TJ Crushes Oil City

November 22, 2020 2:01 am

Thomas Jefferson scored on seven of eight first-half possessions while holding District 10 champion Oil City to negative yards before intermission, rolling to a 62-0 win in the state semifinals.  Jake Pugh connected with Preston Zandier for three scores and Conner Murga ran for three more for the 9-1 Jaguars who earned a berth in their fifth state final.  Thomas Jefferson will face District 4 champion Jersey Shore next Saturday afternoon at HersheyPark Stadium.

PAC Releases Update On Winter Sports Planning

November 22, 2020 3:59 am

The Presidents’ Athletic Conference has announced its tentative plan for a return to intercollegiate athletic competition during the Spring 2021 semester. The PAC Presidents’ Council, in consultation with the conference-wide working groups (Health and Safety, Scheduling and Financial Considerations), the PAC Athletic Administrators’ Council and sport-specific coaching groups, continues its ongoing review and planning for a return to competition in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Spring 2021 competition in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s swimming and diving is scheduled to commence no earlier than Saturday, January 23. The modified scheduling models and postseason championship opportunities will be announced at a later date, and will be subject to further revision as circumstances require. The PAC Presidents’ Council also affirmed a recommendation of the PAC Athletic Administrators’ Council to cancel the league’s indoor track and field championships, which were tentatively scheduled for the end of February. The PAC Presidents’ Council endorsed member schools sponsoring men’s and women’s indoor track and field to pursue opportunities for non-conference competition consistent with local, state and federal public health authorities, the NCAA Sport Science Institute (SSI) and institutional policies and guidelines. Discussions related to men’s wrestling are ongoing with details to be announced at a later date. Additionally, the league intends to support modified scheduling models and championship opportunities for the sports of men’s and women’s cross country during the months of February and March.

NFL; Seahawks Hold Off Cardinals

November 20, 2020 3:49 am

SEATTLE (AP) – Russell Wilson rebounded from his worst performance of the season to throw for two touchdowns, and the Seattle Seahawks moved back on top of the NFC West with a 28-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Wilson was flawless, erasing the mistakes from the past four weeks when Seattle dropped three of four including losses in the past two weeks to Buffalo and the Los Angeles Rams. For a few days, Seattle will be back on top alone until the Rams play on Monday night against Tampa Bay. Kyler Murray was 29 of 42 for 269 yards and two TDs, but Seattle was able to sack the QB three times.

Roethlisberger And Smith-Schuster Reconnect

November 20, 2020 3:47 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is developing a reputation as Ben Roethlisberger’s go-to target when things get tough. The 23-year-old Smith-Schuster leads the unbeaten Steelers in receptions through nine games, many of them difficult catches in traffic that Smith-Schuster turns into first downs. Roethlisberger says he trusts Smith-Schuster to make the play regardless of the circumstances. Smith-Schuster is in the final year of his rookie contract but says he’s not worried about his future and is simply focused on getting the Steelers to the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh plays at Jacksonville this weekend.

Wild Win For Tulsa In 2 Overtime

November 20, 2020 3:54 am

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Zaven Collins returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown in the second overtime to give No. 25 Tulsa a 30-24 comeback victory over Tulane on Thursday night. Tulsa forced overtime with a 37-yard Hail Mary completion as time expired, with third-stringer Brin Davis connecting with Juan Carlos Santana. Tulsa is 5-1 overall and 5-0 in the American Athletic Conference. Brin entered with 2:09 left in the third quarter after backup Seth Boomer was carted off the field because of a left leg injury. Starter Zach Smith left with a torso injury late in the first quarter. Playing its first game as a ranked team since 2008, outgained Tulane 522 yards to 302, but turned the ball over three times.

Penn State May Go With Levis At QB

November 20, 2020 3:46 am

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Penn State backup quarterback Will Levis could make the second start of his career when the winless Nittany Lions host Iowa. Penn State head coach James Franklin said Levis provided “a spark” after replacing Sean Clifford in last week’s loss to Nebraska. Levis ran for 61 yards and added 219 yards through the air for the Nittany Lions, who are 0-4 after starting the season ranked in the Top 10. Iowa has won two straight following an 0-2 start, including a 35-7 romp over Minnesota last week.

Lou Holtz Tests Positive For COVID-19

November 20, 2020 3:57 am

Lou Holtz has tested positive for the coronavirus. The 83-year-old former college football coach confirmed the test Thursday to Columbia TV station WOLO. Holtz led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title in a Hall of Fame career. He has worked for ESPN and campaigned for President Donald Trump. Holtz is set to receiver the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump.

PSAC Cancels Winter Sports Regular Season & Championships

November 19, 2020 2:52 am

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced Wednesday the cancellation of its mandated regular season and championship competition for winter sports following a vote of the league’s Board of Directors.  “With careful consideration to health concerns and realistic abilities to conduct sport seasons amid this pandemic, our conference and our membership is forced to make some very difficult decisions,” said PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. “With the time we have to continue weighing our options, we are fully committed to playing a spring sports season. We will remain supportive of any other decisions to play sports and host championship events should our membership view it as a safe and reasonable opportunity.” The PSAC includes California, Clarion, Edinboro, IUP, Pitt-Johnstown, Seton Hill and Slippery Rock. The Board voted last week to cancel SPAC Championship season for fall sports but agreed to proceed with intention to play a full regular season and championship season for 2021 spring sports.

NFL Placing All Teams In Intensive Protocol To Mitigate Risk Of COVID-19

November 19, 2020 2:29 am

UNDATED (AP) – The NFL is placing all teams in intensive protocol starting Saturday to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 as the number of cases rises around the country. Use of masks will be mandatory at all times at team facilities, including during practice and in weight rooms. Meetings must be held either virtually or in the largest indoor space with approval by the league. Meals have to be made available for grab-and-go to avoid players and staff congregating in cafeterias. Time spent in the locker room also has to be limited.

NBA; Wolves Select Edwards With Top Pick

November 19, 2020 3:42 am

UNDATED (AP) – The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Georgia freshman guard Anthony Edwards on with the No. 1 pick in the delayed NBA draft. Edwards became the 11th straight one-and-done player to be the No. 1 pick, coming in a year where there was no clear obvious choice.   He averaged 19.1 points for the Bulldogs, tops among all freshman. Commissioner Adam Silver announced the pick from ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut.   The Golden State Warriors, stung by the news that Klay Thompson sustained another leg injury earlier Wednesday, took Memphis center James Wiseman with the second pick. They stumbled to the bottom of the league while Thompson missed the entire season with a torn ACL in his left knee.  LaMelo Ball then went to the Charlotte Hornets, the next stop on a lengthy basketball journey that sent the guard from high school in California to stops as a professional in Lithuania and Australia.  The Chicago Bulls took Patrick Williams of Florida State, the ACC sixth man of the year as a freshman, at No. 4. Cleveland followed with Auburn’s Isaac Okoro, another freshman, to round out the top five.