Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Thursday, November 12, 2015 College Football Race for Pac-12 title still not entirely clear cut By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press So, seventh-ranked Stan- IRUGORRNVOLNHDORFNIRUWKH 3DF1RUWKWLWOHULJKW"1RW VRIDVW 2UHJRQYLVLWVWKH&DUGLQDO WKLVZHHNHQGDQGZKLOHWKH 'XFNVDUHXQGHUGRJVWKHUH¶V VWLOO D FKDQFH ² DOEHLW DQ LPSUREDEOHRQH²WKDWWKH\ FRXOG GHIHQG WKHLU 3DF FKDPSLRQVKLS%XWWKHUHDUH DFRXSOHRIPRYLQJSDUWV +HUH¶V WKH VFHQDULR 2UHJRQ PXVW EHDW 6WDQIRUG WKHQZLQLWV¿QDOWZRJDPHV against USC and Oregon 6WDWH 7KH 'XFNV ZLOO DOVR QHHG WKH &DUGLQDO WR ORVH LQ WKH%LJ*DPHWR&DO 6WDQIRUG ZKLFK ¿QLVKHV RXW WKH UHJXODU VHDVRQ ZLWK DQ RXWRIFRQIHUHQFH JDPH DJDLQVW 1RWUH 'DPH FOLQFKHV WKH 1RUWK RXWULJKW ZLWK D YLFWRU\ RYHU 2UHJRQ on Saturday, and indeed, the &DUGLQDO 3DF DUHIDYRUHG But don’t underestimate WKH 'XFNV 4XDUWHUEDFN 9HUQRQ $GDPV -U LV EDFN DIWHU DQ HDUO\ VHDVRQ ¿QJHU LQMXU\ DQG 2UHJRQ LV ULGLQJ D WKUHHJDPH ZLQQLQJVWUHDNZKLOHSOD\LQJ DVZHOODVLWKDVDOOVHDVRQ 2UHJRQ ZRXOG QR GRXEW OLNH WR WXUQ WKH WDEOH RQ 6WDQIRUG ² ZKLFK XSVHW WKH'XFNVLQERWKDQG DQG NHSW WKHP RXW RI WKH FRQIHUHQFH FKDPSLRQ VKLSJDPHDQGWKHFKDQFHIRU WKDWFRYHWHGVKRWDWWKH5RVH %RZO ³7KH ODVW IRXU \HDUV WKH ZLQQHURIWKLVJDPHKDVZRQ WKH3DFFKDPSLRQVKLSVR it’s everything. For us our XOWLPDWHJRDOHYHU\\HDULVWR ZLQWKH3DFDQGZHKDYH DFKDQFHWKLV6DWXUGD\VRLW¶V KXJH´ 6WDQIRUG OLQHEDFNHU .HYLQ$QGHUVRQVDLG $GDPV VDLG LW¶V KDUG QRW WRWKLQNDERXWWKHSRVVLELOLW\ RI D FRQIHUHQFH FKDPSLRQ VKLS EHUWK 2UHJRQ ZHQW WR WKH QDWLRQDO FKDPSLRQVKLS JDPHODVWVHDVRQ ³:HGRQ¶WZDQWWREHMXVW FRPSOHWHO\ WKLQNLQJ DERXW WKH 3DF 1RUWK EXW LW¶V LQ RXU PLQGV GH¿QLWHO\´ $GDPVVDLG³+RSHIXOO\ZH MXVW JHW WKLV ZLQ DQG WKLQJV KDSSHQ :H¶YH JRW WR ZLQ one game at a time and go IURPWKHUH´ :DVKLQJWRQ 6WDWH LVRXWRIFRQWHQWLRQIRU WKH 1RUWK WLWOH EHFDXVH RI KRZ WKH WLHEUHDNHU UXOHV SOD\RXWEXWWKHJRRGQHZV IRU WKH &RXJDUV LV WKDW WKH\ AP Photo/David Zalubowski Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey carries an American fl ag on to the fi eld as the team takes the grid- iron to face Colorado in the fi rst half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, in Boulder, Colo. DUH DOUHDG\ ERZO HOLJLEOH ,W ORRNVDVLIFRDFK0LNH/HDFK LV¿QDOO\WXUQLQJWKHSURJUDP DURXQGLQ3XOOPDQ $OVRRXWRIWKHSLFWXUHDUH Oregon State, Washington DQG&DOZKLFKZLOOKDYHWR XSVHW6WDQIRUGIRUWKH'XFNV to get in. 7KH3DF6RXWKLVDELW murkier. 8WDKLVDJDPH XS RQ WKH 6RXWKHUQ &DOL IRUQLD VFKRROV DQG EDVLFDOO\ FRQWUROV LWV RZQ GHVWLQ\ ,I WKH 8WHV ZLQ RXW WKH\ ZLQ the South. 7KH 8WHV SOD\ $UL]RQD LQ 7XFVRQ WKLV ZHHNHQG EHIRUH UHWXUQLQJ KRPH WR IDFH 8&/$ LQ D JDPH WKDW ZLOO JR D ORQJ ZD\ LQ GHWHUPLQLQJ KRZ WKH GLYLVLRQ ZLOO VKDNH RXW 8WDK ZUDSV XS WKH VHDVRQ ZLWK 6RXWK ERWWRPGZHOOHU &RORUDGR ³:HVWLOOVWLFNWRDJDPH E\JDPH DSSURDFK EXW ZH VHH WKH ELJ SLFWXUH´ 8WHV FRDFK .\OH :KLWWLQJKDP VDLG ³:H XQGHUVWDQG ZKDW ZH ZDQW WR DFFRPSOLVK DQG that’s to try to get to the 3DFFKDPSLRQVKLSJDPH ZKLFK UHTXLUHV ZLQQLQJ WKH south. That’s not something WKDWZHLJQRUHEXWRXUIRFXV RQ D ZHHNWRZHHN EDVLV LV FRPSOHWHO\ RQ WKH QH[W RSSRQHQW´ $ FRPELQDWLRQ RI ORVVHV E\ WKH %UXLQV DQG 86& FRXOG DOVR JHW WKH 8WHV LQWR WKH 3DF FKDPSLRQVKLS JDPH at Levi’s Stadium in Santa &ODUDRQ'HF 8WDK ZDV MXVW RQH ZLQ DZD\ IURP FOLQFKLQJ WKH South division in 2011, the WHDP¶V¿UVWLQWKHOHDJXH ,I WKH %UXLQV FDQ GHIHDW XSVWDUW :DVKLQJWRQ 6WDWH at home on Saturday, it ZLOO VHW XS D SLYRWDO JDPH DJDLQVW 8WDK DW 5LFH(FFOHV 6WDGLXPEHIRUHWKH¿QDOHDW USC. 7KH 7URMDQV ZKR YLVLW &RORUDGRRQ)ULGD\DUHDOVR VWLOODOLYHEXWWKH\¶OOKDYHWR WDNH FDUH RI WKHLU RZQ EXVL QHVV LQFOXGLQJ D ZLQQLQJ WULSWR2UHJRQZKLOHURRWLQJ IRU D 8WHV ORVV 86& KROGV the tiebreaker against Utah EHFDXVH RI D YLFWRU\ RYHUWKH8WHVRQ2FW ,I 8&/$ DQG 86& ERWK ZLQRYHUWKHQH[WWZRZHHNV ² WKDW PHDQV WKH %UXLQV EHDW 8WDK ² WKH ULYDOU\ JDPHEHWZHHQWKHWZRWHDPV WRFDSWKHUHJXODUVHDVRQZLOO GHFLGHWKH6RXWK ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR WKH %XIID ORHV WKH $UL]RQD VFKRROV DUHDOUHDG\RXWRIWKHOHDJXH FKDPSLRQVKLSUDFH $V IRU WKH ERZO SLFWXUH WKH 3DF KDV FRQWUDFWV ZLWKVHYHQERZOJDPHVEXW LIDFRQIHUHQFHWHDPHDUQVD VSRWLQWKH&ROOHJH)RRWEDOO 3OD\RIIWKHQDQHLJKWKWHDP IURP WKH OHDJXH FRXOG GUDZ D SRVWVHDVRQ EHUWK $W WKLV SRLQW 6WDQIRUG DSSHDUV WR KDYH WKH EHVW FKDQFH RI FUDFNLQJ WKH WRS IRXU LQ WKH nation. TIGERS: %RWKWHDPV¶OHDGLQJUXVKHUVRYHU\DUGVWKLVVHDVRQ Continued from 1B and they’re ready to go toe-to-toe. “My kids are hungry,” 6WDQ¿HOG KHDG FRDFK 'DY\ 6DODVVDLG³6LQFHZH¶YHEHHQ WRJHWKHU ZH WROG RXUVHOYHV ZH ZDQW WR JR SOD\ IRU D VWDWH FKDPSLRQVKLS 7KDW¶V EHHQRXUJRDOIRUWKHVHJX\V 7KDW¶V ZKDW ZH ZDQW WR GR :H¶UH JRLQJ WR JR SOD\ WKH JDPHV RQ RXU VFKHGXOH DQG LIZHSOD\DJUHDWJDPHZH¶OO FRPHRXWRQWRS´ ,Q SUHSDUDWLRQ IRU WKH &REUDV6WDQ¿HOGLVQ¶WFKDQJLQJ anything. But that’s been the PRGXV RSHUDQGL RI ¿UVW\HDU FRDFK6DODVVLQFHKHWRRNRYHU EHIRUH WKLV VHDVRQ 7KH ¿UVW time he addressed his team, KHWROGWKHPKHLVQ¶WLQWHUHVWHG LQ VH[\ ELJSOD\ IRRWEDOO +H ZDQWHG WR SOD\ ³PDQRQPDQ KDWRQKDW´ IRRWEDOO DQG UXQ EHWZHHQWKHWDFNOHV The Tigers have done just that this season. -XQLRU UXQQLQJ EDFN 7K\OHU 0RQNXV KDV WKUHH JDPHVRIRUPRUHUXVKLQJ \DUGVDQGKH¶VHFOLSVHG LQ HYHU\ JDPH EXW WZR ,Q WRWDO0RQNXVKDVUXVKHGIRU \DUGV RQ FDUULHV IRU D DQ \DUGV SHU FDUU\ DYHUDJHDQGWRXFKGRZQV 4XDUWHUEDFN '\ODQ *URJDQ DOVR D MXQLRU KDV DGGHG DQRWKHU HOHPHQW WR WKH UXVKLQJ JDPH ZLWK KLV VL]H DQG DWKOHWLFLVP JLYLQJ 6WDQ¿HOG D OHJLWLPDWH VKRUW GRZQRSWLRQ+H¶VUXVKHGIRU \DUGVRQFDUULHV \SF DQG WRXFKGRZQV +H¶V DOVR SDVVHG IRU QLQH WRXFKGRZQV RQ RI SDVVLQJIRU\DUGV But the Tigers have other RSWLRQV DV ZHOO 0DNLDK %ODQ NHQVKLS KDV \DUGV RQ DWWHPSWV DQG IRXU WRXFKGRZQV DQG-XVWLQ.HHQH\KDV\DUGV RQFDUULHVDQGIRXUVFRUHV ³:H KDYH D ¿YHKHDGHG PRQVWHU DW UXQQLQJ EDFN´ 6DODV VDLG ³$QG ZH NQRZ ZKR¶VJRQQDJHWWKHEDOO,W¶V QR VHFUHW WR QRERG\ (YHU\ ERG\NQRZVZKR¶VJRQQDJHW WKH EDOO ² P\ UXQQLQJ EDFN DQGP\TXDUWHUEDFN:H¶UHQRW KLGLQJWKHPDQ\ZKHUH:H¶UH UXQQLQJSRZHUIRRWEDOO´ %RWK6WDQ¿HOGDQG&HQWUDO /LQQ FRPH IURP WRXJK OHDJXHVVHWWLQJWKHPERWKXS IRU SRWHQWLDOO\ GHHS SOD\RII UXQV6WDQ¿HOGKDLOVIURPWKH &ROXPELD%DVLQ&RQIHUHQFH ZKLFK DW RQH SRLQW LQ WKH season had three teams at DQGDIRXUWKDW7KH &%& VHQW IRXU WHDPV WR WKH SOD\RIIVWKLVVHDVRQZLWKMXVW OHDJXH FKDPS +HSSQHU DQG 6WDQ¿HOGDGYDQFLQJURXQGV 0HDQZKLOH &HQWUDO /LQQ FDOOV WKH ¿YHWHDP 7UL5LYHU &RQIHUHQFH KRPH 7KHUH WKH &REUDV GURSSHG MXVW RQH JDPH²DORVVWROHDJXH FKDPS 5HJLV ² DQG VWLOO PDQDJHGWRZLQWKHOHDJXHDQG WDNHWKHWRSVHHGLQWKHEUDFNHW 6WDWLVWLFDOO\ 6WDQ¿HOG¶V RIIHQVHLVEHWWHUWKDQ&HQWUDO Linn’s but the Cobras have D EHWWHU GHIHQVH 7KH 7LJHUV KDYH VFRUHG SRLQWV VR IDUWKLVVHDVRQWKHWKLUGPRVW LQ WKH VWDWH EHKLQG +HSSQHU DQG 9HUQRQLD ZKR6WDQ¿HOGEHDWODVW ZHHN &HQWUDO /LQQ WKRXJK has demonstrated a stout GHIHQVH E\ DOORZLQJ MXVW SRLQWVSHUJDPHWKLVVHDVRQ LQFOXGLQJWZRVKXWRXWV ³:KDW ZH¶UH JRRG DW LV ZHVXVWDLQSOD\GULYHV DQGZHHDWFORFN´6DODVVDLG ³:H¶UHQRWZRUULHGDERXWWKH ELJSOD\´ 6WDQ¿HOGLVJRLQJWRQHHG WR GR VRPHWKLQJ OLNH WKDW WR NHHS&HQWUDO/LQQ¶VELJSOD\ RQWKHJURXQGRIIHQVHRQWKH VLGHOLQH 7KH UXVKLQJ RIIHQVH LV VLPLODU WR 6WDQ¿HOG¶V LQ WKDW LW KDV PXOWLSOH RSWLRQV WR ZKLFK LW FDQ WXUQ 7KUHH Cobras have more than 100 FDUULHV DQG D IRXUWK KDV $OOIRXUJX\VKDYHPRUHWKDQ \DUGVDOOIRXUKDYHKDG a 100-yard game this season, DQGDOOIRXUKDYHVFRUHG 6HQLRU$OH[ 3HWWQHU OHDGV WKHZD\IRU&HQWUDO/LQQZLWK \DUGV RQ FDUULHV \SFIRUWRXFKGRZQV +LVVFDUU\\DUGJDPH LQWKH5HJLVORVVZDVWKHPRVW SURGXFWLYHUXVKLQJJDPHE\D VLQJOH&REUDWKLVVHDVRQ%XW %UDGHQ 1LJKWHQJDOH DQG KLV \DUGV SHU FDUU\ DYHUDJH ZLOO KDYH WR EH DFFRXQWHG IRU DV ZHOO 7KH MXQLRU KDV FDUULHGMXVWWLPHVIRU \DUGV²VHFRQGPRVWRQWKH WHDP²DQGWRXFKGRZQV &KDQGOHU-HSSVRQ\DUGV 7'VDQGTXDUWHUEDFN-HVVH :LEEHQV \DUGV 7'V DUHDOVRYLDEOHRSWLRQVWRUXQ :LEEHQV KDV DOVR SDVVHG IRU \DUGV RQ MXVW RI SDVVLQJIRUVFRUHVDQGRQH LQWHUFHSWLRQ 6DODV LV FRQ¿GHQW LQ KLV EXQFK ³, UHVSHFW HYHU\ERG\´ 6DODV VDLG ³%XW ,¶P QRW VFDUHGRIDQ\ERG\´ PIGSKIN PICKERS Week 10 Overall: Last Week: Stanfi eld at Central Linn: Reedsport at Heppner: Wilsonville at Liberty: Summit at Redmond: Oregon at Stanford: Utah at Arizona: Washington St. at UCLA: Oklahoma at Baylor: Cardinals at Seahawks: Cowboys at Buccaneers: Mike Appleton Kevin Fisher Clint Shoemake Mario Ramirez Sam Barbee 67-23 66-24 64-26 62-28 61-29 9-1 8-2 7-3 6-4 4-6 Central Linn Central Linn Stanfi eld Central Linn Central Linn Heppner Heppner Heppner Heppner Heppner Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Wilsonville Summit Summit Summit Summit Summit Stanford Stanford Stanford Stanford Stanford Utah Utah Utah Utah Utah UCLA UCLA Wash. St. Wash. St. Wash. St. Baylor Oklahoma Baylor Baylor Baylor Cardinals Seahawks Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals Cowboys Cowboys Buccaneers Cowboys Cowboys Welcome AAU! Mention this pick and receive 10% off your ticket! Opening hours Saturday & Sunday 9am THE COMMERCIAL FUELING SYSTEM PACIFIC PRIDE Phillips • Chevron • Shell • Mobil 541-567-6582 • 1-800-698-6582 615 N. 1st St. • Hermiston IS ROOTING FOR IS ROOTING FOR K IM F URGERSON C LINT S HOEMAKE Imagine Better Health... 541-567-7171 80496 N. Hwy 395 Hermiston Under the American Flag www.nwmetalfab.com 59-31 8-2 Stanfi eld Heppner Liberty Summit Stanford Utah Wash. St. Baylor Cardinals Cowboys Jennifer Cox Jeff Snell Kim Furgerson 55-35 58-32 57-33 9-1 8-2 5-5 Central Linn Central Linn Central Linn Heppner Heppner Heppner Liberty Wilsonville Wilsonville Redmond Summit Summit Stanford Stanford Stanford Utah Utah Utah Wash. St. UCLA UCLA Oklahoma Baylor Oklahoma Seahawks Seahawks Cardinals Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Elite Guns & Bows , LLC CCB# 66036 AN INDEPENDENT FRANCHISEE OF HERMISTON BREWING CO. HELLER & SONS DIST. "Where Quality Always Comes First" Kathy Aney Matt Entrup 60-30 60-30 9-1 7-3 Central Linn Stanfi eld Heppner Heppner Wilsonville Liberty Summit Summit Stanford Stanford Utah Arizona Wash. St. UCLA Baylor Oklahoma Seahawks Seahawks Buccaneers Buccaneers Heller & Sons Distributing, Inc. THE COMMERCIAL FUELING SYSTEM 541-289-7414 125 N. 1st St., Hermiston Eric Singer 2801 S T . A NTHONY W AY , P ENDLETON , OR 97801 CCB #66293 NW METAL FABRICATORS ST. ANTHONY HOSPITAL IS ROOTING FOR IS ROOTING FOR E RIC S INGER M ARIO R AMIREZ 1816 NW 48 TH ST, PENDLETON WWW.THEWS.COM Locally Owned & Operated 541-276-3751 213 S.E. 2nd St. Pendleton, OR 97801 P 541-276-1243 F 541-276-1253 www.elitegunsandbows.com • Highest quality at LOWEST PRICES • Excellent product knowledge • Friendly Service Beer • Wine Food • Lottery 541-567-9229 198 E. Main, Hermiston THEWS SHEET METAL ELITE GUNS & BOWS, LLC COZY CORNER TAVERN IS ROOTING FOR IS ROOTING FOR IS ROOTING FOR MATT ENTRUP K EVIN F ISHER S AM BARBEE ELMER'S IRRIGATION, INC. WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE Live Music & DJ Music Karaoke Homestyle Cooking Beer, Wine & Spirits "The best little irrigation company in the Northwest" Hwy 395 • Hermiston 541-567-5572 541-567-3022 149 E. Main, Hermiston Emergency service also available (541) 567-5678 Columbia Professional Plaza 1050 W. Elm, Suite 130 Hermiston, OR 97838 PHEASANT CAFE ELMER’S IRRIGATION EO PHYSICAL THERAPY Fax: 541-567-8721 IS ROOTING FOR M IKE A PPLETON IS ROOTING FOR K ATHY A NEY IS ROOTING FOR J EFF S NELL