LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon concluded their final home game of the season on Saturday, where they faced a 41-24 defeat against the Raiders of Southern Oregon.
The first quarter saw Eastern Oregon take an early lead with Andre Martinez’s explosive 90-yard run, followed by a successful Ethan Cutler kick. However, Southern Oregon quickly responded with a 20-yard pass from Blake Asciutto to Jackson Clemmer, tying the score at 7-7.
In the second quarter, Eastern Oregon took the lead again with a 43-yard field goal by Ethan Cutler, but Southern Oregon surged ahead with two touchdowns. First, Clemmer made a 20-yard reception from Asciutto, and then Gunner Yates found the end zone with a 71-yard reception. SOU kicker Brian Batres later added a 35-yard field goal, making the halftime score 24-17 in favor of Southern Oregon.
Southern Oregon extended their lead into the second half. Avery McCuaig scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter, followed by Sawyer Cleveland’s 44-yard reception. Southern Oregon also secured a field goal with Brian Batres kicking from 42 yards out.
In the waning minutes of the game, Eastern Oregon managed to close the gap with an impressive 92-yard pass from Luke Ross to Malachi Spurrier, ending the game with a score of 41-24 in Southern Oregon’s favor.
Wide receiver Malachi Spurrier stood out for the Mounties in Saturday’s contest, recording eight receptions for 119 yards, including a remarkable 92-yard touchdown catch. Linebacker Josh Mendoza was a force to be reckoned with on defense, amassing a career-high 16 tackles and recording 1.5 tackles for a loss. Defensive end Jason Grant also had a strong performance, tallying 10 tackles and recording a sack.
For Southern Oregon, quarterback Blake Asciutto had a standout game, completing 19 of 31 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Jackson Clemmer was a key target, making two touchdown receptions with an impressive 20 yards per catch. On the defensive side, safety Seth Miller made a significant impact with three tackles and an interception, while linebacker Ty Glumbik contributed eight total tackles.
Saturday also marked Senior Night for 12 Mountaineers, recognizing Willie Camp, Josh Mendoza, Drew Reyes, Carson Bohning, Luke Ross, Joey Gutierrez, Wesley McIlwaine, Travis McGee, Lonnie Slapinski, Andrew Lusco, and Karson Brown for their contributions to Eastern Oregon Football.
The Mounties will travel to Dillon, Montana for a rematch with Montana Western on Saturday, set to kick off at 1:00 p.m. MT.
