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SOU strengthens chance for berth in playoffs, 20-14 Photos by Drew Fleming Aaron Rudishauser fills in nicely at tailback. By KRIS HENRY ASHLAND -- Southern Oregon got a taste of life without All-American tailback Griff Yates Saturday at Raider Stadium, and it wasn't as fulfilling as the seventh-ranked Raiders had hoped. Facing a Humboldt State squad trying to snap a five-game losing streak, Southern Oregon sank to the Lumberjacks level at times before escaping with a 20-14 victory. In his first featured role since high school, senior Aaron Rudishauser rumbled for 176 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, and SOU's defense held firm when needed as the Raiders most likely secured their second NAIA playoff appearance and first since 1987. But in spite of Rudishauser's impressive numbers, Southern Oregon encountered stretches where it struggled to move the ball. "I'm happy for the win," SOU coach Jeff Olson said. "Not having Griff was a factor, but this team proved it can compete regardless of who carries the ball. We made some mistakes, but it was a solid team effort." Rudishauser, a 215-pound bruiser from Portland, had spent most of the season clearing paths for Yates. But with the All-American in a sling on the sidelines following surgery earlier in the week on his left wrist, Rudishauser filled in with Yates-like numbers. SOU quarterback Dan Walters looks to pass while on the run. "I love blocking for Griff, but I love running the ball, too," said Rudishauser. "Running the ball is the greatest feeling in the world. Unfortunately it had to happen with Griff being hurt like this, but I guess that's just the way it goes." Rudishauser's effectiveness helped open things up for quarterback Dan Walters, who completed 16-of-23 passes for 135 yards in gusty conditions. Southern Oregon improved to 7-1 and closes the season at Western Oregon next Saturday. As an independent team, the Raiders need to finish in the top 16 in the final NAIA poll to nab a playoff berth. "We've got to go to Western now looking at getting win No. 8," said Olson. "Screw the national playoffs. If it happens, that's great, but we have to finish this on a high note." Thanks to some solid blocking, Rudishauser put the Raiders on top early as he took a simple handoff across the left side, stiff-armed a Lumberjack and cruised 53 yards to the end zone as his teammates knocked off potential tacklers. "I initially broke that first tackle and after that it was great blocking by the receivers," said Rudishauser, who also gave credit to SOU's punishing offensive line. "It's good to have a line like that working for you. They come to play every game," he said. As poised as the Raiders were to break the game open from there, Humboldt (3-7) wouldn't let that happen as penalties, personal fouls and stale offenses sent the game into halftime at 7-0. "You have to give credit to them," said Olson. "Humboldt came here to win a football game. They didn't pay any attention to our national ranking or record. "Our emotional pitch wasn't the same as it was when we went down to play Azusa Pacific last week, that's for sure. But the bottom line is we did well enough to get a `W'." After a Jason McGregor 24-yard field goal made it 10-0 with 22 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Lumberjacks got on track with a little luck as quarterback Travis Mari floated a pass toward Elijah Gildea on third-and-23 at Humboldt's 34. SOU defensive back Mike Seedborg appeared to have a bead on the floating pass, only to misjudge his jump and watch helplessly as Gildea caught it and raced 66 yards to the end zone. "I thought it was a ball that was going to be intercepted, and he just mistimed it," Olson said. The running of Rudishauser and former Eagle Point standout Toby Taylor helped SOU push the ball downfield on the ensuing series. Rudishauser appeared destined for the end zone when he took a handoff at the 4 and leaped toward paydirt, only to have a Lumberjack defender's hit knock the ball loose. Humboldt's Thomas Pardikes recovered in the end zone. "That was all my fault," Rudishauser said. "I put my head down and he was there just a little lower than me and got his helmet on the ball and it popped loose. I thought I was over the goal line, but I guess I wasn't." SOU's defense sent the Lumberjacks backward on their next drive, allowing the Raiders prime field position. A Walters pass to Dan Munoz for 29 yards and another pass to Taylor set up SOU's second touchdown as Walters lofted an 8-yard pass to Danny Negra to put the Raiders up 17-7. The Lumberjacks used the Mari to Jeff Hornacek connection to cut their deficit to 17-14, with the fourth and final connection between the duo going for a 15-yard TD. After an onside kick gave SOU great field position, Rudishauser punished the Lumberjacks on five straight carries to set up a 28-yard field goal by McGregor for the game's final points. Olson said Yates' status will remain unclear until later in the week. Olson himself showed substantial tolerance for pain after being taken out on the sidelines in the first quarter. On a punt return, Olson had his attention elsewhere when a player crashed into his left leg and tore Olson's medial collateral ligament. After being fitted with a knee brace, Olson limped his way up and down the sidelines for the remainder of the game. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.