Sports category, Page 856
Penn State will enjoy win over UMass, but everyone knows Ohio State is up next
STATE COLLEGE — Drew Allar cracked a smile. It hadn’t even been an hour after Penn State’s quarterback exited the rain-soaked Beaver Stadium turf after a 63-0 win over UMass. But sitting at the media room dais, crowded by reporters, recorders and cameras, he reasonably could expect the question was...
Analysis: Did Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi wait too long to change quarterbacks?
The question that was not asked of Pat Narduzzi as Saturday night turned into Sunday morning was the one on the minds of many social media denizens: What took so long, Pat? Narduzzi’s dramatic upheaval at Pitt’s quarterback position preceded a 38-21 upset victory against now-No. 21 and previously undefeated...
Pitt notebook: Is Christian Veilleux the answer to the Panthers’ quarterback quandary?
On a night when Christian Veilleux’s completion percentage was worse than his benched predecessor’s, two pretty touchdown passes trumped everything else. Veilleux made his first collegiate start Saturday night, leading Pitt (2-4, 1-2 ACC) to a 38-21 victory against previously undefeated Louisville (6-1, 3-1), which fell from its No. 14...
Penguins winger Reilly Smith quickly connects with Evgeni Malkin on 2nd lineVideo
As the Pittsburgh Penguins entered the third period Friday against Washington, both analytical data and observations made by the naked eye suggested forward Reilly Smith was due for a goal. The 32-year-old winger had wasted little time in appearing to mesh with linemates Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell, resulting in...
Steelers, NFL roots run deep with North Allegheny football team
There usually is a Super Bowl champion or two somewhere in the crowd at North Allegheny football games and it’s been that way for about a decade. In fact, sometimes there are four or five NFL alums there for game days. That’s because coach Art Walker’s teams have enjoyed a...
Black quarterbacks long have thrived in the Canadian Football League
In the days leading up to Super Bowl LVII, J.C. Watts got a call from a reporter who wanted his thoughts on the upcoming clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Specifically, Watts, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2003, was asked about his...
Jets’ Sauce Gardner downgraded to out with concussion
Sauce Gardner was downgraded Saturday to out with a concussion, leaving the New York Jets without their top two starting cornerbacks for their game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Gardner was added to the Jets’ injury report Friday with what the team called an “illness,” although coach Robert Saleh said before...
M.J. Devonshire’s pick-6 leads Pitt to upset of undefeated Louisville
At one point Saturday night during Pitt’s 38-21 victory against Louisville, Pitt greats Kenny Pickett and Tony Dorsett were pictured on the scoreboard seated side-by-side in the upper reaches of Acrisure Stadium. Earlier in the game, Pitt (2-4, 1-2 ACC) honored another of its own, Pro Football Hall of Fame...
Backup goalie Alex Nedeljkovic leads Penguins past Flames in 1st game
Wanting to fortify their goaltending depth this past offseason, the Pittsburgh Penguins took a chance on Alex Nedeljkovic, signing him to a one-year contract in July worth a frugal – by NHL standards - $1.5 million. Once a promising starter who had struggled in recent seasons, management hoped Nedeljkovic would...
Willie Thrower: New Kensington man cast the mold for the modern NFL quarterback 70 years ago
Willie Thrower didn’t talk much about his place in NFL history. Not even with his family. His son, Melvin, was in junior high before he learned about his father’s watershed moment. On Super Bowl Sunday in 1988, Melvin Thrower sat with his father in their New Kensington home and watched...
Minor league report: Penguins dropped by CheckersVideo
In his regular season debut, goaltender Joel Blomqvist made 21 saves on 24 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-1 road loss to the Charlotte Checkers at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday. Forward Colin White scored the lone goal for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (1-1-0-0). Highlights: The Penguins’ next game...
Bryant hands Robert Morris 3rd straight loss
SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Zevi Eckhaus passed for three touchdowns and ran for another score, Simi Bakare added two rushing TDs and Bryant beat Robert Morris, 43-24, Saturday. Eckhaus threw a 21-yard TD pass to Jalen Powell to open the scoring, Maximus Villar tackled Cyrus Bonsu in the end zone and...
New Kensington’s Willie Thrower cast the mold for the modern NFL quarterback 70 years ago
Willie Thrower didn’t talk much about his place in NFL history. Not even with his family. His son, Melvin, was in junior high before he learned about his father’s watershed moment. On Super Bowl Sunday in 1988, Melvin Thrower sat with his father in their New Kensington home and watched...
District college football roundup: Cal (Pa.) starts fast, rolls past Seton Hill
Eric Willis scored on a 75-yard touchdown catch on the first play from scrimmage, sparking Cal (Pa.) to a 41-14 PSAC victory over Seton Hill on Saturday. Davis Black was 14 for 23 for 300 yards and four touchdowns for the Vulcans (5-1, 4-0). Omari Hopkins caught five balls for...
5 things we learned in Week 7 of WPIAL high school football: Long playoff drought over
One of the WPIAL’s longest active playoff droughts is over, and another long streak also could end this year. Jefferson-Morgan was one of four WPIAL teams that had gone at least 10 seasons without reaching the postseason, but the Rockets clinched a playoff spot with a win Friday. Second-year coach...
Riverhounds head into playoffs with 8-game unbeaten streak after scoreless draw in Detroit
They may not have gone about it in the most exciting way possible, but the Pittsburgh Riverhounds will head into the USL Championship playoffs on an eight-game unbeaten streak. Rookie Christian Garner recorded his first pro shutout as the Riverhounds and Detroit City FC played to a scoreless draw Saturday...
Rangers’ Marcus Semien and wife schedule birth during break before ALCS
HOUSTON — The fourth child for Marcus Semien and his wife, Tarah, was due during the AL Championship Series. When her doctor said she was far enough along that it was safe to induce, Tarah told the Texas Rangers’ second baseman they’d be having their baby in the break before...
Penn State’s Drew Allar, Daequan Hardy lead way in rout
STATE COLLEGE — It had been a long time since Daequan Hardy fielded a punt. It won’t be long until he lines up to catch another one. The Penn State cornerback returned two punts for touchdowns, sparking the No. 6 Nittany Lions after a slow start in a 63-0 win...
Penguins to start goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic against Flames
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic is scheduled to make his debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in Saturday’s home game against the Calgary Flames at PPG Paints Arena. Coach Mike Sullivan announced Nedeljkovic’s status approximately two hours before the game. A free agent signing this past offseason, Nedeljkovic played in three games during...
Byron opens NASCAR’s next round of playoffs as championship favoriteVideo
LAS VEGAS — William Byron returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the betting favorite to win the Cup title as the round of eight of NASCAR’s playoffs opens. He is in great shape with a series-high six victories this season, and his first win of the year came at...
Ben Roethlisberger aside, Kenny Pickett holds own against Steelers QB predecessors at start of career
When the Pittsburgh Steelers return from their bye and face the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday, quarterback Kenny Pickett will make his 18th career start. That’s one more than what constitutes an NFL season, which was expanded in 2021. Given that mile marker in Pickett’s nascent career, it seemed like...
Duquesne cruises past Central Connecticut 44-20 behind 3 total touchdowns from ButtsVideo
PITTSBURGH — Darius Perrantes threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns, Taj Butts carried it 12 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and Duquesne cruised past Central Connecticut, 44-20, on Saturday in its Northeast Conference home opener. Duquesne jumped out to a 20-3 lead in the first quarter and...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Kirk Cousins trade speculation an absurd proposition for Steelers
Former NFL GM Michael Lombardi said the Pittsburgh Steelers should trade for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. One local radio talk show seized that scrap and thrashed about for the best part of an afternoon. Steelers X, of course, went bonkers. Cousins to the Steelers has zero chance of happening....
Defenseman Ryan Shea enjoying fresh start with Penguins
Saturday represented something of a milestone for Pittsburgh Penguins reserve defenseman Ryan Shea. It was his fifth day on the NHL roster, a new career high for existing at the sport’s highest level. During his previous stint with the Dallas Stars, he hadn’t been on that club’s NHL roster for...
Stanford rallies from 29-point deficit, beats Colorado 46-43 in 2nd overtime
BOULDER, Colo. — Deion Sanders had an uneasy feeling, even up 29-0 at halftime. Maybe not the worst collapse in Colorado history about to unfold uneasy, but uneasy anyway. Stanford coach Troy Taylor didn’t really change a thing, just watched as the Cardinal steadily staged the largest comeback in school...
