WJPA Sports Archive

Robert Morris Edges Milwaukee

January 2, 2021 3:49 am

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) – AJ Bramah had 20 points and 14 rebounds as Robert Morris narrowly beat Milwaukee 67-64. Grant Coleman and DeAndre Gholston each scored 16 points for the Panthers.

T.J. Watt Named Steelers Team MVP

January 1, 2021 3:41 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected outside linebacker T.J. Watt as the team’s Most Valuable Player for a second straight year. Watt is the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons since outside linebacker James Harrison in 2007 and 2008. Watt’s 15 sacks lead the NFL and are one short of the franchise record set by Harrison. Watt’s play has also thrust him into the NFL Defensive Player of the Year conversation. Watt says he’s more proud of being the team MVP because it is voted on by people who see him go to work every day.

High Stakes For Browns In Game Against Steelers

January 1, 2021 3:42 am

CLEVELAND (AP) – The Browns can cap their turnaround season with a win over the Steelers. That’s never been a given. Cleveland will clinch its first playoff berth since 2002 and end the NFL’s longest current postseason drought with a win over its dreaded rival on Sunday. The Steelers will sit quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and several other prominent starters to rest up for their first playoff game. Roethlisberger has owned Cleveland throughout his career but his absence won’t curb his teammates’ motivation to keep the Browns out of the playoffs. The Browns have spent much of the week leading up to the matchup dealing with COVID-19 issues. They’ll be without at least four regulars.

West Virginia Tops Army In Liberty Bowl

January 1, 2021 3:43 am

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Reserve quarterback Austin Kendall threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Simmons with 5:10 left and West Virginia held off Army 24-21 on Thursday in the Liberty Bowl. Army had a chance to tie it with 1:50 left, but Quinn Maretzki’s 39-yard field goal was wide left. Josh Chandler ended Army’s final possession with an interception, and led the Mountaineers with 13 tackles. Simmons also scored on a 5-yard pass from starting quarterback Jarret Doege. Army quarterback Tyhier Tyler had three rushing touchdowns – from 1, 6, and 2 yards – to tie a Liberty Bowl record.

Mississippi State Beats Tulsa In The Armed Forces Bowl

January 1, 2021 1:36 am

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – Mississippi State beat No. 22 Tulsa 28-26 in the Armed Forces Bowl, which was played in steady rain and ended in a massive brawl. Jo’quavious Marks and Will Rogers scored rushing touchdowns, Rogers threw one touchdown pass and Emmanuel Forbes scored on a 90-yard interception return for Mississippi. Deneric Prince and Corey Taylor II had rushing touchdowns, Zach Smith threw a touchdown pass to Keylon Stokes and Zack Long kicked two field goals for Tulsa. Minutes after the game ended following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Mississippi State on a late onside kick as Tulsa tried to make a comeback, the teams became involved in a large melee on the field. Tulsa coach Greg Montgomery said safety Kendarin Ray was treated for “some sort of concussion.”

Browns’ COVID-19 List Grows

December 31, 2020 2:55 am

UNDATED (AP) – The Cleveland Browns’ number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow as they prepare for a huge game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Browns have added a player and an assistant coach to the COVID-19 list, though the team declined to identify them.  The team closed its facility for a few hours on Wednesday after being informed of the test results and held virtual meetings.   The Browns already had nine players on the list, including their top four wide receivers. Those players and some others are eligible to return Thursday as long as they test negative. Cleveland will make the playoffs for the first time since 2002 if they beat the Steelers, who will rest starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.  The NFL is monitoring the Browns’ situation to determine whether the game needs to be moved. And the NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, said the league is investigating the rise in cases within the Browns.

Sooners, Badgers Get Bowl Wins

December 31, 2020 3:51 am

UNDATED (AP) – Oklahoma continues to have success on the Dallas Cowboys’ home field.  The eighth-ranked Sooners captured the Cotton Bowl with a convincing 55-20 pounding of Florida. Spencer Rattler threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score, 11 days after helping the Sooners win the Big 12 title in the same stadium. Oklahoma racked up 684 total yards, with Rhamondre Stevenson rushing for 186.  Florida’s first possession ended with Tre Norwood’s 45-yard interception return for a touchdown. That was the first of three picks thrown by Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Kyle Trask in the first quarter, after only five all season.  Meanwhile, Wisconsin won its bowl game by rallying against Wake Forest.  Graham Mertz accounted for three touchdowns and the Badgers turned four second-half interceptions into 21 points to beat the Demon Deacons, 42-28 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Mertz threw for 130 yards and ran for two short touchdowns as Wisconsin finished the season on a high note.  Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman was intercepted on four straight possessions, the first of which set up the go-ahead TD.

Coastal Carolina’s Chadwell Is AP Coach Of The Year

December 31, 2020 3:53 am

UNDATED (AP) – Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell is The Associated Press college football coach of the year.  The ninth-ranked Chanticleers went 11-1 this year, winning 11 straight before losing to Liberty in overtime at the Cure Bowl.  Chadwell received 16 first-place votes and 88 points from the AP Top 25 panel. Indiana’s Tom Allen finished second and Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell was third. Chadwell is the first Sun Belt Conference coach to win the AP award, which was established in 1988.

NHL; Caps Sign Chara

December 31, 2020 3:52 am

UNDATED (AP) – Longtime Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara has signed with the Washington Capitals in a stunning move less than a week before most NHL teams open training camp. Chara agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $795,000. The 43-year-old defenseman posted on Instagram that the Bruins have decided to move forward with younger players.   The 6-foot-9 Chara is a seven-time All-Star who won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman in 2009. He led the Bruins to the Cup in 2011 and trips to the final in 2013 and 2019.

Roethlisberger To Sit Out Against Browns

December 30, 2020 3:53 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will sit out the team’s regular-season finale against Cleveland so he can rest for the playoffs. Coach Mike Tomlin says Mason Rudolph will start for the AFC North champions when they face the Browns. There is little at stake for Pittsburgh. The Steelers can finish no worse than third in the AFC. Cleveland, however, will end an 18-year postseason drought with a win. Rudolph started for the Steelers in their visit to Cleveland last year. Cleveland’s win was marred by an ugly fight near the end between Rudolph and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.