December 14, 2020 3:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs turned the ball over four times, fell into an early 10-point hole and watched Patrick Mahomes taken down for a 30-yard sack. None of that stopped the Chiefs from clinching their fifth consecutive AFC West title. Mahomes threw for 393 yards and two scores to help the 12-1 Chiefs earn their eighth consecutive victory, 33-27 at Miami. He shook off three interceptions and led Kansas City to its team-record 10th consecutive road win. Travis Kelce had eight catches for 136 yards and a touchdown, and Mecole Hardman scored untouched on a 67-yard punt return.
December 14, 2020 3:57 am
UNDATED (AP) – Alabama remains the unanimous No. 1 team in The Associated Press college football poll as the Crimson Tide prepare for Florida in the SEC title game. The rest of the top-5 remain the same, with Notre Dame followed by Ohio State, Clemson and Texas A&M. Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Coastal Carolina and Georgia round out the top-10. Florida fell from sixth to 11th with Saturday’s loss to LSU.
December 14, 2020 3:58 am
CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cleveland Indians reportedly are changing their nickname after 105 years. The New York Times cites three sources that say the team is moving away from a name considered racist for decades. The Indians have been internally discussing a potential name change for months. A team spokesman told The Associated Press the franchise has no immediate comment on the report.
December 13, 2020 2:35 am
Governor Tom Wolf on Thursday, announced a new round of statewide restrictions to curb the surge of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania. They went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on December 12th and will remain in effect until 8 a.m. on January 4th, 2021. The new restrictions include the shutdown of all school and recreational sports for the three-week period. All sports at K-12 public schools, nonpublic schools, private schools and club, travel and recreational activities are paused. Professional or collegiate sports activities may continue in accordance with guidance from the CDC and the Department of Health, but without spectators.
December 13, 2020 4:01 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers will be limited at inside linebacker when they face the Buffalo Bills after placing Vince Williams on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Avery Williamson will likely make his first start for Pittsburgh in place of Williams. The Steelers acquired Williamson from the New York Jets in November. While Williams is out, center Maurkice Pouncey will return to action after being activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list. Pittsburgh will also be without injured inside linebacker Robert Spillane and cornerback Joe Haden. The Steelers are trying to bounce back from a loss to Washington.
December 13, 2020 7:38 am
PITTSBURGH — — Justin Champagnie scored 24 points and set career highs with 21 rebounds and five assists to help Pittsburgh win its fourth straight with a 67-50 win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday. Champagnie is the 11th player in program history to have at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game for the Panthers (4-1) and the first to do it in back-to-back games. He had 20 points and 20 rebounds in a 71-70 win over Northwestern on Wednesday. Gardner-Webb missed its first 18 shots from the field and was scoreless until Anthony Selden’s 3-pointer with 7:43 left in the half cut the Panthers’ lead to 14-3. The Bulldogs (0-2) closed within 25-18 before the end of the period but got no closer in the second half. Xavier Johnson added 12 points for Pitt, including the Panthers’ only 3-pointer. Pitt finished 1 of 18 from 3-point range.
December 13, 2020 7:37 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Little by little over the last three games, Penn State has come closer to being the team coach James Franklin thought he’d have before the season began. A come-from-behind, 39-24 win over Michigan State on Saturday is evidence enough for Franklin to know the Nittany Lions have put their early-season struggles behind them. Quarterback Sean Clifford completed 17 of 27 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns and added 48 yards and another touchdown on the ground. Parker Washington hauled in a pair of touchdown passes for the Nittany Lions (3-5) who trailed 21-10 at halftime. Backup quarterback Will Levis added a rushing touchdown and receiver Jahan Dotson returned a punt 81 yards for a score for the Nittany Lions who won their third straight.
December 13, 2020 7:36 am
WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Singing the alma mater second never felt quite like this for Army. These Black Knights accomplished something never before done in the history of their rivalry with Navy: Beating the Midshipmen at West Point. Tyhier Tyler scored on a 4-yard run early in the fourth quarter, the Army defense stoned Navy with a goal-line stand in the third, and the Black Knights beat their archrival 15-0 on Saturday at fog-shrouded Michie Stadium. It was the first meeting between the teams at West Point since a 13-0 Navy shutout in 1943. The storied game is typically played at a neutral site like Philadelphia or Baltimore but the pandemic changed those plans. The game was moved to Michie Stadium from Philadelphia because COVID-19 regulations in Pennsylvania would not have allowed the Corps of Cadets and Brigade of Midshipmen to attend.
December 12, 2020 3:59 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The University of Pittsburgh football team says it will not participate in a bowl game. The school made the announcement the day after finishing the regular season at 6-5 thanks to a victory over Georgia Tech. The school says players voted to end the season, a decision supported by head coach Pat Narduzzi and athletic director Heather Lyke. Lyke and Narduzzi both praised the players for their hard work to abide by the strict health protocols brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 12, 2020 3:59 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Sean McNeil scored 15 points and No. 11 West Virginia rallied in the second half for a 62-50 win over North Texas on Friday. Taz Sherman added 13 points and Derek Culver had 10 points – all in the second half – and 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers. West Virginia trailed by eight points at halftime but scored the first 18 points of the second half to take control. Culver scored seven points during the decisive run. Javion Hamlet scored 15 points and Thomas Bell had 12 for North Texas.
