Saturday, December 26, 2015 SPORTS East Oregonian Page 3B NFL Playoff-bound Seahawks closes out home slate Football leads the Rams with 21 tackles By TIM BOOTH for loss. He’s just the third Rams AP Sports Writer WDFNOH WR UHDFK GRXEOH ¿JXUHV LQ sacks and his two-year total of 20 SEATTLE — What transpired Seattle St. Louis is four more than any other NFL to open the season turned out to Seahawks Rams tackle in that span. be a mirage for both St. Louis and (9-5) (6-8) NO SCORING: Thanks to Seattle. Sunday, 1:25 p.m. holding its last three opponents The Seahawks overcame their at Century Link Field to a combined 26 points, Seattle slow start and a series of late is back in the race to be the top collapses, including the season- Wilson’s numbers over the scoring defense in the NFL. The opening loss at St. Louis, to again SDVW¿YHJDPHVDUHVWDJJHULQJ Seahawks are allowing 17.7 points be in the NFC playoffs and a threat passes, zero intercep- per game, good for second and to reach a third straight Super tions and a 143.6 . barely trailing Cincinnati at 17.4. Bowl. They are numbers that should have If Seattle can shut down St. Louis And the Rams proved again they Wilson in the MVP conversation, DQG$UL]RQD WKH ¿QDO WZR ZHHNV are not yet ready to be a contender but he continues to be saddled LWFRXOG¿QLVKDVWKHOHDJXHOHDGHU in the NFC West alongside Seattle by Seattle’s sluggish start that in scoring defense for a fourth and Arizona. included the 34-31 overtime loss to straight season. Seattle will host St. Louis on the Rams to open the season, when Sunday with the lone remaining he was sacked six times. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund) BALDWIN QUESTIONABLE goal for the Seahawks (9-5) trying In his past six games against the ’ runs with the ball after a pass (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks to land with the higher wild-card Rams, Wilson has been sacked 29 reception as ’ Tramon Williams falls behind in hope Doug Baldwin seed in the NFC. The Seahawks times. the second half of an NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Seattle. will be ready to play on Sunday will be either the No. 5 or No. 6 “He’ll take a sack if he needs against St. Louis. seed with Arizona already having to or he’ll throw the ball away if Bay. Engram in 2007. But the decision on his status clinched the NFC West title. But he needs to. But, the guy’s got a “I think we’ve got some good NEW COORDINATOR: could be made on game day. ¿QLVKLQJ ZLWK WKH 1R  VHHG ring,” St. Louis coach feelings going, but we’ve got to The St. Louis offense is greatly Baldwin has a hamstring injury would mean opening against the said. “I mean, he’s a good player. continue to work and get better,” improved with Rob Boras calling and coach said on NFC East champion. Finishing We’re going to have to obviously Keenum said. plays the last two weeks, both Thursday the team believes Baldwin with the No. 6 seed could mean a GHDOZLWKKLP¿UVWDQGIRUHPRVW´ Here’s what else to watch for as victories. Boras hasn’t hidden the will be able to play. Baldwin did not trip to Green Bay. The new wrinkles St. Louis will WKH6HDKDZNVDQG5DPVPHHW fact it’s been a nerve-racking expe- practice Wednesday or Thursday, “We want to keep driving it bring into this matchup are running BALDWIN’S ROLL: The rience and has vomited several but is expected to have a greater and try to play the best we can this back and ELJJHVW EHQH¿FLDU\ RI :LOVRQ¶V times in or near the booth upstairs. workload in practice on Friday. A week and have a successful week,” . Gurley was a spec- recent run has been wide receiver HANDLING DONALD: ¿QDO GHFLVLRQ PD\ QRW FRPH XQWLO Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. tator in Week 1 but has lived up to Doug Baldwin. In the past four Defensive tackle Aaron Donald Sunday. “We’ll see what that leaves us next his billing as one of the top running games, Baldwin has caught 10 TD was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Baldwin has caught 10 touch- week. There will be no reason not backs to enter the league in years, passes, joining as the Year last season after being the downs in the past four games, tying to go for it again.” rushing for 1,023 yards despite only wide receivers with that many WKSLFNLQWKH¿UVWURXQGRXWRI an NFL record. The Rams (6-8) will prove a PLVVLQJWKH¿UVWWZRJDPHV TD catches in a four-game span. Pittsburgh, and this year he’s been Carroll said strong safety Kam VLJQL¿FDQWWHVWIRUZKHWKHU6HDWWOH Keenum has started and led Baldwin has tied a franchise record even more of a handful. Donald Chancellor (tailbone) did not prog- quarterback can the Rams to wins in their last two with 13 TD catches this season — leads tackles and is among the ress much Thursday in his recovery continue on his record pace of the games, and was 14 of 17 for 234 tied for the NFL lead — and needs league leaders for all players with and left tackle (calf) last month. St. Louis has caused yards, two TDs and a 158.0 passer  \DUGV WR EHFRPH 6HDWWOH¶V ¿UVW 11 sacks, including three against also did not practice. The team is in the Seahawks problems in the past. rating last time out against Tampa 1,000-yard receiver since Bobby the Lions two weeks ago. He also a waiting mode with both.

College Football Cougars, ‘Canes take postseason skids into Sun Bowl Football . He has passed such By JOHN ERFORT notables as Bernie Kosar and The Associated Press Vinny Testaverde on Miami’s all-time list. EL PASO, Texas — Teams Wash. State Miami (FL) “They’ve got good speed and playing in the Sun Bowl in recent Cougars Hurricanes they’re big up front,” Washington seasons often have brought long (8-4) (8-4) State Alex bowl droughts with them and left Saturday, 11 a.m. on CBS Grinch said. “(Kaaya) has done them at the border, and this year’s at El Paso, Texas a real nice job directing their game between Miami and Wash- offense this year. He’s as talented ington State will add to that trend. the nation’s top-ranked passing as anybody in our conference.” Miami (8-4), despite its storied offense (397 yards per game) with WHAT’S THE TAKEAWAY: history, hasn’t won a bowl game a nation-leading 4,266 yards and One area in which Miami has since 2006, going 0-5 since then. 36 TDs with eight interceptions. excelled is turnovers. The Hurri- The streak includes a loss to Notre “There’s only a few teams in the canes are tied for No. 5 in the Dame in the 2010 Sun Bowl. country that play that way,” Scott nation in turnover margin at plus- Washington State (8-4), which said of the Cougars. “They’re a 13. But they will be missing safety is in a bowl game for the second unique challenge for us.” Jamal Carter, who was sent home time in three years under coach (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) for a violation of team rules. FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 le photo, Washington State Here are some things to know Mike Leach, hasn’t won in the DERXWWKHQG6XQ%RZO CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES: postseason since 2003. quarterback Luke Falk passes during the rst half of an NCAA col- Challenges are nothing new for lege football game against UCLA in Pasadena, Calif. Falk leads the IMPROVED D: Just as The skid will end for one of nation’s top-ranked passing offense (397 yards per game) with a important for WSU was the Miami. Sophomore offensive these teams Saturday. nation-leading 4,266 yards and 36 TDs with eight interceptions. improvement of its defense. Leach lineman Nick Linder said the “It comes as a surprise,” Hurri- said it was one of the biggest team has been hardened by them. canes defensive lineman Calvin UHDVRQVWKH&RXJDUV¿QLVKHGWKLUG “Everyone’s playing hard and Heurtelou said. “The seniors are Miami already has hired former great job. We’re a close team, one in the Pac-12 North behind Stan- playing for each other,” he said. really trying to go out with some- Georgia coach Mark Richt. And of the closest bunches I’ve been ford and Oregon and are playing “When your back’s up against the thing you can remember. I want to Richt has begun to hire assistant around. I’m happy that, my senior in a bowl game. wall, you can be submissive or you win bad, because there’s no other coaches, leaving questions about year, we still fought to try to make “I thought they got better as the FDQFRPHRXW¿JKWLQJ´ feeling better than winning your what will happen to members of this the best season possible.” year went on, especially consid- NICK OF TIME: The Sun last game.” the current staff after the game. Washington State’s road has ering how many young guys we Bowl has been played in a snow- For Miami, the game also Still, Miami went 4-1 down the been different. The Cougars broke in,” he said. storm a few times through its long represents an opportunity for VWUHWFKWR¿QLVKWKLUGLQWKH$&& weren’t picked to do much after PASSING FANCIES: Wash- history. It looks as though this DQ XSEHDW ¿QLVK WR D VHDVRQ RI Coastal Division and qualify for a a 3-9 record last year but rallied ington State isn’t the only team game will miss that, but barely. turmoil. bowl. behind seven returning starters on that throws. Brad Kaaya leads Showers are expected during the &RDFK $O *ROGHQ ZDV ¿UHG “It says a lot about someone’s each side of the ball. Miami’s No. 27-ranked pass day, with the moisture turning to after a 58-0 loss to Clemson. Larry character,” defensive back Deon And former walk-on Luke Falk offense and has thrown for 3,019 snow Saturday night. More snow Scott is the interim head coach, but Bush said of Scott. “He’s done a excelled at quarterback. He leads yards and 15 TDs with just four is expected Sunday.

College Football Southern Miss from winless to bowling versus Huskies Football with two 1,000-yard rushers — the By TIM BOOTH AND DAVID other is Nevada. BRANDT MYLES AND MILES: Associated Press Washington running back Myles Washington So. Miss *DVNLQSXWLQWKH¿QHVWVHDVRQE\D DALLAS — Southern Missis- Huskies Gold. Eagles freshman in school history, rushing sippi was coming off a 12-win (6-6) (9-4) for 1,121 yards and 10 season and Conference USA Sat., 11:20 a.m. on ESPN even though he didn’t fully take championship when at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX over as the featured ball carrier Kalan Reed decided to join the XQWLOWKH¿IWKJDPH*DVNLQFORVHG Golden Eagles. DQG EHLQJ  RYHUDOO KLV ¿UVW the regular season rushing for at Unlike most everyone else three seasons at the school where OHDVW  \DUGV LQ KLV ¿QDO WKUHH in that 2012 signing class, Reed quarterback Brett games and six of the last eight. He stayed through the ensuing 0-12 Favre played from 1987-90. had 138 yards and two touchdowns season and a coaching change. “We talked about turning the against Washington State and now +HJHWVWRSOD\KLV¿QDOJDPHLQD program around because it hasn’t faces a Southern Miss defense that bowl at a historic site. been where we know it should gave up just 141 yards per game on Conference USA runner-up be lately,” Reed said. “It means the ground. Southern Miss (9-4) closes out everything to get nine wins.” SOME HISTORY: This is the its season Saturday against the Washington won its last two ¿UVW PHHWLQJ HYHU EHWZHHQ:DVK- Pac-12’s Washington (6-6) in the games to get bowl eligible. The (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) ington and Southern Miss, though Heart of Dallas Bowl at Cotton Huskies are playing in their sixth FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, le photo, Washington’s Myles Petersen has faced the Golden Bowl Stadium. different bowl over a six-season Gaskin, center, carries the ball under pressure by Southern Cal- Eagles four times — and beat them “Kalan has stuck with it when a span after seven years without a ifornia’s Chris Hawkins, left, during the second half of an NCAA each time from 2007-13, the last a lot of our guys didn’t. As we tried postseason game, including their college football game, in . 60-7 win by Boise State in 2013. to change over the culture and own 0-12 season in 2008. Some things to watch in the on Nov. 14 when Washington had SHUT-DOWN tried to change things and keep “We didn’t know if we’d be VL[WK+HDUWRI'DOODV%RZO a season-high 547 total yards but SECONDARY: Led by all-Pac-12 building, a lot of guys left,” third- going to a bowl. Really proud OFFENSIVE ERUPTION: committed four turnovers in the selections Budda Baker and Sidney year Southern Miss coach Todd RI RXU WHDP WR NHHS ¿JKWLQJ DQG $IWHU VFXIÀLQJ WKURXJK WKH HDUO\ 27-17 loss. Jones, Washington’s secondary Monken said. “Shame on them. battling and get a chance to come part of the season, Washington’s RUNNING WILD: Southern became the backbone of a surpris- They missed out on this unbeliev- to this historic place,” said coach offense scored 52 points against Miss quarterback Nick Mullens ingly strong defense. The Huskies able opportunity and team we had Chris Petersen, wrapping up his Oregon State and 45 against Wash- and his 4,000-plus passing yards led the Pac-12 in total defense this year.” second season with the Huskies ington State (though helped by get a lot of the hype, but the Golden (349.9 yards per game) and scoring Reed, who has 19 pass breakups after eight bowls in a row with three defensive touchdowns) in the Eagles’ offense is just as reliant defense (17.8) and was second in and four interceptions as a senior, Boise State. “And to get matched ¿QDOWZRJDPHVWKH+XVNLHVKDGWR on a very effective running game. the conference at stopping the pass. said he never considered leaving. up with a really, really good win to become bowl eligible. The Jalen Richard (1,098 yards) and Ito Jones was tied for the conference %XW LW ZDV DGPLWWHGO\ GLI¿FXOW opponent, I mean, that’s what bowl offensive improvement actually Smith (1,088) make Southern Miss lead with 13 passes defended and going without a win as a freshman games are supposed to be about.” started in a loss at Arizona State one of just two teams nationally third with four interceptions.