Box Score BOX SCORE

ATHERTON, Calif. – Southern Oregon scored 17 points in the third quarter to pull away for a 31-17 upset win over No. 24 Menlo College Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Raiders improve to 2-3 this season, while the Oaks' first loss of the season drops them to 4-1. Southern Oregon returns to action next weekend, when the Raiders host Eastern Oregon, Saturday at 1 p.m. at Raider Stadium.

The Raiders took the opening kickoff and drove 73 yards downfield on 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead, culminated with Mike Olson (Colfax, Calif./Colfax)'s four-yard touchdown run. Southern Oregon stretched its lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter with another long drive. Marshawn Friloux (Bellflower, Calif./Bellflower)'s 15-yard touchdown run capped a 10-play 83-yard drive.

The Oaks responded with their longest drive of the game to pull within a touchdown at 14-7. Matt Pelasasa one-yard touchdown run closed out the six-play 97-yard drive. Kevin Kurtz's 40-yard field goal with 3:13 remaining in the first half made it 14-10 SOU entering the break.

Southern Oregon's defense held Menlo to a three-and-out in the Oaks' opening drive of the third quarter, and a short punt gave the Raiders the ball on Menlo's 35-yardline.The Raiders picked up one first down before the drive stalled at the Menlo 22-yardline, and Tyler Crowley (Palo Cedro, Calif./Bishop Quinn) kicked the 39-yard field goal to stretch the SOU lead back to one touchdown.

The Raider defense again held strong, holding the Oaks to another three-and-out before Crowley's missed 40-yard field goal attempt gave Menlo the ball at their own 30-yardline. Two plays later, James Antaplyan (Los Angeles, Calif./Burbank) forced and recovered a fumble to give the Raiders another offensive opportunity in Menlo territory. Dodge took advantage of the short field, throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Cole McKenzie (Red Bluff, Calif./Red Bluff) on the first play to put SOU up 24-10.

A couple drives later, Pelasasa connected with Robert Adan on an 81-yard touchdown pass to again pull Menlo within one score at 24-17 with 2:36 to play in the third quarter. Southern Oregon countered with a big passing play of its own on the ensuing drive, as Dodge connected with McKenzie for a 53-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute to play in the third quarter for the final score of the game.

Dodge finished with 250 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns on 18-of-31 passing, with McKenzie leading the way with 119 yards and two scores on five total catches. Olson finished with 97 receiving yards on seven catches, and Friloux's 42 rushing yards let the team.

Pelasasa finished with 116 yards passing with one touchdown on 17-of-29 passing for the Oaks, while Adan's seven catches and 107 yards led the team.

As a team, the Raiders finished with 17 first downs while limiting Menlo to 11. The Raiders rushed for 144 yards on 47 carries while holding the Oaks to 67 yards on 27 attempts. The SOU offense totaled 394 yards, while the defense limited Menlo to 184 total yards.