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EOU vs SOU
21
Eastern Oregon EOU 0-1 , 0-1
31
Winner Southern Oregon SOU 1-0 , 1-0
Eastern Oregon EOU
0-1 , 0-1
21
Final
31
Southern Oregon SOU
1-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
EOU Eastern Oregon 7 7 0 7 21
SOU Southern Oregon 7 10 0 14 31

Game Recap: Football | | Iain Dexter, EOU Sports Information Director

No. 7 EOU Falls 31-21 to No. 25 SOU in Season Opener

SHERWOOD, Ore. – A fourth quarter comeback attempt fell short for the No. 7 Eastern Oregon football team as the Mountaineers were defeated 31-21 by No. 25 Southern Oregon at Aaron J. Contreras Memorial Stadium at Sherwood High School.

Southern Oregon quarterback Tanner Trosin threw for 311 yards with one touchdown pass and rushed for 85 yards with another touchdown run to lead the SOU offensive attack. Both his touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, proving to be the difference in the game.

Sophomore quarterback Kai Quinn led a late comeback for the Mountaineers after falling behind 31-14 with 7:05 left in the game. 

Quinn led a nine-play, 60-yard touchdown drive in less than three minutes to cut the score to two possessions, 31-21. He connected with wide receiver Brenden Kelly for a five-yard touchdown on fourth down and goal to keep the Mountaineers in the game.

After the EOU defense came up with a big three-and-out against the Raiders, Quinn and the Mountie offense took over with 3:28 on the clock, down by 10 points. After a sack, a penalty and two incomplete passes, Quinn converted a 4th-and-20 with his legs, scrambling up the middle for 25 yards. 

Six plays later, EOU had a 1st-and-goal from the six-yard line with less than a minute on the clock. Running back John Lesser took a handoff to the left side, bouncing off a couple tacklers and stretching for the goal line, but the ball popped loose inside the one and Southern Oregon recovered to end the ballgame.

Quinn finished 10-for-22 passing with two touchdown throws and 129 yards. On the ground, he rushed for 95 yards and another touchdown to lead the offense.

Southern Oregon received the opening kickoff, but were forced to punt after just three plays. On the ensuing punt, however, safety Justin Hughes blocked it, setting up the Mountaineers at the SOU nine-yard line. Three plays later, Quinn rushed three yards for his first collegiate touchdown, giving EOU a quick 7-0 lead.

The Raiders answered with an 11-play, 67-yard drive, but stalled inside the three-yard line on third and fourth-and-goal as the Mountaineers' defense came up with another big stop. SOU got on the board before the end of the first quarter, scoring on a one-yard run by Rey Vega.

After a defensive stop, Southern Oregon drove 80 yards on 12 plays for its second-straight touchdown drive to take a 14-7 lead. Michael Roots capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.

With just 3:38 left in the first half, Quinn connected with wide receiver TJ Hancock for a 43-yard touchdown to tied the game 14-14. Quinn showed his mobility in the pocket on the play, moving to his right before shifting back through the defense to his left, hitting Hancock in stride for the big strike.

Southern Oregon ended the half with an 11-play, 74-yard drive, capping it off with a 28-yard field goal, giving the Raiders a 17-14 halftime lead.

After strong offensive shows in the first half, both defenses stepped up in the third quarter, holding the opposing offenses scoreless. SOU broke the game open in the fourth quarter, however, with back-to-back touchdowns. Trosin ran in a 15-yard touchdown with 8:56 left to go before hitting Bronsen Ader with a 74-yard strike on the first play from scrimmage on the following drive, giving the Raiders a 31-14 lead.

Kelly caught four passes for 57 yards and a touchdown to lead the EOU receiving corps. Hughes paced the defense with 11 tackles, adding in the first-quarter blocked punt, followed by linebacker Michal Arenas with 10 tackles. Cornerback Jorden Payne had four pass breakups and defensive lineman Taylor Vaandering added a sack.

Southern Oregon finished with 472 yards of offense to the Mountaineers' 294. Both teams took care of the football with no turnovers on the night.

NEXT UP:

The No. 7 Mounties will face their second-straight ranked opponent, hosting No. 19 Montana-Western on Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. in La Grande, Oregon. 
 
For more information on Eastern Oregon football, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com.

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Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu
 
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