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L.M.OTERO—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Jimmie Johnson sits in his car during practice Friday for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, where he has won the last four fall races. ByStephenHawkins The Associated Press FORT WORTH, TEXAS JimmieJohn- son gets to make a drive for five in Texas with no pressure before going for his record-tying seventh NASCAR championship. Already locked into the Sprint Cup title-deciding race at Homestead, Johnson doesn't have to worry about the Chase like seven other drivers who have only two more chances to get a title shot. He can focus Sun- day on trying to win the fall race at Texas Motor Speedway for the fifth year in a row. "We've had a great hot streak go- ing, we certainly hope it keeps go- ing," Johnson said. "But if we show up and the best we can run is 15th, believe me, we're going to be pretty disappointed in that." Johnson has won six Cup races overall at Texas, twice as many as any other driver. Carl Edwards got the last of his three Texas victories eight years ago. Since Johnson won at Martins- ville, in the first race of the third round in the Chase, there is plenty of time to talk about his opportunity to match the seven season champi- onships won by Hall of Fame mem- bers Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt. Not that Johnson is paying too much attention to any of the talk and speculation. "I'm kind of immune to it," he said. "I just have never been caught up in that stuff, and I try even harder now at this point in the year to avoid any media related to myself or my sport, just so I can have my own little uni- verse and just kind of focus on what I think I need to." This is the third year of NASCAR's elimination Chase format. Johnson was already out of contention and played a spoiler role by winning the last two fall races at the 1 -mile, high-banked Texas track. "Our wins the last two years in this fall race, we've actually gone home obviously happy, but also kicking our- NASCAR SPRINT CUP Johnsonafterrecord-tyingtitle With Chase finale berth locked, looks for 7th title to tie Petty, Earnhardt By Janie McCauley The Associated Press OAKLAND A towel over his head in the waning moments and Kevin Du- rant's spectacular, statement-mak- ing night in the books at last, he could finally breathe and briefly for- get the constant chatter about his departure from Oklahoma City. It came from everywhere. It came for months. A matchup — and re- match — circled from the moment he joined the Golden State Warriors way back in July. KD's big decision that left a fan base and a franchise feeling scorned. Durant got the last word in the first reunion against Russell West- brook and his old Thunder team- mates, going off for 39 points and matching his career high with seven 3-pointers in Golden State's 122-96 dismantling of previously unbeaten OKC on Thursday night in a rematch of the thrilling seven- game Western Conference Finals . "I don't want to say any part was strange. I've moved on," Durant said. "I'm part of the Golden State Warriors. I'm excited to be part of this team. What I did those last eight years was special and some- thing I'm never going to forget, but I'm trying to look forward. I just try to separate those emotions and feelings and also try to do my job." That meant no greetings at tipoff or pregame pleasantries needed be- tween KD and old pal Russ. Nah. There's no love lost between NBA DURANT DOMINANT FOR GOLDEN STATE New Warrior scores 39 points in Thursday's rout of Oklahoma City and his former teammates The Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant celebrates a er scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half Thursday. PHOTOS BY BEN MARGOT — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant scored 39points in the Warriors' 122-96win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. By Greg Beacham The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Oregon is ordi- nary. Southern California is just so-so. Two down seasons have re- moved some of the shine from these West Coast powers' show- down at the Coliseum on Satur- day. For the first time in the 21st century, neither USC nor Oregon is ranked for their meeting. But there's still plenty of rea- son for both teams to keep fight- ing. The Trojans (5-3, 4-2 Pac- 12) have a four-game winning streak and plans for continued contention in the Pac-12 South, while the Ducks (3-5, 1-4) are playing for bowl eligibility and a boost to next season — and possibly coach Mark Helfrich's job security. "Like I told our team, don't buy into this 3-5 record that they have," USC coach Clay Hel- ton said. "This team could eas- ily be 6-2, and if you don't bring your 'A' game, you're going to get beat. We have to take this game as serious as a heart attack." The game also features a matchup between two prom- ising freshman quarterbacks who refused to wait their turns to play. Sam Darnold will get his sixth straight start for USC, while Jus- tin Herbert will make his fourth start for Oregon. Both passers seized their jobs from their older counterparts during the disappointing stretches of their teams' seasons, and both have capitalized impressively. Darnold is the type of ath- letic, big-armed quarterback who would look perfect in the Ducks' up-tempo offense, and the school pursued him in re- COLLEGE FOOTBALL Ducks, Trojans hoping to discover highlights By Michael Wagaman The Associated Press STANFORD Fighting to become bowl eligible this late in the sea- son isn't something that Stanford coach David Shaw is accustomed to, which might explain his reluc- tance to talk about the subject. The Cardinal have won three of the last four Pac-12 champi- onships and entered the season heavily favored to keep the trend going. Instead, Stanford (5-3, 3-3 Pac-12) has been a middle-of-the- pack team slowed by injuries and an inconsistent offense. A win Saturday against Oregon State (2-6, 1-4) would ease some of the sting and make Stanford bowl eligible for the sixth time since Shaw replaced Jim Harbaugh in 2011, though Shaw prefers that not be the focus. "That's for everybody outside of our small world to think about, which bowl game to think about, where you might finish," Shaw said. "All we can do is try to play our best football. To look any fur- ther past the horizon is unneces- sary." Stanford won the Pac-12 title in 2012, 2013 and 2015, playing in the Rose Bowl each time. The Cardinal also played in the Fiesta Bowl in Shaw's first season and in the Foster Farms Bowl last year. The Rose Bowl is no longer a possibility this year, so Stanford will have to settle for playing else- where in the postseason. The Cardinal have history on their side against Oregon State, having won the last six games be- tween the two conference rivals. The Beavers have lost three straight and five of six overall. They are coming off a 35-31 loss to Washington State, which is tied for the North Division lead. "We'll have to answer the toughness bell in this week," Or- egon State coach Gary Andersen said. "I think we've done a good job with that this year when we've matched up against people that want to stand up and throw some heavy, big-boy punches." Here are a few other things to look for when Stanford hosts Ore- gon State on Saturday afternoon: DUAL THREAT Stanford's back- field is no longer the sole terri- tory of 2015 Heisman Trophy can- didate Christian McCaffrey. Bryce Love, who filled in when McCaf- frey sat out the Oct. 22 loss to Col- orado with an undisclosed injury, has continued to be a key part of the Cardinal's running game now that McCaffrey is healthy. The duo combined for 247 rushing yards during last week's win at Arizona and Shaw said he intends to con- tinue to use both backs moving forward. UGWOEGBU BENCHED Oregon State outside linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu will spend the first half on the bench after being flagged for targeting following a hit on Washington State quar- terback Luke Falk last week. Ug- woegbu has 5 sacks and is tied for second in the Pac-12 with 11 tackles for loss. CHRYST'S SECOND START Ju- COLLEGE FOOTBALL Stanford eyes bowl bid, title unlikely WARRIORS PAGE 2 NASCAR PAGE 2 STANFORD PAGE 2 PAC-12 PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, November 5, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1