Page 2B
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Brett Rypien looking for
big finale with Broncos
QB a big reason
why Boise State is
ranked No. 22
By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
Brett Rypien is about
to become a rarity in col-
lege football, a quarter-
back with the skill from
the time of his arrival on
campus to be the starter
for the majority of his four
years at Boise State.
He’s won a confer-
ence title. He’s won bowl
games. Yet there was a
time a year ago as a junior
that his spot as the Bron-
cos starter was being ques-
tioned by outsiders and
challenged from within.
“I don’t think frustrat-
ing was the right word.
You know, I never really
try to get frustrated. I
think that’s just negative
for yourself and not really
positive for the entire team
as well, showing frus-
tration. Especially in the
position that I’m in,” Ryp-
ien said. “But, it’s defi-
nitely hard at times having
to go through that. But like
I said, it made me a lot bet-
ter player. And you know
looking back on it I actu-
ally am glad that that hap-
pened to me.”
Rypien will start his
senior season Saturday
when the 22nd-ranked
Broncos open at Troy.
While Rypien didn’t get
his first start until the
fourth game of his fresh-
man season, he’ll join Kel-
len Moore in rare com-
pany as a four-year starter
for the Broncos. Rypien’s
career hasn’t been quite as
good as Moore’s but he’s
still one of the most dec-
orated quarterbacks in the
school’s history.
He ended up leading
the Broncos to a Mountain
West title and a Las Vegas
Bowl victory over Oregon
during his difficult junior
season. He also nearly lost
his starting job to graduate
transfer Montell Cozart.
“I thought Brett, that’s
the neatest thing, he han-
dled it well,” Boise State
coach Bryan Harsin said.
“I think there was some of
that frustration of, at times,
being taken out of the plan
and the reality of, ‘If this
is what it takes for us to
win, I’m all in.’ He really
was. He showed that, too.
That’s a maturity that I
haven’t seen from many
people and Brett handled
that.”
Cozart was different
from Rypien and the Bron-
cos needed what his skills
provided. Cozart could run
and pass. He challenged
Rypien’s standing early
last season when the Bron-
cos stumbled to a 2-2 start.
“I definitely think it
made me better just from
the standpoint of I was
competing literally every
single day in practice and
I really got to the point
where I didn’t know how
many snaps I was gonna
be able to take during the
game,” Rypien said. “And
knowing that every single
one of those matters, that
kind of upped my prac-
tice habits I think a little
bit. And made me focus
that much more on every
single rep, knowing every
single rep I took had to be
perfect.”
AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File
Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien (4) breaks
away from San Diego State defenders.
Friday, August 31, 2018
NFL
Rams NFC West favorites
By JOSH DUBOW
Associated Press
SANTA CLARA, Calif.
— The Los Angeles Rams
have gone from one of the
NFL’s biggest surprises to
one of the top Super Bowl
favorites in just one year.
The Rams didn’t rest
after an impressive turn-
around campaign in coach
Sean McVay’s first season,
bringing in an impressive
offseason haul led by three
former All-Pros on defense
in defensive tackle Ndamu-
kong Suh and cornerbacks
Marcus Peters and Aqib
Talib, along with big-play
receiver Brandin Cooks.
It’s perhaps the most tal-
ent added in one offsea-
son since the San Francisco
49ers brought in Deion
Sanders, Ken Norton Jr.,
Rickey Jackson and Richard
Dent 24 years ago and ended
up as Super Bowl champs.
The newcomers join a
roster that features a prom-
ising young quarterback in
Jared Goff, an elite running
back in Todd Gurley, a stout
offensive line led by left
tackle Andrew Whitworth
— and perhaps Defensive
Player of the Year Aaron
Donald, who held out for
a second straight training
camp but could be back for
the start of the season.
The Rams figure to be
challenged most in the NFC
West by a rejuvenated San
Francisco team that won the
final five games last year
after Jimmy Garoppolo took
over as quarterback.
Seattle still has Russell
Wilson but few other key
pieces from the 2013 Super
Bowl team, and Arizona has
three of the division’s top
players in receiver Larry
Fitzgerald, cornerback Pat-
rick Peterson and running
back David Johnson, who
is coming back from a wrist
injury.
Some things to know
about the NFC West:
STABLE OFFENSE:
For all the big changes on
defense for the Rams, they
predictably kept things very
stable on offense after going
from worst to first in the
NFL in scoring in the initial
year under McVay.
Los Angeles brings back
10 of 11 starters on offense,
with the only change at
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File
FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared
Goff (16) hands the ball to Todd Gurley (30) during an NFL football game against
the Seattle Seahawks, in Los Angeles. The Rams have gone from one of the NFL’s
biggest surprises to one of the top Super Bowl favorites in just one year.
receiver
where
Cooks
replaced Sammy Watkins.
It’s a far cry from last year
when the Rams broke in
two new offensive linemen
and a new receiver around
Goff, who was getting ready
for his first full season as an
NFL starter in a brand new
offense.
This team clearly has
big-play potential. Cooks is
one of the league’s best deep
threats and Gurley led the
NFL in yards from scrim-
mage (2,093) and TDs (19)
last season, earning him the
rare big-money contract as a
running back.
JIMMY G: The 49ers
fortunes changed almost
immediately after acquir-
ing Garoppolo at last year’s
trade deadline. A team
that started 2017 with nine
straight losses finished
with five straight wins after
Garoppolo took over as
starter.
He completed 67.4 per-
cent of his passes last sea-
son, averaging 8.8 yards per
attempt with seven TDs, five
interceptions and a 96.2 rat-
ing to improve to 7-0 in his
career as a starter. His 308.4
yards passing per game in
his five starts also would
have led the league had he
played a full season.
The Niners added Jer-
ick McKinnon as a versa-
tile running back but have
some questions on defense,
where they are hoping Rich-
ard Sherman can get back
to his pre-injury level as a
shutdown cornerback, and
someone can provide an
outside pass rush to comple-
ment defensive tackle stud
DeForest Buckner.
QB SHUFFLE: There
have been big changes in
Arizona with quarterback
Carson Palmer retired and
coach Bruce Arians mov-
ing from the sideline to the
broadcast booth.
But the biggest deal for
the Cardinals this year is
the health of Johnson, the
do-everything back whose
2017 season ended with an
injury in the opener. John-
son is healthy again, and if
he can get back to the form
with which he ranked second
in the NFL with 2,118 yards
from scrimmage in 2016,
that should take plenty of
pressure off the quarterback.
Oft-injured Sam Bradford
begins the year as starter, but
he has only played 80 games
in eight seasons. He has torn
the anterior cruciate liga-
ment in his left knee twice,
and another left knee injury
wiped out nearly all of his
2017 season in Minnesota.
But Bradford is likely
only a stopgap. The Cardi-
nals traded up to take Josh
Rosen 10th overall in hopes
that he can be a franchise
quarterback for new coach
Steve Wilks.
LAST HURRAH: The
Seahawks have been one of
the most consistent teams
in the league under coach
Pete Carroll the past few
years. Seattle has posted six
straight seasons of top two
finishes in the division and
winning records, missing
the playoff only last year.
But much of the core of
the team that went to back-
to-back Super Bowls in the
2013 and ‘14 seasons is
gone.
Defensive end Michael
Bennett was traded, corner-
back Richard Sherman was
cut and wound up with the
archrival 49ers, tight end
Jimmy Graham left as a free
agent and defensive stars
Cliff Avril and Kam Chan-
cellor have had career-end-
ing injuries. Even safety
Earl Thomas’ status is in
doubt as he has held out all
offseason in hopes of getting
a new contract.
While star power remains
led by Wilson, receiver
Doug Baldwin and line-
backer Bobby Wagner, the
rest of the roster likely has
too many holes for the Sea-
hawks to be able to chal-
lenge the top teams in the
NFC.
PREDICTED ORDER
OF FINISH: Rams, 49ers,
Cardinals, Seahawks.
LeBlanc’s pitching sets tone in Mariners win over Athletics
By MICHAEL WAGAMAN
Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)
— Wade LeBlanc pitched
seven scoreless innings,
Mitch Haniger hit his 23rd
home run and the Seat-
tle Mariners jumped on the
Oakland Athletics early and
held on for a 7-1 victory on
Thursday night.
Robinson Cano had two
hits and an RBI after being
dropped down a spot in the
batting order after second
baseman Jean Segura was
scratched. Dee Gordon and
Ryon Healy added two hits
apiece.
Seattle had lost three
straight and five of seven
before taking the opener of
this four-game series. The
Mariners pulled within 4 1/2
games of the A’s for the sec-
ond AL wild card. Oakland
remains 2 1/2 back of Hous-
ton for first place in the AL
West.
Jed Lowrie had an RBI
single for the A’s.
LeBlanc (8-3) allowed
three hits and three walks
with four strikeouts. He
retired 12 of his final 13 bat-
ters to win for the second
time in his last seven starts.
Adam Warren and Nick
MLB
Mariners
Athletics
7
1
Vincent retired three bat-
ters each to complete the
four-hitter.
Haniger homered off
Frankie Montas (5-4) with
one out in the fourth. He
also singled leading off the
game, extending his sea-
son-high hitting streak to 11
games. Haniger went into
the day leading the AL with
38 hits this month.
The Mariners scored five
runs with two outs and took
advantage of a throwing
error by third baseman Matt
Chapman in the first inning.
Cano doubled and scored
on Healy’s single before Ben
Gamel drew a bases-loaded
walk to make it 2-0. Two
more runs scored on Chap-
man’s error. Gordon added
an infield single to drive in
Gamel.
After Denard Span tri-
pled to open the second,
Cano singled to push the
lead to 6-0.
SCOREBOARD
Local slate
PREP FOOTBALL
Friday
Harper Charter at Echo, 6 p.m.
Pasco at Hermiston, 7 p.m.
Enterprise at Pilot Rock, 7 p.m.
Central Linn at Weston-McEwen, 7 p.m.
Rainier at Umatilla, 7 p.m.
Heppner at Clatskanie, 7 p.m.
Mac-Hi at Madras, 7 p.m.
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Friday
Pendleton at Mountain View Tournament,
8 a.m.
Stanfield at Echo, 5 p.m.
Ione at Dufur Volleyball Classic, TBD
Saturday
Weston-McEwen vs. Portland Christian
(at Heppner), 9 a.m.
Crane at Heppner, 9 a.m.
Weston-McEwen vs. Crane (at Heppner),
11 a.m.
Portland Christian at Heppner, 3 p.m.
Pilot Rock, Echo at Prairie City Tourna-
ment, TBD
Ione at Dufur Volleyball Classic, TBD
PREP BOYS SOCCER
Saturday
Riverside at Oregon Episcopal, 1:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS SOCCER
Saturday
Stevenson (WA) at Riverside, 1 p.m.
Baseball
MLB
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East Division
W
L
Boston
93 42
New York
84 50
Tampa Bay
71 62
Toronto
60 73
Baltimore
40 94
Central Division
W
L
Cleveland
76 57
Minnesota
62 71
Detroit
54 80
Chicago
53 81
Kansas City
42 91
West Division
W
L
Houston
82 52
Oakland
80 55
Seattle
75 59
Los Angeles
65 69
Pct GB
.689 —
.627 8½
.534 21
.451 32
.299 52½
Pct GB
.571 —
.466 14
.403 22½
.396 23½
.316 34
Pct GB
.612 —
.593 2½
.560
7
.485 17
Texas
58 76 .433 24
————
Thursday’s Games
Cleveland 5, Minnesota 3
Detroit 8, N.Y. Yankees 7
Boston 9, Chicago White Sox 4
L.A. Angels 5, Houston 2
Seattle 7, Oakland 1
Friday’s Games
Detroit (Zimmermann 6-6) at N.Y. Yankees
(Severino 17-6), 4:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay (Glasnow 1-3) at Cleveland
(Kluber 16-7), 4:10 p.m.
Toronto (Sanchez 3-5) at Miami (Straily
5-6), 4:10 p.m.
Minnesota (Gonsalves 0-2) at Texas
(Hutchison 2-2), 5:05 p.m.
Boston (Eovaldi 5-6) at Chicago White Sox
(Kopech 1-0), 5:10 p.m.
L.A. Angels (Barria 8-8) at Houston (Valdez
2-0), 5:10 p.m.
Baltimore (Cashner 4-12) at Kansas City
(Keller 6-5), 5:15 p.m.
Seattle (Leake 8-8) at Oakland (Fiers 10-6),
7:05 p.m.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East Division
W
L Pct GB
Atlanta
74 59 .556 —
Philadelphia
71 62 .534
3
Washington
67 67 .500 7½
New York
59 74 .444 15
Miami
53 81 .396 21½
Central Division
W
L Pct GB
Chicago
79 54 .594 —
St. Louis
75 59 .560 4½
Milwaukee
75 60 .556
5
Pittsburgh
65 69 .485 14½
Cincinnati
57 77 .425 22½
West Division
W
L Pct GB
Arizona
74 60 .552 —
Colorado
72 61 .541 1½
Los Angeles
72 62 .537
2
San Francisco
67 68 .496 7½
San Diego
53 83 .390 22
————
Thursday’s Games
Milwaukee 2, Cincinnati 1, 11 innings
St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 0
Chicago Cubs 5, Atlanta 4
Arizona 3, L.A. Dodgers 1
San Diego 3, Colorado 2, 13 innings
Friday’s Games
Chicago Cubs (Quintana 11-9) at Philadel-
phia (Pivetta 7-10), 4:05 p.m.
Milwaukee (Chacin 13-5) at Washington
(Roark 8-13), 4:05 p.m.
Toronto (Sanchez 3-5) at Miami (Straily
5-6), 4:10 p.m.
Pittsburgh (Taillon 10-9) at Atlanta (San-
chez 6-5), 4:35 p.m.
Cincinnati (Bailey 1-12) at St. Louis
(Gomber 4-0), 5:15 p.m.
Arizona (Greinke 13-8) at L.A. Dodgers
(Ryu 4-1), 7:10 p.m.
Colorado (Senzatela 4-4) at San Diego
(Kennedy 0-2), 7:10 p.m.
N.Y. Mets (Wheeler 9-6) at San Francisco
(Suarez 5-9), 7:15 p.m.
MiLB
NORTHWEST LEAGUE
North Division
W L Pct.
Vancouver (Blue Jays) 20 14 .588
Spokane (Rangers)
19 15 .545
Tri-City (Padres)
16 16 .500
Everett (Mariners)
14 19 .424
South Division
W L Pct.
Hillsboro (D-Backs)
24 10 .706
Eugene (Cubs)
15 19 .441
Salem-Keizer (Giants) 15 19 .441
Boise (Rockies)
12 22 .353
———
Thursday’s Games
Hillsboro 5, Boise 2
Salem-Keizer 15, Eugene 5
Everett 8, Vancouver 1
Spokane 15, Tri-City 7
Friday’s Games
Everett at Vancouver, 1:05 p.m.
Hillsboro at Boise, 6:15 p.m.
Eugene at Salem-Keizer, 6:35 p.m.
Spokane at Tri-City, 7:15 p.m.
GB
—
1
3
5½
GB
—
9
9
12
Basketball
WNBA PLAYOFFS
Semifinals
(x-if necessary)
(Best-of-5)
Seattle 2, Phoenix 0
Sunday: Seattle 91, Phoenix 87
Tuesday: Seattle 91, Phoenix 87, OT
Friday: Seattle at Phoenix, 7 p.m.
x-Sept. 2: Seattle at Phoenix, TBA
x-Sept. 4: Phoenix at Seattle, TBA
Atlanta 1, Washington 1
Sunday: Washington 87, Atlanta 84
Tuesday: Atlanta 78, Washington 75
Friday: Atlanta at Washington, 5 p.m.
x-Sept. 2: Atlanta at Washington, TBA
x-Sept. 4: Washington at Atlanta, TBA
Soccer
MLS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF GA
New York
17 6 4 55 50 26
Atlanta United FC 16 4 6 54 55 30
New York City FC 14 6 6 48 49 34
Columbus
11 8 7 40 33 33
Philadelphia
12 11 3 39 37 39
Montreal
10 14 3 33 34 45
New England
7 10 8 29 38 41
D.C. United
7 11 6 27 39 42
Toronto FC
7 13 6 27 43 48
Chicago
6 15 6 24 37 52
Orlando City
7 16 2 23 38 59
WESTERN CONFERENCE
W L T Pts GF GA
FC Dallas
13 6 7 46 43 35
Sporting K.C.
13 6 6 45 47 30
Los Angeles FC 12 7 7 43 50 40
Real Salt Lake
12 10 5 41 42 44
Portland
11 7 7 40 37 35
Seattle
11 9 5 38 32 26
LA Galaxy
10 9 8 38 49 48
Vancouver
10 9 7 37 43 51
Minnesota United 9 15 2 29 38 52
Houston
7 12 7 28 41 38
Colorado
6 14 6 24 31 48
San Jose
4 14 8 20 40 50
NOTE: Three points for victory, one point
for tie.
————
Saturday’s Games
Sporting Kansas City at Seattle, 1 p.m.
New York at Montreal, 4:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Orlando City, 4:30 p.m.
Portland at New England, 4:30 p.m.
Houston at FC Dallas, 5 p.m.
Los Angeles FC at Toronto FC, 5 p.m.
New York City FC at Columbus, 5 p.m.
LA Galaxy at Real Salt Lake, 7 p.m.
San Jose at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Sunday’s Games
Atlanta United FC at D.C. United, 7:30
p.m.
Football
NFL PRESEASON
Week 4
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
East
W L
T Pct PF
New England 3 1
0 .750 94
Buffalo
2 2
0 .500 83
Miami
1 3
0 .250 88
N.Y. Jets
1 3
0 .250 55
South
W L
T Pct PF
Houston
3 1
0 .750 67
Indianapolis 3 1
0 .750 88
Jacksonville 3 1
0 .750 76
Tennessee
0 4
0 .000 40
North
PA
74
98
87
47
PA
50
80
50
90
Baltimore
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Cleveland
West
W
5
3
3
3
L
0
1
1
1
T Pct PF
0 1.000 127
0 .750 120
0 .750 103
0 .750 77
PA
72
95
80
46
W L
T Pct PF PA
Oakland
3 1
0 .750 74 54
Denver
2 2
0 .500 101 93
Kansas City 2 2
0 .500 91 79
L.A. Chargers 2 2
0 .500 71 95
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
East
W L
T Pct PF PA
N.Y. Giants 2 2
0 .500 74 70
Washington 1 3
0 .250 69 98
Philadelphia 1 3
0 .250 44 82
Dallas
0 4
0 .000 43 86
South
W L
T Pct PF PA
New Orleans 3 1
0 .750 103 47
Carolina
3 1
0 .750 104 96
Tampa Bay 2 2
0 .500 96 96
Atlanta
0 4
0 .000 27 96
North
W L
T Pct PF PA
Minnesota
3 1
0 .750 86 65
Green Bay
2 2
0 .500 109 97
Chicago
2 3
0 .400 121 118
Detroit
1 3
0 .250 77 111
West
W L
T Pct PF PA
Arizona
3 1
0 .750 81 56
L.A. Rams
2 2
0 .500 47 96
San Francisco 1 3
0 .250 75 83
Seattle
0 4
0 .000 70 94
———
Thursday’s Games
New England 17, N.Y. Giants 12
Miami 34, Atlanta 7
Philadelphia 10, N.Y. Jets 9
Cleveland 35, Detroit 17
Indianapolis 27, Cincinnati 26
Jacksonville 25, Tampa Bay 10
Baltimore 30, Washington 20
Pittsburgh 39, Carolina 24
Minnesota 13, Tennessee 3
New Orleans 28, L.A. Rams 0
Houston 14, Dallas 6
Buffalo 28, Chicago 27
Kansas City 33, Green Bay 21
L.A. Chargers 23, San Francisco 21
Denver 21, Arizona 10
Oakland 30, Seattle 19
NCAA
Top 25 Schedule
Thursday
No. 21 UCF 56, UConn 17
Friday
No. 4 Wisconsin vs. Western Kentucky,
6 p.m.
No. 13 Stanford vs. San Diego State, 6
p.m.
Saturday
No. 1 Alabama vs. Louisville (at Orlando,
Fla.), 5 p.m.
No. 2 Clemson vs. Furman, 9:20 a.m.
No. 3 Georgia vs. Austin Peay, 12:30 p.m.
No. 5 Ohio State vs. Oregon State, 9 a.m.
No. 6 Washington vs. No. 9 Auburn at
Atlanta, 12:30 p.m.
No. 7 Oklahoma vs. FAU, 9 a.m.
No. 10 Penn State vs. Appalachian State,
12:30 p.m.
No. 11 Michigan State vs. Utah State,
4 p.m.
No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 14 Michigan,
4:30 p.m.
No. 15 Southern Cal vs. UNLV, 1 p.m.
No. 16 TCU vs. Southern U., 9 a.m.
No. 17 West Virginia vs. Tennessee (at
Charlotte, N.C.), 12:30 p.m.
No. 18 Mississippi State vs. Stephen F.
Austin, 4:30 p.m.
No. 22 Boise State at Troy, 3 p.m.
No. 23 Texas at Maryland, 9 a.m.
No. 24 Oregon vs. Bowling Green, 5 p.m.
Golf
PGA TOUR
DELL TECHNOLOGIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Site: Norton, Mass.
Course: TPC Boston. Yardage: 7,342.
Par: 71.
Purse: $9 million. Winner’s share:
$1,620,000.
Television: Friday, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
(Golf Channel); Saturday, 12-3:30 p.m.
(Golf Channel); Sunday 10 a.m.-Noon (Golf
Channel); 12-3 p.m. (NBC); Monday, 8:30
a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (Golf Channel), 10:30
a.m.-3 p.m. (NBC).
LPGA TOUR
CAMBIA PORTLAND CLASSIC
Thursday
At Portland, Ore.
Columbia Edgewater CC
Purse: $1.3 million
Yardage: 6,476; Par: 72 (36-36)
First Round
Marina Alex
32-30—62 -10
Brooke M. Henderson 33-31—64 -8
Minjee Lee
34-30—64 -8
Robynn Ree
30-35—65 -7
Katherine Perry
34-32—66 -6
Su Oh
32-34—66 -6
Georgia Hall
33-33—66 -6
Angela Stanford
34-33—67 -5
Mi Hyang Lee
36-31—67 -5