ASHLAND, Ore. – The No. 11 Carroll College football team fell 28-27 on the road to No. 2 Southern Oregon when a two-point conversion pass from
Mac Roche to
Chase Fossum was deflected in the back of the end zone and the Raiders held on for the win.
The loss drops Carroll to 3-3 on the Season while SOU sits in a tie for first-place in the Frontier with a 5-1 record.
The Saints twice had opportunities to end the game in regulation but a field goal attempt with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter hit the right upright.
On the ensuing possession, Raiders drove to their own 40-yard line but the Carroll defense stiffened and forced the Raiders to punt. The Saints offense drove to the 11-yard line with one second on the clock and attempted a field goal to seal the win.
A mishandled snap and ensuing tackle ended regulation and put the game into overtime.
The Raiders received the ball first and Southern Oregon running back Sean Tow dove into the end zone from two yards out to put SOU up 28-21.
Carroll answered with a one-yard run from
Dylan Green and after a timeout the Saints offense returned to the field.
Roche took the snap and rolled right. Fossum was open coming across the back of the end zone but SOU cornerback Karrington Jones closed the gap and knocked the ball away to give the Raiders the win.
SOU opened the scoring in the first quarter with an 8-yard run by quarterback Tanner Trossin with 5:56 left in the frame. Carroll answered just over two minutes late with a
Ryan Walsh 22-yard reception to cap a 64-yard, five-play drive.
A muffed punt gave the Raiders the ball at the Carroll 40-yard line and Kamerun Smith found Adonis Griffin for the 40-yard touchdown pass to again give the Raiders the lead.
The Raiders added to their lead with an 87-yard touchdown drive, capped by an 11-yard Sean Tow touchdown carry to give SOU a 21-7 lead at the break.
The Carroll defense played great football in the second half to hold the potent SOU offense scoreless after the break. The Saints also forced three fumbles and an interception, which they parleyed into two touchdowns.
The Saints scored on their first possession of the second half, a four-yard Green touchdown capped an 11-play 73-yard drive to cut the deficit to 21-14.
Fumble on the next SOU possession, which led to a 57-yard touchdown run by Walsh to tie the game up at 21 with 6:00 left in the third quarter.
Neither team could get on the board in the fourth quarter despite two trips to the red zone for the Saints.
Roche had his most effective game of the season, he was 25-of-41 for 343 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Walsh led the Saints with five receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Troy Arntson tallied seven catches for 96 yards and
Eric Dawson picked up 61 yards on five receptions.
Green had an admirable game to lead the Saints rushing attack with 63 yards on 18 carries. He also tallied two touchdowns. The Saints combined for 113 yards on the ground.
Greg Tucker, Adam Debruycker and
Gus Somerfeld all had fumble recoveries for the Saints.
Ryan Gregory gathered in an interception.
James Dowgin led Carroll with nine tackles.
Stephen Delaney made his 2015 football debut. The wide receiver had stepped away from football in the spring to concentrate on track where he earned All-American 400 meter hurdles honors. He rejoined the Saints this week to help bolster a Carroll wide receiving corps that has been hamstrung by injuries.
Delaney made only one catch for 11 yards but he also had three kick returns for 55 yards including a long of 24.
The Saints return to Nelson Stadium for back-to-back home games, beginning with Montana Tech Saturday at 1 p.m. The Orediggers defeated Carroll 19-10 earlier this season in Butte and sit in a tie with Southern Oregon for the top spot in the Frontier at 5-1.
