HELENA, Mont. -- The door was nearly shut, latch almost secure, as the Fighting Saints football team held a 28-9 lead late in the third quarter.

Southern Oregon found the crack and broke through, rallying to defeat Carroll College 29-28 on Saturday in Ashland, Oregon. The Raiders scored the game's final 20 points to secure the victory. 

The Saints outgained the Raiders 408-359 in total yards, including 202 yards rushing, but a series of tough breaks -- near interceptions, dropped passes, a muffed punt -- gave SOU (1-4) just enough daylight to break through for its first win this season. 

Carroll surged to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter when Matthew Burgess scored on a 20-yard run and then Tony Collins caught a 38-yard pass from Devan Bridgewater. 

SOU responded with a field goal in the second quarter, a 37-yarder by Graycen Kennedy, but it was the Saints who led 14-3 at halftime. 

SOU added a touchdown early in the third quarter when Chase Knutz found Parker Randle for a four-yard score. 

Then, the Saints went on another run. Carroll added two more scores from Burgess, a seven-yard run and a five-yard run, to swell its lead to 28-9. 

SOU used a 13-yard run by Austin May to close the quarter and cut the lead to 28-16.

Once in the fourth, the Saints struggled to put together drives and the Raiders' desperation paid off. 

Knutz accounted for two more touchdown passes, an 18-yarder to Hykeem Massey and then a 15-yard pass to Christian Graney to give the Raiders their first lead of the day with 44 seconds remaining. 

The Saints drove past midfield, but their final Hail Mary came up short. 

Burgess came seven yards shy of once again rushing for 100 yards, but otherwise had another impeccable game, rushing for three touchdowns on 23 carries. 

Collins led the Saints receivers with three catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. 

SOU's Chase Knutz had a game-high 225 yards on 18-for-39 passing. He added three touchdown throws and a pick.

Bridgewater finished 14-for-27 for 206 yards and a touchdown to lead Carroll. 

Matt Kvech and Brian FauntLeRoy each accounted for an interception on defense, while Chase Bowen recorded 11 tackles. 

The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Saints (2-2).

The Saints have a bye next week before welcoming in No. 10 College of Idaho on Oct. 12.