November 29, 2020 3:47 am
According to the NFL, the Steelers vs. Ravens game scheduled for Sunday has been postponed until Tuesday at 8:00. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has tested positive for COVID-19, according to multiple media outlets. Last year’s NFL MVP is the biggest star to become infected by the virus. The Baltimore Sun and ESPN, both citing unidentified sources, reported that Jackson was among four more Ravens players to test positive Thursday. Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, joining running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins and defensive tackle Brandon Williams. Because of the outbreak, the Ravens have been conducting team work remotely. They were supposed to play unbeaten Pittsburgh on Thursday night, but the game was postponed until Tuesday. The Ravens have 18 players dealing with COVID-related issues as of Sunday morning, while the Steelers have four players and a coach. James Conner headlines the names placed on the reserve list Saturday night, along with Special Teams Coach Danny Smith. On Friday, the Steelers announced defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt, Isaiah Buggs and offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins were all placed on the COVID list. The game now slated for Tuesday could potentially be in jeopardy unless the cases on both teams slow down.
November 29, 2020 7:39 am
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — In a year when everything seems so unusual and different, Penn State at Michigan felt particularly strange. No fans, no buzz — and not much to feel good about these days for either team. What was also empty was Penn State’s win column coming into Saturday’s matchup, but that changed when the Nittany Lions beat Michigan 27-17. Penn State never trailed in this matchup of proud programs that have stumbled their way through this pandemic-shortened season. Even if there had been a normal crowd at the game, it would have felt different with both teams coming in under .500. For one day at least, the Nittany Lions (1-5, 1-5 Big Ten) could celebrate. However strange the circumstances, this was still a victory in Ann Arbor, where Penn State had lost three in a row. Empty was Penn State’s win column coming into Saturday’s matchup, but that changed when the Nittany Lions beat Michigan 27-17. Penn State never trailed in this matchup of proud programs that have stumbled their way through this pandemic-shortened season. Even if there had been a normal crowd at the game, it would have felt different with both teams coming in under .500. For one day at least, the Nittany Lions (1-5, 1-5 Big Ten) could celebrate. However strange the circumstances, this was still a victory in Ann Arbor, where Penn State had lost three in a row.
November 29, 2020 7:37 am
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence has stuck to his plan throughout his time at Clemson — and if this is his final game at Death Valley, he couldn’t come up with a more perfect end. Lawrence threw for 403 yards and two touchdowns in his first game in five weeks to lead the fourth-ranked Tigers to a 52-17 victory over Pittsburgh in what’s likely to be his last home game. The junior passer said before the season he hoped to play, graduate in December and then enter the NFL draft, where he’s widely expected to be taken No. 1 overall. Lawrence hadn’t seen the field on game day since beating Syracuse on Oct. 24. He tested positive for the coronavirus the following week and missed Clemson’s next two games, including its only loss this season — a 47-40 double OT defeat at No. 2 Notre Dame.
November 28, 2020 1:07 am
Defending PIAA champion Thomas Jefferson has won four state football titles. Jersey Shore, the District 4 champion, had never reached the finals until now. Saturday afternoon, the Jaguars and Bulldogs meet at HersheyPark Stadium and on WJPA-FM (95.3) for the Class 4A crown. Thomas Jefferson stumbled in the final week of the regular season, turning the ball over four times in a 20-14 loss to McKeesport but has won four straight post-season game. Jersey Shore rolled through the regular season and the D-4 playoffs before getting past Crestwood and Lampeter-Strasburg in state playoff action.
Jake Pugh has thrown for more than 1,700 yards and 24 TD passes to lead the Jaguars, primarily connecting with senior receivers Preston Zandier and Ian Hansen. Bulldogs’ quarterback has passed for more than 1,800 yards and 23 scores while running back Cam Allison has more than 1,000 yards on the ground with nine touchdowns.
Pregame is set for 3:00 pm on WJPA-FM (95.3) or Listen Here!
November 28, 2020 3:42 am
UNDATED (AP) – With reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson under quarantine as part of an outbreak of COVID-19 that has ravaged the Baltimore Ravens the team has turned its focus from breaking out of a slump to simply getting healthy and back to practice. The Ravens have more than a dozen players on the reserve/COVID-19 list and the training facility is closed to prevent the spread of the virus. Jackson tested positive this week and will not play against the unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers next Tuesday night, a game that was originally scheduled for Thanksgiving night and postponed to Sunday before the NFL moved the game again.
November 28, 2020 3:41 am
UNDATED (AP) – Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has never sat out this long during the season. He’s glad he gets a final chance to play at home before the likely end to his college career when the fourth-ranked Tigers face Pittsburgh on Saturday. Lawrence has not played since Oct. 24 against Syracuse, the week before he tested positive for COVID-19. That’s when the wait to return to the field began. Lawrence missed games against Boston College and No. 2 Notre Dame. The Tigers then had a week off before last Saturday’s game at Florida State was postponed due to a positive coronavirus test.
November 28, 2020 3:40 am
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) – No. 3 Villanova is extending its stay in Connecticut’s “Bubbleville” and coach Jay Wright says the Big East might want to look at the format for its tournament this season. The “Bubbleville” event is an áthe 11-day gathering of college basketball teams at the Mohegan Sun resort casino for early season non-conference play. Teams are given their own hotel floor and their own meeting and dining areas. They are isolated from other competitors and casino visitors by using back-of-house-passageways and receive daily coronavirus testing. Villanova has already won two games this week at Mohegan Sun and have agreed to play another game on Saturday night against Virginia Tech.
November 27, 2020 3:53 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions encountered some rather rude guests on Thanksgiving Day. Antonio Gibson ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns as Washington demolished the Cowboys, 41-16. Dallas trailed just 20-16 until Gibson ripped off scoring runs of 23 and 37 yards in the fourth quarter. His final TD came just seven seconds before Montez Sweat picked off Andy Dalton and returned it 15 yards for a score with 3:24 to play. Alex Smith was 19 of 26 for 149 yards, one TD and an interception for Washington, which took over first place in the NFC East despite a 4-7 record. The Cowboys accumulated just 60 yards rushing, with Ezekiel Elliott gaining 32 yards on 10 carries. Dalton completed 25 of his 35 passes for 215 yards and a TD for the 3-8 Cowboys. In Detroit, Deshaun Watson threw for four touchdowns and the Texans improved to 3-1 since their bye week by outscoring the Lions, 41-25. Watson’s favorite target was Will Fuller, who had six receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns for the 4-7 Texans. Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt had a pick-6 in the first quarter. On Detroit’s next snap, Jonathan Williams fumbled and Houston took advantage with Watson’s 2-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Prosise to go ahead 13-6. Watson was 17 of 25 for 318 yards and no interceptions. He was better than Matthew Stafford, who was 28 of 42 for 295 yards and a TD. Adrian Peterson had a pair of scoring runs for the Lions, who dropped to 4-7.
November 27, 2020 3:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – You can chop another game off this weekend’s college football schedule. No. 19 Southern California’s scheduled home game Saturday against unbeaten Colorado has been canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests for the Trojans. The Pac-12 said USC didn’t have the minimum number of scholarship players available at a specific position group. This is a result of at least two positive COVID-19 cases and the resulting isolation of additional players under contact tracing protocols. Colorado immediately booked a replacement game against San Diego State in Boulder on Saturday afternoon. San Diego State had an opening after its game at Fresno State was canceled.
November 26, 2020 1:39 am
The NFL has announced that the Thanksgiving prime time game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens has been postponed. The NFL issued a statement stating “This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts,”. Several Ravens players and office personnel have tested positive for Covid-19 this week. The game has been moved to Sunday afternoon, kickoff is at 1:15 and can be seen on NBC as well as heard on WJPA-AM 1450.
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers have succeeded where most NFL teams have failed over the past two years. The league’s last unbeaten team has found a way to slow down Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Steelers have forced Jackson into seven turnovers in his two starts against Pittsburgh. Jackson has committed just 17 turnovers total in his other 39 career appearances combined. The Steelers say they don’t have Jackson’s number, but admit they’ve found a way to make Jackson uncomfortable in the pocket. Pittsburgh will look to move to 11-0 when they host Jackson and the Ravens on Sunday.
