The Southern Oregon football team will face its second-straight NCAA Division II opponent this week, this time on the road as the Raiders travel to Ellenbsburg to face Central Washington.

The Raiders (2-3) and Wildcats (3-3) kickoff Saturday at 1 p.m.

Southern Oregon is coming off a heartbreaking 24-23 setback to D-II Western Oregon last week at home as SOU's last-second field goal just missed.

The game was a coming-out party for junior quarterback Paul Sweeney (South San Francisco, Calif./Sared Heart Cathedral). In his first start of the year, Sweeney completed 22 of 34 passes for 221 yards, including some huge plays to set up the potential game-winning field goal.

"After the Menlo game we thought that maybe Paul wasn't as far along as we thought he was, but he proved us wrong in the Western game - he proved he is a different guy and a different quarterback this year," SOU head coach Steve Helminiak said. "He was clutch and he was a leader during that game and that's what we need him to be."

Helminiak was also pleased with the Raiders' effort on defense, especially the work of the defensive backs.

The group of Randy Fesser (Portland, Ore./Heritage), James Wheeler (Los Angeles, Calif./William Hart), Shamar Gaines (New Jersey/Glassboro), Josh McOmber (Anderson, Calif./West Valley), Austin Cantrell (Redding, Calif./Foothill), Dayne Mendes (Hilmar, Calif./Hilmar) and Drew Nobles (Palo Cedro, Calif./Bishop Quinn) have held opposing offenses at bay.

"We went out and shut down a very talented receiver against Western," Helminiak said. "They are all working hard and helping this defense out. The athleticism of the group is what sets them apart. As a group, they are a lot of D-I talented guys and it shows. They are veteran football players and very smart."

Central Washington dropped its first GNAC game since 2004 last week when it fell to Humboldt State 25-24. The Wildcats were ranked 21st in the D-II poll going into that game.

Bryson Kelly leads the Wildcats on the ground with 656 yards rushing. Quarterback Ryan Robertson has completed 61 percent of his passes.

"Central is an outstanding football program," Helminiak said. "They have an outstanding coaching staff with a lot of high calibur players. They went along way last year in the playoffs and are just as talented this year."