Document text
Raiders run over Linfield Mail Tribune / Andrew Mariman The defense never rested as SOU blanks No. 5 Wildcats By KRIS HENRY ASHLAND - The National Weather Service issued a storm-front warning for the Rogue Valley 30 minutes prior to kickoff Saturday night at Raider Stadium. Second-ranked Linfield should have paid heed. Even though the wind and rain never hit, the Southern Oregon defense did, battering the Division III Wildcats from all directions in a 29-0 spanking. The Raider defense stuffed Linfield all night, and NAIA ninth-ranked SOU discovered yet another offensive weapon in a marquee matchup that would have left the casual observer perplexed as to which program was the state's true small-college football power. "We didn't let them breathe," said SOU coach Jeff Olson. "We kept a lot of pressure on them on both sides of the ball." The win snapped Linfield's 10-game regular-season winning streak and marked the first time the Wildcats have been shut out since 1997. Although the Raider defenders didn't expect to post a shutout, safety Nick Daniken said they knew they were capable of such a feat. "With the tempo we play and the way we play, we knew we could do it," said the former Crater High star. "We just had to show up and play, and I think we did that and proved we're one hell of a defense." SOU (2-0) held Linfield (1-1) to four first downs in the game, two coming off Raider penalties, and only 40 yards of total offense on 43 plays. "As a defense, we're a little quiet at times, but there is just so much building in us," said Daniken. "We've got a lot of heart and desire, and we're starting to get that ball rolling. We feel we can play with any team in the nation." Whether it was James Powers, Gilbert Roman, Kodiak Malmstrom or Garret Gelker coming off the defensive line, Linfield had no answer. Trying to hold back SOU linebacker Erube Maga�a or secondary mates Daniken, Toby Walker, Brad Kudlac or Mike Seedborg proved too much of a task for the Wildcats as well. "They're playing with confidence and can't wait to get on the field," Olson said of his defense. "They're just out there having fun." Fun had a different meaning for SOU quarterback Travis Mari, whose free-wheeling nature helped the Raiders rack up 380 yards of total offense. Despite being repeatedly flushed out of the pocket, Mari still made things happen as he completed 22 of 30 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Eleven of those passes were hauled in by Leo Stoddard for 107 yards. Mari also scrambled for 32 yards to set up SOU's first score, a 14-yard pass to Danny Negra. "Linfield just said they were going to tee off and come after us," said Olson. "They're an outstanding football team, but Travis is a pretty special quarterback. He creates a lot of things." Much of the offense fell on Mari's shoulders early, with starting tailback Dusty McGrorty sidelined by bruised ribs and backup Bill Jolin carted off with a knee injury early in the second quarter. Given the chance to play in the first half for the first time in his short SOU career, third-string sophomore Shawn Wilson showed just how deep the Raider stable of running backs is. Wilson rumbled for 13 yards in the second quarter and then broke loose in the second half to finish with 102 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. "It's nice to go in the game when they need you and not when you're up by so many points," said Wilson, who rushed for 21 yards in the fourth quarter of last week's 48-6 romp of Montana State-Northern. "I'm just glad I had a chance to step up, and I'm glad the coaches had the confidence in me to put me in. I worked really hard in the summer, and that was just my chance." Wilson's bruising style had Wildcats continually bouncing off the Alaska native. Most important, Wilson didn't turn the ball over and was pushed backwards on only one play. "One of the things we try to impress upon the kids is that when your chance comes, take it. And Shawn did tonight," said Olson. Daniken and company were also impressed with Wilson's ability to step in, noting that a good offense can provide a huge assist for the defense. "The offense helped us a lot tonight," said Daniken. "They kept us off the field and kept us fresh. Those guys really busted it down there in the trenches. Everybody just sold out for us and that's what we had to do." But as pleased with each other as the Raiders were leaving Raider Stadium, Olson offered a word of warning to not get too caught up in Saturday's triumph. "We learned a couple years ago when we beat Linfield up there that a season is not made just by beating Linfield," he said. "It certainly helps, but now we have another opponent coming in here next week in Simon Fraser. That's two wins. Now we have to go for three." Consider yourself warned, Simon Fraser. At Raider Stadium Linfield 0 0 0 0 -0 Southern Oregon 6 16 0 7 -29 SOU - Negra 14 pass from Mari (kick failed) SOU - Negra 8 pass from Mari (Mari pass failed) SOU - Clinton 3 pass from Mari (Manning kick) SOU - FG Manning 37 SOU - Wilson 1 run (Manning kick) TEAM STATISTICS Lin SOU First Downs 4 27 Rushes-yards 25-30 52-165 Passing yards 10 215 Comp-Att-Int 3-18-2 22-30-2 Total yards 40 380 Punts 9-41.9 4-35.8 Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0 Penalties-yards 4-37 5-48 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Linfield - Williams 12-23, Fisher 7-18, Kluse 2-2, Cooney 1-1, Yen 1-0, Matthews 2-(minus 14). Southern Oregon - Wilson 23-102, McGrorty 12-41, Mari 13-16, Jolin 4-6. PASSING Linfield - Kluse 2-10-2 11, Matthews 1-8-0 (minus 1). Southern Oregon - Mari 22-30-2 215. RECEIVING Linfield - Wood 1-6, Buchheit 1-5, Williams 1-(minus 1). Southern Oregon - Stoddard 11-107, Negra 5-68, Thompson 1-13, VanderKley 1-12, Jordan 1-12, Dice 1-6, Clinton 1-3, Wesolowski 1-(minus 6). A - 2,750. Time - 2:35. 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.