Page 2B
SPORTS
East Oregonian
FINALS RODEO:
Continued from 1B
local ties looking to strike it
rich in Vegas this week.
Bareback rider RC Land-
ingham, who lived in Pend-
leton for eight years while
competing in high school and
college rodeo, also made his
WNFR debut on Thursday.
Landingham, who now resides
in Hat Creek, Calif., drew Four
Star Rodeo’s Rusty Slim for
his first ride. It proved to be an
unlucky pairing as the score
came in at just 49 without the
option of a re-ride.
That put Landingham in
the bottom hole coming into
today’s performance as all
riders covered their steed.
Tanner Aus of Granite Falls,
Minnesota, moved into the
lead with an 85.5 on Cervi
Championship
Rodeo’s
RodeoHouston Control Freak.
Steer wrestler Trevor
Knowles of Mount Vernon
posted a 6.1 in steer wrestling
as he competes at his 13th
WNFR, and former Blue
Mountain Community College
standout Dakota Eldridge of
Elko, Nevada, had an 8.6 in
the same event. Clayton Hass
of Terrell, Texas, and Tyler
Waguespack of Gonzales,
Friday, December 2, 2016
NFL
Louisiana, are tied for the lead
at 3.8.
Two WNFR rookies lead
their events after 18-year-old
saddle bronc rider Ryder
Wright of Milford, Utah,
scored 87 points on Frontier
Rodeo’s Time’s Up, and
barrel racer Pamela Capper of
Cheney, Washington, jumped
in front by tying the arena
record of 13.75 seconds set by
Mary Walker in 2012.
Reigning world champion
Sage Kimzey of Strong City,
Oklahoma, vaulted into the
lead in bull riding on the
night’s final ride by scoring
86.5 on Frontier Rodeo’s
Aftershock. Shane Proctor of
Grand Coulee, Washington,
was second with an 83.5
he scored on Pete Carr Pro
Rodeo’s LEroy Brown to open
the section.
Leading the tie-down
roping is Shane Hanchey of
Sulphur, Louisiana, with 7.1.
Right behind him at 7.2 is
Marty Yates of Stephenville,
Texas.
Action resumes tonight,
and performances will be held
each night at 6:45 p.m. until
the final round on Saturday,
Dec. 10.
Seahawks set to host Panthers
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
SEATTLE — By this point, they
might as well consider Seattle and
Carolina a divisional game.
For the seventh time in five years,
the Panthers and Seahawks will
meet on Sunday night each with a
different sense of urgency heading
into the final month of the regular
season.
Seattle (7-3-1) reverted to its
inconsistent form of earlier this
season in a loss last week to Tampa
Bay that now leaves the Seahawks,
while still in complete control of the
NFC West, with no room for error in
trying to hold off others in the NFC
for the No. 2 seed and a coveted
first-round bye in the playoffs.
The level of urgency is far greater
for the defending NFC champion
Panthers.
After last week’s loss in Oakland
, the Panthers (4-7) are three games
behind in the NFC South race and
2½ games behind Washington for
the final wild-card spot with five
games to go.
There is time for Carolina, but it’s
running short to avoid joining the list
of Super Bowl participants to miss
the postseason the following year.
“We’ve lost five
“If it’s the first time
games by three
you ever talk about it, I
points or less. We
think you might not be
Carolina
Seattle
had opportunities to
able to have grounded
Panthers
Seahawks
win football games
thoughts and approach
(4-7)
(7-3-1)
down the stretch
to deal with it. It’s an
and didn’t do it,” • Sunday, 5:30 p.m.
enormous impact, win
Carolina coach Ron • at CenturyLink Field
or lose.”
• TV: NBC
Rivera said.
Thanks to the
“Those are things
underperformance by
that unfortunately we just didn’t do. the rest of the division, Seattle is in
We did it last year and that’s prob- fine shape to make a fifth straight
ably the hard pill to swallow.”
playoff appearance under Carroll,
There’s also the Super Bowl with a three-game lead in the NFC
hangover, something that Rivera West over Arizona.
acknowledged researching what
The loss last week to Tampa Bay
Seattle coach Pete Carroll did seemed destined from the outset,
following the back-to-back trips by with the Seahawks down four starters
the Seahawks to the championship on defense including safety Earl
game to try and figure out ways to Thomas, and without starting center
avoid a swoon by his team.
Justin Britt the anchor to what’s been
“I think it’s got a little bit to do a shaky offensive line all season.
with it. The truth of the matter is if
But managing just five points —
you win the first game, things can be and only a field goal by the offense
different. Unfortunately we didn’t, so — was a startling reversal back to
we have to battle uphill,” Rivera said. Seattle’s offensive problems early
Unlike the Panthers, thus far at in the season when the Seahawks
least, Seattle was able to overcome began the season with 12 points in a
early troubles following both of its win over Miami and three points in a
Super Bowl trips to find a way back loss to Los Angeles.
to the postseason.
“We were just a little bit off. Last
“I think you have to be prepared week was last week. You can always
for it way before you ever get to it,” get better,” Seattle QB Russell
Carroll said.
Wilson said.
PAC-12: Huskies to play first game on grass
Continued from 1B
like that, you’re frustrated
as all get-out and trying to
figure out why it’s not right.
With that being said, we all
know it takes some time to
develop a program and how
you’re going to do things.”
Mike MacIntyre had a
much tougher turnaround
task with the Buffaloes
(10-2, No. 8 CFP). Colorado
was 25-61 in seven seasons
before MacIntyre arrived
from San Jose State.
But he methodically
rebuilt the program to where
it is now a surprise participant
in the Pac-12 title game with
an outside chance of making
it to the playoff with a win
over the Huskies and some
help elsewhere.
“I just think a lot of people
on the outside didn’t expect us
to be here,” quarterback Sefo
Liufau said. “They want UW
for playoff implications or
anything like that. Basically
the most important thing is
what we want in the locker
room and we want to win.”
PAC-12 Championship
Colorado #4 Washington
Buffaloes
Huskies
(10-2, 8-1)
(11-1, 8-1)
• Today, 6 p.m.
• at Levi’s Stadium,
Santa Clara, California
• TV: FOX
#8
Here are some other
things to watch:
BIG TIME QBS: Both
teams rely heavily on their
quarterbacks. Washington’s
Jake Browning was selected
as the top offensive player
in the conference after
throwing for a school-record
40 TDs and only seven INTs.
Browning ranks fourth in the
FBS in passing efficiency
(181.6). Colorado’s Liufau
wasn’t quite as efficient
but was almost as effective
despite missing time with
an ankle injury. He threw for
2,150 yards and 11 TDs and
ran for 481 yards and seven
scores.
D O M I N A N T
DEFENSE: The game
features the top two defenses
in the conference with both
the Huskies and Buffaloes
allowing just 4.7 yards per
play. They are both led
by their secondaries with
Washington’s Budda Baker
and Sidney Jones making
first-team all-conference and
Colorado’s Chidobe Awuzie
and Tedric Thompson earning
second-team selections.
TAKE IT AWAY: Both
teams have thrived on
turnovers this season. Wash-
ington led the nation with
30 takeaways and a plus-18
turnover margin. Colorado
was second in the Pac-12 at
plus-10 in turnovers.
ON THE GRASS: The
Huskies will play their first
game of the year on natural
grass. The playing surface
at Levi’s Stadium has had
issues with footing over the
years but has been better
this season. With the 49ers
having been on the road last
week, the field should be in
good shape.
“I shouldn’t say it doesn’t
bother us (because) we’re the
only team in the country that
hasn’t played on grass this
year, I think,” Petersen said.
“But the grass is good, so
it’s like people talking about
going to Utah and playing
in the altitude. I think it’s
completely overrated. As
long as it’s not a muddy field,
we’re good to go.”
HOMECOMING: The
game will be a homecoming
of sorts for MacIntyre, who
got his first head coaching
job in 2010 at nearby San
Jose State. He took over a
two-win team and helped
lead the Spartans to an 11-2
record his final year.
“I always hoped that
wherever I was we’d be able
to play for championships,”
MacIntyre said. “It has been
a little bit of a whirlwind.
Eight years seems like a
long time but it also goes by
very fast.”
———
AP Sports Writers Tim Booth
in Seattle and Pat Graham in
Boulder, Colorado, contributed
to this report
MOUNTAINEERS: Open bracket against Oklahoma City
Continued from 1B
within one point twice, but a
10-4 run by the Mountaineers
made it 20-13 and allowed
EOU to coast. A string of
EOU errors narrowed the gap
at the very end, but a Miller
kill followed by a George-
town error ended it.
The third set was a nail-
biter, though, and was tied
nine times with four lead
changes.
The final lead change came
in the final three points as
Eastern ended the match on a
rally with a kill by senior middle
Kasaundra Tuma (4 kills).
Georgetown held its
largest lead at 19-16 after an
ace by Courtney Grafton, but
freshman hitter Megan Bunn
picked up three of her five
kills in the final 10 points to
help spark EOU’s comeback.
Kills by Miller and Lind-
burg tied the score at 23-all,
but the Tigers went back
up with a kill from Jessica
Tapp (4 kills). Georgetown
couldn’t put EOU away,
though, and made errors on
the next two rallies to set
up Tuma’s match-winner.
Ashlee Howe led George-
town with nine kills.
Eastern Oregon will
open the single-elimination
16-team bracket today at
3:45 p.m. against Oklahoma
City. The winner of that
match will advance to the
quarterfinals tonight at 8:15
p.m. where they will face the
winner of Biola (Calif.) and
Hastings (Neb.).
Live stats and video for
all matches at the tournament
are available online through
NAIA.org and NAIAnet-
work.com.
SCOREBOARD
Local Slate
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Today’s Games
Mac-Hi vs. College Place (WA) (Mac-Hi
Tournament), 3 p.m.
Echo vs. Pilot Rock (at Paul Humphreys
Tournament, Fossil), 3 p.m.
Riverside vs. Touchet (WA) (at Mac-Hi
Tournament), 4:30 p.m.
Nixyaawii vs. Days Creek (at Cougar
Classic, Molalla), 4:30 p.m.
Irrigon vs. Enterprise (at Ione Bonanza),
4:30 p.m.
Arlington vs. Delphian (at Hawk Invitation-
al, Hood River), 5 p.m.
Hermiston vs. Wilson (at Aloha Tourna-
ment), 6:30 p.m.
Weston-McEwen vs. Ione (at Ione Bonan-
za), 7:30 p.m.
Heppner at Joseph (Joseph Tournament),
7:30 p.m.
Condon/Wheeler vs. Monument/Dayville
(at Paul Humphreys Tournament, Fossil),
7:30 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Hermiston vs. TBD (at Aloha Tournament),
TBD
Irrigon vs. TBD (at Ione Bonanza), TBD
Ione vs. TBD (at Ione Bonanza), TBD
Riverside vs. TBD (at Mac-Hi Tournament),
TBD
Mac-Hi vs. TBD (Mac-Hi Tournament),
2 p.m.
Pilot Rock vs. Monument/Dayville (at Paul
Humphreys Tournament, Wheeler HS),
2:30 p.m.
Nixyaawii at Country Christian (at Cougar
Classic), 3:30 p.m.
Clarkston (WA) at Pendleton (Red Lion
Invite), 5 p.m.
Heppner vs. TBD (Joseph Tournament),
5:30 p.m.
Helix at Bickleton (WA), 5:30 p.m.
Condon/Wheeler vs. Echo (at Paul Hum-
phreys Tournament, Fossil), 5:30 p.m.
Arlington vs. TBD (at Hawk Invitational,
Hood River), 7 p.m.
Weston-McEwen vs. TBD (at Ione Bonan-
za), 7 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Today’s Games
Irrigon vs. Enterprise (at Ione Bonanza),
3 p.m.
Riverside vs. Touchet (WA) (at Mac-Hi
Tournament), 3 p.m.
Stanfield vs. Culver (at Sherman County
Tournament, Moro), 3 p.m.
Nixyaawii vs. Days Creek (at Cougar
Classic, Molalla), 3 p.m.
Arlington vs. Delphian (at Hawk Invitation-
al, Hood River), 3:30 p.m.
Pilot Rock vs. Echo (at Paul Humphreys
Tournament, Fossil), 4 p.m.
College Place at Mac-Hi (Mac-Hi Tourna-
ment), 6 p.m.
Weston-McEwen at Ione (Ione Bonanza),
6 p.m.
Heppner at Joseph (Joseph Tournament),
6 p.m.
Monument/Dayville at Condon/Wheeler
(at Paul Humphreys Tournament, Fossil),
6 p.m.
Wilsonville at Hermiston (Hermiston
Tournament), 7 p.m.
Umatilla vs. Colton (at Western Menno-
nite Tournament, Salem), 7 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
Hermiston vs. TBD (Hermiston Tourna-
ment), TBD
Riverside vs. TBD (Mac-Hi Tournament),
TBD
Weston-McEwen vs. TBD (at Ione
Bonanza), TBD
Ione vs. TBD (at Ione Bonanza), TBD
Irrigon vs. TBD (at Ione Bonanza), TBD
Arlington vs. TBD (at Hawk Invitational,
Hood River), TBD
Heppner vs. TBD (at Joseph Tournament),
11 a.m.
Pilot Rock vs. Monument/Dayville (at Paul
Humphreys Tournament, Fossil), 1 p.m.
Mac-Hi vs. TBD (Mac-Hi Tournament),
2 p.m.
Nixyaawii at Country Christian (Cougar
Classic), 2 p.m.
Clarkston (WA) at Pendleton (Red Lion
Invite), 4 p.m.
Echo at Condon/Wheeler (at Paul Hum-
phreys Tournament, Fossil), 4 p.m.
Helix at Bickleton (WA), 4 p.m.
Umatilla vs. TBD (at Western Mennonite
Tournament, Salem), 7 p.m.
PREP WRESTLING
Saturday
Mac-Hi at Estacada Tournament, 10 a.m.
Echo, Heppner at Irrigon Duals, 10 a.m.
Hermiston at Oregon City Tournament,
TBD
Pendleton, Riverside at Kennewick
Tournament, TBD
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Saturday’s Game
Eastern Oregon at Baker (Kan.) in NAIA
FCS semifinals, 11:06 a.m.
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Today’s Games
Eastern Oregon vs. Oklahoma City (NAIA
Sweet 16; at Sioux City, Iowa), 3:45 p.m.
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Today’s Game
Clackamas at Blue Mountain, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s Game
College of Idaho at Eastern Oregon,
7:30 p.m.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Today’s Game
Grays Harbor at Blue Mountain, 5 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
College of Idaho at Eastern Oregon,
5:30 p.m.
Edmonds at Blue Mountain, 6 p.m.
Sunday’s Game
Portland at Blue Mountain, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE MEN’S WRESTLING
Friday-Saturday
Eastern Oregon at Battle of the Rockies
(Great Falls, Mont.), TBD
COLLEGE WOMEN’S WRESTLING
Saturday
Eastern Oregon at Simon Fraser Open,
TBA
Football
NFL
Thursday’s Game
Dallas 17, Minnesota 15
Sunday’s Games
Kansas City (+4) at Atlanta, 10 a.m.
Los Angeles (+13.5) at New England,
10 a.m.
Philadelphia (-1) at Cincinnati, 10 a.m.
Miami (+3.5) at Baltimore, 10 a.m.
Denver (-5) at Jacksonville, 10 a.m.
Detroit (+5) at New Orleans, 10 a.m.
San Francisco (+3) at Chicago, 10 a.m.
Houston (+3.5) at Green Bay, 10 a.m.
Buffalo (+3.5) at Oakland, 1:05 p.m.
Washington (+2.5) at Arizona, 1:25 p.m.
Tampa Bay (+5.5) at San Diego, 1:25 p.m.
N.Y. Giants (+6) at Pittsburgh, 1:25 p.m.
Carolina (+6.5) at Seattle, 5:30 p.m.
Open: Tennessee, Cleveland
Monday’s Game
Indianapolis (-2.5) at N.Y. Jets, 5:30 p.m.
NCAA
Top 25
Today’s Games
No. 4 Washington vs. No. 9 Colorado,
Pac-12 championship at Santa Clara, Calif.,
6 p.m.
No. 13 Western Michigan vs. Ohio, MAC
championship at Detroit, 4 p.m.
Saturday’s Games
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 15 Florida, SEC
championship at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 19 Virginia Tech,
ACC championship at Orlando, Fla., 5 p.m.
No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Penn State, Big
Ten championship at Indianapolis, 5:17 p.m.
No. 7 Oklahoma vs. No. 11 Oklahoma
State, 9:20 a.m.
No. 14 West Virginia vs. Baylor, 12:30 p.m.
No. 20 Navy vs. Temple, AAC champion-
ship, 9 a.m.
NAIA
Playoffs
Semifinals
Saturday’s Games
Saint Francis (Ind.) (11-1) at Reinhardt (Ga.)
(13-0), 10:30 a.m.
Eastern Oregon (10-2) at Baker (Kan.),
11:05 a.m.
Basketball
NBA
Thursday’s Games
Charlotte 97, Dallas 87
Milwaukee 111, Brooklyn 93
L.A. Clippers 113, Cleveland 94
Memphis 95, Orlando 94
Miami 111, Utah 110
Houston 132, Golden State 127
Today’s Games
Orlando at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
Sacramento at Boston, 4:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Toronto, 4:30 p.m.
Minnesota at New York, 4:30 p.m.
Cleveland at Chicago, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
L.A. Clippers at New Orleans, 5 p.m.
Detroit at Atlanta, 5 p.m.
Washington at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.
Houston at Denver, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
NCAA
Men’s Top 25
Thursday’s Games
No. 8 Gonzaga 97, Mississippi Valley State 63
Cincinnati 55, No. 19 Iowa State 54, OT
No. 20 South Carolina 68, Vermont 50
No. 24 Florida 91, North Florida 60
Today’s Game
SIU Edwardsville at No. 13 Indiana, 4 p.m.
Women’s Top 25
Thursday’s Games
No. 2 Connecticut 91, No. 15 DePaul 46
No. 3 South Carolina 76, No. 14 Texas 67
No. 4 Baylor 79, Abilene Christian 34
No. 5 Maryland 78, No. 7 Louisville 72
No. 11 Stanford 77, CSU Bakersfield 56
No. 13 Washington 101, Grand Canyon 66
No. 17 Kentucky 82, No. 12 Oklahoma 68
No. 18 Miami at No. 9 Ohio State, 4 p.m.
Kansas State 71, No. 23 Auburn 66
Today’s Game
Idaho at No. 24 Oregon State, 8:30 p.m.
Hockey
NHL
Thursday’s Games
Boston 2, Carolina 1, SO
Buffalo 4, N.Y. Rangers 3
Pittsburgh 6, Dallas 2
N.Y. Islanders 3, Washington 0
Florida 2, Detroit 1, OT
Philadelphia 3, Ottawa 2, OT
St. Louis 5, Tampa Bay 4
Edmonton 6, Winnipeg 3
Chicago 4, New Jersey 3, OT
Columbus 3, Colorado 2
Los Angeles 4, Arizona 3
Anaheim 3, Vancouver 1
Today’s Games
Minnesota at Calgary, 6 p.m.
Montreal at San Jose, 7:30 p.m.
Soccer
MLS
Conference Championships
Eastern Conference
Tuesday, Nov. 22: Montreal 3, Toronto
FC 2
Wednesday, Nov. 30: Toronto FC 5,
Montreal 2, Toronto FC advances 7-5 on
aggregate
Western Conference
Tuesday, Nov. 22: Seattle 2, Colorado 1
Sunday, Nov. 27: Seattle 1, Colorado 0,
Seattle advances 3-1 on aggregate
MLS Cup
Saturday, Dec. 10: Toronto FC vs. Seattle,
5 p.m. (TV: ESPN)
Athlete of the Week
Twenty questions
with Stanfield’s
Dylan Grogan
East Oregonian
STANFIELD — The
Stanfield Tigers football
team made history last
weekend by playing in the
state championship game
for the first time in nearly
six decades.
Senior Dylan Grogan
was a big reason why the
Tigers made it that far in
2016, leading a potent
offense as the quarterback
with his dual-threat abilities
as well as being a leader on
defense from his linebacker
position. Stanfield unfortu-
nately wasn’t able to bring
home the championship this
season, but Grogan still had
a standout performance as
he threw for 107 yards and
ran for the Tigers’ only two
touchdowns of the game.
For his efforts, Grogan
has been selected as the
Athlete of the Week.
———
East Oregonian: When
did you start playing
sports?
Dylan Grogan: Since I
was in kindergarten.
What is your favorite
sport to play?
Whatever sport I’m
playing at the time.
What is you favorite
sport to watch?
Baseball
Any sports superstitions?
(In baseball) before
every pitch I throw, I
have to adjust my hat.
If you could attend any
sporting event in the
world what would you
pick?
I’d go to a Mariners
game.
Favorite professional or
college sports team?
Minnesota Vikings
Favorite athlete?
(Chicago Cubs 3B) Kris
Bryant
If you could try any sport
that you have not yet
played, what would you
pick?
Soccer
Favorite junk food?
Oreos
Favorite holiday food?
Pumpkin pie
Any hobbies outside of
sports?
I like going snow-
boarding.
What would you like to
do for a career?
Something involving
sports.
Favorite subject in
school?
Math
Favorite movie?
Happy Gilmore
Favorite TV show?
That 70s Show
Who would you pick for
a fantasy prom date?
(Actress) Blake Lively
First job you had?
Mowing lawns
First vehicle?
GMC truck
Favorite vacation
destination?
The coast
Favorite thing about
living in Oregon?
Being able to go to the
river in the summer and
snowboard in the winter.
ATHLETE
OF THE WEEK
DYLAN GROGAN
Stanfield
Football-QB
Grogan threw
for 107 yards
and ran for two
touchdowns as
Stanfield
earned 2A state
runner-up in a
loss to Regis on
Saturday.
P ROUDLY S PONSORED B Y :
• General Orthopedics • Sports Medicine
• Arthroscopy • Foot & Ankle
• Hand Surgery • Joint Replacement
• Workman’s Comp Injuries
Advanced Orthopedic
& Sports Medicine Institute
620 NW 11th St., Ste. 201, Hermiston
www.hermistonortho.com
541-289-7075