Sophomore Brandon Baldwin rushed for 195 yards as Southern Oregon University successfully opened the 2009 football season with a 32-28 victory over Eastern Washington today at Raider Stadium in Ashland. Baldwin, a transfer from Shasta Junior College, carried 37 times and scored twice.
The SOU defense stepped up in the fourth quarter. An interception by Scott Graves gave SOU the ball to start the quarter. The offense responded with a 12-play, 96-yard drive that was capped by a Baldwin 1-yard plunge to cut the Eastern Oregon lead to 28-26 with 7:45 to play. The Raider defense again responded on Eastern’s next possession as Sunni Ali and Graves both stopped Eastern Oregon rush attempts for negative yards, and on fourth down, Jarrod Moroni blocked an Eastern Oregon punt, with Nick Cook recovered for the Raiders.
Baldwin then carried twice and gave the Raiders the lead for the first time in the game at 32-28 with a 7-yard TD with 4:51 to play.
SOU’s Nate Best sealed the win by picking off Chris Ware’s pass with 1:13 to play.
Raider sophomore quarterback Paul Sweeney passed for 222 yards and a touchdown. He was 18-for-32. Vance Beach had six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
