SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University scored three touchdowns covering 49 yards or more in the first half, including runs of 50 yards and 77 yards by Terrell Malley (So., TB), starting the Bearcats on their way to a 42-24 victory over Southern Oregon University on Saturday, Sept. 18 at McCulloch Stadium.
Box Score: WU 42, SOU 24 F
Willamette, ranked #13 in NCAA Division III, improved to 2-1. SOU,
ranked #24 in the NAIA, fell to 2-1.
Malley ended the game with eight carries for 170 yards and his two
first-half scores for the Bearcats. Brian Widing (So., QB)
completed 6 of 8 passes for 127 yards. He threw a 49-yard touchdown
pass to Matt Williams (So., FL) midway through the first
quarter.
The Bearcats led 21-10 at the intermission and led by at least 11
points throughout the second half. Willamette finished with 432
total yards on just 56 offensive plays, including 305 rushing yards
on 46 carries (6.6 avg.). Southern Oregon gained 415 yards on 80
offensive plays.
Southern Oregon drove 73 yards on 10 plays to open the game and
take a 7-0 lead. The key play occurred on 3rd-and-8 at the SOU 44,
when quarterback Mike McDonald completed a 43-yard pass to Vance
Beach. The play brought the Raiders to the WU 13-yard line. Isiah
Watson caught a 9-yard touchdown pass three plays later. Tyler
Crowley kicked the extra point.
The Bearcats needed just four plays to tie the game, despite
starting at their own 23. On the second play, Widing connected with
Scott Schoettgen (Sr., WR) for an 18-yard pass completion. Two
plays later, SOU missed a coverage assignment, and Widing hit a
very wide open Williams for a 49-yard score. Kyle Derby converted
the PAT.
WU's next possession was even shorter. On the third play, Malley
broke through the middle and cut outside to start a 50-yard
touchdown run with 3:10 left in the opening quarter. Willamette
remained in front 14-7 when the game moved into the second
quarter.
Malley's second touchdown covered 77 yards and completed a
three-play, 92-yard drive with 9:51 left in the first half. For
most of the run, Malley carried the ball down the sideline, but he
managed to narrowly avoid two tacklers near the SOU 20-yard line.
He cut toward the middle of the field, and then heading into the
end zone.
The Raiders drove to the WU 25-yard line on the ensuing
possession, but they were unable to score. Crowley missed a 42-yard
field goal attempt.
On the next play, Willamette lost a fumble. Again the defense held
and forced SOU to punt. The Bearcats had the ball for just one
play, as James Wheeler caused a fumble by Schoettgen at the end of
a 34-yard pass play. Sam Latham recovered the ball for Southern
Oregon.
This time, SOU drove from its own 44 to the WU 9-yard line before
settling for a 24-yard field goal by Crowley. The kick cut
Willamette's lead to 21-10.
After forcing Willamette to punt, the Raiders took over at the SOU
48 with eight seconds left. A 13-yard pass to Beach was followed by
an incomplete pass. On the final play of the half, McDonald threw
the ball deep into a group of players near the goal line.
Watson caught the ball at the WU 2, but the half expired on the
play. SOU also was flagged for an illegal formation on the play,
but the Bearcats declined the penalty to end the half.
Each team turned the ball over on its first two possessions of the
second half. The teams survived the first three turnovers, but the
fourth, a fumble by SOU running back Brandon Baldwin was returned
for a touchdown. Dominic David (So., S, Keizer, OR/South Salem
HS/Portland State Univ.) forced the fumble. Taylor grabbed the ball
and dashed 19 yards for the score.
Willamette's Cody Pastorino (So., S) and Jordan Weil (So., ILB)
each intercepted a pass later in the third quarter. Weil's pick-off
led to a WU touchdown 11 plays, 57 yards and 6:41 later, when Jose
Green (Sr., TB, Downey, CA/Warren HS) scored on a 20-yard run with
10:22 left.
Trailing 35-10, SOU responded with a nine-play drive that used
just 2:50 off the clock. McDonald finished the drive by hitting
Danny Keenan with a 5-yard touchdown pass. After forcing WU to
punt, the Raiders added another nine-play drive. Keenan hauled in a
9-yard scoring strike from McDonald to end the drive and pull SOU
within 35-24.
WU completed the scoring on its next possession following an
onside kick. On the eighth play of the drive, Jake Turner (So., FL)
scored on a 3-yard run with 2:33 left.
Malley's 170 yards set a career high and represented his first
100-yard game for the Bearcats. WU's rushing attack also included
41 yards on nine carries by Jamiere Abney (So., TB) and 26 yards on
five carries by fullback Aaron Cavette (Sr., Port Townsend, WA/Port
Townsend HS). Overall, 10 Bearcats contributed to the running
game.
For Southern Oregon, McDonald completed 25 of 42 passes for 349
yards and two touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions and
was sacked four times. Back-up quarterback Paul Sweeney was 1 of 4
for 15 yards. Vance Beach led SOU in receiving with eight catches
for 187 yards. The Raiders rushed for just 51 yards on 33
carries.
There were a total of nine turnovers in the wet and rainy
conditions. Southern Oregon lost the ball five times, while
Willamette threw one interception and lost three fumbles.
Ralph Pineda (Sr., ILB) led Willamette's defense with 10 total
tackles. Walter Robinson II (Sr., DE) added nine tackles, including
two tackles for losses and a sack.
In addition to scoring for the Bearcats on a fumble return, Taylor
also intercepted a pass and registered eight tackles. Weil and Matt
Parr (So., ILB) also earned eight tackles apiece.
J.T. Gilmore was SOU's top tackler with 12 stops (7 solo, 5
assists), including three tackles for losses. Kalli Robinson
provided the Raiders with eight tackles.
The Bearcats have an open date next weekend. Willamette will open
Northwest Conference play against Linfield College on Saturday,
Oct. 2. Game time in McMinnville, Ore., is set for 1:30 p.m.