November 23, 2020 3:53 am
UNDATED (AP) – It appears that Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow’s rookie season is done, six games early. Burrow was carted off the field early in the third quarter with a left knee injury. After the game, he posted on Twitter: “Thanks for all the love. Can’t get rid of me that easy. See ya next year.” Teammates and opponents ran over to offer their support to Burrow after the injury. The No. 1 overall pick’s day ended 22 of 34 passing for 203 yards and a touchdown. Washington beat Cincinnati 20-9. Burrow has thrown for 2,688 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
November 22, 2020 7:35 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — His team reeling from a bout with COVID-19 that threatened to derail the rest of the season, Pittsburgh senior quarterback Kenny Pickett stood up in front of his teammates as the Panthers prepared to face Virginia Tech and provided a very blunt reminder about the bond they shared. It wasn’t just empty rhetoric. Pickett threw for 404 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another in his final start at Heinz Field as the Panthers blew out the Hokies 47-14 on Saturday despite missing 16 players due to COVID-19 protocols, including three starters on the offensive line and leading receiver Jordan Addison. No matter. Pickett completed 35 of 52 passes, 15 of them to graduate transfer DJ Turner, including a 64-yard catch-and-run for a score in the third quarter that gave the Panthers (5-4, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) a 19-point lead they didn’t come close to squandering.
November 22, 2020 7:33 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Spencer Petras smiled and admitted he’s not the strongest runner when he has the football in his hands. But Iowa’s quarterback doesn’t have to be, especially when the 300-pounders in front of him do most of the hard work like they did on Saturday in Iowa’s 41-21 win over Penn State. Petras completed 18 of 28 passes for 186 yards and ran for a late touchdown to lead Iowa to its third straight win and first at Beaver Stadium since 2009. The Hawkeyes (3-2, 3-2 Big Ten) got a combined 179 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Mekhi Sargent and Tyler Goodson, who ran through wide-open lanes and cut around missed tackles to snap Iowa’s six-game losing streak in the series.
November 21, 2020 3:54 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates have designated pitcher Trevor Williams and utility player José Osuna for assignment. The team made the moves to create room on the 40-man roster for infield prospect Rodolfo Castro and starting pitching prospect Max Kranick. The 28-year-old Williams spent five seasons with the Pirates, the last four as a member of the starting rotation. Williams went 31-37 with a 4.43 ERA in 106 career appearances in Pittsburgh but struggled in each of the last two seasons. Osuna hit .241 in four seasons with the Pirates while bouncing around defensively.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
