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E AST O REGONIAN FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS | FACEBOOK.COM/EOSPORTS B1 Bucks rally past Redmond NFL PLAYOFFS Rematches highlight wild-card weekend By ANNIE FOWLER East Oregonian Jacob Griffi n admitted his legs still were shaking 10 minutes after his match on Thursday night. The Pendleton fresh- man knew he had to win his 220-pound match against Redmond’s Dillon Young if the Bucks were to have any chance of winning the match. Griffi n looked like a vet- eran on the mat, pinning Young in 50 seconds to pull Pendleton within 32-30 of the Panthers. Travis McGee sealed the win for the Bucks with a 23-second pin of Ryan Kettle at 285 as Pendleton recorded a 36-32 Intermoun- tain Conference victory at Warberg Court. “He was huge com- pared to me,” Griffi n said of Young, who weighed in 15 pounds heavier. “I was so scared going into that match. I kept thinking I was going to lose, and then we would lose. I just believed in myself that I could do it. I felt right at home out there. He was a strong kid.” Griffen took Young down just 27 seconds into the match, turned him and got the pin. “When I was circling, I thought if I don’t do this now, I won’t,” Griffen said. “I got the pin, then Travis did too. I’m feeling pretty confi dent right now.” Pendleton coach Fred Phillips was proud of the way his young wrestlers performed. “We had a freshman at 220 and our heavyweight is a fi rst-year guy,” Phillips said. “Our seniors didn’t go out and get it done tonight, it was our freshmen and young kids, which was surprising.” By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer See Bucks, Page B2 Above: Pendleton’s Alex Rendon controls the leg of Redmond’s John Downing in the 132-pound match in the Bucks’ 36- 32 win over the Panthers on Thursday in Pendleton. MATCH RESULTS TEAM SCORES — Pendleton 36, Redmond 32. 106 — Collin Primus (P) d. Logan Hill 4-2. 113 — Kagan Lawrence (R) md. Kellen Hanson, 13-2. 120 — Gabe Browning (P) p. Landon Nothinger, 3:55. 126 — Austin Anderson (R) p. Cabeb Tremper, :37. 132 — Alex Rendon (P) p. John Downing, 1:01. 138 — Jacob Curry (R) d. Chris Chambers, 11-4. 145 — Matt Robertson (P) p. Michaelo DeGross, 3:42. 152 — Carlos Corralis (R) p. Kyle Liscom, 5:03. 160 — Clayton Elrod (R) md. Josh Whaley, 14-5. 170 — Justin Garcia (R) d. Ian Banister, 9-5. 182 — Austin Carter (R) p. Kirk Liscom, 5:06. 195 — Aiden Henderson (P) d. Gabe Cauldell, 5-0. 220 — Jason Griffi n (P) p. Dillon Young, :50. 285 — Travis McGee (P) p. Ryan Kettle, :23. Left: Pendleton’s Matt Robertson pins Redmond’s Michaelo DeGross in the 145-pound match in the Bucks’ 36-32 win over the Panthers on Thursday in Pendleton. Staff photos by E.J. Harris Some juicy rematches high- light wild-card weekend, in which, well, just about any of the eight teams advancing wouldn’t be a surprise. Seattle beat Dallas early this season, and Baltimore handled the Los Angeles Chargers late. The Colts and Texans split two games. Only the Eagles and Bears didn’t face off. “That was a different time of the season,” says Seahawks defensive coordinator Ken Nor- ton Jr., who played for Dallas. “I think we both were at differ- ent places in our growth for the season. I think we’re both two different teams right now. “They’re coming off of a win streak and the quarterback and the running back and the receiver and the whole offense is really clicking. It’s really challenging for us to get this together, but it’s going to be a really good game. They’ve been effective certainly on the run, they’ve been effective in the pocket and with his mobil- ity. We have our work cut out for us.” All eight teams do in a round with nothing but toss-up games. The action begins with the two AFC South teams meeting in Houston on Saturday after- noon. The scene shifts north and west in Texas to Dallas for the prime-timer between the Sea- hawks and Cowboys. On Sunday, the Chargers come across the country to Bal- timore, then defending cham- pion Philadelphia is at Chicago. Awaiting the results are top seeds Kansas City (AFC) and New Orleans (NFC), plus No. 2s New England (AFC) and the Los Angeles Rams (NFC). Indianapolis (10-6) at Houston (10-6) Way back in the fi rst half of the season, these were strug- gling squads. Houston lost its fi rst three games before reeling off a nine-game winning streak to surge to the top of the divi- sion. Indianapolis was 1-5 and has lost just once since Oct. 14, when it fell to the Jets, of all people. “It feels like we’ve been playing in the postseason for quite a while now and I don’t See Wild-card, Page B2 Pulisic to join Chelsea as most expensive American player DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Christian Pulisic became the most expensive American soccer player in history after completing a transfer to English club Chel- sea from Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. Chelsea paid $73 million for the 20-year-old United States winger, who will be loaned back to Dort- mund for the rest of this season. The German club won’t have to pay Chelsea for the loan. The fee is easily the biggest paid for an American player, sur- passing the reported $22.5 million spent by German team Wolfsburg for John Brooks in 2017. “It was always Christian’s big dream to play in the Pre- mier League,” Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said. “That certainly has to do with his Amer- ican origins, and so it wasn’t pos- sible for us to extend his contract.” The Hershey, Pennsylvania-na- tive’s contract with Dortmund was due to expire at the end of next season. “It is a privilege to have signed for such a legendary club,” Pulisic said of the London team that has won fi ve Premier League titles since 2005. He thanked Dortmund for “fi nding a solution that was win-win for everyone.” Pulisic had long been linked with a move to a Premier League club, while Dortmund’s league rival Bayern Munich was also reportedly interested. Despite the price tag, the sign- ing could be somewhat of a coup for Chelsea if it helps the club establish a larger American fan base. “He’s one of the great young talents in the world,” former U.S. See Pulisic, Page B2 SPORTS SHORTS Army’s Jeff Monken selected George Munger coach of the year Army head coach Jeff Monken PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Army’s Jeff Monken has been selected the George Munger coach of the year. Monken earned the award by the Maxwell Football Club after guiding the Black Knights to an 11-2 record, the most victo- ries in a season in academy his- tory. Army also earned its fi rst national ranking in 22 years. Army capped its breakthrough campaign with a 70-14 vic- tory over Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl, which tied a Bowl Subdivision record for points in a bowl game. It was the Black Knights’ ninth straight win. The No. 22 Black Knights have had three straight win- ning seasons. Before Monken replaced Rich Ellerson ahead of the 2014 season, Army had had only one winning season since 1996. They’ve had three consecutive wins over rival Navy and cap- tured the Commander In Chief’s Trophy outright in consecutive years for the fi rst time.