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SPORTS Saturday, October 8, 2016 East Oregonian College Football Page 3B College Football Cal staying vigilant against Oregon State Broncos In this Sept. 17, 2016, ile photo, Oregon State coach Gary Andersen gestures during the team’s game in Corvallis By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press CORVALLIS — Boosted by a pair of wins over ranked teams this season — including last weekend’s dramatic victory over Utah — the California Golden Bears are trying to stay vigilant against Oregon State. The Golden Bears (3-2, 1-1) visit the Beavers (1-3, 0-1) on Saturday, with Oregon State still looking for its irst conference win under coach Gary Andersen, now in his second season. “I think there’ve been a lot of lessons learned this year on both sides of the ball. I think we’re prepared, to hopefully play back-to-back weeks just like we did last week, which we haven’t done this year,” Cal quarter- back Davis Webb said. Webb, a Texas Tech graduate transfer, took over this season following the departure of top NFL draft pick Jared Goff. He leads the nation with 2,143 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. He earned Pac-12 offensive Player of the Week honors for throwing four touchdown passes, all of more than 24 yards, in Cal’s 28-23 victory over Utah last Saturday. The victory over the Utes was capped by a defensive stand that stopped Zach Moss from the 1-yard line on the inal play. The win was Cal’s second straight over a ranked team. The Bears also beat then-No. 11 Texas 50-43 on Sept. 17. Oregon State lost 47-6 last weekend to surprising Colorado, which currently sits atop the Pac-12 South standings. The Beavers’ lone victory has come at home against Idaho State. There have been comparisons between Andersen’s start at Oregon State and coach Sonny Dykes’ start at Cal. Dykes, now in his fourth year with the Golden Bears, went 1-11 in AP Photo/Tim Gonzalez his irst season, while Andersen went 2-10. Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre is similarly seeing results in his fourth season, after going 4-8 and 2-10 in his irst two seasons. STICKING WITH GARRETSON: In his weekly media address, Andersen said he’s sticking with starting quarterback Darell Garretson, despite his struggles against Colorado, when he was 5-for-16 for 55 yards. He was replaced by freshman Conor Blount, who was 8-for-16 for 45 yards with two interceptions. “The decisions that I make as we go through time, I don’t expect everybody to 100 percent agree with them and kids sometimes get frustrated,” Andersen said. “But Darell’s not looking over his shoulder in any way, shape or form. He understands that and he knows that, and the things Darell and I talk about and the decisions I make are to make sure I help Darell become the best quarterback that he can be.” HURTING SECONDARY: Oregon State freshman cornerback Jay Irvine has been ruled out against Cal after hurting his shoulder last week. Nickelback Dwyane Williams, who missed the game against the Buffs, is questionable with a hamstring injury. Last week, safety Devin Chappell and outside California Oregon State Golden Bears Beavers (3-2, 1-1) (1-3, 0-1) • Saturday, 6 p.m. • at Reser Stadium • TV: PAC 12 Network linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu were pressed into duty as nickel backs. “I’m proud of those kids to accept that role, have an under- standing of what to do, how to do it and walk in there in a very dificult spot and really hold their own pretty good,” Andersen said. LOSING RAMBO: Dykes made it oficial this week: safety Evan Rambo will miss the rest of the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The promising sophomore starter, who was hurt in the Sept. 24 loss to Arizona State, had 10 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup this season. He was replaced against Utah by Luke Rubenzer, who had four tackles and a pass breakup. SPEAKING OF RUBENZER: He’s a former quarterback for Cal, and he may be called upon during the game to defend Oregon State sophomore receiver Seth Collins, himself the former Beavers quarterback. Rubenzer switched to defense when it became clear he wasn’t going to get much opportunity behind Goff. Collins was the starting quarterback for Oregon State at the beginning of last season, but he was dogged by injuries. Although he mulled trans- ferring, he returned to the Beavers and embraced his new role. THE LAST TIME: Cal leads the series 36-32. Last season, the Golden Bears ended a four-game losing streak with a 54-24 win over the Beavers. NFL Seattle’s Graham bucking trend in return from injury Seattle Sea- hawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) is tackled during a game on Oct. 2, 2016, in East Ruther- ford, N.J. By TIM BOOTH Associated Press RENTON, Wash. — At some point soon, the questions will stop about Jimmy Graham’s knee. What he’s doing on the ield won’t be prefaced by what happened last November. For now, everything Graham is doing for the Seattle Seahawks is noteworthy because of what took place on Nov. 29, 2015 — a knee injury that very few have recovered from in such spectacular fashion. “It’s a great statement about his ability to accomplish all that he did in rehab to get his mind right and his body right to do what he’s doing, and just to make some really cool plays,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “It’s a big statement about him, but I think he’s ready to go now.” As the Seahawks enter their bye this week at 3-1, there are several worthwhile performances to note. From quarterback Russell Wilson’s ability to play through a sprained right ankle and sprained left knee, to a defense that continues to show signs of again being a dominant unit, it’s been a successful irst quarter of the season for the Seahawks. Graham’s stunning recovery and play — especially the past two weeks — may be at the top of that list. “I’m just trying to do my job. I’m just blessed to be on the ield with my guys,” Graham said. “It’s been such a long road for me, and to inally be part of what this team has going on and to be truly part of it, it AP Photo/Kathy Willens feels amazing.” In the past two weeks, the impact Graham was expected to have when he was irst traded from New Orleans to Seattle has started to be realized. Graham has posted two straight 100-yard receiving games for the irst time since early in the 2013 season. He had six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown — all in the irst half — in a win over San Francisco, then followed up with six catches for 113 yards last week against the New York Jets. When Seattle returns from its bye, Graham could become the irst player in franchise history to have three straight 100-yard receiving games. The connection between Wilson and Graham felt forced in the early stages of last year, but is now devel- oping naturally within Seattle’s offense. “We are on it. We’ve been doing that for a while,” Wilson said. “I think we’re ready to roll. The way we’ve been practicing, it’s been great having him back out there. Jimmy Graham looked special.” What Graham has accomplished the past two weeks stands out even more when context is added. Graham is doing this just 10 months after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in a victory over Pittsburgh. It’s an injury that typi- cally takes between nine and 12 months to regain a similar level of movement and strength from prior to the injury. A number of NFL players have struggled to return from the same injury, most notably New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, who was injured midway through the 2014 season and didn’t return to an NFL game until Week 1 of this season. A study by the American Journal of Sports Medicine released earlier this year noted a 50 percent return- to-play rate for NFL players under- going orthoscopic repair of patellar tendon injuries, signiicantly lower than the return-to-play rates from other types of knee injuries. All of which makes Graham’s recovery even more impressive. “I’m just a little different. I’ve worked literally every second of the day on my knee — if I’m not lying — which is kind of more of a soul thing,” Graham said. “But for me, I’ve put so much into this to try and be back here for this team Week 1 and to try and make it back to start the season. Hard work pays off and there is really no substitute for it.” The bye falls at a good time for Seattle with the injuries to Wilson, wide receiver Tyler Lockett and others, allowing them two weeks of recovery. It also provides a break for Graham. It’s been a constant grind for nearly 11 months to recover, rehabilitate and ultimately prove he was capable of getting back on the ield and showing the athleticism and ability that once made him the top tight end in football. “He just kept digging in and clawing and scratched out and got going. There was a time when we didn’t know which way it would go, you never know if there’s a setback in there,” Carroll said. “He just made it through it and had great determination and great encourage- ment and guts and all that, and he pulled it off. I know this is a surgery that doesn’t always go like that. We’re very fortunate and thrilled for him.” roll over Lobos By GLEN ROSALES Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Brett Rypien threw ive touchdown passes — three to Cedrick Wilson — and No. 19 Boise State overwhelmed New Mexico 49-21 on Friday night. The Broncos (5-0, 2-0 Mountain West) scored touchdowns on seven consec- #19 Boise St. utive posses- sions. New Mexico (2-3, 1-1) scored on its second New Mexico possession, and didn’t reach the end zone again until the midway through the fourth quarter. Rypien was 21 of 28 for 391 yards, and Wilson had nine catches for 167 yards. Thomas Sperbeck, who had 20 catches for 281 yards last season against New Mexico, added nine recep- tions for 198 yards and two scores. Lobos quarterback Lamar Jordan became the irst opponent to rush for 100 yards against Boise State, inishing with 139 yards. But he only completed four passes for 39 yards. After Boise State went three- and-out on its irst possession, the Broncos beneited from several New Mexico miscues on its irst touchdown drive. Two facemask penalties kept the drive alive, and defensive back Daniel Henry dropped an interception. Two plays later, Rypien hit Wilson for the score. Tyrone Owens got New Mexico even, busting up the wide-open middle on a read option and going 62 yards untouched. Thereafter, it was all Rypien, Wilson and Sperbeck as they consistently exploited a secondary that was frequently left exposed by blitzes that never reached Rypien and a commitment to shut down the run. 49 21 Motorsports Sprint Cup race still on Associated Press CONCORD, N.C. — Rain washed out all NASCAR activity at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, including that night’s Xinity Series race. Both Sprint Cup practice sessions scheduled for Friday were canceled because of steady rain from Hurricane Matthew. The rain is expected to last into Saturday, so NASCAR resched- uled the Xinity race for Sunday morning. The Sprint Cup race is still scheduled for Saturday night. It is the opening race of the second round in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Kevin Harvick will start from the pole. PREPS: Umatilla shuts out Riverside; Stanield runs for 428 yards in win Continued from 1B phases of the game to beat the Rockets in Columbia Basin Conference action on Friday. Kevin Murray returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown after he stepped in front of a screen pass, Jake Lindsay scored on a 96-yard punt return, Coby Daugherty returned a kickoff 88 yards to pay dirt, and Logan Grieb added 110 yards rushing with touchdowns on the ground and in the air. Pilot Rock (0-5, 0-1 CBC) didn’t get on the scoreboard until the fourth quarter and was led by Devin Hasher’s 128 rushing yards with one touchdown. Heppner (5-1, 2-0) coach Greg Grant said he was content with his team’s defensive play, but their 227 total yards on offense left much to be desired as the Mustangs had trouble with their blocking. “I thought Pilot Rock was improved and to those guys’ credit they played hard the whole game,” he said. “I guess I was pleased with how we played defensively, we had one breakdown on the long pass play but defensively we were pretty consistent.” Heppner is at Culver next, while Pilot Rock hosts Weston-McEwen. Both games are on Friday at 7 p.m. UMATILLA 34, RIVER- SIDE 0 — At Boardman, the Vikings bounced back from their only loss of the season in a big way by earning their second shutout for an Eastern Oregon League win over their rival. Trent Durfey and Kaden Webb starred on both sides of the ball to lead Umatilla (5-1, 1-1 EOL) to victory. Durfey had two interceptions and also added a 25-yard touchdown run in the irst quarter. Webb also grabbed one pick on defense, then ran for a pair of touchdowns while throwing two more on offense. Umatilla was able to beneit from good ield position as well, and inished with just 290 total yards on offense. “It was a good bounce back from the loss to Burns,” said Umatilla coach Dan Durfey. “I was hoping the kids would respond well to that and they did.” No statistics were reported for Riverside (1-5, 0-2). Next up, Umatilla will host Vale and Riverside will host Burns, both on Friday at 7 p.m. STANFIELD 74, WESTON-MCEWEN 26 — At Stanield, the Tigers slogged their way to a big win in Columbia Basin Conference play with 428 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns on Friday. Three Stanield (6-0, 2-0 CBC) rushers topped the century mark led by Thyler Monkus with 105 yards on 10 carries and four touchdowns. Adrian Renner added a pair of scores with 106 yards on ive rushes, and Dylan Grogan powered for 150 yards on 10 totes and added one touchdown. Grogan also passed for 176 yards and three touchdowns. “Kind of some nasty ield out there today, but they able to keep their feet and get into the end zone, slow and steady,” said Stanield coach Davy Salas. “Everybody’s running the ball hard, the line’s blocking good and we’re trying to keep every- body healthy because we’re short on numbers, so we’re getting everybody carries.” The TigerScots (1-5, 0-2) inished with 369 yards on offense and saw quarterback Brett Speed return from concussion protocol to throw three touchdowns, but also a pair of picks. “Our offense played pretty well. We had a couple miscues here and there, a missed block there, a couple small penalties that kind of hurt us in transition,” said Weston-McEwen coach Travis Glover. “Our defense at times showed good things, but we over-pursued a lot and they kind of knifed us there.” Stanield’s next game is at La Center (WA) on Friday at 7 p.m. Weston-McEwen remains in league plat at Pilot Rock on Friday at 7 p.m. PERRYDALE 40, IONE 6 — At Perrydale, ten turnovers on offense stopped the Cardinals from getting anything accomplished in a Special District 4 loss on Friday. Ione (0-5, 0-2) fumbled the ball eight times and threw two interceptions, but coach Todd Knop said they were able to move the ball. “Honestly (Perrydale) didn’t out-gain us by much,” he said. “We’ve just got to get all our ducks in a row and hold onto the football.” Knop said Henry Padberg had a good night running the ball, but he didn’t have his inal total, and Cord Flynn had 10 tackles to lead the defense. Ione’s next game is on Thursday when it hosts Mitchell/ Spray/Wheeler at 7 p.m. From Thursday VOLLEYBALL IRRIGON 3, RIVER- SIDE 1 — At Irrigon, Mya Chapman led the Knights in kills and assists as a shorthanded Irrigon squad won its Eastern Oregon League match in four sets on Thursday 25-19, 25-13, 19-25, 25-15. Chapman inished with 11 kills and 22 assists, and Emma Combes added 10 kills, 10 digs and 14 assists. Brianna Rice chipped in four blocks and nine digs for Irrigon (14-10, 3-3 EOL). No statistics were available for Riverside (3-15, 1-6). Irrigon was missing three players due to injuries, and coach Laura Combes said the team adapted well to their absence. “I’m so happy with how well my girls are able to rebound back,” she said. “Riverside did a terriic job defensively against us (Thursday).” Irrigon has four matches left in the regular season and will be at Umatilla on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
