Three Raiders All-American on gridiron – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

Document text

Three Raiders All-American on gridiron Jan 20, 2000 12:00 AM A A ASHLAND-- Three Southern Oregon University football players have earned NAIA All-American status, the most in any single season in the school's history. Senior tailback Griff Yates of Coquille completed his career as the school's first three-time All-American with first-team billing, while senior center Bert Hartsock of Springfield and junior defensive back Jenner Yriarte of Eugene were second-team selections. Yates, who was a first-team pick as a sophomore in 1997 and second-team in '98, finished second in the country for scoring (14.6 per game) and sixth for rushing (154.6) despite missing the final two contests with a wrist injury. He completed his career with 28 school or regional records, including 4,559 rushing yards and 360 points. Hartsock is the school's first All-American offensive lineman, while Yriarte bounced back from an elbow injury that sidelined him for the entire 1998 campaign to become SOU's first All-American defensive back.