Raiders rout Rocky Mountain

By KRIS HENRY

ASHLAND - When Griff Yates was running wild and setting 15 school records at Southern Oregon, it was believed the Raiders might never see talent like that again.

Little did anyone know that a redshirt freshman in 1999 would not only take over for Yates in 2000 but steal some of his thunder in 2001.

"We had an idea of what we were going to have in Dusty (McGrorty)," said SOU coach Jeff Olson, "but you couldn't have predicted all this. He's going to be something pretty special. Dusty certainly has a nose for the end zone."

McGrorty capped the first two offensive series by SOU with touchdown runs of 1 and 2 yards to break Yates' school mark with 21 scores this season and set the wheels in motion for a 50-7 rout of Rocky Mountain (3-6) on Saturday at Raider Stadium.

The resounding win moved the 10th-ranked Raiders (7-1) another step closer to a playoff berth that has eluded the team since 1987.

"I wasn't even really thinking about the record today," said McGrorty, who finished with 118 yards on 25 carries. "I just wanted to get the win but it sure is nice to get a record too."

The former Class 2A player of the year from Warrenton High certainly came to SOU with a strong pedigree, but McGrorty said the ability to redshirt as a true freshman in 1999 may be responsible for his fast start at SOU.

"It was a huge learning experience for me watching Griff (in 1999)," said McGrorty. "He taught me a lot that year."

With that 1999 season, however, came a harsh lesson for the entire Raider squad. That was the year SOU believed to have a playoff berth locked up before dropping a season-ender at Western Oregon that bounced the Raiders out of the playoff picture.

That lesson has SOU determined not to leave any doubt following next Saturday's regular-season finale at winless Eastern Oregon.

"Eastern doesn't have that good of a record but they sure can upset our season," said McGrorty. "We're treating it like the first playoff game is this weekend. We have to win that one."

If the Raiders can come out as well as they did Saturday, that shouldn't be a problem.

SOU scored on its first four possessions and might have made it five had a wide-open Adam Clinton not let a Travis Mari pass slip through his hands.

Not that the Raiders needed it, but SOU's defense picked up the slack on the ensuing series as Erube Magaña intercepted a second-down pass and raced 68 yards to paydirt for a 35-0 SOU lead.

SOU tacked on a safety a few minutes later when pressure put on by Magaña and Vaughn Morris forced Rocky Mountain punter George Warburton to bobble a snap and be tackled in the end zone.

Mari connected with Leo Stoddard for a 2-yard touchdown to close out the first-half scoring at 44-0.

Mari completed 13 of 20 passes on the day for 191 yards and three touchdowns before giving way to Dan Woodward early in the third quarter. Woodward posted similar success, going 9-for-11 for 101 yards and an 8-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Jordan that made it 50-0.

Despite a lackluster effort in the second half, SOU managed a 491-143 advantage in total offense over a Rocky Mountain team that managed only two first downs in the first half.

In fact, Warburton finished as the leading rusher for the Battlin' Bears thanks to a 28-yard effort when he pulled back a punt that was sure to be blocked by an oncoming Magaña.

"It seemed like early on they decided they weren't going to be able to run the ball and decided to throw it, and that certainly plays into the hands of our front seven," said Olson.

At Raider Stadium

Rocky Mountain....................... 0 0 0 7 -7
No. 10 Southern Oregon..... 21 23 6 0 -50

SOU - McGrorty 1 run (Manning kick)

SOU - McGrorty 2 run (Manning kick)

SOU - Negra 23 pass from Mari (Manning kick)

SOU - Clinton 11 pass from Mari (Manning kick)

SOU - Magaña 68 interception return (Manning kick)

SOU - Safety, Warburton tackled in end zone

SOU - Stoddard 27 pass from Mari (Manning kick)

SOU - Jordan 8 pass from Woodward (kick failed)

RM - Owen 6 pass from Sanchez (Duprey kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

RM SOU

First Downs 9 27

Rushes-yards 27-46 47-199

Passing yards 97 292

Comp-Att-Int 13-37-3 22-31-2

Total yards 143 491

Punts 7-42.4 2-35.5

Fumbles-lost 2-1 3-2

Penalties-yards 7-47 11-60

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

Rocky Mountain - Warburton 1-27, Owen 2-13, Albin 3-12, Anderson 2-8, Zinda 1-6, Sanchez 16-(-9), Kimmet 1-(-11).

Southern Oregon - McGrorty 25-118, Mari 4-33, Jolin 14-32, Woodward 2-9, Shrives 1-6, Wilson 1-1.

PASSING

Rocky Mountain - Sanchez 10-27-3 78, Kimmet 2-6-0 18, Anderson 1-4-0 1.

Southern Oregon - Mari 13-20-2 191, Woodward 9-11-0 101.

RECEIVING

Rocky Mountain - Owen 5-22, Anthony 4-54, Albin 2-4, Harestad 1-16, Zinda 1-1.

Southern Oregon - Stoddard 4-87, Clinton 4-45, Negra 2-34, Jordan 2-27, VanderKley 2-25, Dice 2-22, Burke 1-20, Nowland 1-10, Conrad 1-9, Shrives 1-8, Jolin 1-4, Kiefer 1-1.

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com

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