Polk County Sports
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 18, 2017 11A
Wolves: WOU takes aim at conference title
Continued from Page 10A
Ribich said the Wolves are
approaching the weekend
with the same energy and
anticipation they had at the
start of the season.
“We’re chomping at the
bit like it’s our first race,” he
said. “We’re ready to get the
ball rolling.”
The men’s team could be
a contender for the team
title. The Wolves return every
runner that competed at the
GNAC championships in
2016, including Ribich,
Dustin Nading, Tyler Jones,
Josh Dempsey and Stephen
Frey.
That depth makes the
Wolves dangerous, but
Ribich said the top of the
conference is stacked.
“I think it’ll be a four-team
battle on the men’s side,”
Ribich said. “It’ll come down
to the finish. The first 5 kilo-
meters of the race is flat,
then the last 3 kilometers are
a little hilly.”
The women’s team, which
features Kennedy Rufener,
Olivia Woods and Megan
Rose, among others, is also
looking to make a splash.
“The girls are a top-four
team for sure,” Ribich said.
“The 6-kilometer distance
is long enough for the en-
durance girls to do well and
other girls like Olivia,
Megan and Suzie (Van De
Grift) can shine in the right
opportunity because we
know they can outkick any-
one in the field.”
The Wolves have tailored
their training schedule to be
at their absolute best at the
end of the season.
On Saturday, they’ll get a
chance.
COURTESY OF WOU ATHLETICS/Itemizer-Observer
Western Oregon’s cross-country team will compete at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships.
WESTERN OREGON ROUNDUP
Wildcats earn shutout victory over Wolves
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Western Oregon quarterback Nick Duckworth (12) throws a pass on Saturday.
Itemizer-Observer staff report
MONMOUTH — Western
Oregon University’s football
team was shut out by Central
Washington 42-0 on Satur-
day.
The Wildcats led 7-0 after
the first quarter before scor-
ing three touchdowns in the
second quarter to take a 28-
0 lead into the half.
Central Washington held
Western Oregon to 261 yards
of total offense — its lowest
offensive output of the sea-
son.
Wolves’ quarterback Nick
Duckworth, who passed for
six touchdowns on Oct. 7,
completed 10 of 20 passes
for 83 yards on Saturday.
Phillip Fenumiai went 12-
for-20 for 115 yards.
Running back Taylor
Poyadue had 18 rushes for
75 yards.
WOU (2-5 overall, 1-4
Great Northwest Athletic
Conference) plays at Hum-
boldt State Saturday at 6 p.m.
VOLLEY-
B A L L
D R O P S
TWO: West-
ern Oregon’s
volleyball
team lost to
Alaska Fair-
banks 14-25,
28-26, 28-
Bettinson
26, 25-19 on
Thursday
and Alaska
Anchorage
19-25, 25-
23, 25-17,
25-21 on
Saturday.
Mariella
Vandenkooy
had a team-
Vandenkooy high 18 kills
against Alaska Anchorage and
22 kills and three blocks
against Alaska Fairbanks.
Alisha Bettinson added 13
kills and six blocks.
WOU (6-11 overall, 2-8
GNAC) plays at Central Wash-
ington on Thursday at 7 p.m.
and at Northwest Nazarene
Saturday at 7 p.m.
WOMEN’S SOCCER FALLS
TO NORTHWEST NAZARENE:
Western Oregon’s women’s soc-
cer team lost to Northwest
Nazarene 1-0 on Saturday. The
teams played to a scoreless tie
in regular before Northwest
Nazarene scored in the 98th
minute to earn the victory.
The match was the Wolves’
sixth overtime match of the sea-
son. The Wolves also tied Mon-
tana State, Billings 0-0 on Thurs-
day. WOU (2-8-2 overall, 1-5-2
GNAC) plays at Concordia Thurs-
day at 7 p.m. before hosting
Saint Martin’s Saturday at 1 p.m.
DALLAS ROUNDUP
Volleyball sweeps Central
Itemizer-Observer staff report
INDEPENDENCE — Dal-
las’ volleyball team defeated
Central 25-22, 25-18, 26-24
on Oct. 11. The Dragons also
competed at the Seaside
Tournament on Saturday,
defeating Estacada and
Philomath before losing to
Valley Catholic.
Dallas played Woodburn
Tuesday after press time.
The Dragons close out the
regular season Thursday at 6
p.m. against South Albany.
The Dragons entered the
week with a 12-10 record
overall and 6-6 mark in Mid-
Willamette Conference play,
good for fifth place. The top
six teams advance to the
postseason. The third- and
fourth-place finishers will
host a state play-in match.
The fifth- and sixth- place
finishers will go on the road
for a state play-in match.
Crescent Valley entered
the week in fourth place
with a 7-5 mark in league
play.
CROSS TAKES FIRST AT IN-
VITATIONAL: Dallas junior
boys cross-country runner
Trevor Cross
placed first
in the Silver
Varsity race
at
the
George Fox
Invitational.
Cross fin-
ished with a
time of 15
minutes,
Cross
47.39 sec-
onds.
The boys placed third in the
team standings.
“We had outstanding per-
formances from Toby Ruston,
Orion Knudson and Gavin
Bowling league results
Cherry Pickers First
Place 18 wins 6 losses
High Scratch Game Men:
Dennis Fritz 236
Hi g h S c ra t c h Ga m e
Women: Sherrie Johnston
223
High Handicap Game
Men: Daryl Jones 290
High Handicap Game
Women: Doris Stefani 284
High Scratch Series Men:
Dennis Fritz 627
High Scratch Ser ies
Women: Sherrie Johnston
518
High Handicap Series
Men: Daryl Jones 730
High Handicap Series
Women: Nancy Baxter 760
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Falls City drops close match
Itemizer-Observer staff report
FALLS CIT Y — Falls
City’s volleyball team lost to
Willamette Valley Christian
11-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-8,
16-14 on Monday. The
Mountaineers played Jewell
Tuesday after press time.
Falls City will compete in
the Casco League tourna-
ment beginning Thursday.
The tournament’s schedule
was not finalized as of press
time.
“The girls are really work-
ing on staying tough in in-
tense pressure game situa-
tions,” coach Roxi Barnhart
said. “We are improving and
that is exciting.”
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G r a s s ,” c o a c h M o n i q u e
Lankheet said. “Ryan Bibler had
a great performance coming
back from injury.”
Ruston finished 11th in
16:36.92, Grass took 19th in
16:53.28 and Knudson placed
38th in 17:30.14.
Bekah Rocak led the girls.
“Bekah set a new personal
record and Melody and Mikayla
ran tough and got big PRs,”
Lankheet said. “Maddie
Kennedy and Jaydin Darring-
ton had huge PRs as well.”
Dallas will host a meet
Wednesday (today) at 4 p.m. at
Dallas City Park.
BOYS SOCCER FALLS TO
SILVERTON: Dallas’ boys
soccer team lost to Silverton
7-1 on Oct. 11. The Dragons
(2-8 overall, 1-3 MWC played
Central Tuesday after press
time. Dallas plays at Wood-
burn Thursday at 6 p.m. and
at South Albany Tuesday at
6:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER LOSES: Dal-
las’ girls soccer team lost to Sil-
verton 6-0 on Oct. 11. The
Dragons (0-9 overall, 0-4 MWC)
played Central Tuesday after
press time. Dallas hosts Wood-
burn Thursday at 4 p.m. and
South Albany Tuesday at 4 p.m.
SPARTANS DEFEAT DRAG-
ONS: Dallas’ football team lost
to Corvallis 40-27 on Thursday.
Evan Courtney rushed for
116 yards and two touch-
downs. Jaret Stewart and Cam-
den Frizelle also scored rushing
touchdowns for the Dragons.
The Spartans jumped out to
a 21-7 lead at the half. The
Dragons pulled within one
possession twice in the second
half, but Corvallis answered
each time.
Dallas (2-5 overall, 0-4 MWC)
hosts Crescent Valley Friday at
7 p.m. It will be the team’s final
home game of the season.
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Josie Smith (11) and Taylor Williamson (8) wait for a point
to start during the Dragons’ win over Central on Oct. 11.
Falls City
Continued from Page 10A
Sickles missed the first
three weeks of the season,
but the senior is thankful to
be back on the field.
“I got myself into a little
bit of trouble, so I couldn’t
play,” he said. “I fixed every-
thing. It helped me be a bet-
ter leader. I’ve been through
a lot. When people get down,
I’ve been in a rough spot be-
fore so I can help pick peo-
ple up and keep them fo-
cused.”
Sickles makes the Moun-
taineers a more dangerous
team.
“Jesse has allowed us to
open things up on offense
more,” Cook said. “He does a
good job of running the
show and making his reads.
It allows us to put Jeremy
(Labrado) in the backfield.
Austin (Burgess) is a real
good blocker and receiver.
Noah (Sickles) is a heck of a
runner. Jesse makes us more
dangerous.”
That was on display on
Friday, as Burgess, Labrado,
Noah Sickles and Jesse Sick-
les all scored touchdowns.
With Jesse Sickles at quar-
terback, he gives the Moun-
taineers a dual threat capa-
ble of making plays with his
arm and his feet.
Now, it’s a matter of fine
tuning and eliminating mis-
takes on offense and de-
fense.
“Yoncalla couldn’t stop
us,” Cook said. “We stopped
ourselves with a few fumbles
and stupid penalties.”
The Mountaineers close
the regular season at Maple-
ton Friday at 7 p.m., and
both Cook and his players
believe that a home playoff
game — and a deep run in
the postseason — are possi-
ble.
“I’m probably too hard
on the kids at times be-
cause I’ve had good groups
in the past,” Cook said.
“I’ve had teams that haven’t
given up 100 points in 13,
14 games. I believe these
kids can do the same thing
because of how hard they
play and their football in-
telligence. We just can’t
take plays off. This is a spe-
cial group.”
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Jesse Sickles and Jeremy Labrado talk with Falls City
coach Laric Cook (not pictured) during the Mountaineers’
84-32 victory over Yoncalla on Friday night.