January 11, 2022 3:51 am
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Stetson Bennett delivered the biggest throws of his storybook career and Georgia’s defense sealed the sweetest victory in program history, vanquishing rival Alabama 33-18 to win the College Football Playoff title game. The Bulldogs won their first national title in 41 years. Bennett connected with Adonai Mitchell on a 40-yard touchdown to give Georgia a 19-18 lead with 8:09 left. He then hooked up with Brock Bowers for a 15-yard TD on a screen to put the Bulldogs up with with 3:33 left. The final blow came from the defense. Kelee Ringo intercepted an underthrown deep ball down the sideline by Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and returned 79 yards for a touchdown.
January 11, 2022 2:35 am
IRVING, Texas (Jan. 10, 2022) – John Luckhardt, who served as head coach at Washington & Jefferson College from 1982-98 and a decade as the football boss at California University of Pennsylvania, was announced Monday as one of 21 inductees in the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class. The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame unveiled its 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class during an announcement Monday. The 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6.
“We are thrilled for Coach Luckhardt. He turned W&J football into an annual NCAA Division III power and helped create so many memorable moments and memories for Washington & Jefferson College students, alumni and fans,” said Scott McGuinness, Director of Athletics at W&J. “Coach Luckhardt’s entry into the College Football Hall of Fame cements his legacy of leadership, mentoring and excellence.”
“This is a tremendous career accomplishment for Coach Luckhardt and we are excited for him and his family,” said Cal U Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe. “The impact he had on our football program, and entire athletic department, cannot be understated. In addition to all the victories, Coach Luckhardt was a true developer of young men throughout his entire coaching career.”
A stalwart on the Western Pennsylvania football scene for the better part of three decades, Luckhardt turned both programs into perennial national contenders. Over his 27 seasons as head coach, he posted a 225-70-2 overall record behind 11 seasons of double-digit victories. Luckhardt amassed a .761 winning percentage while leading the Presidents and Vulcans to a combined 16 appearances in the NCAA Playoffs.
January 11, 2022 3:46 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading to their 10th playoff berth under head coach Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh earned the seventh seed in the AFC by winning its last two games to finish 9-7-1. The Steelers have reached the postseason despite finishing in the bottom third of the league in every major statistical category. The Steelers say Tomlin’s leadership helped the team steady itself during a rocky season. Pittsburgh’s reward for making the playoffs is a visit to Kansas City. The Chiefs rocked the Steelers 36-10 the day after Christmas.
January 11, 2022 3:48 am
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin could make his season debut when the Penguins face the Anaheim Ducks. Coach Mike Sullivan says he anticipates the four-time All-Star and 2012 Hart Trophy winner will be a “game-time” decision as Pittsburgh continues its West Coast swing. The 35-year-old Malkin hasn’t played since undergoing right knee surgery in June. Malkin has been skating with his teammates for several weeks and was cleared to start taking contact recently.
January 10, 2022 3:50 am
BALTIMORE (AP) – Ben Roethlisberger delayed his retirement a little longer, guiding Pittsburgh to a 16-13 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens that left the Steelers on the verge of an improbable playoff berth. Then they had to sweat out a dramatic night game between the Chargers and Raiders. Any result other than a tie would put Pittsburgh in the postseason, but those two teams were indeed deadlocked until Las Vegas kicked a field goal at the end of overtime to win 35-32. Now Pittsburgh plays at Kansas City next weekend to open the playoffs.
January 10, 2022 3:53 am
The Steelers and Raiders are going to the playoffs as AFC wild cards after Daniel Carlson drilled a 47-yard field goal as time expired in overtime, giving Vegas a 35-32 win over the Chargers and eliminating Los Angeles. Derek Carr threw two scoring strikes to Hunter Renfrow and Josh Jacobs rushed for 132 yards and a TD. Justin Herbert threw for three TD’s, including a last-second scoring toss in regulation before the Raiders earned their fourth straight win. A tie would have put the Chargers in the postseason.
January 10, 2022 3:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – Vic Fangio has been fired as coach of the Broncos after going 19-30 in three seasons. The move comes one day after Denver’s season-ending 28-24 loss to Kansas City. Fangio had a fourth year left on his contract with a team option for 2023. Fangio got the job after more than three decades as an assistant, and he burnished his reputation as a defensive master during his time in Denver. The Broncos finished 7-10 this season. They went 7-9 in Fangio’s first year
January 10, 2022 3:46 am
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – An Australian judge has reinstated tennis star Novak Djokovic’s visa, which was canceled last week because he is unvaccinated for COVID-19. Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly also ordered the government to release Djokovic from Melbourne hotel quarantine within 30 minutes of his decision. Djokovic is in Australia to compete in the Australian Open, which he’s won nine times.
January 9, 2022 1:12 am
Defending PIAA dual meet champion Waynesburg won six individual titles but had to win three of the final four weight classes to claim the team title at the Tri-County Wrestling Championships. Rocco Welsh (172), Eli Makel (215) and Noah Tustin (285), Ky Szewczyk (113), Joseph Simon (126) won close decisions while Colton Stoneking (138) scored a fall for the Raiders who finished with 202.5 team points. Runner-up Burgettstown led during the final session until Makel & Tustin picked up late wins, Makel’s in overtime. The Blue Devils had a pair of champions, Parker (106) & Joey Sentipal (132), along with four other top three finishers. Burgettstown finished the two-day tournament with 197 points, followed by Beth-Center (170.5), Canon-McMillan (142.5) and Peters Township (134). Trinity, Ringgold, Fort Cherry, South Fayette and Jeff-Morgan round out the top 10. The championship bout results are listed below. Here’s the FloWrestling link for all results.
106 Parker Sentipal (Burgettstown) DEC Tanner Mizenko (Canon-McMillan), 1-0
113 Ky Szewczyk (Waynesburg) DEC TJ Allison (Trinity), 5-3
120 Jacob Houpt (Canon-McMillan) TF Luke Dunlap (South Fayette), 25-10 5:00
126 Joseph Simon (Waynesburg) DEC Chris Vargo (Bentworth), 1-0
132 Joey Sentipal (Burgettstown) DEC Blake Reihner (Trinity), 5-2
138 Colton Stoneking (Waynesburg) F Rudy Brown (Burgettstown), 4:53
145 Chase Frameli (Jefferson Morgan) DEC Ryan Celaschi (Frazier), 5-0
152 Tyler Berish (Beth Center) MD Anthony Lancos (Burgettstown), 15-3
160 Trevor Pettit (Beth Center) F Braedon Welsh (Fort Cherry), 3:43
172 Rocco Welsh (Waynesburg) DEC Rune Lawrence (Frazier), 6-2
189 Jake Conroy (Ringgold) F Broxon Dean (Canon-McMillan), 1:02
215 Eli Makel (Waynesburg) DEC Phillip Nave (Peters Township), 6-4 SV
285 Noah Tustin (Waynesburg) DEC Ty Banco (Trinity), 5-3
January 9, 2022 7:45 am
DALLAS (AP) — Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski scored 1:15 apart late in the third period and the Dallas Stars stopped Pittsburgh’s winning streak at 10 games, beating the Penguins 3-2 on Saturday. Hintz scored on a backhander with 3:46 left after Pavelski converted off a rebound with 5:01 to go, sending the Stars to their fourth straight win. Hintz and Pavelski share the team lead with 13 goals, and it was Hintz’s fourth winner this season. Denis Gurianov also scored and Jake Oettinger stopped 27 shots for Dallas. Jason Robertson assisted on all three goals and has a 10-game home points streak. The two third-period goals capped a period in which Dallas outshot Pittsburgh 15-8 after being outshot 21-17 before in the first two. Brian Dumoulin and Kasperi Kapanen scored in a 25-second span early in the first period for the Penguins. Tristan Jarry made 29 saves. Pittsburgh had the NHL’s longest winning streak this season. It is 18-1-1 when leading after two periods and 18-2 when scoring first. Before the game, the Penguins added forwards Bryan Rust and Brock McGinn to their COVID-19 protocol list. Rust had seven goals and four assists in Pittsburgh’s last three games after missing the previous 11 with a lower-body injury.
