CALDWELL, Idaho. — In a dramatic overtime finish, the College of Idaho football team defeated Southern Oregon, 28-21, in a thrilling Senior Night showdown at Simplot Stadium. The victory highlighted the celebration of senior players who were recognized before the game. Standouts included
Cooper Leaf, who reached a career milestone of 200 tackles during the game. Another standout performance came from
Caden Young who powered through for an 11-yard touchdown run—his fourth of the night—sealing the victory and providing a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable Senior Night.
Southern Oregon quickly asserted themselves in the first quarter, with Gunner Yates scoring a 40-yard touchdown rush to give the Raiders a 7-0 lead. Just before the quarter ended, Brian Batres added a 22-yard field goal to make it 10-0. However, the College of Idaho defense responded with a big play as
Chase Brown intercepted Asciutto's pass at the Yotes' 20-yard line and returned it 31 yards to the Southern Oregon 49-yard line, putting the Yotes in prime field position.
The second quarter saw the Yotes' defense step up, shutting down Southern Oregon's offensive threats with relentless pressure, forcing multiple punts, and limiting their yardage. Meanwhile, the College of Idaho's offense moved the ball well but struggled to convert in the red zone, coming up just short on a couple of fourth-down attempts inside Southern Oregon's 10-yard line.
The Yotes' rushing attack clicked in the third quarter, with
Caden Young scoring twice from 1 yard out to give the College of Idaho a 14-10 lead. The defense also made key plays, including
Chase Brown's second interception of the day, a 39-yard return to the 1-yard line, setting up the Yotes' second touchdown to take the lead.
Dee'Shon Swafford also added his second pivotal deflection, nearly intercepting a pass, continuing his dominance in disrupting Southern Oregon's passing game.
In the fourth quarter, Southern Oregon answered with a drive of their own. Gunner Yates rushed for a 5-yard touchdown, cutting the Yotes' lead to 21-16. Taking the risk, the Raiders went for the two-point conversion, with Cole Plum-Kazmierczak running it in to make it 21-18. Then, with just 4:55 minutes remaining, Brian Batres nailed a 26-yard field goal to tie the game at 21-all, forcing overtime.
In the extra period, it was the College of Idaho's defense that set the tone, standing tall against Southern Oregon's offense. Southern Oregon's first play saw a rush from Gunner Yates that was stopped for no gain, and a few plays later, the Raiders found themselves facing a 4th-and-8 from the Yotes' 23-yard line after Quarterback Blake Asciutto's pass attempt to Jackson Clemmer was broken up by
Jacob Arms, forcing Southern Oregon to settle for a 40-yard field goal by Brian Batres, which made the game 21-24.
With the ball now in their hands, the Yotes responded.
Caden Young, who had already rushed for three touchdowns, was determined to add one more. With the game on the line, Young powered through, rushing for the final 11 yards for his 4th rushing touchdown of the game, putting the Yotes ahead 27-24. The Yotes' defense had clamped down when it mattered most, and Young's clutch performance sealed the victory in thrilling overtime fashion.
The Yotes rushed for 243 yards on 39 attempts, while Southern Oregon managed only 161 yards on 36 attempts. College of Idaho's defense forced two interceptions, holding the Raiders to only 160 yards through the air, completing just 9 of 32 attempts. The Yotes' football season has come to a close, but the excitement doesn't end here.
Caden Young's breakout performance at the end of the season is a promising sign for the future, showcasing his potential to lead the offense next year.
