B2
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Saturday, September 26, 2020
Pandemic: ‘We are acting Seahawks: ‘There’s nothing that he doesn’t do well’
in the students’ best interest’ Continued from Page B1
— and has another 64 yards
Continued from Page B1
The football championship
game is set for Dec. 18, put-
ting the conference back in
play for the biggest postsea-
son games — and the mul-
timillion-dollar payouts that
come with them.
It was Aug. 11 when
the Big Ten and Pac-12
announced they were post-
poning their football sea-
sons, a dark day in college
sports that came six months
after the pandemic canceled
March Madness.
Six
leagues
forged
ahead, including the pow-
erful Southeastern Con-
ference, which begins play
this weekend. The Big 12,
Atlantic Coast Conference
and three others have been
up and running since Labor
Day weekend.
This
every-confer-
ence-for-itself college foot-
ball season looks like it
will have fi ve different start
dates.
Some teams could play
as many as 12 games while
others get in only six. And
that’s not even counting
what seems like the inevita-
ble disruptions still to come.
There have already been 21
games postponed or can-
celed since Aug. 26 because
of teams battling various
levels of COVID-19-re-
lated issues, including four
this week that were wiped
off the Saturday, Sept. 26,
schedule.
As for the bowl sea-
son, it could conceivably
start before the conference
champions are crowned.
The NCAA football over-
sight committee on Thurs-
day recommended that bowl
games can be played as soon
as Dec. 1 and minimum
requirements for bowl eli-
gibility (.500 record against
FBS opposition) should be
waived for 2020.
The Pac-12 will try
squeeze seven games into
seven weeks, borrowing
an idea from the Big Ten
and allowing all its teams
to play an extra cross-divi-
sion game on championship
weekend.
“We want to be in the
best position, quite frankly,
to get ourselves in the CFP
conversation, but also bowl
game consideration at the
very highest level,” Arizona
State athletic director Ray
Anderson said. “We want to
play.”
The turning point for the
return of sports in the Pac-
12 came Sept. 3 when it
entered an agreement with
diagnostic testing company
Quidel that will give each
school the capacity to con-
duct daily antigen tests on
their athletes.
Still, it took three weeks
for the conference to reverse
course on fall football, leav-
ing it starting later and
scheduled to play fewer
games than its Power Five
peers.
“I don’t think we’re
behind,” Schill said. “I think
that we are acting deliber-
ately. We are acting in the
students’ best interest. We
waited until we were able
to, if not ensure, protect
their health and safety.”
Schill said state and
local restrictions in Califor-
nia and Oregon to stem the
spread of the virus made it
impossible for six Pac-12
teams to practice football
and slowed the conference’s
return-to-play decision
“Those barriers came
down once the daily antigen
test was available,” Schill
said.
There is still work to be
done for schools in the Pac-
12 and Mountain West to get
the approval of local offi -
cials in Northern California
and now in Colorado. Due
to a recent spike in COVID-
19 cases, Boulder County,
Colorado, offi cials on Sept.
24 halted gatherings for col-
lege-aged residents for two
weeks. That includes ath-
letic events.
“We’ll continue to work
with our public health offi -
cials to comply with the
public health order and be a
part of the community solu-
tion,” Colorado Athletic
Director Rick George said.
“The one thing I’ve learned
in this pandemic, is don’t
get too high and don’t get
too low.”
No fans will be per-
mitted at Pac-12 sporting
events taking place on cam-
pus. The loss of ticket rev-
enue and decreased number
of games will cost Pac-12
schools tens of millions of
dollars, but it could have
been even worse with no
football at all.
The CFP’s annual pay-
out to the Power Five con-
ferences has been $66 mil-
lion. Conferences receive
$6 million for every team
they have selected to the
national semifi nals and $4
million for each team they
get in the other four New
Year’s six bowls.
Steel on the inside where it matters most.
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— Patrick Mahomes in
2018 and Peyton Manning
in 2013 — they each went
on to win the MVP award.
And of Wilson’s nine
TDs, six have been of 15
yards or more and three of
35 yards or longer.
“His long ball accu-
racy has been off the charts
the fi rst two weeks,” Cow-
boys coach Mike McCarthy
said. “He’s had a number
of big-time dime throws.
The biggest thing is just try
to keep the big plays to a
minimum.”
Prescott’s 450 yards
passing last week was the
third-highest total of his
career, and the Cowboys
needed all of them to rally
from 12 points down in the
fi nal eight minutes. Prescott
was 13 of 19 for 182 yards,
one TD pass and one TD
run on the Cowboys last
three possessions of the
comeback.
It was the 10th time in
his career he’s led a come-
back in the fourth quarter or
overtime.
“There’s nothing that
he doesn’t do well,” Seattle
coach Pete Carroll said.
Injury woes
Both Dallas and Seattle
have major injury concerns,
most of them on the defen-
sive side.
Dallas will be with-
receiving.
“I think I’ve had a good
start this year, laid a good
foundation for the sea-
son both as a runner and a
blocker, and out of the back-
fi eld,” Elliott said.
Catching on
AP Photo/Ron Jenkins
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates
running the ball for a touchdown as back judge Greg Mey-
er (78) looks on in the second half of an NFL football game
against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday,
Sept. 20, 2020.
out linebacker Leighton
Vander Esch (broken col-
larbone) and cornerbacks
Anthony Brown (ribs) and
Chidobe Awuzie (ham-
string). Rookie cornerback
Trevon Diggs is also a ques-
tion mark after showing up
on the injury report with a
shoulder issue.
“I don’t think it’s much
of a challenge because
they’ve done a great job of
bringing guys in here that
understand the defense,
understand how to play the
game,” said Joe Thomas,
who replaced Vander Esch.
“A few veteran guys that
can come in and step up and
play, to hold it down until
those guys get back.”
Seattle lost outside line-
backer/pass rusher Bruce
Irvin and starting nickel
cornerback Marquise Blair
to major knee injuries last
week. Ugo Amadi will
step in for Blair, while how
Seattle fi lls Irvin’s role is
unclear.
Steady Elliott
Ezekiel Elliott is still
looking for his fi rst 100-
yard game, but the two-time
rushing leader has been
more than steady. Elliott
had both Dallas touch-
downs in the season-open-
ing loss to the Rams, and
the fi rst one against the Fal-
cons. He’s third in the NFL
with 185 yards rushing
— the most through two
games in his fi ve seasons
One of the unique
aspects of Wilson’s fi ve
TD performance last week
was that all the touchdown
passes went to different
players. Tyler Lockett, DK
Metcalf, Freddie Swain,
David Moore and Chris
Carson all took turns fi nd-
ing the end zone on passes
from Wilson. For Carson,
Seattle’s starting running
back, it was his third TD
catch of the season, match-
ing his career total entering
the year.
Explosion
A big key could end up
being whether Seattle can
shut down the Cowboys’
explosive plays. Dallas
leads the NFL with 41 plays
of 10 yards or more through
the fi rst two games. Seattle
has allowed the most plays
of 10 yards or more with 47.
“They have some explo-
sive guys on their side. They
can make a lot of plays,”
Seattle safety Jamal Adams
said. “We have to do a good
job of doing our thing, and
plastering them and cover-
ing them.”
Hamilton: Stands will be at 50% of their capacity
Continued from Page B1
skill set — from the garage
to the engineers in the fac-
tories and design depart-
ments. Change isn’t com-
ing quickly enough, and we
need to know why,” Hamil-
ton said in a statement.
More fans in stands
There will be more spec-
tators in the stands than for
any other race in the pan-
demic-hit 2020 season.
Organizers say the race
weekend is sold out, but
haven’t given fi nal ticket
sales fi gures.
Race promoter Alexei
Titov previously told Rus-
sian state TV that the
stands would be at 50 per-
cent of their capacity,
which equates to around
30,000 spectators.
That’s far more than the
previous season high of
3,000 fans for the last race,
the Tuscan Grand Prix at
the Mugello circuit.
Unlike at the last two
races in Italy, there will be
a full entertainment pro-
gram on offer for fans, with
concerts featuring some
of Russia’s most popular
musicians.
Russian organizers say
they’re taking precautions
to keep fans safe and will
have medical staff posted
at checkpoints around the
venue, and that spectators
will have their temperature
measured on entry.
Verstappen’s
struggles
It’s hard to believe
that Max Verstappen still
looked like an outside title
challenger only a few weeks
ago. Since then, his season
has gone up in smoke.
An overheating engine
forced the Dutch driver
out of the race at Monza,
and then a similar prob-
lem struck just before the
start of the following race
at Mugello. Verstappen was
far slower off the line than
the cars around him and
was struck by Kimi Raik-
konen’s Alfa Romeo.
That leaves Verstappen
a full 80 points off Hamil-
ton in the standings, though
he could rebound by trying
to make up the 25-point gap
to Bottas in second place.
The Morrow County Livestock Growers
would like to thank the following
for their support of the 2020
Morrow County 4-H/FFA Auction!
GRAND CHAMPION
MARKET SWINE
GRAND CHAMPION
MARKET LAMB
Briar Reeves
Saige Jensen
Buyer:
Elmer’s Irrigation
Buyer:
Lamb Weston
Livestock Superintendents:
Jessica Bailey
Makenzi Hughes
Alita Nelson
Kellie Nelson
Sandi O’ Brien
Bank of Eastern Oregon:
Christy Correa
Jeff Bailey
Special Thanks To:
Morrow County Fair Board
Ann Jones
Morrow County Grain
Growers
MCGG Green Feed
CHS Feeds
Evans Livestock
Monte & Becky Evans
Mitch & Tag Ashbeck
Beef Northwest Feeders
Wes Killion
Jason Schoenfelder
Dr. Dan Hanson
McGinn Trucking
Eastern Oregon Mobile
Slaughter
Mike’s Mobile Slaughter
Follet’s Smoked Meats
Beth Dickenson
Martin Vito
Julie Baker
Erin Heideman
Gage Heideman
Anna Browne
Sarah Baker
Brett Milligan
Kyle Robinson
Mark Rietmann
Eli Wickert
Matt Clark
BUYERS
Over $12,000:
Lamb Weston
Blue Line Transportation
Co Inc
JVB Dairy
Over $5,000:
Bank of Eastern Oregon
Custom Feed Services LLC
Double T Farming
Beef Northwest
GAR Aviation
Silver Creek Construction
Corey Miller Farming
Elmer’s Irrigation
Over $2,500:
Northwest Farm Credit
Services
Devin Oil Inc
Easterday Farms Dairy
Castle Rock Farming
Columbia River Dairy
Morrow County Grain
Growers
Butter Creek Cattle
Company
NW Metal Fabricators, Inc
Jeremiah McElligott
PGE Senior Center Steer
Project
Umatilla Electric Coop
Jeromey Lesperance
Miller Wheat Inc
Lakeview Heights
Community Counseling
Solutions
Proudfoot Ranches
Mid-Columbia Producers
Wilkinson Ranches LLC
Mason Rock LLC
Bailey Heavy Equipment
Over $1,000:
Rogers Toyota of Hermiston
Craig Miles Farming
Wilbur Ellis
Morrow County Livestock
Growers
Ross Machine
Cannon Chiropractic
Agri-Northwest
Western Ag Improvements
Ashbeck (Mitch & Tag)
(Lamb Resell)
GRAND CHAMPION
MARKET GOAT
Zaleta Masterson
Buyer:
Roger’s Toyota
Charlie & Marcia Anderson
Healy Ranch LLC
(Resale) Mike’s Mobile
Slaughter
Jake Jaca
K2 Aerial Application
Les Schwab Tires-Heppner
LSTC Heppner
BP Doherty Farms
Triangle Ranches
Bonni and Bob Ball
Simplot Grower Solutions
Up to $1,000:
Community Bank
Goose Ridge Winery
Mark & Shannon Miller
RDO Equipment Co
Shelco Electric Inc
Mark and Lisa Pratt
Hermiston Veterinary Clinic
Cold Springs Veterinary
Service
Krebs Sheep Company
Wheatland Insurance
(Heppner/Ione)
Brian McElligott
Mid-Columbia Title
Company
Nelmar Farming Co.
Patti Adair
EB Orem Farms
Jason and Tara Proudfoot
Maureen McElligott
J&A Orem
Blown Away Ranch
Luciani Ranch
Curtis & Kathy Cutsforth
H and D Ranch
Harrison Farms
IRZ Consulting
Joe & Donna Rietmann
Karen Pettigrew
Merlin and Claudia
Hughes Ranch
Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo
Pacific Ag Solutions
Peter Szasz
Riekkola Farms
GRAND CHAMPION
MARKET BEEF
Madison Orem
Buyer:
Custom Feed Services LLC
Rock Creek Ranch
Tim & Shannon Rust
David and Jennifer Jaca
Bob and Linda Mueller
Dickenson Chiropractic
Galen Weaver
Wes & Mary Killion
Desert Sandz
Development Inc.
Grieb Farms
Rodelo Farms
Terri Landreth
Heppner Christian Church
Joshua Pattinson
Nutritional Services LLC
Stephanie Hisler
Tubit Enterprises
D & M Padberg
Greenup Enterprises
Grinning Wolf LLC
Jamie Houck
Michael Graham
Nancy Miller and Charles
Monagle
Pioneer Memorial Therapy
Services
Theresa Frazier
Shelley McCabe Physical
Therapy, LLC
2T Cattle Company
Ann Jones
Clearwater Builders Supply
Corey and Brandi
Sweeney
Old Town Designs
Patricia Daly
Sandi Richardson
Tacos Xavi
Tillamook Boardman
Windemere Real Estate
Matt and Julie Baker
Kelsie Worden
Michelle McElligott
Slater &. Darcee Mitchell
Sterner Farms
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT