ASHLAND, Ore. – Southern Oregon was the spoilers on Saturday afternoon as they defeated No. 5 College of Idaho, 28-16. The win by the Raiders ended a run of four-straight Frontier Conference titles by the Yotes.
Southern Oregon took an early lead on a pair of touchdown passes by Blake Asciutto to Jackson Clemmer for a 14-0 lead. Asciutto finished the day, completing 19 of 28 passes for 187 yards and the two touchdowns.
College of Idaho cut the deficit to 14-7 with a five play, 45-yard drive after
Chip Mitchell picked off his fourth pass of the season. Facing 4
th and 13 at the SOU 17,
Andy Peters found
John Kreps for a 17-yard touchdown pass with 4:32 left in the half. Peters finished the day with 18 of 37 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. It is the ninth time on the season that he has had multiple touchdown passes and 200 yards passing.
Down 14-7 to start the second half, the Raiders stretched the lead back to 14, 21-7 when the Raiders' Spencer Kuffel intercepted a Peters pass on the third play of the half.
Again, C of I started to mount a come-from-behind effort when they picked up a safety when the Raiders' punter was sacked in the end zone to make it 21-9 contest with 10:01 left in the third quarter. After the safety and with the free kick, the Yotes came back with a four play, 54-yard touchdown drive. The touchdown came when Peters connected with
Jase Applebee for a 28-yard touchdown pass.
The Raiders again had an answer to the comeback with a 10 play, 76-yard touchdown drive. Facing 3
rd and 3, Avery McCuaig broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 28-16 with 3:57 left in the third quarter. The Raiders picked up a stop on defense, holding the Yotes on fourth down with 9:40 left in the contest. SOU came back and converted a pair of third and long plays to culminate a 14 play, 68-yard drive before settling for a 29-yard field goal with 1:35 left in the game.
The fate of the postseason for the Yotes will be with the NAIA Selection Committee as they will announce the field on Sunday at 5 p.m.