Oregon
Oregon Center Iapani ‘Poncho’ Lalou Has A Chance To Join Elite Group
The No. 5 Oregon Ducks thrive on establishing the run before unveiling their explosive plays, and this season is no different with an offensive line that’s a finalist for the coveted Joe Moore Award given to the nation’s best offensive front.
When it comes to creating gaps to run the rock, protecting quarterback Dante Moore, and leading the Oregon trenches once again filled with mostly transfer starters, center Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu is the go-to guy who’s getting major awards nods.
With his first start occurring during Oregon’s Vrbo Fiesta Bowl game against Liberty at the end of the 2023 season as a freshman, the junior from Honolulu, Hawaii is continuing to impress during his junior year as the Ducks prepare to enter the first round of the College Football Playoff against No. 12 James Madison.
Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu Recognized For Multiple Awards
The originator of Oregon’s offensive line nickname “The Law Firm”, Laloulu is currently a finalist for the Rimington Trophy and the Polynesian Player of the Year Award. The Rimington Trophy is awarded to the nation’s best center selected by a group of four different prestigious groups.
Only one Oregon offensive lineman has earned the honor since it began in 2000, with Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson receiving the Rimington Trophy in 2023. Laloulu succeeded Powers-Johnson as Oregon’s starting center.
The other centers in the running include Iowa’s Logan Jones and Florida’s Jake Slaughter.
Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu Could Join Elite Group
The Polynesian Player of the Year Award is given to the most impressive player of Polynesian descent and is presented by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. Past Oregon winners include Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (the first ever winner) and Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell.
Mariota and Sewell also won the professional level version of this award along with Indianapolis Colt and fellow former Duck, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
MORE: Oregon’s Breakout Freshman Emerges As Potential X-Factor For The Playoff
MORE: Why Cleveland Moving On From Dillon Gabriel Could Be a Blessing in Disguise
MORE: Four-Star Safety Makes Recruiting Announcement With Oregon, Alabama, Ohio State
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE!
Consistency Amid Offensive Line Changes
One of the primary arguments for Laloulu winning the Rimington Trophy is his ability to work with three entirely different squads throughout his time with the Ducks. Throughout transfer portal deals and recruitment additions, Laloulu is a consistent leader.
Entering his sophomore year, Laloulu led an entirely new look like with guard Nishad Strother, guard Marcus Harper II, tackle Ajani Cornelius, and tackle Josh Conerly Jr. That 2024-2025 offensive line, after a fair amount of struggles in the start of the season, employed Laloulu as the starting center in the Oregon State and UCLA game to end the season as a Joe Moore finalist for the second year straight.
Then, when all but Laloulu departed the team due to draft declarations and eligibility, Laloulu once again helmed a Joe Moore Award finalist line, the third in a row for Oregon and the fourth finalist placing since 2019.
“To see the difference that Poncho is, like there’s a confidence in his game that I think we’ve all known he was going to be a really good player, but to see him now match that maturity and match that confidence in his game because he knows he’s a really good player,” said Oregon offensive line coach A’lique Terry. “I think our whole team is feeling it. He’s a clear leader. He helps us in every single aspect, as far as communication. You can see the player he’s grown into.”
Strength Throughout Challenges
Another factor in Laloulu’s strong performance this season is persistence through injury. During Oregon’s final regular season home game against the USC Trojans, Laloulu exited the game in the first quarter after a left foot/ankle injury. Though second string center Charlie Pickard filled in the gaps fairly well for Laloulu to help secure an Oregon victory.
Laloulu, though not appearing again during the game and evidently limping, appeared the very next week on the road against Washington, showing the grit he possesses as Oregon’s starting center.
Oregon
Lake scores 16, Oregon State knocks off Montana State 67-57
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Josiah Lake’s 16 points helped Oregon State defeat Montana State 67-57 on Saturday.
Lake had eight rebounds and six assists for the Beavers (6-5). Dez White added 12 points while shooting 4 for 11, including 2 for 7 from beyond the arc while he also had five rebounds. Isaiah Sy shot 4 for 8, including 3 for 7 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points.
The Bobcats (4-7) were led in scoring by Patrick McMahon, who finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Jeremiah Davis added nine points for Montana State.
Oregon State used a 10-2 run in the second half to build a 10-point lead at 63-53 with 2:02 left in the half before finishing off the win.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Oregon
How Oregon’s Defense Ranks Compared To James Madison
While the No. 5 Oregon Ducks offense has been the glue of the team’s success this season, their defense has also played a pivotal role in helping them earn a spot in the College Football Playoff for a second consecutive year.
Entering their first-round home playoff matchup against the No. 12 James Madison Dukes, Oregon aims to capitalize on defense, which is crucial in their goal of making a run at its first National Championship in program history. Oregon enters the playoff as one of the highest-ranked at-large teams behind the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Where Does Oregon’s Defense Stack Up Against James Madison, CFP Field?
Despite the Ducks being an overwhelming 21.5-point favorite over James Madison, according to ESPN BET Sportsbook, the first-round playoff matchup in Eugene will be a battle between two dominant defenses.
James Madison is second in the country in total defense behind Ohio State, allowing 247.6 yards per game. The Ducks’ defense is ranked No. 4 in total defense, allowing 251.6 yards per game.
Oregon’s defense has several contributors who have led the team under defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi this season, including Matayo Uiagalelei and A’Mauri Washington up front on the defensive line. Bryce Boettcher and Teitum Tuioti have also been dominant players at linebacker this season for the Ducks.
Boettcher leads the Ducks with 103 total tackles, one interception, and one sack this season. Dillon Thieneman, Brandon Finney Jr., and Aaron Flowers have been key contributors in the secondary with four interceptions combined.
MORE: Weather Concerns Begin For Oregon’s Playoff Game vs. James Madison
MORE: Three Reasons Why Oregon Could Be The Most Dangerous Playoff Team
MORE: Oregon Ducks Projected to Make Program History In 2026 NFL Draft
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE!
When it comes to scoring defense, the Ducks are ranked No. 6 among the other 12 playoff teams, allowing 14.8 points per game.
The five playoff teams that rank above the Ducks in scoring defense include No. 2 Ohio State (8.2), No. 1 Indiana (10.8), No. 4 Texas Tech (10.9), No. 10 Miami (13.8), and No. 8 Oklahoma (13.9). Oregon’s first round opponent, James Madison, is ranked one spot below the Ducks at No. 7 in scoring defense, allowing 15.9 points per game.
Oregon’s Defense Strengths and Weaknesses
If the Ducks beat James Madison in the first round of the playoff, they’ll face the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders in the CFP Quarterfinals at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1. A potential matchup between the Red Raiders and the Ducks in the Orange Bowl could come down to whichever defense performs better. While Oregon’s pass defense has been dominant throughout the season, its rush defense could jeopardize the Ducks’ quest for a championship.
The Ducks rank No. 8 among playoff teams in rushing defense, allowing 107.3 yards per game. Texas Tech ranks No. 1, allowing 68.5 yards per game. The Red Raiders’ rush defense’s ability to shut down Oregon’s dominant running back trio of Noah Whittington, Jordon Davison, and Dierre Hill Jr. will be one of the biggest keys in a potential Orange Bowl matchup.
It’ll be interesting to see how Oregon’s defense holds up against a talented James Madison offense that will have a chip on its shoulder as a massive underdog. The Dukes’ offense, led by quarterback Alonza Barnett III and star running back Wayne Knight, will challenge Oregon’s defense early on, but expect the Ducks to win convincingly.
Oregon will host James Madison at Autzen Stadium to open up the CFP on Dec. 20, with the kickoff scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT. The game broadcast will be on TNT, HBO Max, and truTV.
- Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
- If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Recommended Articles
Oregon
Longtime Oregon lawmaker repeatedly broke ethics laws to secure hefty raise, commission finds
Longtime Republican lawmaker Greg Smith broke Oregon ethics laws when he used his office to try to secure a $109,000 raise for his work as executive director of an eastern Oregon economic development agency, then maneuvered to get a $66,000 pay hike and make it retroactive, the Oregon ethics commission concluded Friday.
In a unanimous vote, commissioners endorsed an investigator’s finding that Smith, the longtime executive director of the federally funded Columbia Development Authority, repeatedly failed to declare a conflict of interest and used the power of his office for personal financial gain.
Smith got his salary raised from $129,000 to $195,000 without his bosses’ authorization and directed the employee in charge of his agency’s finances that the pay hike be made retroactive to April 2024, the investigator found. When the development authority board learned of Smith’s misrepresentations, it voted in September of that year to rescind the raise, records show. But he has not repaid it, ethics commission investigator Casey Fenstermacher wrote in her report dated Thursday.
Smith now has the option to request a hearing on his case before an administrative law judge or to work with the ethics agency to reach a settlement, including any fine or other punishment. He did not take part in Friday’s hearing nor did he respond to a request for comment left with his legislative chief of staff Friday afternoon.
Staffers at the Oregon Government Ethics Commission will formally propose a settlement with Smith, including financial penalties, by early January, commission director Susan Myers told The Oregonian/OregonLive Friday. The maximum fine her agency can propose is $10,000, she said, but the nine-member state ethics commission could vote to authorize a higher penalty.
The ethics commission did just that in 2018 when it rejected an agency proposal to fine former Gov. John Kitzhaber $1,000 for ethics violations that allowed his fiancée, Cylvia Hayes, to secure lucrative consulting contracts during her time as first lady. Commissioners instead proposed a $50,000 fine and ultimately struck a deal with the four-term governor to pay $25,000.
Smith, who holds a key role on the Legislature’s powerful budget-writing committee, was elected in 2024 to a 13th term in the House, making him its longest serving member.
The ethics commission dinged him earlier this year for failing to disclose a key client of his consulting business on his required annual financial disclosure form. That client, Harney County, had paid him $7,000 a month to represent its interests at the Legislature.
In that case, Smith acknowledged the omission in his filing and later amended it. The commission closed that case, as it has other cases or incomplete financial filings, by issuing Smith a formal letter of education, Myers said.
According to the Salem Reporter, Smith is also under investigation in two other state ethics proceedings. Investigators are examining whether Smith broke the law when he claimed pay for working for the development authority at the same time he was performing private consulting work or working as a state legislator, the Salem newsroom reported.
The Columbia Development Authority, based in Boardman, is made up of several eastern Oregon governmental entities including the Port of Morrow and is in charge of redeveloping a former military base.
Once the ethics commission formally notifies Smith of its proposed settlement and his right to request a hearing, he will have 21 days to decide which option to pursue, Myers said. Nearly 99% of officials presented with that option choose to pursue a settlement, she said.
The commission normally takes into account both aggravating factors, such as the size of the financial windfall and whether the official repeatedly broke the law, and mitigating factors, such as whether an official acted on the advice of a government lawyer or quickly paid restitution, Myers said.
-
Alaska1 week agoHowling Mat-Su winds leave thousands without power
-
Texas1 week agoTexas Tech football vs BYU live updates, start time, TV channel for Big 12 title
-
Washington5 days agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa7 days agoMatt Campbell reportedly bringing longtime Iowa State staffer to Penn State as 1st hire
-
Miami, FL1 week agoUrban Meyer, Brady Quinn get in heated exchange during Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami CFP discussion
-
Cleveland, OH7 days agoMan shot, killed at downtown Cleveland nightclub: EMS
-
World7 days ago
Chiefs’ offensive line woes deepen as Wanya Morris exits with knee injury against Texans
-
Minnesota1 week agoTwo Minnesota carriers shut down, idling 200 drivers