It won't be easy, Robins admits.

The Southern Oregon University sophomore is the Raiders' No. 2 tailback behind two-time NAIA All-American Griff Yates in the season opener against Eastern Oregon State. Game time is 1 p.m.

"I'll be a little uneasy when I go in," says Robins. "Those are some pretty big shoes to fill. I have to concentrate on being Chris Robins and not trying to be like Griff Yates."

Robins, who played sparingly for the Raiders two years ago before transferring to Oregon State, is back at a robust 218 pounds and ready to pack the football and block.

He will be a starting member of all of SOU's kickoff, punt, punt return and kickoff return units.

Southern Oregon, seeking its second winning season in four years, is an independent for the first time since 1953.

"We're excited to get going because we have worked so hard in fall camp," says Robins, who was moved from fullback last week.

"The coaches decided I'm more like a tailback than a fullback," says Robins. "That's fine with me. I'm 20 pounds heavier than Griff (Yates), which is good."

But trying to emulate Yates' speed and power isn't possible, says Robins. Yates has rushed for more than 3,300 yards and scored 40 touchdowns during the last two seasons.

"He's so fast and so strong," says Robins. "But I'm almost as fast. He has about a tenth of a second on me in the 40. And I'm 20 pounds bigger, but he's a great player you can't compare yourself with."

"Dan is doing great," says Robins. "There's a sense of confidence around this team that hasn't been here before. Coach (Jeff) Olson has made it clear to us that he is sick of losing. We feel the same way."

SOU posted a 5-4 record under Olson in 1997 and a 4-6 record in 1998. He has a three-year record of 13-15 entering his fourth season as head coach.

Saturday's opener is critical to the Raiders' hopes of making a run to the 1999 NAIA national playoffs. As an independent, SOU needs at least six wins in nine games and a top-20 ranking in the final regular-season poll to earn an invitation to the playoffs.

SOU dropped from the Columbia Football Association following the 1998 season when the league went to NCAA Division II guidelines and gave up its automatic berth into the NAIA national playoffs.

SOU's defensive secondary is expected to be solid with Williams and Mike Seedborg at cornerbacks, and Jenner Yriarte and honorable mention 1998 All-American J.J. Jedrykowski at safeties.

"This is the closest-knit team I've ever been around," said Williams. "Defensively, we're stacked. We expect to dominate people."

Eastern Oregon got a headstart on the Raiders last Saturday. But it came with a price.

The Mountaineers absorbed a 54-28 pounding from NCAA Division I-AA Idaho State. The Moutaineers trailed just 26-21 entering the final quarter.

In the loss, Eastern Oregon's triple-option offense generated 471 total yards, including 362 rushing.

Yates counters that running game with his offensive show.

He enters Saturday's game as the holder of 14 school records, including career and single-season rushing records.

He needs just 665 yards to break the Northwest small-college rushing record held by Dan Ruhl of Lewis & Clark College of 4,141 yards from 1988-91.

"Griff is just awesome," says Williams. "I'm glad somebody else has to tackle him Saturday. In practice, it's very hard to bring him down because he's so fast and runs so hard. It usually takes gang tackling to get him down.