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Southern Oregon's Tyler Crowley (Palo Cedro, Calif./Bishop Quinn)'s 36-yard field goal attempt as time expired fell just short as Western Oregon scored a 24-23 victory over the Raiders today at Raider Stadium.

The NCAA Division II Wolves improved to 3-2 on the year. Southern Oregon dropped to 2-3 on the year and travels to Central Washington next weekend.

After Southern Oregon looked to be in complete control in the first half, rolling out to a 13-0 lead in the second quarter and a 13-7 halftime lead after Western took advantage of a blocked punt, the Wolves made it a game of it in the second half.

Crowley connected from 33 yards to make it a 16-7 SOU advantage, but Western answered right back with a 10-yard scoring strike from Evan Mozzochi to Trevor Roush to cut the lead to 16-14.

On SOU's next possession, senior wideout Vance Beach (Mesa, Ariz./Dobson) hauled in a 72-yard pass from Paul Sweeney (South San Francisco, Calif./Sared Heart Cathedral) and ran away from the Western defense to push the Raider lead to 23-14 heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Mozzochi trimmed the lead to 23-21 on a one-yard scamper and with 6:08 to play, Western went up 24-23 on a 42-yard field goal by Kelly Morgan.

SOU got the ball back and began moving it down the field. A pair of Beach catches and a pass interference call gave SOU the ball at the Western 38. The Raiders had trouble moving it and on 4th-and-12 with 2:15 to play, Sweeney found Beach and the senior came up with a bobbling catch for a first down.

SOU would get the ball up to the Western 19 before Crowley attempt as time ran out.

Beach finished the game with eight catches for 124 yards and a score. Sweeney competed 22 of 34 passes for 221 yards. Brandon Baldwin (Palo Cedro, Calif./Foothill) gained 68 yards on 21 carries.

Western Oregon was paced by Darryl Valdez' 89 yards on 19 carries. Justin Ore caught four balls for 65 yards.

Defensively, SOU was led by JT Gilmore (West Covina, Calif./Taft)'s 11 tackles. Gerritt Vincent had 15 tackles for the Wolves.