Oregon
James Franklin calls out 'lopsided' penalties, officiating in Big Ten Championship loss to Oregon
INDIANAPOLIS — James Franklin already had plenty of beef with Kole Knueppel, the referee of Saturday’s Big Ten Championship officiating crew, before kickoff.
Knueppel led the crew for Penn State’s 20-13 loss against Ohio State in early November, a game in which Franklin was constantly lobbying against Knueppel and his crew about calls they made — or didn’t.
While the crew behind Knueppel was different, Franklin’s list of complaints still grew exponentially Saturday during a 45-37 loss to No. 1 Oregon.
“I don’t want this to come off the wrong way. I give Oregon a ton of credit, but the penalties were pretty lopsided, and I have more of an issue with the ones that could have been reviewed,” Franklin said postgame. “The non-reviewable ones, they’re gonna happen. But the ones that need to be reviewed, need to be reviewed, in my opinion.”
Franklin was right in at least one regard, as Penn State had five accepted penalties against it for 65 yards while Oregon had three accepted for just 24 yards. The Nittany Lions committed 15-yard facemask penalties on both of Oregon’s first two drives, and two 15-yard unnecessary roughness calls came down by the beginning of the second quarter.
The 11th-year Penn State coach in his response, though, was specifically referencing a fourth-quarter call in which officials ruled incomplete a 9-yard pass from Drew Allar to Omari Evans that clearly was completed.
Franklin pushed for officials to buzz in a review of the play, while he said they pushed back for him to slow things down and call a timeout to challenge. Knowing the timeout could be valuable later on, Franklin was hesitant. Penn State then threw an incomplete pass on second down before needing a big third-and-10 conversion from Allar to Harrison Wallace III.
Allar and Wallace hooked up again in the end zone on a crazy fourth-and-10 play, where Allar was in the grasp of an Oregon defender while lasering a pass in Wallace’s direction.
Penn State scored on the drive, so Evans’ missed completion might not have mattered. But if faced with second-and-1 instead of needing to gain 10 yards, maybe Penn State’s play calling would have changed? Maybe the Lions could have scored faster and altered their late-game plan?
“I thought it was a catch, and looking on the Jumbotron, it looked like it was a catch. And I get you’re going to miss some calls, but it’s two minutes. Everybody says, ‘OK, well slow down so they can review the call.’ It’s a two-minute drive. You can’t slow down in a critical game like that,” Franklin said in a heated moment. “In my opinion, they should have buzzed down, and they should have checked that. Now, we’ll watch the video of it. Maybe I’m wrong. But from what I saw on the field, what I saw in the jumbotron, that was a catch. And you can’t miss those calls in these types of games, especially when you’ve got replay. Just buzz down. It’s too important.”
Franklin, to a slightly lesser extent, took issue with the finish to a third-quarter run by Allar, where he got stuck in a pile of Ducks and Nittany Lions. Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher spun Allar down after the whistle and seemed to give Allar an extra shove after getting up, potentially worthy of an unnecessary roughness similar to the two Penn State had been assessed. Officials didn’t see it the same way and did not throw a flag.
“There was a time late in the game where I thought they needed to protect Drew, where he was hung up in a pile and kind of got slammed down late,” Franklin said.
While those were the two plays Franklin specifically highlighted after the game, there were more than a few that could have been argued one way or another.
Punt returner Zion Tracy, while receiving the ball for Penn State’s final drive, picked up a nice chunk and set the Lions up with great field position. But officials convened and ruled that he called for a fair catch, moving the ball back at least 15 yards. He certainly waved his hand near his head, but it’s hard to say whether it was deliberately signaling for the fair catch or if his arm flailed a bit while adjusting to the kick.
Midway through the third quarter, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel rolled to his left and pulled defenders forward on the scramble, making it easy to find eventual game MVP Tez Johnson for a long catch-and-run touchdown. But on replay, it was obvious that multiple ineligible Oregon offensive linemen were too far downfield.
One of a few game-winning plays for Oregon, Gabriel found tight end Terrance Ferguson on a fourth-and-2 early in the final quarter. Ferguson had man coverage with Penn State’s Audavion Collins, and he may have gotten away with a pushoff. It’s also possible, though, that the duo’s difference in size (Ferguson 6-5, 255 pounds and Collins 5-11, 180 pounds) made the push look worse than it was. Oregon led 38-30 at the time, and a failed conversion would’ve put Penn State in a golden position to tie the game.
Finally, Franklin was not-so-subtle, when asked about Gabriel’s effectiveness, that uncalled holding might have contributed. Penn State struggled to hurry the star quarterback and finished with just one sack despite a talented defensive front. Defensive end Abdul Carter has been the victim of plenty of uncalled holdings this entire season.
“With Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton, we’ve been able to produce sacks and pressure, as well as [Dvon J-Thomas] and the boys inside,” Franklin said. “I could be wrong, but there wasn’t one holding call in the game. That’ll be interesting to watch.”
The Nittany Lions didn’t lose specifically because of penalties. Two costly interceptions from Allar, a defense incapable of stopping Oregon and a myriad of other reasons played important roles. But Penn State may have gotten the short end of the stick in Lucas Oil Stadium, at least as far as Franklin was concerned.
“We’ll control the things that we can control,” Franklin said. “And, obviously, that’s not one of them.”
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Oregon
#6 Oregon State Falls Friday to Air Force, 9-6
A night removed from winning their series opener, two uncharacteristic fielding errors and a roughshod thirteen hits doomed Oregon State against the Air Force Falcons, 9-6.
The full box score can be viewed at this link, and our game recap can be read below.
The elder statesman of Oregon State’s pitching rotation, junior righty Eric Segura, forced a pair of groundouts to keep the top of the first scoreless. His strong start was followed by an Oregon State run in the bottom of the first. The Beavers’ opening run started with gold glover AJ Singer, who flashed his batting prowess by pinging a double to the warning track. Singer scored on a Paul Vasquez slash through 5.5 hole, and Oregon State led 1-0.
Air Force batters went down in order to begin the second inning. Their short stint at the plate was followed by another successful Oregon State frame. With one out and no one on, Josh Procter swung at the first pitch he saw. After his ball landed 399 feet away, Oregon State doubled their advantage.
As one might expect, the Air Force cadets showed perseverance against adversity and calmness under pressure. In the third inning, they seized the lead. Their four run rally started with a pair of singles. Then facing one out and runners at the corners, Falcons’ senior Ben Niednagel drew a walk to load the bases. The next man up, 2026 Preseason All-Mountain West catcher Walker Zapp slugged a bases-clearing double. With Oregon State suddenly trailing, pitching coach Rich Dorman met his starter Segura at the mound. After the meeting, a fielding error by first baseman Ethan Porter returned runners to the corners, and then Air Force senior Tripp Garrish reached on a fielder’s choice, inching Zapp home from third.
Singer answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning. His shot traveled 407 feet, and landed a few yards to the left of Goss Stadium’s batter’s eye. As if they were awoken by the blast, Oregon State roared back to life: with Porter on base after getting hit by a pitch, Vasquez singled, and then Bryce Hubbard rolled a tough groundout to short, moving both runners into scoring position. Following an Air Force pitching change, Adam Haight sent a one-hopper into the grass beyond second base. While the sophomore outfielder was thrown out trying to reach first, his effort scored Porter from third, tying the game 4-4.
Again, the Falcons responded. After Air Force loaded the bases, their senior two-batter Niednagel forced a fielding error on a sharply hit grounder to Singer at second. When the dust settled, two runs scored. In the ensuing moments, Oregon State pulled Segura off the mound, replacing him with 6’2″ righty Zach Edwards.
Segura, a key factor in Oregon State’s sweep of Long Beach State last weekend, struggled mightily tonight. When his shift ended after 3 and 1/3 innings, he had allowed 7 hits and 4 earned runs. The top of the fourth finished with his successor Edwards stranding two runners, while Oregon State clawed closer in the bottom frame thanks to a pair of wild pitches moving Tyler Inge across the bases.
However, the one-run margin wouldn’t last for long. Facing a 2-2 count with no outs in the top of the fifth inning, Air Force’s senior Garrish smoked a high, middle fastball. Once his strike returned to Earth, the cadets led 7-5.
Scoring stalled until the top of the seventh. Oregon State’s reliever Edwards cruised for 2 and 2/3, until a pair of singles invited his pitching coach to the mound, who called for another change. Out went Edwards, and in came Washington transfer Isaac Yeager. The consistently reliable 6’6″ right hander – with 40 strikeouts and just 22 hits allowed across 33 innings – couldn’t stop the bleeding tonight. His first batter faced, Tripp, delivered another Air Force run home on a slow roller up the middle.
Oregon State climbed closer in the bottom of the seventh, after Bryson Glassco singled up the middle, delivering the Huntington Beach native Porter home from second base. The base hit also placed Vasquez in a threatening position at third base, but a Haight groundout stranded Oregon State’s runner ninety feet away from the promised land.
Air Force denied the Beavers once again in the bottom of the eighth. Tying runner Easton Talt faced a 1-2 count with 2 outs and a teammate on first base. In one of the game’s biggest moments, Falcons’ reliever Gaines Estridge offered a sky-high outside fastball. Talt swung tight, striking out, and stranding the runner at first.
The cadets tacked on one more run in the top of the ninth, when center fielder Christian Taylor beat out a throw across the diamond, helping Walker Zapp race from third. Entering the bottom of the ninth, the Beavers needed three runs to tie. Unfortunately, Falcons’ closer Patrick Davidson struck out the side.
The loss snapped Oregon State’s eight game win streak, and moved their overall record to 42-12. More importantly, their postseason fate is now in jeopardy. The three-time national champions entered the weekend needing a sweep to solidify their RPI before the regular season ends. Tonight’s defeat – following a pattern of upset losses to Portland, UTRGV, Cal State Fullerton, and CSUN – puts a hypothetical Corvallis Regional host site at the mercy of the selection committee.
Oregon State concludes its regular season tomorrow afternoon against Air Force, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 PM PST at Goss Stadium in Corvallis. The game broadcast will be televised on Portland’s CW, and radio play-by-play can be heard across the state on Beavers Sports Network affiliate stations.
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Oregon
Oregon health officials warn of measles exposure at Happy Valley clinic
HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. (KATU) — Health officials have identified a new measles exposure site in Happy Valley.
The Oregon Health Authority and Clackamas County public health officials said people may have been exposed at Providence Immediate Care – Happy Valley, 16180 S.E. Sunnyside Road, Suite 102, between 11:05 a.m. and 3:47 p.m. Tuesday, May 12.
Officials said anyone who was at the clinic during that time should notify a health care provider about the possible exposure. Providers can determine whether a person is immune to measles by reviewing vaccination records, age or laboratory evidence of a previous infection.
Health officials urged people to monitor for symptoms and seek medical advice if they believe they may have been exposed.
ABOUT MEASLES
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours and can infect up to 90% of unprotected close contacts. Complications can include pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.
Nationwide, measles cases have been rising since early 2025. Nearly 2,300 cases were reported last year, with most occurring among unvaccinated children.
Symptoms typically begin seven to 21 days after exposure and include cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis accompanied by a high fever. A rash usually follows, starting on the head or neck and spreading downward. People are contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after.
A graphic from the Oregon Health Authority shows the symptoms of Measles.
HA advises health care providers to report suspected cases immediately and consider post-exposure treatment for exposed patients. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine can be given within 72 hours of exposure. Immunoglobulin may be administered within six days.
For most people 6 months and older who are eligible for vaccination, receiving the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure is recommended.
Anyone not protected against measles is at risk, according to OHA. The agency encourages residents to check their vaccination status and contact a health care provider with questions.
Oregon
Oregon man shot at In-N-Out drive-thru drove family to safety with bullet lodged in head
Oregon police have arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting of a father who drove himself to a hospital after being struck in the head by a bullet after shots rang out while he was pulling out of In-N-Out drive-thru with his wife and two young sons.
Ethan Adrian Armenta-Lagunas, 20, and Gabriel “Alex” Javier, 18, both of Salem, were taken into custody Wednesday.
They face charges of first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, criminal mischief, and recklessly endangering another person in connection with the Feb. 9 shooting of Marcio Garcia.
Multiple guns were allegedly found at Armenta-Lagunas’ apartment, the Keizer Police Department said. Javier was arrested later in the day.
Authorities are still searching for a third suspect, 22-year-old Anthony Taylor-Manriquez, who is considered armed and dangerous.
Garcia, 28, was in a car with his wife and two children, ages 2 and 7, when shots rang out near the burger chain.
The gunfire shattered the car windows and struck Garcia in the head; his wife and children were uninjured, police said.
“In the middle of chaos and fear, while he was injured and in pain, he somehow found the strength to drive us out of the scene to safety,” his wife wrote in an online fundraiser.
“He protected our family before thinking of himself. That is the kind of man and father he is.”
Images posted online showed the bullet that was removed from Garcia’s head during surgery in February, according to his wife.
She also noted that Garcia did not suffer major brain damage and is currently recovering at home.
“The doctors told us what we already believe — this is nothing short of a miracle,” she said. “Now he faces a long road of rest, healing, and recovery.”
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