September 14, 2021 3:52 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) – The Las Vegas Raiders were winners in their first home game with fans in the stands. Derek Carr fired a 31-yard TD pass to Zay Jones in overtime to give the Raiders a 33-27 triumph over the Ravens in the NFL season opener for both teams. Carr’s second TD pass of the game came after Carl Nassib’s strip sack of Lamar Jackson at the Ravens 27. Carr threw an interception after driving to the Baltimore 1 on the opening possession of overtime. The Raiders later made another blunder with a delay of game before a field goal try, but coach Jon Gruden put his offense back on the field and watched Vegas score the go-ahead touchdown. The Raiders trailed 14-0 early, ending a 98-game, regular-season win streak for the Ravens when leading by at least 14 points dating to 2004. Carr was 34 of 56 for 435 yards. Jackson carried 12 times for 86 yards and completed 19 of his 30 passes for 235 yards and a TD.
September 14, 2021 3:50 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers showed they’re not quite ready to fade into the background by rallying past Buffalo in their season opener. The Steelers rode a dominant defense, just enough offense and a splash of special teams to beat the defending AFC East champions on the road. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt looked fresh despite limited practice time during training camp while earning two sacks. The Steelers host Las Vegas in their home opener at Heinz Field in Week 2.
September 14, 2021 3:54 am
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The Columbus Blue Jackets have replaced assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre for declining to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The Jackets have promoted Steve McCarthy to replace Lefebvre on head coach Brad Larsen’s staff. NHL coaches and other team staff who closely interact with players are required to be fully vaccinated.
September 13, 2021 3:55 am
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ new-look offense overcame a slow start, Ulysees Gilbert returned a blocked punt 9 yards for a touchdown and Pittsburgh rallied to a season-opening 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills. Down 10-0, the Steelers scored on each of their first four possessions of the second half, with Roethlisberger putting Pittsburgh ahead for good by lobbing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson in the left corner of the end zone. Josh Allen and the Bills produced a dud following an offseason in which many pegged the defending AFC East champs as Super Bowl contenders.
September 13, 2021 3:57 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Patrick Corbin working seven strong innings as the Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 to avoid a three-game sweep. Corbin (8-14) allowed two runs on four hits, striking out four with two walks. The veteran left-hander is 3-0 against the Pirates since joining Washington in 2019. Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer in the fourth off Bryse Wilson (2-7) to put the Nationals in front to stay. Luis Garcia and Alex Avila also homered for Washington. Juan Soto doubled and tripled and is hitting .407 (22 of 54) over his last 16 games.
September 13, 2021 4:00 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Rod Laver remains the last male to capture a calendar Grand Slam. Novak Djokovic was thwarted in his bid for a calendar slam, falling in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the U.S. Open final. It’s the first major championship for Medvedev, who reached the 2019 final before falling. Djokovic dropped the opening set for the fifth straight time. Unlike the other four matches, he never got going in his quest for a record 21st Grand Slam title. Medvedev won 20 of his first 23 service points and finished with 16 aces along with 38 winners. Djokovic made 38 unforced errors and converted just one of his six break points. The last man to complete a true Grand Slam by going 4 for 4 at the majors in a single season remains Rod Laver, who did it in 1962 and 1969.
September 12, 2021 1:39 am
GREENVILLE, Pa. – The 13th ranked Washington & Jefferson College football team rolled to a 64-12 victory over the Thiel College Tomcats in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium in Mercer County. The Presidents scored early and often to earn their 15th straight victory in the head-to-head series with the Tomcats. EJ Thompson and Joey Koroly combined to rush the ball 16 times for 112 yards and four touchdowns. Justin Heacock completed 9-of-11 passes for 148 yards in an efficient abbreviated effort. Defensively, Keith Knowell (safety), Justin Johns (interception return) and Elijah Goosby (fumble return) contributed scoring plays with Justin Huss running a free kick (following safety) back 74 yards for a touchdown. Colton Jones connected with Cameron O’Brien on a 9-yard scoring pass. The win moves W&J to 2-0 and drops Thiel to 0-2. W&J hosts Bethany College for its home opener at Cameron Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18.
September 12, 2021 7:45 am
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Kenny Pickett threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score to lead Pittsburgh to a 41-34 victory over Tennessee Saturday. The Panther defense collected five sacks, recovered two fumbles, had an interception and a crucial fourth-quarter goal-line stand to seal their second victory of the season. The Volunteers (1-1) lost the game and a starting quarterback. Joe Milton went down with a lower leg injury after being sacked and losing a fumble early in the second quarter. Hendon Hooker came on to throw for 189 yards, but the mistakes hurt the effort. After three straight three-and-out drives, Pitt came up with five straight scores. The Panthers scored touchdowns on all five trips inside the Tennessee 20-yard line. Tennessee, known for its up-tempo offense, managed 66 plays, compared to 82 for Pitt. The Panthers’ biggest play of all came on defense with a fourth-quarter goal-line stand from the Pitt 3 that could have tied the game. Jaylen Wright was stopped cold by John Petrishen.
September 12, 2021 7:46 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — When Penn State hired Mike Yurcich to be its new offensive coordinator, the team’s backs and receivers were ecstatic. They knew there likely would be a lot of opportunities for all of them to make plays. The No. 11 Nittany Lions’ 44-13 win against Ball State on Saturday was the showcase they had in mind. Sean Clifford completed 21 of 29 passes for 230 yards, ran for a touchdown and threw for another on an afternoon that saw seven different players contribute scoring plays and 14 more touch the ball for an offense that rang up 493 total yards. Running back Noah Cain added a rushing touchdown and wide receiver Jahan Dotson added another, linebacker Jesse Luketa returned an interception 16 yards for a touchdown, and Jordan Stout kicked three field goals for the Nittany Lions (2-0). Backup quarterback Ta-Quan Roberson added a 23-yard touchdown pass to Theo Johnson to cap Penn State’s sixth straight win dating to last season.
September 12, 2021 7:48 am
PITTSBURGH — Bryan Reynolds hit his 23rd home run of the season and drove in three runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates surged past the Washington Nationals 10-7 on Saturday. Reynolds hit a two-run shot to right-center field in the fifth and gave Pittsburgh the lead in the sixth when he worked a bases-loaded walk against Washington reliever Andres Machado. The walk was one of 10 issued by the struggling Nationals, who have dropped 12 of 15. Ben Gamel hit his seventh home run — and first in more than two months — in the fifth. Colin Moran singled twice and drove in four runs for Pittsburgh, which was won four of five. The last-place Pirates have also won nine games this season when trailing by three runs or more, tied with Milwaukee for the most in the National League.
