B2 SPORTS East Oregonian Saturday, November 14, 2020 Seahawks: Visiting teams get better locker room Continued from Page B1 The Rams’ history with the Seahawks — and Wil- son’s playmaking presence — means they won’t take anything for granted. “It’s always a hard-fought game when we play Seat- tle,” said defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who has sacked Wilson eight times in the teams’ last fi ve meet- ings. “It’s always a challenge when you’re playing against a great quarterback who can do so much.” Dallas Bolen/Contributed Photo Sutton Terra Cotta, ridden by Dallas Bolen of Hermiston, won the Morgan World Champion Dressage Training Level Open in Oklahoma City, Okla. Carrying the load Wilson has plenty of work to do, For the third straight game, the Seahawks are likely to be without their top two running backs, Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde. Rookie DeeJay Dallas has been the primary ball carrier, but had just seven rushes last week against Buffalo. Travis Homer and Alex Collins also were in the mix against the Bills, but Seat- tle isn’t likely to run much against the fi fth-best run defense in the league. Staley vs. Seahawks Carroll is impressed by the work of rookie Rams defensive coordinator Bran- don Staley, whose group is near the top of the league in most statistical categories. “They’re able to keep the explosives down and take advantage of one of the best players ever, ever in Aaron Donald,” Carroll said. “He’s off to another great season. Nine sacks already. He’s had a bunch of close ones, too. He could have 20 prob- ably already. I think (Staley) doing a good job playing to Memories: Elaine Thompson/Associated Press, File (Donald’s) strengths.” Air raid In 2013 season, the Sea- hawks allowed 2,752 yards passing. In eight games this season, the Seahawks already have given up 2,897 through the air. Granted they are entirely different teams, but Seat- tle’s pass defense is the big- gest weakness of a team with big postseason aspirations. During the loss last week, the Bills barely even tried to run, attempting just 19 rush- ing plays, only three in the fi rst half. Seattle is allowing a league-worst 362 yards per game passing, on pace to shatter the NFL record for most passing yards allowed in a season. “We have a lot of a season still left and a lot of time to change it,” Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “I’m confi dent in the guys in the locker room, and I’m con- fi dent in our coaches. I feel like it’s going to get done.” Marquee matchup Jalen Ramsey plays all over the fi eld on the Rams’ defense, but the standout cornerback seems likely to match up regularly with DK Metcalf, the Seahawks’ bur- geoning star receiver. Met- calf didn’t back down from Ramsey last year, even get- ting into a shoving match. Staley isn’t committing to a one-on-one showdown, but he’s looking forward to it anyway. “This is going to be a great chess match between these two guys, if they line up near each other,” Staley said. “This is what gets you excited about pro sports, is to see two elite players square off against one another. These two guys are as good Zander: ‘We have a really good balance’ Continued from Page B1 McInerney said. “We will evaluate him when he comes in. It will depend on what direction he wants to go. If he wants to contend for a position on the fi eld, we will allow him to do that. He could be a two-way player for us. He’s athletic, he’s hun- gry and he wants to be here. He will fi nd a way to get on the fi eld.” Pendleton coach T.J. Haguewood said Zander has worked hard for the opportu- nity to play college ball. “He has worked his butt off to get where he is,” Haguewood said. “Tucker is very accurate with the base- ball and has a quick release. His real strength is placing the ball, whether it is in the fi eld or on the hill. He is the epitome of what we like as players at Pendleton, and he is grateful to the people who help him.” Zander has been able to work on his skills and strength this fall — as much as the COVID-19 mandates allow. “The high school opened up weightlifting sessions after school about a month ago,” Zander said. “We get about an hour, and we are fortunate to get that. We had a fi ve-week practice where we got to scrimmage against Continued from Page B1 Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson scrambles to pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game on Nov. 1, 2020, in Seattle. our own teammates. It was benefi cial for us to get out there and prepare for the spring.” Mounties coming together McInerney was hired in January to revitalize the EOU baseball team that last played in 2006. He spent the past eight years as the associate head coach at Western Oregon University, working mainly as the Wolves’ pitching coach. McInerney has put together a solid team at EOU with mainly high school and community college play- ers. The cornerstone of the Mounties is junior left- handed pitcher Kolbe Bales of Dufur, who followed McInerney from WOU. “Having Kolbe makes it easier with the pitching staff,” McInerney said. “He knows how things are done.” McInerney has done a good job of signing local talent. He picked up right- handed pitcher Cooper Rob- erts of Pendleton in his fi rst round of signees, along with a handful of La Grande High School players, Irrigon’s Adrian Roa (Blue Mountain Community College), and a couple of top players out of the Tri-Cities. “We had an emphasis on getting kids in our region,” McInerney said. “We lucked out. There was some legit- imate talent in our region that wanted to play here, and others that weren’t signed yet. If you are able to get regional talent and they have a good experience, it’s a ben- efi t for the college and the community.” Of the community college players coming in, four are from Treasure Valley. “I know coach (Brady) Baker, and they are entrenched with tradition on how to do things right,” McInerney said. “They buy in 100 percent and they are incredibly coachable.” The Mounties also have a strong pitching staff, includ- ing fi ve left-handers. “We have a really good balance,” McInerney said. “We have a little bit of everything.” McInerney said the Mounties do not yet have a schedule, but when they do, they are ready to go. “No one has dealt with COVID and restarting a pro- gram,” he said. “We are off the cuff with what we are doing. The athletic depart- ment and the university have been very supportive. Even with the craziness that is happening, I see us build- ing this quickly and being successful.” Because of the COVID pandemic, Bolen said the numbers at nationals were down about 10%. Com- petitors from Canada were unable to make the trip, as were some European riders. There still were more than 1,000 entrants at the event. While nationals presents championship ribbons, there are no monetary awards. “You can’t put a price on memories,” Bolen said. as I think that I’m seeing right now in the NFL at their positions.” New digs Carroll will forever be linked to the LA Coliseum after his decade-long run of success as head coach at Southern California, but he’s thrilled to see what SoFi Sta- dium looks like on the inside. Especially a better visi- tors locker room than at the Coliseum. “That locker room is so bad for the visiting team. It’s like putting 50 guys in a closet,” Carroll said. “You’ve got to give that to Al Davis. He reconstructed that when they were playing there back in the day to make it as mis- erable as possible on their opponent, and he got it done. I really didn’t realize how big of a factor it might have been over the years when we were there.” The appeal of Morgan horses Known for their versatil- ity, Morgans are one of the fi rst breeds to be developed in the United States. According to history, every Morgan today can trace its lineage back to a horse named Figure, a hardy stallion who was born in West Springfi eld, Massa- chusetts, in 1789. Morgans are family horses, show horses, and once were used to work in the fi elds. As show horses, they are used in several different dis- ciplines, from jumping to dressage to endurance rid- ing. They also make good rodeo partners in barrel rac- ing, tie-down roping and team roping. Bolen trains Goldmann’s fi ve Morgans, and has sev- eral of her own, including a 4-month-old she recently bought. “I’ve been competing since I was about 9 years old,” Bolen said. “It’s in your blood. My mom thought I’d grow out of it. I never did. She’s still waiting.” Training horses is a side job for Bolen, who works at Wheatland Insurance in Pendleton. “I train for Liz, but I also have other clients,” Bolen said. “I have a super sup- portive husband (Kai). He came down to nationals and helped us set up, then fl ew back home to go to work. When it was over, he fl ew down, helped us pack up and drove home with us.” Invitation Invitation to to Invitation to Participate Participate in in a a Participate in a Focus Group: Group: Focus Recruiting— Recruiting— Recruiting— Focus Group: Women and Men Women and Men Women and Men (over 18) 18) and (over 18) and (over and Elders Elders Elders Family Violence Services has a Family Violence Services has received a expand grant to expan Family Violence Services has received received a grant grant to to expand services to victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, sex services to victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, services to victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and and sex and s trafficking in the CTUIR community. The project is recruiting trafficking the CTUIR community. The is project is recruiti trafficking in the in CTUIR community. The project recruiting participants from the community to help inform what a good participants the community help what inform what a g participants from from the community to help to inform a good systems response should look like. Snacks will be served and systems response should look like. Snacks will be served look like. Snacks will be served and a systems $50 gift response card will should be provided for participation. a $50 gift card will be provided for participation. a $50 gift card will be provided for participation. December 7th-11th, 2020 December 7th-11th, December 7th-11th, 2020 2020 Monday Tuesday Wednesday 10:00-1:00 Thursday 18-25 Tuesday 26-40 Monday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday 11:30-2:30 Elders Elders 10:00-1:00 10:00-1:00 18-25 18-25 26-40 5:00-8:00 41-55 Elders 41-55 11:30-2:30 11:30-2:30 Elders 5:00-8:00 41-55 26-40 Elders 41-55 Elders 18-25 26-40 Friday Thursday Friday 26-40 Friday 18-25 5:00-8:00 41-55 41-55 26-40 18-25 Location - Longhouse at Mission If you are interested, please RSVP to Desireé Coyote @ 541- Location - Longhouse at Mission Location - Longhouse at 25, Mission 429-7415 by November 2020 or show up at the Longhouse during specified time your age If you are interested, to to Desireé If you are interested, please please RSVP according to RSVP Desireé Coyote @ Coyote 541- @ 5 group. Interview options available if you are not able to the 429-7415 by November 25, 2020 or show up at 429-7415 by November 25, 2020 or show up at the attend in person . during Longhouse specified time according to your age Longhouse during specified time according to your age group. Interview options available if you are not group. Interview options available if you are not able to able to * Masks and social distancing will be required to ensure everyone’s safety. . . attend in person attend Masks will in be person available on-site. * Masks and social distancing will be required to ensure everyone’s safe * Masks and social distancing will be required to ensure everyone’s safety. Masks will be available Masks will be available on-site. on-site.