Northwest Notes: Dec. 19, 2014

EWU's Adams earns first team All-America honors

Eastern Washington University's Vernon Adams Jr. was selected as the top quarterback in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, as the record-breaking Eagle junior joined two other Eagles as first team All-America selections as chosen by the Associated Press.

Adams, the Walter Payton Award runner-up in both 2013 and 2014, was joined on the first team by offensive tackle Jake Rodgers and sophomore wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Kupp was also a first team selection by AP as a freshman in 2013 and Adams was a second team pick as a sophomore.

Rodgers is a senior who transferred from Washington State, and graduated in 2010 from Shadle Park High in Spokane.

That trio helped Eastern break school and Big Sky records for scoring in 2014, finishing the season with 618 points to break the previous record of 592 points scored set last season in 15 games by the Eagles. Eastern scored 84 touchdowns to break school and Big Sky single season records of 83 set last season by EWU.

Adams finished with 3,483 yards passing and 35 touchdowns in 10 games played, having completed 66 percent of his 380 passes with eight interceptions. He will enter his senior season with 110 career touchdown passes, ranking 10th in FCS history and establishing new school and Big Sky records. He is just 30 from the FCS record of 140.

Kupp broke a school record and had the second-best pass receiving season in Big Sky Conference history with 104 catches. Those grabs were good for 1,431 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Kupp has 37 touchdown receptions in 28 career games, and has had a TD catch in 24 of his 28 career games as an Eagle.

Mariners sign trio

to minor-league deals

SEATTLE (AP) - Right-handed pitchers Justin Germano and Mark Lowe and utility infielder Carlos Rivero have signed minor-league deals with the Seattle Mariners with invites to major league spring training.

Lowe, who appeared in 162 games with Seattle between 2006-2010, was part of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Texas during the 2010 season. He spent last season in the Cleveland organization, splitting his time between the Indians and Triple-A Columbus.

Germano, a nine-year veteran, spent most of last season in the Texas organization pitching at Triple-A Round Rock.

Rivero was claimed off waivers by Seattle on Nov. 3, but was non-tendered a month later. Rivero made his major league debut last season with Boston and currently leads the Venezuelan Winter League in home runs with 14.