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Raiders eager to kick off campaign ASHLAND - Preparation gives way to genuine action for the Southern Oregon football team Saturday. The No. 14 Raiders kick off the 69th season in school history with a 1 p.m. NAIA tussle against Montana State-Northern at Raider Stadium in Ashland. Coming off a 5-4 campaign that ended in playoff-missing frustration, SOU is eager to let the games begin. "This was the most productive fall camp we've had in six years," sixth-year head coach Jeff Olson said in a release. "This is a very close-knit team, and they're determined to change the trend of barely missing the playoffs." The Raiders return 17 starters and 35 lettermen from the squad that pummeled MSU-Northern, 49-21, in Havre, Mont., last season. But the Lights (1-1 overall) are improved and have the advantage of two games under their belts, Olson said. "They're coming off a big (35-33) win over a team (Dickinson State, N.D.) that received top-25 poll points and had shut them out last year," he said. "The scary thing is, this is their third game of the year and our first." If home-openers past are any indication, however, SOU should roll. The Raiders have outscored the opposition 123-13 in claiming their last three Raider Stadium debuts. Leading the charge for SOU is sophomore tailback Dusty McGrorty, who produced 1,093 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns last season. Travis Mari, a senior transfer from Humboldt State, is expected to start at quarterback and throw to a receiving corps that features senior wideout Leo Stoddard. After yielding barely 18 points per game and setting a Northwest small-college record by limiting foes to a 43-percent pass-completion percentage in 2000, the Raiders defense brings back seven starters. Senior linemen Kodiak Malmstrom (6-foot-2, 275 pounds) and James Powers (6-1, 235), senior linebacker Erube Maga�a (6-0, 210) and junior safety Nick Daniken (5-11, 205) are the defensive standouts. Last season's romp at MSU-Northern included six interceptions by the SOU defense and a 164-yard, two-touchdown display from McGrorty. The man who illuminates the Lights' offense, junior quarterback Brandon Kerkes, completed 21-of-49 passes for 259 yards and two scores against the Raiders last season. He also threw six interceptions. MSU-Northern amassed 433 yards in total offense last weekend, but it has given up an average of 33 points and 348 yards in its first two games. Still, Olson pleads caution. "Kerkes is a great athlete and a great passer," said Olson, who is 25-21 at SOU's helm. "I remember walking off the field last year thinking (MSU-Northern) is going to be a very good team." SOU is coming off back-to-back winnings seasons for the first time since 1990-91. The Raiders this year hope to advance to the postseason for the first time since 1987. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.