SOU-Montana Tech Boxscore

The Southern Oregon University football team overcame a 12-0 deficit to knock off 21st-ranked Montana Tech 30-25 tonight in Butte, Mont.

The Raiders are now 1-0 on the season and going back to last year have won three in a row. Montana Tech, picked to finish second in the Frontier Conference, opens the season 0-1.

After falling behind 3-0 on Tech's opening possession, a pair of SOU miscues led to a 12-0 Oredigger lead at the beginning of the second quarter.

The Raiders quickly bounced back, cutting the lead to 12-7 on a run by senior Marlon Rosales (San Jose, Calif./Santa Teresa).

The SOU defense tightened in the second quarter with a pair of second quarter interceptions by Jason Young (Los Angeles, Calif./St. Marys).

The second pick led to a Bryan Lee-Lauduski (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad) touchdown pass to Brandon Stout (Tacoma, Wash./Bellamine Prep) for a 13-12 SOU lead going into halftime.

"We bounced back after that first quarter," SOU head coach Steve Helminiak said. "That's something that wouldn't have happened the last two years."

The SOU defense came up with its third interception of the game early in the third quarter and the offense cashed it in with a Lee-Lauduski to Brian Harding (Clackamas, Ore./Clackamas) touchdown strike to push the lead to 20-12.

Tech cut the lead to 20-18, but SOU came right back and moved the ball down the field, answering the score with Stout's second touchdown reception of the game and a 27-18 SOU lead to end the third quarter.

The Orediggers again bounced back and cut the advantage to two at 27-25, but Lee-Lauduski and the Raider defense wouldn't give up.

Lee-Lauduski connected on three third down conversions and senior Corey O'Neill connected on a field goal to push the lead to 30-25 with 3:34 to play.

The Raider defense finished out the game with another interception and then a sack on the last Oredigger play to ice the game.

"We came out and played intense," Helminiak said. "We've got a lot of room for improvement, but this is a great start. The defense stepped up when it had to and the offense line played great." 

Lee-Lauduski finished 29 of 41 for 240 yards and the three scores. Rosales led SOU on the ground with 78 yards rushing, while Price caught eight balls for 92 yards.

The SOU defense held Tech to 265 yards of offense.

SOU returns to Raider Stadium next Saturday when they host Humboldt State at 6 p.m.