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Raiders hurt by low numbers in opening loss
By Staff Reports
Friday, March 30, 2007 | 1 comment(s)
Southwestern Oregon Raiders head coach Ron Wigington's assessment of the team's season opener last weekend was simple.
“We need more players,” he said.
The Raiders lost 30-0 to the visiting Rogue Warriors of Medford.
The Raiders were down to 18 players for much of the contest after two were injured.
“We had guys going both ways most of the game,” Wigington said.
The Raiders, who struggled on offense, kept the game close for a half with strong defense.
“It was a 13-0 game midway through the third quarter,” Wigington said. “Then the guys kind of ran out of gas. They were tired. We didn't have bodies to give them rest.”
In contrast, the Warriors had more than 50 players.
“They were subbing people in and out,” Wigington said. “To their credit, they're a good football team with a lot of talent and we just didn't have the horses to stay with them.”
The Raiders also didn't muster any offense.
“Offensively, we have a lot of work to do,” Wigington said. “Early on, we weren't able to sustain any drives of any kind, missing blocks, not recognizing the defenses and picking up positions we should. We'll be working on that this week.”
On the flip side, the Raiders played well on special teams.
“We were able to get decent field position,” Wigington said. “We just weren't able to do anything with it.”
The defense was hampered by turnovers that gave the Warriors the ball deep in Southwestern Oregon territory three times. Missed tackles at inopportune times also aided drives by the Warriors.
“We've got to work on our tackling a little bit,” Wigington said, adding that fatigue led to several misses.
“It would be really nice to have another 10 or 15 guys to help us out.”
Wigington did like the heart shown by the team.
“I appreciate the way our guys fought clear through to the end,” he said. “Even with the cramps and stuff, they still played hard.”
Wigington hopes several players who were injured and missed the season opener can be in the lineup this week when Southwestern hosts the Umpqua Valley Knights. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Coquille High School.
Umpqua Valley is 1-0 in league, having beaten the High Desert Lightning 36-29 in the opener last weekend.
“They just came off the biggest win in the history of their franchise,” Wigington said. “They're definitely much improved.”
Wigington hopes his own team is much improved over the first week.
“We'll come out this week, ready to go and up on a new show,” he said.
“We need more players,” he said.
The Raiders lost 30-0 to the visiting Rogue Warriors of Medford.
The Raiders were down to 18 players for much of the contest after two were injured.
“We had guys going both ways most of the game,” Wigington said.
The Raiders, who struggled on offense, kept the game close for a half with strong defense.
“It was a 13-0 game midway through the third quarter,” Wigington said. “Then the guys kind of ran out of gas. They were tired. We didn't have bodies to give them rest.”
In contrast, the Warriors had more than 50 players.
“They were subbing people in and out,” Wigington said. “To their credit, they're a good football team with a lot of talent and we just didn't have the horses to stay with them.”
The Raiders also didn't muster any offense.
“Offensively, we have a lot of work to do,” Wigington said. “Early on, we weren't able to sustain any drives of any kind, missing blocks, not recognizing the defenses and picking up positions we should. We'll be working on that this week.”
On the flip side, the Raiders played well on special teams.
“We were able to get decent field position,” Wigington said. “We just weren't able to do anything with it.”
The defense was hampered by turnovers that gave the Warriors the ball deep in Southwestern Oregon territory three times. Missed tackles at inopportune times also aided drives by the Warriors.
“We've got to work on our tackling a little bit,” Wigington said, adding that fatigue led to several misses.
“It would be really nice to have another 10 or 15 guys to help us out.”
Wigington did like the heart shown by the team.
“I appreciate the way our guys fought clear through to the end,” he said. “Even with the cramps and stuff, they still played hard.”
Wigington hopes several players who were injured and missed the season opener can be in the lineup this week when Southwestern hosts the Umpqua Valley Knights. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Coquille High School.
Umpqua Valley is 1-0 in league, having beaten the High Desert Lightning 36-29 in the opener last weekend.
“They just came off the biggest win in the history of their franchise,” Wigington said. “They're definitely much improved.”
Wigington hopes his own team is much improved over the first week.
“We'll come out this week, ready to go and up on a new show,” he said.
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