Patriots Fire Coach Jerod Mayo After 4-13 Season

January 6, 2025 4:35 am

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots have fired coach Jerod Mayo after one season, beginning another reboot for the franchise just a year after it parted with longtime coach Bill Belichick. Owner Robert Kraft announced the firing in a statement shortly after New England closed its 4-13 season with a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills. Kraft called it “one of the hardest decisions” he’s had to make. A former Patriots linebacker who worked as an assistant under Belichick, Mayo started the season with a strong endorsement from Kraft. But he struggled to get the most out of a young roster that included rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

Pens Blow Early Lead & Fall To Hurricanes In OT

January 6, 2025 4:25 am

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sebastian Aho’s goal at 1:30 in overtime led the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night. Aho added two assists. Seth Jarvis had two goals and Jalen Chatfield also scored for the Hurricanes, who improved to 3-0 against Pittsburgh this season. Dustin Tokarski had 16 saves for the Hurricanes. Kevin Hayes, Michael Bunting and Erik Karlsson scored for the Penguins. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 26 shots for Pittsburgh.

Steelers Skid Continues, Four Games and Counting

January 5, 2025 6:42 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t want to talk about the past with the playoff approaching. The Steelers finished the regular season on a four-game losing streak after a fourth-quarter rally fell short, as Cincinnati kept its playoff hopes alive with a 19-17 victory Saturday night. Said Wilson: “I think the best thing we can do is get ready for the playoffs. It’s a new season. That’s the only thing that really matters anymore at this point.” Pittsburgh locked up a playoff berth weeks ago. The Steelers are the third team in NFL history to enter the playoffs on a four-game skid.

Tri-County Wrestling Friday/Saturday

January 5, 2025 12:01 am

The Tri-County Athletic Directors Association 19th annual wrestling tournament took place Friday and Saturday at West Greene High School in Rogersville. McGuffey edged Trinity to win the team title, 220.5 – 219.0. Peters Township (191.5), Ringgold (178.0) and Canon-McMillan (151.5) round out the top five. Jake Conroy (Ringgold) was named the Outstanding Wrestler.

Championship Finals
107 Leif Syrko (Ringgold) MD Jackson Hoy (Trinity), 10-1
114 Nicholas McGarrity (Peters Township) F Darius Simmons (Burgettstown), 1:03
121 Evan Tolliver (Ringgold) F Brock Dennison (South Fayette), 5:14
127 Dominic Canali (Trinity) F Danny Smith (Burgettstown), 2:40
133 Collier Hartman (Canon-McMillan) DEC Drake McClure (Bentworth), 6-5
139 Lucas Barr (McGuffey) TF Devin Junko (Trinity), 19-3 4:17
145 TJ Allison (Trinity) MD Talan Mizenko (South Fayette), 14-3
152 Darius Mcmillon (Peters Township) DEC Jonah Erdely (Frazier), 5-4
160 Owen Ivcic (Bentworth) MD Brock Evans (Waynesburg), 13-4
172 Jackson Angelo (Frazier) F Parker Nave (Peters Township), 2:11
189 Braedon Welsh (Fort Cherry) F Owen Conroy (Ringgold), 0:33
215 Jake Conroy (Ringgold) TF Brayden Collins (Canon-McMillan), 19-2 3:31
285 Alex Rusilko (Bentworth) MD Owen Rush (Canon-McMillan), 10-1

Third Place
107 Caleb Dulaney (Jefferson Morgan) DEC Brayden Hanning (Jefferson Morgan), 13-6
114 Jorden Moore (Avella) DEC Alex Medlen (Beth Center), 4-2
121 Tucker Main (McGuffey) DEC Gionno Gardner (Canon-McMillan), 5-3
127 Lane Ealy (McGuffey) DEC James Dulaney (Jefferson Morgan), 1-0
133 Emmett Wolfe (McGuffey) DEC Mason Wright (Beth Center), 14-8
139 Ryder Baker (Peters Township) F Aidan Finnigan (Canon-McMillan), 4:51
145 Mason Calgaro (Canon-McMillan) DEC AJ McGarrity (Peters Township), 4-1
152 Luke Dunlap (South Fayette) TF Caleb Patton (Washington), 17-1 2:24
160 Cristian Lowther (Ringgold) MD Logan Noyes (Burgettstown), 9-0
172 Noah Layhue (Beth Center) MD Reid Teagarden (McGuffey), 8-0
189 Bryce Collins (Canon-McMillan) DEC Malachi Peak (Beth Center), 2-1 TB2
215 Ian Holub (Trinity) F Colin Rockwell (Albert Gallatin), 0:52
285 Colin Whyte (West Greene) F Zack Stromock (Peters Township), 2:10

Fifth Place
107 Blake Jamison (McGuffey) MD Geoffrey Douglas (Beth Center), 11-1
114 Clayton Ealy (McGuffey) F Parker Jennings (Trinity), 0:14
121 Landon Ault (Trinity) F Floyd Huff (Waynesburg), 1:22
127 Andrew Barkey (Ringgold) DEC Peyton Garove (Chartiers-Houston), 7-0
133 Jake Wright (Trinity) DEC Carter Katus (Burgettstown), 4-2
139 Bryce Crowson (Bentworth) FOR John Radnor (Peters Township)
145 Victor Bonus (McGuffey) F Luke Rush (Waynesburg), 2:14
152 Garrett Newman (McGuffey) F Luke Poland (Trinity), 2:13
160 Behr Bruckner (Trinity) TF Jesus Chavez (Chartiers-Houston), 17-2 2:53
172 Brayden Taggart (Bentworth) F Nick Hillyard (Albert Gallatin), 1:31
189 Aaron Supler (McGuffey) DEC Hayden Hamilton (West Greene), 3-0
215 Carson Kiger (Peters Township) F Homer Headlee (Beth Center), 4:45
285 Landon Heath (Jefferson Morgan) F Jacob Lyle (Chartiers-Houston), 0:30

Basketball Thursday/Friday, Jan. 3-5

January 4, 2025 12:02 am

With the holidays in the rear-view mirror, area high schools return to section play on the hardwood.

Saturday Boys
6A Mt. Lebanon 55, Canon-McMillan 49

Thursday Girls
3A Keystone Oaks 59, Charleroi 35
3A McGuffey 57, Brownsville 55
2A Fort Cherry 51, Brentwood 18
2A South Side Beaver 62, Burgettstown 29
2A Chartiers-Houston 57, California 23
2A Beth-Center 57, Jeff-Morgan 21
1A Geibel 54, Avella 49
1A Serra Catholic 72, Mapletown 15
1A West Greene 48, Monessen 14

Friday Girls
6A Canon-McMillan 54, Mt. Lebanon 51
5A Peters Township 51, Trinity 33
3A Seton-La Salle 49, Waynesburg 34
2A Bentworth 39, Carmichaels 26

Friday Boys
6A Central Catholic 67, Canon-McMillan 13
5A Peters Township 59, Trinity 52
3A Bishop Canevin 60,McGuffey 44
3A Keystone Oaks 56, Wash High 45
2A Clairton 63, California 41
2A Greensburg Central Catholic 67, Bentworth 29
2A Beth-Center 66, Carmichaels 34
2A Chartiers-Houston 71, Burgettstown 40
2A Fort Cherry 73, Mapletown 36
2A Jeff-Morgan 50, West Greene 35

Panthers Beat Penguins

January 4, 2025 3:45 am

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell scored in the shootout, and the Florida Panthers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Friday night. Matthew Tkachuk got a power-play goal midway through the third period for Florida, which also got a goal from Gustav Forsling. Spencer Knight stopped 29 shots for Florida, then stopped Rickard Rakell and Sidney Crosby in the shootout. Lundell’s score won it for the Panthers.

Verizon To Bring Super Bowl FanFest To 30 Cities

January 4, 2025 3:54 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Caesars Superdome may be the epicenter for the Super Bowl in New Orleans next month, but Verizon has a game plan to ensure the championship buzz stretches beyond the Big Easy. Verizon will transform stadiums and venues across 30 NFL markets into a massive coast-to-coast event called FanFest on Feb. 9, the company announced Friday. The celebration will feature on-field access, live music, local chefs and meet-and-greets at each location with NFL legends such as Marshall Faulk, Jason Witten, Tiki Barber and Derrick Brooks. Verizon customers can claim free tickets on a first-come, first-served basis by visiting VerizonFanFest.com, with an option to bring guests to the experience anticipated to draw around 150,000.

Notre Dame Ousts Georgia At Sugar Bowl

January 3, 2025 4:37 am

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Riley Leonard passed for a touchdown, Jayden Harrison returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score, and Notre Dame’s defense made it hold up in a 23-10 victory over No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl that sends the third-ranked Fighting Irish into the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. In a game that was delayed by a day because of a deadly terror attack in the host city, Notre Dame made enough big plays and got some help from a clever move by coach Marcus Freeman. He sent out the punt team deep in his own territory before running all 11 players off the field, and an offside penalty gave the Irish a critical first down.

Steelers Look To Snap Skid To Close Out Regular Season

January 3, 2025 4:35 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers will try to generate some positive momentum for the playoffs when they host Cincinnati in their regular-season finale. The Steelers have dropped three straight to lose their grip on the AFC North. Pittsburgh needs a win and an unlikely loss by Baltimore against struggling Cleveland to win the division title. The Bengals have ripped off four wins in a row to keep their flicking postseason hopes alive. Cincinnati needs to top the Steelers on Saturday night and then hope Denver and Miami lose on Sunday to reach the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.

9 Ravens Named To Pro Bowl Games

January 3, 2025 4:32 am

Nine Baltimore Ravens, including two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, were selected for the Pro Bowl Games. The Detroit Lions are next with seven players and the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles each have six players on the NFC roster. Patrick Mahomes wasn’t selected to the AFC roster for the first time since becoming Kansas City’s starting quarterback in his second season. Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl MVP and six-time Pro Bowl pick, wasn’t among five Chiefs chosen. Travis Kelce made it for the 10th time.