LA GRANDE – For the fourth week in a row and fifth time in 2026, a Southern Oregon University football game came down to the final play. The latest, Saturday's 49-45 loss to Eastern Oregon at Community Stadium, ended in more heartbreak.
After bringing the Raiders 66 yards downfield in just over a minute to EOU's 17-yard line, quarterback
Dom Montiel took the final snap with one second remaining, faced heavy pressure and threw up a prayer to the end zone that went unanswered.
The Mountaineers improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Frontier Conference West Division. In a game that featured eight lead changes, they claimed the last one with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Chase Nelson to Coby Tanioka with 1:06 remaining.
That was the fifth TD the teams combined for in the fourth quarter alone, and it briefly appeared to clinch the outcome. The Mountaineers also looked like they had the game in hand a few minutes earlier, when, leading 42-38, Payton Howe ran back his second pick-six of the game. But it was wiped off the board upon review as Montiel's pass on the play was deemed to hit the ground before popping up off a receiver and into Howe's hands.
On the very next play, Montiel hit tight end
Milan Reilly in the end zone for a 25-yard score that gave the Raiders a 45-42 edge with 3:26 left. The Mountaineers responded with their eight-play, 65-yard drive capped by Nelson's decisive touchdown catch.
The Raiders fell to 2-5 and 1-2 entering next week's Homecoming game in Ashland against Arizona Christian. Their last four games have been decided by eight points combined.
Montiel completed 32-of-53 attempts for 369 yards, including TD passes of 94 yards to
Jamin Miller (on the game's first play from scrimmage), four yards to
Fresh Ison, and the last one to Reilly. Ison also provided 103 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Miller added a second rushing TD.
SOU had a 533-395 advantage in total yardage. The Raider defense also came through with its first two takeaways of the season, both in critical spots.
The Mountaineers lined up for a 47-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, but the snap went through their holder's hands and
Isaiah Griffin retrieved it for a 50-yard touchdown return to give SOU a 24-21 edge at the break. Early in the fourth quarter, with the Raiders trailing 30-35, SOU defensive back
Jude Mendoza forced receiver Tyler Creswick to fumble with a big hit and
Bryson Kievit jumped on the ball. Five plays later, the Raiders were in the end zone and back in front.
It was the highest-scoring game between the teams since 2012.
