January 12, 2025 6:17 am
BALTIMORE (AP) — Lamar Jackson threw for two touchdowns in a flawless first half, Derrick Henry scored twice while leading Baltimore’s devastating running game, and the Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 to advance to the second round of the AFC playoffs. The Ravens move on to face either Buffalo or Houston after jumping out to a 21-0 halftime lead and holding on against their AFC North rivals. Baltimore had a 19-2 advantage in first downs in the first half, when the Ravens produced touchdown drives of 95, 85 and 90 yards, Henry ran for 186 yards, and Baltimore outrushed the Steelers 299-29. It was the most yards rushing allowed by Pittsburgh in a playoff game.
Pittsburgh’s season ends with five straight losses, two of which came in Baltimore. The ending was a familiar story for the Steelers, who have lost six consecutive playoff games. The last three times they’ve been in the postseason, they’ve fallen on the road in games that have exemplified the gap between Pittsburgh and the conference’s true contenders. “They were the better group today. That was obvious,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “The X factor was Lamar’s unique talents. It seems like every time we got him behind the sticks, he made up for it.”
January 12, 2025 6:30 am
HOUSTON (AP) — Eric Murray returned one of Justin Herbert’s career-high four interceptions for a touchdown, C.J. Stroud threw a TD pass and the Houston Texans rolled past the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in a wild-card playoff game. It’s the second straight year Stroud and the Texans (11-7) won in the first round after they beat Cleveland last season. Herbert threw just three interceptions in the regular season and had never thrown more than two in a game before facing a Texans secondary led by AP All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley, who grabbed two Saturday. Texans get 2 points on blocked extra point return vs. Chargers, 1st in NFL playoff history
January 12, 2025 6:14 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Shane Pinto scored two special teams goals in the first period, Leevi Merilainen stopped 30 shots and the Ottawa Senators beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-0. Pinto beat Alex Nedeljokvic on the power play just over five minutes into the game then added a short-handed goal in the waning moments of the opening frame as the Senators won for just the second time in their last eight games. Tyler Kleven, Drake Batherson and Tim Stutzle also scored for the Senators. Claude Giroux added three assists as Ottawa won its sixth straight over Pittsburgh.
January 12, 2025 6:19 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Reyne Smith knocked down a career-best seven 3-pointers and Louisville defeated Pittsburgh 82-78, the sixth straight win for the Cardinals. The loss snapped Pittsburgh’s 15-game home win streak that included eight wins over Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. Pitt had won its last five meetings with Louisville.
January 11, 2025 4:32 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Quinshon Judkins ran for two touchdowns before Jack Sawyer forced a fumble by his former roommate and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers that he returned 83 yards for a touchdown with 2:13 left as Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl. The 13-2 Buckeyes advance for a shot at their sixth national title. Their semifinal victory came in the same stadium where they were champions in the debut of the College Football Playoff as a four-team format. Now they have the opportunity to be the winner again in the debut of the expanded 12-team field when they play Notre Dame on January 20.
January 11, 2025 4:39 am
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens are hoping the regular season was just a preview of what Derrick Henry’s impact could be in the playoffs. After rushing for 1,921 yards — including a career-high 5.9 per carry — Henry is ready to help Lamar Jackson lead a dynamic Baltimore offense into the postseason. The Ravens host Pittsburgh on Saturday night. Like Jackson, Henry hasn’t been to a Super Bowl and has reached the AFC title game only once. He returns to the playoffs after missing them the past two seasons with Tennessee.
January 11, 2025 4:37 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts has cleared the NFL concussion protocol and will start for the Philadelphia Eagles in their NFC wild-card game Sunday against Green Bay. The Eagles quarterback hasn’t played since he suffered a concussion and left a Dec. 22 game early against Washington. Coach Nick Sirianni said Friday that Hurts was out of the protocol and was “ready to roll” against the Packers. Hurts returned to practice this week. There are five phases in the concussion protocol, with the final one clearance by an independent neurological consultant.
January 11, 2025 1:20 am
High school basketball teams across the WPIAL are finishing their first trips through section play between now and Tuesday, Jan. 14. Here’s a rundown of Friday and Saturday section schedules for teams in Washington & Greene Counties:
Friday, Jan. 10
Girls
6A Norwin 56, Canon-McMillan 40
1A Geibel Catholic 59, Mapletown 22
Boys
6A Norwin 68, Canon-McMillan 56
5A Peters Township 75, Ringgold 40
5A South Fayette 51, Trinity 37
3A McGuffey 55, Sto-Rox 38
3A Carlynton 59, Wash High 52
3A Charleroi 66, Brownsville 31
3A Waynesburg 68, Ligonier Valley 52
2A Bentworth 60, California 52
2A Beth-Center 58, Burgettstown 43
2A Chartiers-Houston 77, Mapletown 33
2A Fort Cherry 55, West Greene 42
2A Jeff-Morgan 64, Carmichaels 33
1A Aquinas Academy 91, Avella 72
Saturday, Jan. 11
Girls
4A Ringgold at Elizabeth-Forward, postponed to Saturday, Jan. 18
Boys
3A Waynesburg 45, Charleroi 33
January 10, 2025 4:34 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Drew Allar’s critical interception sealed Penn State’s loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl. Allar entered with just seven interceptions this season but he threw an off-target pass over the middle toward receiver Omari Evans with 33 seconds remaining. It ended up in the hands of Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray. The Irish, not needing many yards to get in kicker Mitch Jeter’s range, moved inside the 25. Jeter’s 41-yarder sealed a 27-24 win for Notre Dame that sent the Irish to the national title game.
January 10, 2025 4:35 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ohio State and Texas are both seeking a chance to end national title droughts. The powerhouse programs meet in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl. The winner advances to the national title game to play Notre Dame on January 20. Ohio State is the only team to appear in four of the last six CFPs, but its last national title was 10 years ago. That was the first season of the four-team College Football Playoff, when the Buckeyes won the title at AT&T Stadium. That is where they play the in-state Longhorns on Friday night. Texas’ last national title was 19 years ago.
