AZUSA, CALIF. – For the past 11 games, Azusa Pacific has found strength in playing at home. However, for the first time since 1997, the Cougars were defeated in the Canyon City, as NAIA No. 11-ranked Southern Oregon ran over the Cougar defense for a 42-31 victory.

No. 5-ranked Azusa Pacific entered the game holding opponents to an average of just 82 rushing yards a game, but the Cougars had no answer for the Southern Oregon ground attack. The Raiders ground out 374 yards of total offense against the sluggish Cougar defense, and Raider tailback Griff Yates made a strong case as the best running back in the NAIA, rushing for 159 yards and 3 touchdowns on 29 carries.

Meanwhile, the Cougar offense squandered several opportunities, turning the ball over inside the Southern Oregon 30-yard line on consecutive third-quarter drives (2 of 4 Cougar turnovers) and converting just one of 5 extra point attempts.

Yates ran for 48 yards on the opening drive of the game, capping a 6-play drive with a 28-yard touchdown scamper 2 minutes and 40 seconds into the game.

The Cougars responded on their opening drive, as QB Neo Aoga connected with TB Jesse Aust for an 80-yard TD pass, but PK Mike Spellman's point after attempt was blocked. Azusa Pacific took its first lead of the game, 12-7, when Aoga found WR Deon Jordan for a 27-yard TD strike with 6:36 to go in the opening quarter, and Spellman booted the extra point attempt wide left.
Aoga, who entered the game fifth in the NAIA in passing, was 17-for-32 for 377 yards and 3 TDs.

After Southern Oregon's Dan Walters hooked up with Toby Taylor for a 25-yard TD, the Cougars took their final lead of the game with 7:36 remaining in the second quarter on Aoga's 4-yard TD run. However, his 2-point conversion pass sailed out of the end zone, and the Cougars led just 18-14.

The Raider ground attack then took over, as Yates scored the next 2 Raider touchdowns, and Mando Morlos took a Walters pass 16 yards into the end zone to give Southern Oregon a 35-18 lead with 14:55 left in the game.

The Cougars showed signs of life, scoring just 27 seconds later on an 88-yard TD pass from Aoga to Jordan, and backup QB Luke Winslow plunged over the line from a yard out to bring the Cougars to within 35-31 with 10:14 to go. Once again, the extra point attempt was blocked, and Azusa Pacific remained down by 4.

Raider running back Aaron Rudishauser put the game out of reach with his 2-yard touchdown run, capping a 7:10 drive that put the Raiders up 42-31 with 3:04 left in the game. J.J. Jedrykowski canceled the Cougars' comeback attempt, stripping the ball from WR Houn Hib with 2:27 to go, and the Raiders were able to run out the clock.

With the loss, Azusa Pacific falls to 5-2 while Southern Oregon improves to 6-1.