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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 5, 2015)
SPORTS Saturday, September 5, 2015 East Oregonian Page 3B Beavers win Andersen’s debut College Football that performance, that Seth is our starter,” Andersen said. *DUUHWW 2ZHQV DGGHG IRXU ¿HOG CORVALLIS — Seth Collins won goals for the Beavers as Andersen himself the starter’s job for Oregon HPEDUNVRQKLV¿UVWVHDVRQIROORZLQJ State. the departure of longtime coach Mike The true freshman threw a pair Riley, who went to Nebraska. of touchdown passes, including a Transitioning from Riley’s 44-yard fourth-quarter strike SURVW\OHRIIHQVHWRDUXQ¿UVW to Jordan Villamin, to lead spread, Andersen and new the Beavers to a 26-7 victory offensive coordinator Dave Friday night over Weber State Baldwin wanted to give both in Gary Andersen’s debut as Oregon St. Collins and McMaryion live- head coach. game experience. Collins went into the game “When I stepped out on sharing quarterback duties WKH¿HOGLWIHOWJRRGLWUHDOO\ with redshirt freshman Marcus just felt good,” Collins said. McMaryion as the Beavers “Obviously I had the jitters, Weber St. adjust to a new spread offense but I wasn’t scared. I just felt under Andersen, who came to pretty good.” Corvallis after two years in McMaryion served on the Wisconsin. scout team last year and said In addition to two TD passes, he learned a lot from former Beavers Collins led the Beavers with 152 yards quarterback Sean Mannion, who rushing — the most for an Oregon graduated after a record-setting senior State quarterback since Tim Alexander season and went to the St. Louis ran for 205 against Northern Illinois in Rams. Collins arrived at Oregon State 1996. One of his runs in the second early and impressed coaches in the quarter was capped by an acrobatic annual spring game, throwing for 175 hurdle over a defender. yards and two touchdowns while also “I think we’d say after that game, running for 74 yards. By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press 26 7 AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez Oregon State quarterback Seth Collins leaps over Weber State’s Josh Burton in the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Corvallis, Ore. Ore- gon State defeated Weber State 26-7. Josh Burton intercepted McMaryion for an 8-yard touchdown return late in the third quarter for Weber State’s lone score. Oregon State went 5-7 — out of the bowl picture — last season under Riley. Weber State, which plays in the Big Sky Conference, went 2-10 last VHDVRQLQ-D\+LOO¶V¿UVW\HDUDVKHDG coach. Andersen recruited Hill to Utah when Hill was a promising young cornerback nearly two decades ago, and the two later worked on the Utes’ staff together under coach Kyle Whit- tingham. Weber State junior quarterback -DGULDQ &ODUN ZKR VWDUWHG WKH ¿QDO ¿YH JDPHV ODVW VHDVRQ DQG WKUHZ IRU 902 yards and seven touchdowns, completed 19 of 35 passes for 120 yards and an interception against Oregon State. 7KH%HDYHUVZHQWXSLQWKH¿UVW KDOI RQ D SDLU RI ¿HOG JRDOV ² IURP 30 and 40 yards out — as both teams struggled to sustain drives. Collins started the second half and FDSSHG KLV ¿UVW GULYH ZLWK D \DUG scoring pass to Victor Bolden, Oregon State’s top returning receiver. Is Adams ready for the spotlight? Petersen falls short as Broncos beat Huskies By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press EUGENE — In perhaps the ultimate irony of college football’s opening weekend, quarterback Vernon Adams makes his debut for Oregon against his former team, Eastern Washington. The No. 7 Ducks face the Big Sky’s Eagles on Saturday in Autzen Stadium. Oregon Coach Mark Helfrich says the game is more about how Adams fares with the Ducks than how he fares against his former team. “It is a rare and somewhat unfortunate set of circum- stances that it is him versus them,” Helfrich said. “It’s not that.” Adams announced in February that he would transfer to Oregon for his senior season, taking advantage of an NCAA rule that allowed him to join the Ducks without sitting out a season after he wrapped up his degree at Eastern Washington. He arrived at fall camp several days late because he had to take one ODVW¿QDOH[DP Adams, a repeat Big Sky offensive player of the year, passed for 10,438 yards and 110 touchdowns while rushing for 11 more in 37 career games with the Eagles. +HKDVHLJKWJDPHVZLWK¿YH or more scores. %XWKH¶VJRWELJVKRHVWR¿OO EWU #7 Oregon Eagles Ducks (0-0) (0-0) • Saturday, 5 p.m. • at Autzen Stadium, Eugene • TV: Pac-12 Network cornerback. He’s back listed at receiver this season, but Nelson could really turn up anywhere. “He would play ever down of every game if he had his way — and if AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File the coaches had their way,” In this Sept. 6, 2014, file photo, Eastern Washington Helfrich said. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. throws a pass against RUNAWAY DUCKS: the Washington Huskies in the second half of an NCAA 2UHJRQ¶V EDFN¿HOG ZLOO EH college football game in Seattle, Wash. led by sophomore Royce in replacing Heisman Trophy ington was ranked No. 6 in the Freeman, a power back listed winner Marcus Mariota, preseason FCS coaches poll at 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, arguably the best quarterback after going 11-3 and winning ZKR ¿QLVKHG ZLWK in Oregon’s history. Now with the Big Sky last season. The yards rushing last season — a the Tennessee Titans, Mariota Eagles’ season ended with Pac-12 true freshman record led the Ducks to a 13-2 record a loss to Illinois State in the — and 18 touchdowns. He and a spot in the champion- SOD\RIITXDUWHU¿QDOV$GDPV¶ also caught a touchdown ship game of college foot- replacement is Jordan West, pass. He was named the EDOO¶V¿UVWSOD\RIIV who made four starts as league’s freshman of the So all eyes will no doubt an injury replacement and year on offense. The Ducks be on Adams, including his three other appearances last are without running back coach’s. season, throwing for 1,072 Thomas Tyner for the season “Some guys go out and yards and nine touchdowns after shoulder surgery. Tyner, a homegrown prep star, throw the ball 205 miles an with one interception. hour over a guy’s head and VERSATILE DUCK: appeared in 11 games last you’re like, OK. You know Charles Nelson caught 23 season, gaining 573 yards WKHLU¿UVWWKURZLVRXWRIWKH SDVVHVIRU\DUGVDQG¿YH DQGVFRULQJ¿YHWRXFKGRZQV way,” Helfrich said. “All that touchdowns as a freshman primarily serving as the stuff, getting hit, getting in the last season. Oh, and he also backup to Freeman while he ÀRZRIWKHJDPHLVLPSRUWDQW rushed 11 times for 101 struggled with injuries. HISTORY: The two teams and what’s their reaction to it yards. And he returned 11 is the important thing.” punts for 171 yards and two have never met. Oregon SCOUTING THE touchdowns. Then in spring has a 13-0-2 all-time record EAGLES: Eastern Wash- practice this year he played at against Big Sky opponents. to make Petersen a winner. Starting at Washington’s 35 with 1:59 left, Browning BOISE, Idaho — Chris drove the Huskies (0-1) Petersen was on the verge of LQWR ¿HOG JRDO UDQJH %XW pulling off a stunning upset Cameron Van Winkle’s RQ WKH EOXH ¿HOG ZKHUH KH \DUG ¿HOG JRDO DWWHPSW providing so many thrilling with 21 seconds left was moments when he was in wide right. Van Winkle had hit from 40 and 28 yards charge at Boise State. Instead, the Washington earlier in the game. Petersen tried to down- coach walked off with a play his return to disappointing loss. Boise as much as J e r e m y possible. He was McNichols rushed hidden in a pack for 89 yards and WZR¿UVWKDOIWRXFK- #23 Boise St. of players when he arrived off the downs, and No. 23 team bus at the Boise State with- stadium, only stood a second half EULHÀ\ EHLQJ VHHQ ¿OOHG ZLWK VSHFLDO in a purple sweater. teams mistakes for a 16-13 victory Washington He lingered in the unfamiliar visi- over Washington tors’ locker room on Friday night in emerging with less Petersen’s return to the school he helped grow than an hour until kickoff surrounded by cameras and into a national power. Boise State (1-0) acknowledging the cheers GRPLQDWHG WKH ¿UVW KDOI LQ from the fans already in the building a 16-0 lead and stadium. He avoided any contact looking like it would make Petersen’s return a miser- with Boise State coach able memory. But Wash- Bryan Harsin until the game ington’s defense stymied was decided and the two the Broncos in the second VKDUHGDKXJDWPLG¿HOG Browning got the nod half and three big plays on special teams — including as Washington’s starting Dante Pettis’ 76-yard punt TXDUWHUEDFN WKH ¿UVW WUXH return for a touchdown — freshman to win the job in gave Washington a chance. Washington history and the Washington freshman ¿UVWWLPH3HWHUVHQKDVJRQH quarterback Jake Browning with such a young quarter- nearly pulled off a late rally back in his coaching career. By TIM BOOTH Associated Press 16 13 Falk in charge as Cougars set to host Vikings for season opener By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Associated Press PULLMAN, Wash. — The quarterback gets much of the attention in Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense. But the receivers are just as important, and Washington State will use an array of them in the season opener against Portland State on Saturday. “We’ll play eight of them,” Leach said this week. That’s in addition to throwing often to running backs Jamal Morrow, Gerard Wicks and Keith Harrington. Last season, the Cougars threw for a school-record 5,732 yards. Not one of those yards came from Gabe Marks, who red-shirted. But 0DUNV ¿JXUHV WR EH RQH RI the top passing targets this season, along with River Cracraft, Dom Williams, Robert Lewis and Tyler Baker. Leach had declined during fall camp to say whether Luke Falk would be his starting quarterback, insisting the veteran was in a battle last year. But with Peyton he did allow Bender. This that this week, Leach Portland St. might be the WSU announced most talented Vikings Cougars (0-0) (0-0) that Falk team in his would start • Saturday, 11 a.m. four seasons against the • at Martin Stadium, Pullman in Pullman. V i k i n g s . • TV: Pac-12 Network “Defi- )DON ¿OOHG nitely in the in ably last offensive line season when starter Connor and defensive line for sure,” Halliday broke his leg in the Leach said. ninth game of the season. Portland State also Leach declined to predict ¿QLVKHG EXW WKH\ DUH DQ how many games he thought FCS team that plays in the the Cougars would win this Big Sky Conference. They season, after going just 3-9 ¿JXUH WR EH RYHUPDWFKHG in Martin Stadium, where they lost 59-21 last season. Portland State will pick up a $525,000 check for its efforts. The Vikings are led E\ ¿UVW\HDU FRDFK %UXFH Barnum, who is working on a one-year contract. “It forces you to be mistake-free and play funda- mental football,” Barnum said of opening against Washington State. “That’s a challenge for us.” Washington State has never lost to an FCS team, and the Cougars are looking for a much better start than last season, when they opened with upset losses to Rutgers and Nevada. Portland State’s quarter- back will be junior college transfer Alex Kuresa, who threw for 2,300 yards and 25 touchdowns last season at Snow College. He also rushed for 592 yards and eight touchdowns. Kuresa beat out senior Kieran McDonagh, who has started 29 games for the Vikings. Portland State rushed for 2,500 yards last season, and Steven Long (605 yards) is back. BUCKS: Pendleton passing game gets off to fast start, struggles after halftime defensive end Grant Kennedy stuffed a Storm running back The Buckaroos (0-1) did IRU D ORVV RI ¿YH \DUGV DQG show some signs of life in the then followed up with a sack second quarter when quarter- back Kai Quinn connected and 11-yard loss on the very with receiver Trevor Sweet next snap. Two plays later the Bucks on a streak down the left forced a fumble which was sideline. Sweet tucked the ball and outran the Summit picked up by Sweet and defense on his way to a advanced 20 yards to set the 76-yard touchdown to get the Bucks offense up close to Bucks on the board and cut PLG¿HOGZLWKDFKDQFHWRJHW back in the game. However WKHGH¿FLWWR But the Storm quickly Pendleton couldn’t capitalize swung the momentum back and was forced to punt after in its favor on the ensuing six plays. $QGWKHQRQ6XPPLW¶V¿UVW kickoff as Sean Kent evaded play after the punt, a Storm ¿YH %XFNDURR WDFNOHUV DQG sped down the sideline into ball carrier fumbled the ball the endzone for a 70-yard again and it was recovered by kickoff return TD and a 20-7 the Bucks to set the offense up deep in Storm territory. lead for the Storm. “Special teams is obvi- This time, the Bucks would ously still a humongous, cash in as running back glaring issue we have to Gabe Walker bounced to the right and found the endzone address,” said Davis. The Bucks’ defense on a three-yard touchdown, DSSHDUHG WR ¿QDOO\ ZDNH XS KLV ¿UVW DV D PHPEHU RI WKH early in the second quarter, as Bucks’ varsity roster. completed 10 of his 15 attempts for 110 yards and the touchdown as his team trailed 27-13. But in the second half it all fell apart. Quinn tossed for 54 yards while completing just nine of his 19 attempts. He also threw two interceptions — one of which was ran back for a touchdown. All in all the Bucks totaled just 185 yards of offense in the game and 55 yards in the second half. “We felt pretty good Staff photo by coming out in the second E.J. Harris half, but as you could see it MXVWZHQWÀDW´VDLG'DYLV While this was an ugly loss for the Bucks, Davis turn let them pin their ears wants his team to keep their back and come all out at heads up and get ready for us when we were trying to the next week. “It’s just week one, and throw the football, too.” The Bucks had some good now we have eight other success in the passing game games to shore it up and try LQ WKH ¿UVW KDOI DV 4XLQQ and make our playoff run.” Pendle- ton’s Dylan Clemons (26) and Kai Quinn take down Summit quarter- back John Bledsoe as Sean Kent looks on in the Bucks’ 62-13 loss to the Storm on Friday in Pendleton. Continued from 1B That would be the only positive on the day for the Bucks running game, as the Summit defense limited the ground attack to just 20 total yards on 18 rushing attempts. It was especially frustrating for Davis who has big hopes for a balanced offense this season. “They just came out and stacked the box against us and we couldn’t get anything going,” said Davis. “That in
