November 26, 2020 3:57 am
UNDATED (AP) – A college basketball season like no other kicked off with dozens of games across the country. It took a strange build-up to get to this point and it continued with the first day of games. Teams played in mostly empty arenas as the sounds of coaches yelling and squeaking sneakers echoed off the seats. Cheerleaders wore masks where they were allowed and seats on the benches were spread out for social distancing. Multiple teams made statements for social justice and a few games also were canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests. On the floor, the game looked as good as ever, with several standout performances.
November 25, 2020 3:47 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NFL has set its pairings for the league’s first Saturday doubleheader this season. The Buffalo Bills will visit the Denver Broncos on Dec. 19 at 4:30 p.m. ET. That will be followed by the Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers kicking off at 8:15 p.m. ET. The NFL had five games to choose from for the first Saturday doubleheader with teams told only that they would play either Dec. 19 or Dec. 20 when the league announced schedules earlier this year. This decision now leaves Detroit-Tennessee, Jets-Rams and Texans-Colts all set to play Sunday, Dec. 20.
November 25, 2020 3:47 am
UNDATED (AP) – Alabama is No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, followed by Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State. Texas A&M was fifth and Florida was sixth, followed by unbeaten Cincinnati at seventh, the best ranking for a non-Power Five team in the seven-year history of the selection committee’s rankings. Another unbeaten team from outside the Power Five was not so highly regarded by the committee. BYU was slotted 14th, behind No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 13 Iowa State among others
November 25, 2020 3:49 am
ATLANTA (AP) – The Atlanta Braves have added another veteran arm to their rotation by signing two-time All-Star Charlie Morton to a $15 million, one-year deal. The 37-year-old right-hander is returning to the Braves after helping Tampa Bay reach the World Series this season. The signing comes after left-hander Drew Smyly signed an $11 million, one-year deal with the Braves on Nov. 16. Smyly, 31, became the first of the 181 free agents to switch teams. Morton was drafted by Atlanta in 2002 and made his major league debut with the Braves in 2008 before he was traded to Pittsburgh in 2009.
November 22, 2020 2:13 am
Three WPIAL football champions have advanced to the state finals, one was eliminated and a fifth plays a semifinal Saturday afternoon. The state soccer and volleyball champions wrap up this weekend. Thomas Jefferson (4A), Central Valley (3A) and Jeannette (1A) all won semifinal football games Friday, with Pine-Richland (5A) rallying from a 22-point deficit to win Saturday. Beaver Falls (2A) lost Friday night and was eliminated. WPIAL soccer champions have spots in all eight state championship matches while two of the four District 7 titlists play for girls state volleyball crowns on Saturday.
Girls Soccer Finals (at HersheyPark Stadium):
1A Southern Columbia 2, Greensburg Central Catholic 1
3A Mars 2, Villa Joseph Marie 0
2A Bloomsburg 1, North Catholic 0
4A Pennridge 1, North Allegheny 0, 2 OT
Boys Soccer Finals (at HersheyPark Stadium):
1A Faith Christian 5, Greensburg Central Catholic 1
3A Mars 2, Northern 1
2A Lewisburg 6, Deer Lakes 0
4A Seneca Valley 2, Neshaminy 1, 2 OT
Girls Volleyball Finals (at Cumberland Valley HS):
1A Clarion 3, Marian Catholic 0
2A Trinity (D3) 3, Philipsburg-Osceola 1
3A Bethlehem Catholic 3, Franklin Regional 0
4A North Allegheny 3, Unionville 0
Football semifinals:
Friday:
1A Jeannette 49, Reynolds 12
2A Wilmington 20, Beaver Falls 18
3A Central Valley 49, Bedford 20
4A Thomas Jefferson 62, Oil City 0
4A Jersey Shore 39, Lampeter-Strasburg 35
5A Cathedral Prep by forfeit over Upper Dublin (COVID)
Saturday:
1A Steelton-Highspire 16, Bishop Guilfoyle 14
2A Southern Columbia 42, Bishop McDevitt 14
3A Wyomissing 44, Danville 14
5A Pine-Richland 48, Gov. Mifflin 44
6A Central York 37, McDowell 21
6A St. Joseph’s Prep 51, Souderton 43
November 24, 2020 3:53 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Jared Goff won a matchup against Tom Brady while helping the Los Angeles Rams retain a share of first place in the NFC West. Goff completed 39 of his 51 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams’ 27-24 victory at Tampa. Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and Cam Akers grabbed short scoring passes from Goff as Los Angeles improved to 7-3. Cooper Kupp had 11 receptions for 145 yards and Woods finished with 10 catches for 130 yards. But the Rams didn’t go ahead to stay until Matt Gay kicked a 40-yard field goal with 2:36 left. Jordan Fuller picked off two passes from Brady, who was under pressure much of the game. Brady finished 26 of 48 for just 216 yards and two touchdowns as the Bucs fell to 7-3.
November 24, 2020 3:50 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers say they’re not getting caught up in what their 10-0 start means. Pittsburgh became the 17th team since 1970 to win its first 10 games when it rolled past overmatched Jacksonville. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he’s not into comparing his team to the 1972 Miami Dolphins that went undefeated or even the 2008 Steelers that won the franchise’s sixth Super Bowl. Roethlisberger says the goal is to win a championship, not finish the year 19-0. Pittsburgh will get a chance to get to 11-0 when they host Baltimore on Thanksgiving.
November 24, 2020 2:53 am
(AP) – The Baltimore Ravens will conduct all team activities virtually with time running out before their scheduled matchup against unbeaten Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving night.
Running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins, along with defensive tackle Brandon Williams, were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday. In a statement Tuesday morning, the team said the on-field practice session was canceled “with the health and safety of players and staff remaining the highest priority.” The NFL says the game is still on for now, but they will be closely monitoring the situation.
November 23, 2020 3:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – Alabama is now a unanimous No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll, and Northwestern has moved up to No. 11 for its best ranking in 24 years. For the second straight week, the top eight teams in the poll held their spots. The Crimson Tide received all 62 first-place votes after beating Kentucky 63-3, making Alabama the first unanimous No. 1 this season and the first team to do it in the regular season since 2018. Notre Dame was No. 2, followed by Ohio State, Clemson and Texas A&M. Florida was No. 6 and No. 7 Cincinnati and No. 8 BYU also held their spots. The rest of the top 10 was No. 9 Miami and Oregon. Northwestern moved up eight spots after beating Wisconsin 17-7 to improve to 5-0. The Badgers slipped eight spots to 18th. The Wildcats were last ranked this highly in 1996. The year after their surprising run to the Rose Bowl, coach Gary Barnett’s team reached a high of No. 10. No. 12 Indiana dropped three spots after putting a scare into Ohio State in the Big Ten’s other top-25 matchup Saturday. The Buckeyes beat the Hoosiers 42-35 after leading 35-7.
November 23, 2020 3:49 am
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Pittsburgh’s most dominant defensive performance of the season kept the Steelers perfect. Terrell Edmunds and Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted two passes each and the Steelers steamrolled their way to a 10-0 record with a 27-3 win in Jacksonville on Sunday. Rookie quarterback Jake Luton looked lost most of the day against the Steelers, who allowed just 206 yards and finished with two sacks. They celebrated each turnover by running into the end zone and posing for the cameras. Ben Roethlisberger and Co. gladly shared the spotlight with one of the league’s most disruptive defenses.
