ASHLAND, Ore. – The 2011 Southern Oregon football broke camp Wednesday in preparation of its season opener Saturday against Montana Tech in Butte, Mont.

Southern Oregon head football coach Craig Howard offered a glimpse into what's gone on the past three weeks at camp in anticipation of the season opener.

“Our boys are excited that we're heading into game week,” Howard said. “Our players have worked extremely hard in the last three weeks to get ready for our first game.”

More than 100 players opened camp with the team as the Raiders begin a new era with a new coaching staff and a new look with red home uniforms. The 2011 squad will return six starters, led by senior quarterback Mike McDonald (Burbank, Calif./Burbank), who returns to the starting job after suffering a compound leg fracture in last season's fourth game.

“McDonald's savvy and leadership are a definite plus for our offense,” Howard said. “It's just a great human interest story to see this young man fight through that adversity and become our starting quarterback.”

The Raiders' depth chart for the Montana Tech game lists 16 senior starters, including four along the offensive line. Howard believes that team-wide experience is key to the growth of the team.

“We have an outstanding senior class,” Howard said. “They've done a great job providing leadership.”

Among the starting offensive linemen, Howard singled out right guard Zach Urrutia (Maxwell, Calif./Maxwell) as another great human interest story after he fractured vertebrae last season – a potentially career-ending injury. In the midst of a line that returns all five starters, Howard also praised true freshman Drew Gibson (Medford, Ore./North Medford) for working his way up the depth chart to the backup right tackle spot.

Brandon Baldwin (Palo Cedro, Calif./Foothill) returns at tailback for his fourth year as a starter, and Howard believes Baldwin could garner All-American attention by the end of the season. Leading the way for Baldwin at fullback will be transfer Manny Barragan (Yreka, Calif./Yreka), who previously played at Shasta Junior College.

Shane Kirkpatrick (Eugene, Ore./North Eugene) and Cole McKenzie (Red Bluff, Calif./Red Bluff) will line up as starting wide receivers against Montana Tech, giving the Raiders size at the pass-catching position as Kirkpatrick stands 6-3 and McKenzie measures 6-2. Mike Olson (Colfax, Calif./Colfax) will start in the slot as the Raiders look to spread the offense and air it out.

Howard had a lot of praise for the Raiders defense entering the season.

“Our defense is going to be a fun defense to watch this year,” Howard said. “our philosophy on defense is to be an attacking, swarming defense that gang tackles and makes big plays.”

Four seniors will fill out the starting secondary, spearheaded by safeties Austin Cantrell (Redding, Calif./Foothill) and Drew Nobles (Palo Cedro, Calif./Bishop Quinn). Senior middle linebacker Justin Akau (Makawao, Hawaii/King Kekualike) and senior weak side linebacker Mike Springer anchor a linebacking crew that “does a great job of leading that defense and flying to the football,” Howard said.

Along the defensive line, Howard has high hopes for junior Juwuan Brown (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly), calling him an “outstanding prospect right in the middle that causes havoc between the tackles,” and mentioning possible All-American consideration.

Punter Tyler Crowley (Palo Cedro, Calif./Bishop Quinn) and kicker Colin Amsler (Stevenson Ranch, Calif./West Ranch) will lead the special teams unit, where Howard considered one of the most competitive situations in fall camp to be the battle for the kicking positions.

As camp closed Wednesday and the team prepared to leave for Butte on Thursday, Howard was ready for the team to put on the uniforms and face Montana Tech.

“Training camp is a 24-hour-a-day type of affair where you're working on football,” Howard said. “It's time to play a football game.”