October 24, 2021 7:56 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Over the course of an unprecedented nine overtimes, Illinois survived Penn State’s botched attempt at a trick play, lost its quarterback and a powerful running back to injury, and failed to gain just three measly yards again and again. The Illini came out victorious in the NCAA’s first ever nine-overtime game, edging the seventh-ranked Nittany Lions 20-18 on Washington’s 2-point conversion catch from Brandon Peters to end a string of goal-line stalemates under college football’s recently rewritten overtime rules. The sides were tied at 10 after regulation, exchanged field goals in the first two overtimes, then began to alternate one-and-done drives from the 3-yard line in the third OT as part of a format tweaked ahead of the 2021 season. Penn State tried to win it then and there with a variation of the famed “Philly Special” play the Eagles used to win Super Bowl LII. Quarterback Sean Clifford — still suffering from an unspecified injury sustained Oct. 9 against Iowa — was wide open near the goal line on the trick play, but tight end Tyler Warren’s pass attempt missed its mark. Quarterback Artur Sitkowski missed a receiver on Illinois’ first try, and both defense held firm for the four OTs that followed. Illinois attempted three more passes that fell incomplete, and Josh McCray was stopped at the goal line in the seventh overtime. Meanwhile, Clifford missed his next two 2-point passes while Noah Cain was stuffed to start the fifth and seventh overtimes. Sitkowski — normally the backup — was injured in the sixth OT and replaced by Peters, the regular starter who had been sidelined by injury. McCray, who had 142 yards on 24 carries, also left and didn’t return after being pulled down and slamming his helmet off the grass. Finally in OT No. 8, Isaiah Williams ran one in to put Illinois up 18-16, only to have Cain keep the game alive with a 2-point run of his own. In the ninth OT, Clifford’s pass to Parker Washington was broken up by linebacker Khalan Tolson. Peters then found Washington near the back of the end zone for the winning completion.
October 24, 2021 7:52 am
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins were missing several key regulars, but they didn’t have any problem with a high-powered Toronto team stuck in an early slump. Drew O’Connor scored twice, his first career two-goal game, and the Penguins routed the Maple Leafs 7-1 on Saturday night. O’Connor, who is tied for the NHL scoring lead among rookies, got his second and third goals of the season. Marcus Pettersson also scored and added two assists for a career-high three points. The Penguins, playing without five of their best players, including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, broke a 1-all tie with a four-goal second period. Evan Rodrigues scored his third goal, while Jason Zucker and Brian Boyle both got their second of the season. Mike Matheson also scored his first for Pittsburgh, which has 23 goals, produced by an NHL-most 14 different players this season. Tristan Jarry made 28 saves for the Penguins, who have scored at least four goals in all but one game this season.
October 23, 2021 1:31 am
Canon-McMillan lost at Norwin, keeping the Big Macs from clinching a playoff berth. CM needs to win against Central Catholic next week or have Hempfield upset Norwin to make the 6A playoffs. Peters Township kept its 5A playoff hopes alive with the Indians’ win over West Allegheny. PT clinches a berth with a win next week at South Fayette. Trinity couldn’t stop Laurel Highlands, crushing playoff hopes for the Hillers and Ringgold. McGuffey kept its Century Conference title hopes alive with a home win over Beth-Center, setting up next week’s showdown at Wash High. Chartiers-Houston is also alive for a share of the title, rallying past Waynesburg. Beth-Center clinches a playoff spot with a home win vs. Waynesburg. Charleroi & Waynesburg are also still alive for the fourth spot.
Fort Cherry forfeited its game at Cornell and dropped into a three way tie for the last three 1A Big Seven playoff spots. The Rangers host Burgettstown with the winner making the playoffs. California and Mapletown clinched playoff berths with wins. Monessen and Avella play next week with the final 1A Tri-County South berth going to the winner.
Week 8 schedule/results:
6A Norwin 16, Canon-McMillan 7
5A Peters Township 30, West Allegheny 7
4A Laurel Highlands 39, Trinity 34
4A West Mifflin 24, Ringgold 8
2A Wash High wins by forfeit vs. Frazier
2A McGuffey 35, Beth-Center 8
2A Chartiers-Houston 27, Waynesburg 24
1A Burgettstown 12, Union 8
1A Cornell wins by forfeit vs. Fort Cherry
1A Carmichaels 63, Avella 22
1A Mapletown 50, Bentworth 15
1A California 23, Monessen 0
1A West Greene 56, Jeff-Morgan 8
Non-Conference
Albert Gallatin 50, Charleroi 16
October 23, 2021 3:58 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh and star quarterback Kenny Pickett have a chance to make a statement when ACC power Clemson visits Heinz Field on Saturday. The Panthers are 5-1 and ranked 23rd in the AP Top 25 thanks in large part to Pickett. The fifth-year senior has 21 touchdowns and just one interception through six games. Pickett has struggled in his career against Clemson. He is 0-2 against the Tigers and has played poorly both times. Pickett says he’s doing his best to tune out the hype surrounding the game so the Panthers can focus on taking another step toward an ACC Coastal Division title.
October 23, 2021 3:57 am
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) – Pittsburgh Penguins star center Sidney Crosby still isn’t sure when he’ll return from left wrist surgery. Crosby underwent surgery in early September to address an issue with the wrist he says he’s been dealing with for more than seven years. The 34-year-old Crosby is skating with his teammates but says he needs to see how the wrist holds up during faceoffs and physical play before knowing when he’ll be cleared to play. The Penguins are off to a 2-0-2 start without Crosby.
October 23, 2021 3:59 am
HOUSTON (AP) – The Houston Astros are back in the World Series. The Astros are American League champions after Yordan Alvarez, Luis Garcia and Kyle Tucker led them to a 5-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Alvarez went 4-for-4 with an RBI double and two runs scored. He opened the scoring in the first inning and scored on Tucker’s three-run homer that put the game out of reach in the eighth inning. Alvarez hit an ALCS-record .522 in the series to win MVP honors. Garcia limited the Red Sox to one hit and a walk while striking out seven over 5 2/3 innings. He pitched no-hit ball into the sixth inning, leaving to a huge ovation with two outs after a triple by Kike Hernandez. Houston’s bullpen followed with one-hit ball over the final 3 1/3, helping the Astros reach the Fall Classic for the third time in five seasons. Red Sox starter and loser Nathan Eovaldi was reached for one run and five hits over 4 1/3 innings.
October 22, 2021 3:59 am
CLEVELAND (AP) – The Cleveland Browns put together just enough offense with quarterback Baker Mayfield and running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt out with calf injuries. Third-string back D’Ernest Johnson rushed for 146 yards in guiding the Browns’ offense in a 17-14 victory over Denver. Johnson scored on a 4-yard run in the first half and picked up 52 yards on seven carries as the Browns chewed up the final 5:17. Case Keenum threw for a TD and was 21 of 33 for 199 yards in his first start in two years. Denver quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw a pair of TD passes and gutted it out while playing with foot and quadriceps injuries. He finished 23 of 33 for 187 yards with one interception. The Broncos finished the game without linebacker Von Miller because of a sprained ankle. The Browns improved to 4-3, while the Broncos dropped their fourth in a row since a 3-0 start.
October 22, 2021 3:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Los Angeles Dodgers are still alive in the NL Championship Series after snapping out of their hitting funk while getting an outstanding performance from six relievers. Chris Taylor slammed three home runs and drove in six as the Dodgers clobbered the Braves, 11-2 in Game 5, sending the series back to Atlanta. Taylor belted two-run homers in the second and fifth innings before delivering a solo shot. He overshadowed teammate AJ Pollock, who provided a solo shot and a three-run blast. Taylor had four of the Dodgers’ 17 hits, while Pollock, Trea Turner and Cody Bellinger had three apiece. The LA bullpen limited Atlanta to three runs while striking out nine over 8 1/3 innings. Dodgers relievers allowed their team to rebound after starter Joe Kelly left with an injury in the first inning, shortly after giving up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman. Losing pitcher Max Fried was lifted with two out in the fifth, charged with five runs and eight hits. Game 6 is Saturday in Atlanta.
October 22, 2021 3:57 am
HOUSTON (AP) – It will be Luis Garcia starting for the Astros against Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series on Friday. Astros manager Dusty Baker announced his pitching selection Thursday afternoon as his team holds a three-games-to-two lead in the series. Garcia started Game 2 and gave up a grand slam in the first inning before leaving with no outs in the second because of discomfort in his right knee.
October 21, 2021 3:53 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves are both one victory away from meeting in the World Series. Yordan Alvarez had three hits and three RBIs as the Astros hammered the Red Sox, 9-1 in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series. Alvarez opened the scoring with a second-inning blast and added a two-run double that ignited Houston’s five-run sixth. Framber Valdez was superb over eight innings, limiting the Bosox to a run and three hits while striking out five. Valdez blanked the Red Sox until Rafael Devers homered in the seventh. He also became the first pitcher of the postseason to work eight innings. Yuli Gurriel also had three ribbies for the Astros. Chris Sale absorbed the loss, allowing four runs and three hits with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. Two of the runs were unearned, thanks to an error by first baseman Kyle Schwarber in the sixth. The Astros can advance to the World Series on Friday in Houston.
The Braves are up three games to one in their NL Championship Series after throttling the Dodgers, 9-2 in Los Angeles. Eddie Rosario homered twice in his second four-hit game of the series. Adam Duvall and Freddie Freeman also went deep for Atlanta, which bounced right back from blowing a late lead in an agonizing loss Tuesday. The Braves tagged Julio Urias for three home runs over the first three innings. Urias was reached for five runs and eight hits in five innings. He was baseball’s only 20-game winner this season. The Dodgers finally broke through on AJ Pollock’s two-run single in the fifth, but that was one of just four hits allowed by six Atlanta hurlers on what became a bullpen game. The Braves can finish up the series on Thursday in LA.
