AP-NW–Sports Right Now UPDATE/1112
RAMS-SEAHAWKS
Seahawks take NFC West title with 24-3 win over Rams
SEATTLE (AP) — Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, Tyler Lockett had 130 yards receiving and a score, and the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West title with a 24-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
Seattle claimed its third NFC West title in four seasons, assuring itself of at least one home game in the playoffs and keeping the pressure on Detroit in the competition for the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye. Seattle also snapped a three-game losing streak to the Rams.
It wasn’t an impressive display by Seattle (9-4-1), but was far better than Sunday when the Seahawks were blown out by Green Bay with Wilson throwing five interceptions.
Wilson was good enough against the listless Rams. After slogging through the first half, Wilson threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin late in the third quarter for a 17-3 lead, then put the game away on a 57-yard touchdown strike to Lockett on the second play of the fourth quarter.
Wilson finished 19 of 26 for 229 yards, but also threw a careless interception at the goal line midway through the fourth quarter. Seven of those passes went to Lockett, whose previous career high was 104 yards. Luke Willson also had an 8-yard TD catch in the first half.
Another mostly forgettable Thursday night game was made at least somewhat more entertaining by the Seahawks and their highlighter green uniforms that drew wild opinions all over social media. The “Action Green” uniforms had very little action in the first half, before a second-half effort that assured another banner would be raised at CenturyLink Field.
TRAIL BLAZERS-NUGGETS
Gallinari scores 27 as Nuggets beat Trail Blazers 132-120
DENVER (AP) —Danilo Gallinari scored 20 of his 27 points in the first half and the Denver Nuggets led big early before holding on late to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 132-120 Thursday night.
Gary Harris scored 18 in his return to the Nuggets’ lineup. It was Denver’s second win in the last 15 games against the Trail Blazers, who got 40 points and 10 assists from Damian Lillard.
CJ McCollum scored 23 for Portland, which has lost five of six.
The Nuggets snapped a three-game skid at Pepsi Center, where they are 4-7 this season. One of those defeats came in their home opener against Portland when they blew a late lead and lost in overtime.
AP FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
AP FCS All-America Team: E Washington WR Kupp goes 4 for 4
CHENEY, Wash. (AP) — Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp has been selected to The Associated Press FCS All-America team for the fourth straight season, making the first team with fellow Walter Payton Award finalist Jeremiah Briscoe of Sam Houston State.
The AP FCS All-America team was released Thursday.
Kupp is believed to be the first player to be a four-time first-team selection in FCS, which was previously known as Division One-Double A. The AP began naming a One-Double A All-America team in 1982 and its records go back to 1988.
Kupp is the most prolific receiver in the history of Division I football. He holds career records for receptions (418), receiving yards (6,284) and touchdown catches (71). This season he has 107 catches for 1,520 yards and 15 touchdowns for Eastern Washington, which hosts Youngstown State in an FCS playoff semifinal Saturday.
Kupp won the Walter Payton Award last season as the top player in FCS and he could become the second two-time winner when it is handed out January 6th.
Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State placed offensive linemen Zach Johnson and Landon Lechler on the first team. The Bison face James Madison on Friday night.
OREGON-LEAVITT
Colorado defensive coordinator Leavitt heads to Oregon
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) —Colorado defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt is joining new head coach Willie Taggart’s staff at Oregon, Buffaloes head coach Mike MacIntyre confirmed Thursday.
FoxSports DOT com first reported Wednesday that Leavitt, a former head coach at South Florida like Taggart, would be the Ducks’ defensive coordinator.
“Jim and our defensive staff did an excellent job with our defense the last two years. Jim brought a lot of expertise and energy to our defense,” MacIntyre said in a statement. “I wish him the best in his move to the University of Oregon and thank him for all the hard work, time and energy he gave to the Colorado Buffaloes,”
Leavitt has spent the past two seasons with the Buffaloes. This season, Colorado is ranked 17th nationally for total defense, allowing an average of 328.3 yards per game, and 18th for scoring defense, allowing 20.5 points per game.
MVSU-SEATTLE
Moore’s 15 points pave way in Seattle’s 82-67 win over MVSU
SEATTLE (AP) — Zack Moore scored 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting and Brendan Westendorf added 14 points as Seattle won its third straight, beating Mississippi Valley State 82-67 on Thursday night to keep the Delta Devils winless.
Seattle (6-5) led all the way and built a 24-9 lead with 9:30 to play before halftime. The Redhawks outscored the Delta Devils 27-14 and posted a 51-23 lead over MVSU (0-10).
William Powell made a pair of free throws at the start of the second half to push Seattle’s lead to 30.
Westendorf made his lone free throw of the game and is now 28 for 29 (96.5 percent) from the line this season. He entered the game sixth in the nation for free-throw percentage.
Rashaan Surles scored 15 points for MVSU, and Darrell Riley and Isaac Williams each added 14 points.
Thursday night’s win marked the 100th victory for Seattle head coach Cameron Dollar.
MINNESOTA-BOYCOTT
Minnesota players to boycott all football activity
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The entire Minnesota football team says it is boycotting all football activities until it gets satisfactory answers from the university about the suspension of 10 players this week.
The school suspended the players after an internal investigation into a sexual assault case. Police declined to charge any of the players, but the school suspended them based on internal regulations involving sexual assault allegations.
The team’s players said Wednesday that have not ruled out skipping the Holiday Bowl on December 27th against Washington State in San Diego. They asked the bowl’s committee to be patient while they work through the situation.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
