ASHLAND, Ore. – The #9 Southern Oregon Raiders played a very different opponent in their second “home game” of the 2014 season. However, much like SOU’s 38-35 win over Carroll College at Ashland High School on Sept. 6, the Raiders pulled off another hard-fought battle on Saturday, eventually dispatching of College of Idaho with a 56-28 win.
The score is not indicative of the closeness of the game. In fact, the Yotes jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter. Sean McShane tied the game in the 2nd quarter with a 22-yard touchdown reception and then helped the Raiders take the lead with a highlight-reel catch and run later in the quarter. College of Idaho tied the game again early in the 2nd half, but a 62-yard touchdown reception by Matt Retzlaff gave SOU a lead it would never surrender again.
Austin Dodge returned to his “video game numbers” with 476 passing yards and five touchdowns. Melvin Mason rushed for 90 yards and a score, and Keegan Lawrence carried the ball three times for 58 yards and two total touchdowns. McShane had eight receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns while Dylan Young totaled 101 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.
Southern Oregon (4-0, 3-0 in Frontier Conference) goes back on the road next week to play Montana State-Northern (1-3, 0-3 in Frontier Conference).