November 27, 2020 3:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – You can chop another game off this weekend’s college football schedule. No. 19 Southern California’s scheduled home game Saturday against unbeaten Colorado has been canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests for the Trojans. The Pac-12 said USC didn’t have the minimum number of scholarship players available at a specific position group. This is a result of at least two positive COVID-19 cases and the resulting isolation of additional players under contact tracing protocols. Colorado immediately booked a replacement game against San Diego State in Boulder on Saturday afternoon. San Diego State had an opening after its game at Fresno State was canceled.
November 26, 2020 1:39 am
The NFL has announced that the Thanksgiving prime time game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens has been postponed. The NFL issued a statement stating “This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts,”. Several Ravens players and office personnel have tested positive for Covid-19 this week. The game has been moved to Sunday afternoon, kickoff is at 1:15 and can be seen on NBC as well as heard on WJPA-AM 1450.
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers have succeeded where most NFL teams have failed over the past two years. The league’s last unbeaten team has found a way to slow down Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Steelers have forced Jackson into seven turnovers in his two starts against Pittsburgh. Jackson has committed just 17 turnovers total in his other 39 career appearances combined. The Steelers say they don’t have Jackson’s number, but admit they’ve found a way to make Jackson uncomfortable in the pocket. Pittsburgh will look to move to 11-0 when they host Jackson and the Ravens on Sunday.
November 26, 2020 3:56 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Ramiir Dixon-Conover scored 21 points and Myles Thompson scored 13 with eight rebounds and St. Francis (PA) shocked Pittsburgh in an 80-70 win. It’s the first time in program history St. Francis has beaten Pitt. The Red Flash entered the game with an 0-29 record against the Panthers. Pitt led for just 33 seconds and Thompson’s 3-pointer nearly a couple of minutes in gave St. Francis a 5-2 lead and it never trailed again. Au’Diese Toney led the Panthers with 20 points.
November 26, 2020 4:01 am
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – Miles McBride scored a career-high 23 points and No. 15 West Virginia held off South Dakota State 79-71 on Wednesday night in the Bad Boys Mowers Crossover Classic. McBride, selected to the Big 12 All-Freshman team last season, was 9 for 19 from the field for the Mountaineers in the opener. Sean McNeil added a career-high 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the field. Summit League Player of the Year Douglas Wilson led South Dakota State with 17 points. South Dakota native Noah Freidel had 16.
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.
