Bearcats Set to Play Southern Oregon on Saturday

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team will travel to Ashland, Ore., on Saturday, Sept. 19 to take on in-state rival Southern Oregon University in a non-conference game. Kickoff between the Bearcats and Southern Oregon is set for 3 p.m. (PDT) at Raider Stadium. Both teams enter the game with a 1-1 record.

You can listen to the game through Willamette's webcast produced by Full Access Sports. Mike Allegre will provide the play-by-play, with commentary supplied by Craig Spivey. The webcast will start at approximately 2:45 p.m. Free live video also is available courtesy of Southern Oregon. Live Stats will be provided via the SOU website.

Last year, Willamette defeated Southern Oregon, 31-23, at McCulloch Stadium. WU rallied from a 17-9 halftime deficit to record the win.

Jeff Kahler (Jr., CB, Honolulu, HI/Saint Lewis School/Whitworth University) returned a fumble 52-yards for a touchdown, and Scott Schoettgen (Jr., WR, Columbia, CA/Sonora HS) hauled in a two-point conversion, to tie the game in the third quarter. After SOU kicked a pair of field goals, Jose Green (Jr., TB, Downey, CA/Warren HS) returned a punt 46 yards for a touchdown with 12:36 left in the game to give WU a 24-23 lead.

Merben Woo (Sr. in 2008) scored on a 3-yard run with 4:44 remaining to clinch the win. Willamette leads the all-time series, 14-13.

Last weekend (Sept. 12), Schoettgen caught five passes for 191 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Widing (Fr., Oregon City, OR/Canby Union HS), to lead Willamette to a 20-13 victory over California Lutheran University. Deon Horne (Sr., TB, Issaquah, WA/Liberty HS) rushed for 143 yards on 18 carries and scored on a 9-yard run. Widing went 5 of 9 passing for 164 yards.

On defense, the Bearcats registered nine quarterback sacks. Harmon Bruno (So., OLB, Danvill, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) topped the WU defensive chart with 12 total tackles, including 2.0 sacks. Andrew Ross (Sr., ILB, Petaluma, CA/Petaluma HS) added 10 tackles, while Walter Robinson, II (Jr., DE, Altadena, CA/Cathedral HS) produced nine tackles, including 2.0 sacks.

After the road game at Southern Oregon, the Bearcats will play back-to-back home games. Willamette will host the University of La Verne on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. (PDT). The 'Cats will take on Whitworth University in the Northwest Conference opener on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 2 p.m. (PDT).