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SPORTS Saturday, October 1, 2016 East Oregonian Page 3B College Football Colorado aims to stay hot at home against Oregon State By PAT GRAHAM Associated Press BOULDER, Colo. — The Colorado Buffaloes were greeted by a swarm of fans upon their early morning return last weekend. That sort of welcoming brigade hasn’t happened often in recent memory. Neither have wins of this magnitude. The new and improved Buffa- loes (3-1, 1-0 Pac-12) stunned Oregon 41-38 in Eugene behind the performance of freshman quarterback Steven Montez. They try to follow it up Saturday as an 18 1/2-point favorite against Oregon State (1-2). As for a possible hangover effect, well, Colorado insisted the page has been turned. This is a team on the cusp of appearing in the AP Top 25 poll and trying to make a bowl appearance for the irst time since 2007. “Our goal every week is to go 1-0 and our ultimate goal is to be Pac-12 champions,” cornerback Chidobe Awuzie said. “In the grand scheme of things, it deinitely helps that and we were happy after the win. But now we’re just trying to focus in on Oregon State and keep this train rolling.” Everyone around campus appears on board, because the looks are way friendlier these days. The conversations, too. Oregon State Colorado Beavers Buffaloes (1-2) (3-1, 1-0) • Today, 11:30 a.m. • at Folsom Field • TV: PAC 12 Network AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez Oregon State’s Victor Bolden Jr. (6) makes his way past Boise State defenders on a kick return in the irst half of an NCAA college football game in Corvallis, Ore., on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. “We sense a lot more trust among people and they trust us to come out with wins this time around,” receiver Bryce Bobo said. The schedule certainly doesn’t get any easier with the remaining teams after Saturday a combined 17-9. There’s also this: Colorado hasn’t exactly followed up big wins with a string of more big wins. The Buffaloes knocked off a ranked West Virginia squad in 2008, only to go 2-7 the rest of the way. They beat Georgia in 2010, but followed it up by going 2-6 during a season in which then-coach Dan Hawkins lost his job. “Being in all those close games has deinitely helped us build to where we are now,” Awuzie said. “We’ve gone through so much adversity that I feel as though, whatever comes at us, we’ll be ready.” Beavers coach Gary Andersen appreciates what the Buffaloes have accomplished under coach Mike MacIntyre, who’s in his fourth season at Colorado. Andersen is trying to revitalize the program in Corvallis. “They’ve continued to recruit and battle like crazy and ight in games and get better and better,” Andersen said. “And now they’re starting to see those W’s come their way.” Things to know as Oregon State and Colorado meet for a ninth time (the Beavers lead 5-3): DECISIONS, DECISIONS: MacIntyre has quite a QB quan- dary — go with senior captain Sefo Liufau on a hurt ankle or the freshman Montez who has the hot hand. Montez accounted for 468 yards of total offense in the win over the Ducks. Liufau has broken virtually every school passing mark during his time at Colorado. “We need both of them, because some- body’s going to get dinged up,” MacIntyre said. “We need both of those guys ready to play.” FAST START: The Buffaloes have scored on their opening possession in every game this season. For good measure, they’ve also gotten points in three of their four opening drives in the second half. “They’ve built themselves a very good football team,” Andersen said. “They’ve ground through the process without question. They’re playing well.” BOLDEN ADVENTURE: Oregon State’s Victor Bolden Jr. leads the nation with a 40.2-yard average on kickoff returns. What’s more, he has two plays covering 90 or more yards — one on a 92-yard sweep against Idaho State and another on a 99-yard kickoff return last weekend against Boise State . Bolden hurt Colorado last season with four returns for 110 yards. “He’s a huge difference-maker,” Andersen said. “Victor is having a nice year for us at this point.” MORE OFFENSIVE: The Beavers are averaging 28 points in three games, which is up from a season ago. They’re allowing 25 points — also an improvement. “They are a much-improved football team from last year when we played them,” said MacIntyre, whose team beat the Beavers 17-13 last season in Corvallis to end a 14-game conference skid. College Football Ducks take on Cougars in match of underperformers By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Associated Press Washington State defeated Oregon in double overtime last year, a game that ignited the Cougars’ run to a 9-4 record and a bowl game victory over Miami. “That was a turning point for us,” said Washington State quarterback Luke Falk, who threw for 505 yards and ive touchdowns in the game in Eugene. On Saturday, Washington State (1-2) will host Oregon in another game the Cougars hope can light a ire under a team that has mostly under- performed so far this season. Safety Colton Teglovic said last year’s game proved to the Cougars that they could win a close contest in a tough environment. “We used that as a spring- board,” Teglovic said. But Washington State coach Mike Leach isn’t much for looking backward, and doesn’t want his team Oregon Wash. State Ducks Cougars (2-2, 0-1) (1-2) • Today, 6:30 p.m. • at Martin Stadium • TV: PAC 12 Network thinking about last year. “This is 2016,” Leach said. “If they go in a time machine, or Captain Kirk, they’ll miss the whole thing by a year and the Klingons are gonna kill them all. They better focus on this year or it won’t be a productive, happy experience.” One thing the Cougars need to improve on is their slow starts. “We’ve just got to stop coming out lat,” said corner- back Marcellus Pippins. “We’ve been coming out lat the last couple of games. We’ve got to start fast and have a rhythm coming out.” Oregon (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) is coming off a 41-38 loss to Colorado, the Buffaloes’ AP Photo/Chris Pietsch In this Sept. 10, 2016, ile photo, Oregon running back Royce Freeman runs against Virginia during the sec- ond half of an NCAA college football game in Eugene. irst win over Oregon since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. Quarterback Dakota Prukop was intercepted in the end zone on Oregon’s inal drive to kill a comeback attempt. Two days after the loss, Oregon held a players-only meeting after practice. “We just want guys to play harder, to give it all they got, particularly on special teams,” receiver Dwayne Stanford said. “We want everyone who touches the ield to give it all they got.” Oregon has been slowed by injuries, with defensive end Jalen Jelks and defen- sive tackle Drayton Carlberg doubtful to play against the Cougars. The status of star running back Royce Freeman is unclear. Inexperience is also an issue, with 11 freshmen included on Oregon’s offen- sive and defensive two-deep depth chart prior to Satur- day’s loss to Colorado. Coach Mark Helfrich said it’s too early to panic. “We were left for dead last year and bounced back,” he said. “We were left for dead the year before and that turned out OK.” “I told the team, and I believe it 100 percent, this team can be special,” Helfrich said. Some things to watch when Oregon plays at Wash- ington State: RAH, RAH: Falk said he needs to take a greater leadership role. “This year I’ve got to be more of an energy guy,” said Falk, who isn’t the type for speeches. “I’m kind of a calm, even- keeled guy, it’s deinitely not within my personality, but I deinitely can do it.” WILL ROYCE ROLL?: Freeman, who ran for 246 yards and three touchdowns against the Cougars last year, may not play. The Ducks do not talk about injuries, but Freeman suffered a leg injury two weeks ago against Nebraska and did not play in Oregon’s loss to Colorado. The Cougars say his injury status is of no concern to them because Oregon has other weapons. “The other backs are good too,” Leach said. “It really doesn’t change anything.” MORROW RETURNS: Washington State junior running back Jamal Morrow was ejected in the second half of the Idaho game after oficials ruled that he appeared to punch an Idaho defender at the end of a special teams play, an act that could have required Morrow to miss the irst half of the Oregon game. But Washington State oficials say because Morrow was tossed for unsportsmanlike conduct, not targeting, the penalty does not carry over to the next game. College Football College Roundup Timberwolves claw Washington stuns Stanford in Top-10 clash back to .500 in East By TIM BOOTH Associated Press East Oregonian PENDLETON — The Blue Mountain Timber- wolves clawed their way back to the .500 mark in the NWAC East on Friday night, beating Columbia Basin 3-1. The Timberwolves (14-13, 3-3) jumped on Columbia Basin quickly in the irst two sets, winning 23-11 and 25-16 before CBC was able to win the third set 25-21. However, the Timberwolves were able to inish off the win in the fourth sets with a 25-19 victory. Jordan Mix led the Blue Mountain offense with 13 kills and Shelby Schreier had 11. Other team leaders included Karly Cantu with 25 assists and 14 digs, and three aces, and Bailey Buckner with nine blocks. Blue Mountain next heads to Big Bend on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. match. EASTERN OREGON 3, OREGON TECH 0 — At Klamath Falls, the Mountaineers notched their 16th straight victory on the season as they swept Oregon Tech 25-21, 25-17, 25-22 on Friday. Junior Amanda Miller led the Mountaineers (16-1, 9-0 CCC) with 17 kills, and junior Madisen Garlie had 10 and Kasaundra Tuma had seven. Rachelle Cham- berlain led the team with 41 assists and Holli Mullins added a career-high 22 digs. Next up for EOU (16-1, 9-0 CCC) is a trip to Ashland to take on No. 18 Southern Oregon today at 5 p.m. MEN’S SOCCER OREGON TECH 1, EASTERN OREGON 0 — At La Grande, the Moun- taineers were stonewalled twice in the 77th minute and didn’t get off another shot as Oregon Tech closed out the Cascade Collegiate Confer- ence shutout win on Friday. Austin Schoenmann scored off a pass from Michael Page in the 41st minute for Oregon Tech (8-1-1, 5-0 CCC). Next up for EOU (6-3-1, 1-3-1) is a home game against Southern Oregon today at 1 p.m. WOMEN’S SOCCER EASTERN OREGON 4, OREGON TECH 0 — At La Grande, Tegan Davis- court scored with 36 second left in the irst half to extend Eastern Oregon’s lead to 3-0, and the Mountaineers cruised to a Cascade Colle- giate Conference win on Friday. The goal came in tran- sition after EOU’s Jessica Parker made her only save of the game. Cydni Cottrell checked in with 15 minutes left in the game to inish out the shutout, but didn’t have to make a save as EOU out-shot OIT 21-7. Eastern (7-2-2, 4-0-1 CCC) will host Southern Oregon today at 3:30 p.m. SEATTLE — Jake Browning threw for 210 yards and three touch- downs, Myles Gaskin added 100 yards and two scores, and No. 10 Washington was dominant on both sides, overwhelming No. 7 Stanford 44-6 on Friday night. After months of hype that Wash- ington (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) was on the verge of a breakout, the Huskies showed they were ready for their return to the national stage. And they did it emphatically, handing Stanford (3-1, 2-1) its worst loss since a 41-3 setback against Arizona State in 2007. The Huskies AP Photo/Ted S. Warren raced to a 23-0 half- No. 7 Stanford Washington wide receiver John Ross (1) celebrates after Washington time lead, scored ning back Myles Gaskin scored a touchdown against Stanford in the run- irst early in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, in Seattle. half to go up 30-0 and coasted to their TAKEAWAYS biggest victory Trophy aspirations hit a major speed bump. McCaffrey was held to 49 over an AP Top 10 Stanford: The Cardinal were unex- No. 10 Wash. team since beating yards rushing on 12 carries, ive pectedly sloppy. Stanford committed No. 5 Southern catches for 30 yards and continued his 11 penalties after entering the week as California 31-0 in streak of never scoring an offensive the least penalized team in the Pac-12. 1990. That game 26 touchdown in a road game. There were communication issues in It was McCaffrey’s fewest yards part due to the roaring Washington years ago announced Washington as a national contender and the Huskies rushing since 2014 at California when crowd, but also a lack of sharpness went on to share the national title a he had 19 yards on three carries. not normally seen from David Shaw’s Stanford’s only TD came late in the team. year later with Miami — taking the coaches’ version while Miami topped third quarter on a 19-yard pass from Washington: The defense was up Ryan Burns to J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. the AP media poll. to the task of keeping McCaffrey Burns was 15 of 22 for 151 yards, Browning was the leader of an under control and forcing Burns to eficient offense that scored on six of but Washington controlled the line of beat them through the air. McCaffrey its eight drives. He threw touchdowns scrimmage on both sides. Stanford had 34 yards on 10 carries in the irst of 3 yards to Dante Pettis, 19 yards to quarterbacks were sacked eight times, John Ross and capped the night with six in the irst half. Stanford had half and forced the Cardinal into a 3-yarder to Aaron Fuller with 5:30 allowed only four total sacks in the numerous long third-down situations. That allowed Washington to bring remaining. Browning was 15 of 21 irst three games combined. Stanford was playing short- extra pass rushers to get to Burns. and did not commit a turnover. UP NEXT Equally important was Washing- handed without starting cornerbacks Stanford: The Cardinal head home ton’s ability to establish a running Quenton Meeks and Alijah Holder, game. The Huskies rushed for 214 starting wide receiver Francis Owusu after two straight weeks on the road to yards and averaged 5.2 yards per and starting fullback Daniel Marx. host Washington State. Washington: The Huskies travel Starting right tackle Casey Tucker carry. Meanwhile, Stanford star Chris- limped off with an apparent leg injury to Oregon looking to snap a 12-game losing streak to the Ducks. tian McCaffrey saw his Heisman late in the fourth quarter. 6 44
