December 10, 2019 3:49 am
UNDATED (AP) – The New England Patriots have acknowledged that a video crew working for the team shot the Cincinnati Bengals sideline during Sunday’s game at Cleveland. Any videotaping of a sideline by another team is a violation of league rules that echoed the team’s 2007 Spygate scandal. The Patriots said on their website that a three-person crew for a web series titled “Do Your Job” “inappropriately filmed the field from the press box” as part of a feature on the scouting department. The filming took place “without specific knowledge of league rules,” according to the team statement. The Pats also said that while it was granted credentials for the crew from the Browns, their failure to inform the Bengals and the NFL was an unintended oversight. When confronted, the team said the crew “immediately turned over all footage to the league and cooperated fully.”
December 10, 2019 3:47 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The Philadelphia Eagles own a share of first-place in the NFC East after erasing a 17-3 halftime deficit against the lowly New York Giants. Carson Wentz tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz in overtime to lead the Eagles to a 23-17 win over the Giants. Wentz threw for 325 yards and a pair of TDs, including a 5-yard toss to Ertz to tie it at 17-17 with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter. Ertz racked up 91 yards on nine receptions for the Eagles, who played the second half without receiver Alshon Jeffery because of a foot injury. Eli Manning looked good in the second quarter of his first start since Week 2, leading three scoring drives that put New York ahead by two touchdowns. Manning finished 15 of 30 for 203 yards, but he couldn’t prevent the 2-11 Giants from suffering their team record-tying ninth straight loss. The 6-7 Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak and moved into a first-place tie with Dallas. Philadelphia captures the division if it wins its final three games, including a matchup with Dallas in Week 16.
December 9, 2019 2:34 am
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Diontae Johnson ran for an 85-yard touchdown on a punt return and caught a pass for another score to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Arizona Cardinals 23-17. Pittsburgh’s defense had three crucial interceptions in the second half to secure its seventh win over the past eight games. Arizona has lost six straight games. Rookie free agent quarterback Devlin Hodges completed 16 of 19 passes and threw a touchdown pass in his third career start. Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray threw two touchdown passes, but his three interceptions were very costly.
December 8, 2019 8:07 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Penn State coach James Franklin has agreed to a new six-year contract with the school that runs through 2025. It adds three years on to his previous deal. Penn State’s Board of Trustees approved the contract, though financial terms were not immediately released. Since taking over in 2014, Franklin is 55-23, including 40-11 and three double-digit victory seasons in the last four years. The Nittany Lions are 10-2 this season and in position to go to a major bowl.
December 7, 2019 4:24 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Tristan Jarry spoiled Phil Kessel’s return to Pittsburgh. He turned aside all 33 shots he faced to post his second straight shutout and lead the Penguins to a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Kessel received a standing ovation in his first game in Pittsburgh since being traded to the Coyotes last summer. Kessel helped the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 and is one of the reasons the Coyotes are off to one of the best starts in franchise history. Kessel and the Coyotes couldn’t solve Jarry. The goalie has won 5 of 6 starts.
December 7, 2019 2:47 am
Shane Stump ran for four touchdowns and threw for another as Thomas Jefferson crushed Dallas Area, 46-7, to win the PIAA Class 4A football championship Thursday night. The Jaguars dominated the Mountaineers on both sides of the ball, running for nearly 300 yards while holding Dallas to just 60 yards rushing. TJ picked off Dallas QB Michael Starbuck three times, including Ian Hansen’s 38-yard “pick six” on the third play of the second half. Running back Dylan Mallozzi carried 24 times for 212 yards and one touchdown as Thomas Jefferson finished the season 16-0 and won its fourth PIAA football title, the first since going back-to-back in 2007-2008. Dallas suffered its first loss of the year, losing in its first state championship game since beating Washington in 1993.
Two weeks ago, Avonworth won its first outright WPIAL football championship and Friday afternoon, it was all over. The Antelopes were crushed by District 4 champion Southern Columbia 74-7 in the PIAA Class 2A football championship game. The Tigers have been the premier football program, all classes, in the state for many years, winning a record nine PIAA titles and were in the finals for the 18th time in 26 seasons. Avonworth (15-0) failed to find a way to slow down an SCA team, also 15-0, that’s scored an average of 54 points a game this year, and allowed just 75 points all season, including 10 shutouts. The Antelopes have allowed an average of 11 points a game, a mark that’s held steady through a perfect five-game run in the postseason.
December 5, 2019 4:57 am
Derek Shelton’s garage is clean, the byproduct of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ drawn out managerial hiring process, one that took extended after the club fired general manager Neal Huntington in late October. A 49-year-old baseball lifer who spent last season as the bench coach for the Minnesota Twins, Shelton already had interviewed for the chance to be Clint Hurdle’s replacement when Huntington was let go on Oct. 28. While the search was paused until Huntington’s successor was hired, Shelton wandered around his Florida home to burn off the nervous energy. He kept finding himself in the garage, arranging and rearranging in a waiting game that he admits made him “a little bit uncomfortable.” Shelton estimated he went through the garage “about 15 times.” The Pirates introduced Shelton as the team’s 40th manager on Wednesday, tasking him to create a more positive clubhouse culture following a second-half slide that included sloppy play and a series of clashes between players and staff off the field. The self-described former “poor minor league catcher” said his focus will be on making sure players don’t settle for thinking they’ve arrived once they reach the majors.
December 4, 2019 3:46 am
UNDATED (AP) – Ohio State goes into championship weekend as the top team in the College Football Playoff selection committee’s rankings, followed by LSU, Clemson and Georgia. The Buckeyes take on Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game on Saturday, while the Tigers battle the Bulldogs for the SEC crown. Clemson is preparing for an ACC title game matchup with Virginia. Utah is fifth in the CFP rankings, followed by Oklahoma, Baylor, Wisconsin, Florida and Penn State. The Sooners and Bears square off for Big 12 bragging rights. Alabama has dropped to 12th, its lowest ranking in the six years the committee has been doing a weekly top 25 over the final third of the season. The final rankings that set the pairings for the national semifinals come out Sunday.
December 4, 2019 3:43 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – It’s still officially Duck season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Mike Tomlin says quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges will make his second straight start when the Steelers visit the Arizona Cardinals. Hodges is 2-0 as a starter this season and passed for 212 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a victory over Cleveland. Tomlin said he likes what he’s seen from Hodges on the road. Hodges played a major role in road wins over the Chargers and Bengals earlier this season.
December 2, 2019 3:48 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Baltimore Ravens are 10-2 after winning a matchup of two of the NFL’s best teams. Justin Tucker drilled a 49-yard field goal as time expired to give the Ravens their eighth consecutive win, 20-17 over the San Francisco 49ers. Lamar Jackson prolonged the winning drive with a three-yard run on fourth-and-one and finished with 101 yards under miserable conditions in Baltimore. Baltimore relied on its running game for points while Jackson completed just 14 of 23 passes for 105 yards and a lost fumble. Raheem Mostert ran for a career-high 146 yards and a touchdown for the 10-2 49ers, who are tied with New Orleans for the best record in the NFC. Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo went 15 of 21 for 165 yards.
Baltimore now shares the AFC’s best record with New England following the Patriots’ 28-22 loss to the Texans. Deshaun Watson had 234 yards passing and threw touchdown passes of 14, 13, and 35 yards as Houston built a 21-3 lead against New England’s vaunted defense. Watson also had a TD catch on a short flip from receiver DeAndre Hopkins on a trick play from the 6-yard line to help the Texans improve to 8-4. Tom Brady completed two of his three TD passes in the final 4 minutes to pull the Pats within six.
