LA GRANDE – The vaunted Wagon Tire is back in Southern Oregon's possession after the No. 19-ranked Raiders snatched the rivalry prize back from No. 17 Eastern Oregon in a 20-17 win that marked the start of their dual season Friday night at La Grande High School.

SOU got out to a 20-7 lead by taking five of the first seven matches and earning bonus points in four of them. It wound up as the fourth consecutive matchup between the teams decided by three or fewer points.

After SOU freshman Vonn Fenn limited top-ranked Hunter Sparks to a major decision at 125 pounds, No. 19-ranked sophomore Simon Graeber got the Raiders going with an 8-3 upset over No. 5 Braden Carson – the highest-ranked opponent he has ever defeated.

EOU opted to give top-ranked Evan Potter a forfeit victory at 141 and cut SOU's lead to 9-7 with a Jaxon Morlan decision at 149 before the Raiders took over with three consecutive wins.

No. 17 Dylan Straley (157) started the run with a 10-5 decision over AJ Rockwell, Noah Talavera (165) continued it in a 10-1 major decision over Cody Glenn, and No. 10 Alex Hernandez (174) capped it with another major, 16-3 against Wylee Lindeen.

The Raiders prevailed despite being without the services of All-American Aaron Gandara. The Wagon Tire had been in the Mountaineers' hands since Feb. 1, when they escaped Bob Riehm Arena with a 19-18 triumph after closing the dual with three consecutive wins.

SOU returns to the mat Nov. 30 for its home debut against Simpson (Calif.). That dual is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

SOUTHERN OREGON 20, EASTERN OREGON 17
125 – No. 1 Hunter Sparks, EOU, major dec. Vonn Fenn, 10-0. (0-4)
133 – No. 19 Simon Graeber, SOU, dec. No. 5 Braden Carson, 8-3. (3-4)
141 – No. 1 Evan Potter, SOU, wins by forfeit. (9-4)
149 – No. 23 Jaxon Morlan, EOU, dec. Travis Thorpe, 4-1. (9-7)
157 – No. 17 Dylan Straley, SOU, dec. AJ Rockwell, 10-5. (12-7)
165 – Noah Talavera, SOU, major dec. Cody Glenn, 10-1. (16-7)
174 – No. 10 Alex Hernandez, SOU, major dec. Wylee Lindeen, 16-3. (20-7)
184 – No. 9 Kyle Knudtson, EOU, dec. John White, 11-5. (20-10)
197 – No. 19 Jay Smith, EOU, major dec. No. 16 Andrew Herrera, 9-0. (20-14)
285 – Darrian Hoobery, EOU, dec. Sebastian Echeverria, 12-6. (20-17)