 6-foot-4, 230 pounds but he can also run away from people." Simon Fraser's ability to control the game through its ground attack concerns Olson, whose defense most likely will be without the services of linebacker Erube Maga�a on Saturday. Maga�a suffered a high ankle sprain late in the game against Linfield, but is still having trouble with lateral movement. Replacing the team's second-leading tackler on the field will be the challenge for Western Oregon junior transfer Dominic Fredericksen and sophomore Jordan Franco. "His speed is something that separates Erube from the other players," says Olson. "But hopefully as in the case of Shawn Wilson, we'll have someone step up." Wilson, a sophomore, will make his first start for the Raiders this Saturday after filling in nicely when starting tailback Dusty McGrorty and back-up Bill Jolin succumbed to injuries against the Wildcats. Given the opportunity, all Wilson did was go out and rush for 102 yards and a touchdown in three quarters of play. McGrorty will be in uniform and should still see time for the Raiders despite bruised ribs, while Jolin is out indefinitely after tearing his medial collateral ligament. "Shawn's practiced very well this week," says Olson. "He's got a lot more confidence in himself. He gained a lot from last weekend and now all the players and coaches know that he can do the job." The same can be said for quarterback Travis Mari, who had his second straight productive game as the Raiders' new signal caller. Mari has completed 36 of 52 passes this season with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Mari's main asset, however, has been in creating offense whenever a play breaks down and in utilizing a vast receiving corps. Twelve different players have caught at least one pass for SOU thus far, including a rebounded effort by offensive lineman Todd Wesolowski last week. "Travis is a guy who's very determined," says Olson. "He's a big, strong, physical kid and is experienced at somehow keeping a play alive. When he does get flushed out of the pocket, he doesn't at all show that he's panicked." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.