“THE SCOREBOARD”
****INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 3 SCHEDULE****
ALEXANDRIA (2-0) AT BLACKFORD (0-2)
ATTICA (0-2) AT SEEGER (1-1)
AVON (0-2) AT HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (2-0)
BATESVILLE (2-0) AT SOUTH DEARBORN (1-1)
BLOOMINGTON NORTH (2-0) AT TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (0-2)
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (2-0) AT TERRE HAUTE NORTH (0-2)
BREBEUF JESUIT (1-1) AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN (1-1)
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (2-0) AT EASTERN (PEKIN) (1-1)
CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (1-1) AT TRI (1-1)
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (1-1) AT FORT WAYNE SOUTH (0-2)
CASTLE (1-1) AT EVANSVILLE BOSSE (1-1)
CASTON (0-2) AT TRITON (1-1)
CENTRAL NOBLE (0-2) AT FAIRFIELD (1-1)
CHESTERTON (0-2) AT MICHIGAN CITY (1-1)
CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL (1-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (0-2)
CHURUBUSCO (0-2) AT GARRETT (0-2)
CINCINNATI MOELLER (OHIO) AT EAST CENTRAL (2-0)
CLARKSVILLE (0-2) AT CHARLESTOWN (1-1)
CLINTON PRAIRIE (2-0) AT CLINTON CENTRAL (0-1)
CLOVERDALE (1-1) AT BROWN COUNTY (0-2)
COLUMBIA CITY (2-0) AT BELLMONT (0-2)
COLUMBUS EAST (0-2) AT SEYMOUR (1-1)
CORYDON CENTRAL (0-2) AT NORTH HARRISON (2-0)
COVENANT CHRISTIAN (1-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (2-0)
CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-2) AT PERRY CENTRAL (0-2)
CRAWFORDSVILLE (0-2) AT WESTERN BOONE (2-0)
DECATUR CENTRAL (2-0) AT WHITELAND (1-1)
DEKALB (2-0) AT NEW HAVEN (2-0)
DELTA (2-0) AT SHELBYVILLE (2-0)
DETROIT KING (MICH.) AT CARMEL (1-1)
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (0-2) AT CALUMET (0-2)
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (1-1) AT DELPHI (0-2)
EASTERN GREENE (0-2) AT NORTH DAVIESS (2-0)
EASTERN HANCOCK (2-0) AT CENTERVILLE (2-0)
EDGEWOOD (1-1) AT CASCADE (1-1)
EDINBURGH (0-2) AT SOUTH DECATUR (1-1)
EVANSVILLE HARRISON (0-2) AT EVANSVILLE NORTH (1-1)
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (2-0) AT EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (0-2)
EVANSVILLE REITZ (2-0) AT JASPER (1-1)
FISHERS (2-0) AT NOBLESVILLE (2-0)
FOREST PARK (2-0) AT TELL CITY (1-1)
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (0-2) AT ADAMS CENTRAL (2-0)
FORT WAYNE LUERS (0-2) AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (0-2)
FORT WAYNE NORTH (0-2) AT FORT WAYNE DWENGER (0-2)
FORT WAYNE SNIDER (2-0) AT FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (0-2)
FRANKLIN (1-1) AT PERRY MERIDIAN (1-1)
FRANKLIN CENTRAL (2-0) AT BROWNSBURG (2-0)
FRANKTON (1-1) AT ELWOOD (0-2)
FREMONT (1-1) AT NORTH CENTRAL (OHIO)
GARY WEST (1-1) AT BOONE GROVE (1-1)
GREENSBURG (0-2) AT CONNERSVILLE (1-1)
GREENWOOD (2-0) AT MARTINSVILLE (1-1)
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (0-2) AT WES-DEL (0-2)
GRIFFITH (0-2) AT HAMMOND CENTRAL (2-0)
GUERIN CATHOLIC (2-0) AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (2-0)
HAGERSTOWN (1-1) AT UNION CITY (0-2)
HAMMOND MORTON (1-1) AT ELKHART (0-2)
HAMMOND NOLL (1-1) AT WHITING (1-1)
HANOVER CENTRAL (2-0) AT HIGHLAND (2-0)
HERITAGE HILLS (2-0) AT BOONVILLE (1-1)
HOMESTEAD (0-2) AT FORT WAYNE WAYNE (2-0)
HUNTINGTON NORTH (0-2) AT EAST NOBLE (1-1)
INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (0-2) AT PURDUE POLYTECHNIC (1-1)
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (1-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (2-0)
INDIANAPOLIS TECH (0-2) AT LAFAYETTE JEFF (0-2)
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (1-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (1-1)
JAY COUNTY (2-0) AT SOUTHERN WELLS (1-1)
JEFFERSONVILLE (0-2) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (0-2)
JOHN GLENN (1-1) AT ANGOLA (0-2)
KANKAKEE VALLEY (1-1) AT ANDREAN (0-2)
KNOX (2-0) AT CULVER (0-2)
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (1-1) AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS (2-0)
LAKELAND (2-0) AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (0-2)
LAWRENCE CENTRAL (1-1) VS. LAWRENCE NORTH (2-0)
LAWRENCEBURG (1-1) AT MILAN (1-1)
LEBANON (0-2) AT DANVILLE (1-1)
LEO (1-1) AT NORWELL (0-2)
LEWIS CASS (1-1) AT PERU (2-0)
LINTON-STOCKTON (2-0) AT MONROVIA (2-0)
LOGANSPORT (0-2) AT KOKOMO (2-0)
LOUISVILLE TRINITY (KY.) AT CENTER GROVE (1-1)
LOWELL (1-1) AT NEW PRAIRIE (1-1)
MACONAQUAH (1-1) AT NORTHFIELD (0-2)
MADISON-GRANT (2-0) AT MISSISSINEWA (2-0)
MARION (1-1) AT HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (1-1)
MCCUTCHEON (0-2) AT MUNCIE CENTRAL (0-2)
MERRILLVILLE (2-0) AT CROWN POINT (2-0)
MISHAWAKA (1-1) AT NORTHRIDGE (2-0)
MONROE CENTRAL (1-1) AT NORTH DECATUR (1-1)
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (1-1) AT GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (2-0)
MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (1-1) AT PIKE CENTRAL (1-1)
MUNSTER (1-1) AT HOBART (1-1)
NEW CASTLE (1-1) AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS (2-0)
NOBLESVILLE HOMESCHOOL AT FRONTIER (0-2)
NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (0-2) AT IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY (0-2)
NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (0-2) AT WARREN CENTRAL (0-2)
NORTH JUDSON (2-0) AT CULVER ACADEMY (1-1)
NORTH NEWTON (0-2) AT LAKE STATION (0-2)
NORTHVIEW (2-0) AT SULLIVAN (1-0)
NORTHWESTERN (0-2) AT BENTON CENTRAL (1-1)
NORTHWOOD (2-0) AT CONCORD (2-0)
OAK HILL (2-0) AT EASTBROOK (2-0)
OSCEOLA GRACE AT JIMTOWN (0-2)
OWEN VALLEY (1-1) AT INDIAN CREEK (0-2)
PARK TUDOR (1-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (2-0)
PENN (2-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (1-1)
PIKE (0-2) AT BEN DAVIS (2-0)
PIONEER (2-0) AT LAVILLE (2-0)
PLAINFIELD (2-0) AT MOORESVILLE (1-1)
PORTAGE (0-2) AT LAKE CENTRAL (1-1)
PRINCETON (0-2) AT GIBSON SOUTHERN (1-1)
PROVIDENCE (2-0) AT MADISON (0-2)
RENSSELAER CENTRAL (2-0) AT WESTERN (0-2)
RICHMOND (0-2) AT ANDERSON (0-2)
RIVER FOREST (2-0) AT WHEELER (0-2)
RIVERTON PARKE (1-1) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (1-1)
ROCHESTER (1-1) AT WHITKO (1-1)
RUSHVILLE (0-2) AT FRANKLIN COUNTY (1-1)
SCOTTSBURG (1-1) AT SALEM (0-2)
SHENANDOAH (1-1) AT LAPEL (0-2)
SHERIDAN (1-1) AT TRI-CENTRAL (1-1)
SILVER CREEK (1-1) AT FLOYD CENTRAL (1-1)
SOUTH ADAMS (2-0) AT BLUFFTON (2-0)
SOUTH BEND CLAY (0-2) AT CHICAGO CHRISTIAN (ILL.)
SOUTH BEND RILEY (2-0) AT SOUTH BEND ADAMS (1-1)
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-2) AT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (1-1)
SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (1-1) AT BREMEN (1-1)
SOUTH NEWTON (1-1) AT FISHER (ILL.)
SOUTH PUTNAM (2-0) AT NORTH PUTNAM (0-2)
SOUTH SPENCER (1-1) AT NORTH POSEY (2-0)
SOUTHMONT (2-0) AT NORTH MONTGOMERY (1-1)
SOUTHPORT (0-2) AT COLUMBUS NORTH (1-1)
SOUTHWOOD (0-2) AT NORTH MIAMI (0-2)
SPEEDWAY (1-1) AT BEECH GROVE (0-2)
SPRINGS VALLEY (2-0) AT PAOLI (1-1)
TAYLOR (1-1) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (2-0)
TECUMSEH (0-2) AT SOUTHRIDGE (1-1)
TRIMBLE COUNTY (KY.) AT SWITZERLAND COUNTY (2-0)
TRITON CENTRAL (2-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (2-0)
TRI-WEST (1-1) AT FRANKFORT (1-1)
TWIN LAKES (2-0) AT TIPPECANOE VALLEY (2-0)
UNION COUNTY (0-2) AT KNIGHTSTOWN (0-2)
VALPARAISO (1-1) AT LAPORTE (1-1)
VINCENNES LINCOLN (1-1) AT EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (1-1)
WABASH (0-2) AT MANCHESTER (1-1)
WARSAW (2-0) AT PLYMOUTH (1-1)
WASHINGTON (1-1) AT NORTH KNOX (1-1)
WAWASEE (0-2) AT GOSHEN (0-2)
WEST CENTRAL (2-0) AT TRI-COUNTY (1-1)
WEST LAFAYETTE (1-1) AT TIPTON (1-1)
WEST NOBLE (2-0) AT EASTSIDE (1-1)
WEST VIGO (0-2) AT GREENCASTLE (0-2)
WEST WASHINGTON (2-0) AT MITCHELL (0-2)
WESTFIELD (2-0) AT ZIONSVILLE (2-0)
WINAMAC (0-2) AT NORTH WHITE (2-0)
WINCHESTER (2-0) AT NORTHEASTERN (2-0)
WOODLAN (1-1) AT HERITAGE (2-0)
YORKTOWN (2-0) AT NEW PALESTINE (0-2)
*****INDIANA VOLLEYBALL SCORES (REPORTED)*****
GREENFIELD CENTRAL 3 PALESTINE 0
SULLIVAN 3 BLOOMFIELD 0
SOUTHPORT 3 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 0
VALPARAISO 3 MERRILLVILLE 0
EAST CENTRAL 3 LAWRENCEBURG 1
MUNSTER 3 LOWELL 0
FAITH CHRISTIAN 3 S. NEWTON 0
SUBURBAN CHRISTIAN 3 INDIANA CHRISTIAN 0
PIKE CENTRAL 3 SHOALS 0
BELLMONT 3 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 0
CLINTON CENTRAL 3 CARROLL 0
RENSSELAER CENTRAL 3 TWIN LAKES 0
LINTON STOCKTON 3 NORTHVIEW 2
WES DEL 3 UNION 0
UNION COUNTY 3 WINCHESTER 0
MADISON 3 GREENSBURG 2
LOOGOOTEE 3 ORLEANS 0
LAKE CENTRAL 3 PORTAGE 0
JENNINGS COUNTY 3 SEYMOUR 0
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON 3 SOUTH BEND RILEY 0
BENTON CENTRAL 3 FRONTIER 0
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 3 SOUTH BEND CLAY 1
MEDORA 3 CARUTHERSVILLE 1
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 3 NEW ALBANY 1
CRAWFORDSVILLE 3 ATTICA 0
EASTERN HANCOCK 3 BLUE RIVER VALLEY 0
PARKE HERITAGE 3 SEEGER 2
TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 3 INDIANA DEAF
WEST LAFAYETTE 3 FRANKFORT 0
FLOYD CENTRAL 3 BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 0
BLUFFTON 3 MANCHESTER 2
MITCHELL 3 SALEM 0
MUNCIE CENTRAL 3 RICHMOND 2
EASTERN 3 SHERIDAN 0
OLDENBURG ACADEMY 3 MORRISTOWN 0
GREENCASTLE 3 CLOVERDALE 0
BREBEUF 3 BEN DAVIS 0
ANDREAN 3 HOBART 0
KOUTS 3 HEBRON 1
FORT WAYNE DWENGER 3 HOMESTEAD 1
WASHINGTON 3 GIBSON SOUTHERN 2
FISHERS 3 NOBLESVILLE 2
INDIAN CREEK 3 MONROVIA 0
ANDERSON HOMESCHOOL 3 HEARTLAND CHRISTIAN 0
TECUMSEH 3 PERRY CENTRAL 0
FORT WAYNE SOUTH 3 FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 1
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 3 PRINCETON 0
LAKEWOOD PARK CHRISTIAN 3 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 0
TRINITY LUTHERAN 3 CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 3 NEW HAVEN 0
KOKOMO 3 MARION 0
GOSHEN HOMESCHOOL 3 FORT WAYNE FALCONS 0
CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 3 SHENANDOAH 1
ADAMS CENTRAL 3 FORT WAYNE LUERS 0
KANKAKEE VALLEY 3 HIGHLAND 0
HAMMOND NOLL 3 RIVER FOREST 0
CARMEL 3 NEW CASTLE 1
SCECINA 3 WARREN CENTRAL 0
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 3 AVON 0
BLACKFORD 3 FORT WAYNE NORTH 0
BORDEN 3 SOUTH-CENTRAL 0
BLOOMINGTON NORTH 3 MOORESVILLE 0
NORTH JUDSON 3 N. WHITE 0
TRI-WEST 3 PLAINFIELD 1
SOUTHWOOD 3 OAK HILL 0
NORTH POSEY 3 HERITAGE HILLS 0
FORT WAYNE CARROLL 3 HUNTINGTON NORTH 0
MOUNT VERNON 3 DELTA 1
BROWNSBURG 3 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 1
NORTHWOOD 3 CONCORD 1
MISHAWAKA MARIAN 3 BREMEN 1
WESTVIEW 3 LAKELAND 1
HAGERSTOWN 3 SETON CATHOLIC 0
WARSAW 3 GOSHEN 0
CENTER GROVE 3 FRANKLIN 1
HARRISON 3 CLINTON PRAIRIE 0
RONCALLI 3 GUERIN 0
RIVERTON PARKE 3 CHRISMAN 0
MUNCIE BURRIS 3 ANDERSON PREP 0
ANGOLA 3 W. NOBLE 0
ELKHART 3 PRAIRIE 0
PROVIDENCE 3 SACRED HEART 2
ZIONSVILLE 3 WESTFIELD 0
FISHERS 3 NOBLESVILLE 2
GREENFIELD CENTRAL 3 NEW PALESTINE 0
******INDIANA BOYS SOCCER SCORES (REPORTED)*****
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 7 OREGON DAVIS 0
SCECINA 9 MONROVIA 3
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 2 BISHOP CHATARD 1
TRI-CENTRAL 3 TIPTON 1
DEKALB 1 GARRETT 0
NE DUBOIS 7 SHOALS 0
ANDREWS ACADEMY 8 COMMUNITY BAPTIST 0
CONNERSVILLE 7 WAPAHANI 0
SOUTH VERMILLION 1 SULLIVAN 0
TRINITY LUTHERAN 5 HAUSER 0
GIBSON SOUTHERN 7 S. SPENCER 1
COLUMBIA CITY 2 MANCHESTER 0
MOUNT VERNON 4 YORKTOWN 0
SOUTHWESTERN 5 MILAN 0
TRINITY 5 BREMEN 3
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 9 WOODLAN 0
WASHINGTON 5 TELL CITY 0
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 UNIVERSITY 2
DIXIE 4 UNION COUNTY 1
NORTH PUTNAM 5 SOUTHMONT 2
SPEEDWAY 2 CASCADE 1
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 6 VINCENNES LINCOLN 0
ARGOS 3 LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1
FRANKFORT 9 EASTERN 0
CARROLL 4 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 1
BENTON CENTRAL 2 ROSSVILLE 0
CRAWFORDSVILLE 4 LEBANON 0
WESTERN BOONE 1 SHERIDAN 1
OLDENBURG ACADEMY 3 GREENSBURG 0
DELTA 6 KNIGHTSTOWN 0
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 3 SUBURBAN CHRISTIAN 2
NORTH MIAMI 10 WINAMAC 3
ROCK CREEK ACADEMY 8 LANESVILLE 0
HERITAGE HILLS 1 PRINCETON 0
FLOYD CENTRAL 3 JENNINGS COUNTY 0
MACONAQUAH 1 TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0
HENRYVILLE 3 CORYDON CENTRAL 2
SOUTH DEARBORN 6 RUSHVILLE 0
MISSISSINEWA 3 WESTERN 0
WHITE RIVER VALLEY 7 VINCENNES RIVET 0
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 7 BEECH GROVE 0
HAMMOND NOLL 7 MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 0
JAY COUNTY 0 NORWELL 0
HUNTINGTON NORTH 2 NEW HAVEN 0
BELLMONT 5 FORT WAYNE WAYNE 2
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 6 HERRON 2
CARMEL 5 FISHERS 1
AVON 3 WHITELAND 0
FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 4 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 1
FORT WAYNE NORTH 3 FORT WAYNE LUERS 1
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 4 KOKOMO 2
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 4 ANDERSON 0
FRANKLIN 1 PERRY MERIDIAN 0
WABASH 1 CASTON 0
GREENCASTLE 4 NORTHVIEW 0
COLUMBUS EAST 1 SEYMOUR 0
NORTHRIDGE 3 WESTVIEW 1
BEN DAVIS 3 LAWRENCE NORTH 3
LOGANSPORT 1 LAFAYETTE JEFF 0
EASTBROOK 2 NEW CASTLE 0
JASPER 0 PROVIDENCE 0
CATHEDRAL 2 COLUMBUS NORTH 1
SILVER CREEK 2 SALEM 0
MARTINSVILLE 5 GREENWOOD 0
NOBLESVILLE 1 BROWNSBURG 1
CENTER GROVE 4 SOUTHPORT 1
FRANKLIN CENTRAL 2 PALESTINE 1
BREBEUF 2 WESTFIELD 1
HARRISON 4 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 1
GOSHEN 6 PLYMOUTH 0
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 3 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 1
*****INDIANA GIRLS SOCCER REPORTED *****
TRI-WEST 0 SPEEDWAY 0
VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 6 WESTVILLE 0
MICHIGAN CITY 4 LALUMIERE 0
GREENCASTLE 5 NORTHVIEW 1
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 3 EVANSVILLE HARRISON 0
LAVILLE 3 PLYMOUTH 1
HUNTINGTON NORTH 3 MANCHESTER 1
KANKAKEE VALLEY 12 MERRILLVILLE 1
NORWELL 1 JAY COUNTY 1
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK 1 COLUMBIA CITY 1
SWITZERLAND COUNTY 6 RISING SUN 0
SHORTRIDGE 1 CHRISTEL HOUSE 0
CULVER COMMUNITY 8 ROCHESTER 0
NEW PALESTINE 4 YORKTOWN 0
SILVER CREEK 4 JEFFERSONVILLE 0
DANVILLE 8 SOUTHMONT 0
WESTVIEW 8 W. NOBLE 1
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN 4 HAMMOND CENTRAL 1
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 10 VINCENNES LINCOLN 1
FORT WAYNE NORTH 8 NEW HAVEN 0
GREENWOOD 6 SOUTHPORT 1
MONROVIA 8 EDGEWOOD 1
FOREST PARK 3 SOUTHRIDGE 0
SHERIDAN 4 WESTERN BOONE 0
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 3 CRISPUS ATTUCKS 0
JIMTOWN 4 MISHAWAKA 0
HERITAGE 5 S. ADAMS 0
NORTH MONTGOMERY 3 TWIN LAKES 1
BENTON CENTRAL 9 ROSSVILLE 0
MACONAQUAH 1 BLACKFORD 1
EAST CENTRAL 10 CONNERSVILLE 0
CASCADE 3 TRITON CENTRAL 0
FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 9 FORT WAYNE SOUTH 2
NORTHWESTERN 4 FRANKFORT 1
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 8 BEECH GROVE 0
WABASH 2 N. MIAMI 0
LAFAYETTE JEFF 7 LOGANSPORT 0
MADISON 6 GREENSBURG 1
TRI-WEST 0 SPEEDWAY 0
CHESTERTON 1 SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH 0
WASHINGTON 4 TELL CITY 1
PRINCETON 4 N. KNOX 0
LOWELL 2 HOBART 1
MUNCIE BURRIS 2 DELTA 2
PROVIDENCE 6 COLUMBUS EAST 1
KNIGHTSTOWN 4 INDIANAPOLIS TECH 2
NORTHRIDGE 4 NORTHWOOD 1
CHARLESTOWN 4 SCOTTSBURG 0
******INDIANA GIRLS GOLF*******
NO SCORES REPORTED
******INDIANA BOYS TENNIS******
TRITON CENTRAL 5 SCECINA 0
PLAINFIELD 5 MOORESVILLE 0
BROWNSBURG 3 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 2
*******BOYS CROSS COUNTRY*****
INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY NEWS: https://in.milesplit.com/
*****WEEK 1 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE*****
DETROIT LIONS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (THU) 7:20P (CT) 8:20P NBC
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS 2:25P (MT) 4:25P CBS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P CBS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4:25P (ET) 4:25P CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P FOX
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 8:20P (ET) 8:20P NBC
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN/ABC
****MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL****
DETROIT 4 NY YANKEES 3 (10)
MIAMI 6 WASHINGTON 1
SAN FRANCISCO 7 SAN DIEGO 2
ATLANTA 8 LA DODGERS 7
BOX SCORES: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/scoreboard.asp
STATS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/index.asp
PLAYER NEWS: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/news.asp
****MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL****
BUFFALO 4 INDIANAPOLIS 1
FT. WAYNE 8 SOUTH BEND 7
****WNBA SCOREBOARD****
CONNECTICUT 84 PHOENIX 74
LAS VEGAS 84 WASHINGTON 75
SEATTLE 72 LOS ANGELES 61
****MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER****
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
*****COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE*****
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
TOP 25 SCOREBOARD
#14 UTAH 24 FLORIDA 11
ELSEWHERE
GEORGIA STATE 42 RHODE ISLAND 35
CENTRAL FLORIDA 56 KENT STATE 6
WAKE FOREST 37 ELON 17
WESTERN MICHIGAN 35 ST. FRANCIS 17
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 24 CONNECTICUT 14
MINNESOTA 13 NEBRASKA 10
MISSOURI 35 SOUTH DAKOTA 10
TULSA 42 ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF 7
ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM 35 NORTH CAROLINA A&T 6
ARIZONA STATE 24 SOUTHERN UTAH 21
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. HOWARD | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 7 P.M. | FS1
MIAMI (FLA.) VS. MIAMI (OHIO) | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
GEORGIA TECH VS. LOUISVILLE (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
HAWAI’I VS. STANFORD | 11 P.M. | CBSSN
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE | 12 P.M. | FS1
KENTUCKY VS. BALL STATE | 12 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
LIBERTY VS. BOWLING GREEN | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA | 12 P.M. | PEACOCK
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SMU VS. LOUISIANA TECH | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
TENNESSEE VS. VIRGINIA (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) | 12 P.M. | ABC
TCU VS. COLORADO | 12 P.M. | FOX
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
OKLAHOMA VS. ARKANSAS STATE | 12 P.M. | ESPN
OLE MISS VS. MERCER | 2 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
IOWA STATE VS. UNI | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
TEMPLE VS. AKRON | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
OHIO VS. LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
AIR FORCE VS. ROBERT MORRIS | 2 P.M. | ALTITUDE SPORTS
OREGON VS. PORTLAND STATE | 3 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
AUBURN VS. UMASS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO | 3:30 P.M. | FS1
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. SOUTH FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
WASHINGTON VS. BOISE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
NOTRE DAME VS. TENNESSEE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | NBC
PITT VS. WOFFORD | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
CINCINNATI VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS VS. RICE | 3:30 P.M. | FOX
APPALACHIAN STATE VS. GARDNER-WEBB | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS VS. WESTERN CAROLINA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. SE LOUISIANA | 4 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
NORTH TEXAS VS. CAL | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
SYRACUSE VS. COLGATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
GEORGIA VS. UT MARTIN | 6 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. MONMOUTH | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. THE CITADEL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
JAMES MADISON VS. BUCKNELL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
MARSHALL VS. ALBANY | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS. MAINE | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
USC VS. NEVADA | 6:30 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
TEXAS A&M VS. NEW MEXICO | 7 P.M. | ESPN
UL MONROE VS. ARMY | 7 P.M. | NFL NETWORK
VANDERBILT VS. ALABAMA A&M | 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
COLORADO STATE VS. WASHINGTON STATE | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
BAYLOR VS. TEXAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
HOUSTON VS. UTSA | 7 P.M. | FS1
KANSAS STATE VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MEMPHIS VS. BETHUNE-COOKMAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHERN MISS VS. ALCORN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TROY VS. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ALABAMA VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NORTH CAROLINA (CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
WYOMING VS. TEXAS TECH | 7:30 P.M. | CBS
LOUISIANA VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+
VIRGINIA TECH VS. OLD DOMINION | 8 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
TULANE VS. SOUTH ALABAMA | 8 P.M. | ESPNU
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
UTEP VS. UIW | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
BYU VS. SAM HOUSTON | 10:15 P.M. | FS1
UCLA VS. COASTAL CAROLINA | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. IDAHO STATE | 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN | 12 P.M. | CBS
SAN JOSE STATE VS. OREGON STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
FLORIDA STATE VS. LSU (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, SEPT. 4
DUKE VS. CLEMSON | 8 P.M. | ESPN
TOP NATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES/PRESS RELEASES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MLB ROUNDUP: RONALD ACUNA JR.’S HISTORIC SLAM LIFTS BRAVES
Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a grand slam Thursday that landed in the record books, powering the visiting Atlanta Braves to a wild 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opening game of a showdown series between the top two teams in the National League.
Acuna became the first player with 30 home runs and 60 stolen bases in the same season as the Braves moved five games clear of the Dodgers atop the NL. Acuna had three hits, four RBIs and a walk. In addition to belting his 30th homer, he stole his 62nd base.
Austin Riley and Michael Harris II both homered and singled while Spencer Strider recovered from a slow start to help Atlanta earn its fourth consecutive victory and its eighth in nine games.
Mookie Betts hit two home runs for the Dodgers to keep pace in his MVP duel with Acuna. Max Muncy and rookie Michael Busch also went deep as Los Angeles fell just short after trailing 7-1. Los Angeles starter Lance Lynn (10-10) gave up seven runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Giants 7, Padres 2
Jakob Junis and Sean Manaea held the Padres scoreless through the first seven innings and the Giants turned two errors by Padres first baseman Matthew Batten into a six-run third inning as San Francisco scored a victory in San Diego.
Mike Yastrzemski hit his 12th homer of the season and drove in two runs as the Giants scored their fourth win in five games since a 2-7 stretch. Junis started for the Giants and worked four hitless innings.
Padres starter Pedro Avila (0-2) gave up six runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in three innings. However, only one of the runs he yielded was earned as San Diego lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Tigers 4, Yankees 3 (10 inn.)
Kerry Carpenter scored on a throwing error by second baseman Gleyber Torres in the bottom of the 10th inning and host Detroit salvaged the finale of a four-game series with New York.
The Yankees botched a potential inning-ending double play on a ball hit by Zack Short after Parker Meadows was intentionally walked with one out. Carpenter was the automatic runner to start the inning.
Short hit a solo homer earlier in the game to break a scoreless tie and the Tigers later added two more runs, but the Yankees tied the game with two outs in the ninth on Anthony Volpe’s three-run homer. Volpe also doubled as New York’s three-game winning streak ended.
Marlins 6, Nationals 1
Starter Braxton Garrett held Washington to one run and three hits over six innings and Jazz Chisholm Jr. ripped a three-run homer as visiting Miami won.
Garrett made it through his stint while issuing one walk and striking out one batter. JT Chargois, Steven Okert and A.J. Puk each followed with a hitless, scoreless inning to complete the three-hitter and boost Miami to just its fourth victory in 14 games.
Jake Burger also homered, while Josh Bell had three hits and Chisholm, Luis Arraez and Garrett Hampson each added two hits for the Marlins. Nationals starter Joan Adon (2-1) took the loss, giving up five runs and nine hits in five innings.
WHITE SOX PROMOTE FORMER PLAYER CHRIS GETZ TO GENERAL MANAGER
CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago White Sox promoted Chris Getz to general manager on Thursday, staying inside the organization for the position almost two decades after the franchise last won a playoff series.
Getz is replacing Rick Hahn, who was fired by chairman Jerry Reinsdorf along with president of baseball operations Ken Williams on Aug. 22. Williams was in his 11th season as executive vice president after serving as the club’s general manager for 12 years. Hahn had been with Chicago since 2002.
The White Sox have a total of three victories in three playoff appearances since winning the 2005 World Series. They began this year with postseason aspirations, but they are fourth in the AL Central with a 53-81 record after Wednesday’s 10-5 victory at Baltimore.
Getz, who turned 40 on Wednesday, was hired by Chicago in October 2016 as the team’s director of player development. He was promoted to assistant general manager in January 2021. He was also promoted to senior vice president on Thursday.
But Getz’s ties to the organization go back to his playing days. He was drafted by the team twice and spent the first two of his seven big league seasons with the White Sox.
Getz’s promotion is likely a positive sign for first-year manager Pedro Grifol. Getz played for Kansas City from 2010 to 2013 and also worked for the Royals after his playing career. Before he was hired by Chicago in November, Grifol spent the previous 10 seasons in a variety of coaching roles with Kansas City.
Getz takes over amid a difficult period for the franchise. Days after Williams and Hahn were fired, two women were injured in a shooting that occurred during a White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field. Chicago police are investigating what happened, including whether the gun was fired inside or outside of the facility.
There is also uncertainty about the franchise’s long-term future at its South Side ballpark. Reinsdorf, 87, rarely speaks with the media.
REDS CLAIM BADER OFF WAIVERS FROM YANKEES, REPORTEDLY ADD RENFROE FROM ANGELS
The Cincinnati Reds claimed outfielder Harrison Bader off waivers from the New York Yankees, the Yankees announced Thursday.
The Reds also added outfielder Hunter Renfroe off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Cincinnati entered play Thursday one game out of a wild-card spot in the National League.
Renfroe will look to provide the Reds with an infusion of power. The Reds are 18th in MLB in home runs (154) and 16th in OPS (.733).
Cincinnati’s current outfield trio is comprised of TJ Friedl, Will Benson, and Nick Senzel. Breakout star Jake Fraley is currently on the injured list with a toe ailment.
Bader is one of baseball’s better defensive outfielders. The 29-year-old ranks in the 95th percentile in outs above average, 89th percentile in outfielder jump, and 92nd percentile in arm strength, according to Baseball Savant. He posted a .643 OPS with seven home runs, 37 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 84 games for the Yankees this season.
Bader said Thursday that he’s excited to join the Reds’ push for a postseason spot but also reflected fondly on his time with the Yankees.
“It just means so much to be a New York City kid playing in the Bronx,” Bader said, according to Erik Boland of Newsday.
He added: “No one can ever take the fact that I put that uniform on growing up in that city, which means a lot to me.”
Renfroe is joining his sixth different team in the last five seasons. The 31-year-old previously made stops with the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers before joining the Angels this past offseason. He owns a .737 OPS with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs across 126 games this season.
REPORT: GUARDIANS CLAIM GIOLITO, LÓPEZ, MOORE OFF WAIVERS FROM ANGELS
The Cleveland Guardians claimed right-handers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Guardians also claimed left-hander Matt Moore off waivers from the Angels, sources told ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
The Angels surprised the league when they placed Giolito, López, and Moore on waivers earlier this week.
With the moves, the Guardians are taking on about $3 million of payroll commitments, a source told The Athletic’s Zack Meisel.
The Guardians entered play Thursday five games behind the Minnesota Twins for first place in the AL Central. Cleveland took a three-game series in Minnesota by winning Wednesday’s rubber match.
Giolito will look to bolster a Guardians rotation that’s been without injured right-handers Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie.
López and Moore join a deep Cleveland bullpen that ranks fifth in MLB with a 3.48 ERA.
The Angels acquired Giolito and López from the Chicago White Sox ahead of the trade deadline. Giolito struggled with his new team, posting a 1-5 record with a 6.89 ERA across six starts. López, meanwhile, registered a 2.77 ERA with 19 strikeouts across 13 innings.
Moore signed a one-year, $7.5-million contract with the Angels this past offseason. The southpaw is 4-1 with a 2.66 ERA and 49 strikeouts across 44 innings for the Angels in 2023.
MOOKIE’S CASE TO TAKE NL MVP OVER ACUÑA
For months, it seemed all but certain that Ronald Acuña Jr. would win the National League Most Valuable Player Award in a rout – possibly unanimously. Maybe he still will, because he’s certainly done nothing to injure his case; he’s merely hitting .343/.427/.565 this month as the Braves coast to a sixth consecutive division title. But, through no fault of his own, it’s not quite so clear anymore, is it?
That’s because Mookie Betts is finishing off the best month of what’s increasingly looking like a Hall of Fame career. Entering Monday, he led Acuña in home runs, OPS, and both major versions of Wins Above Replacement. While award ballots aren’t – and shouldn’t be – a simple “rank the WAR” exercise, especially when it comes to tiny fractions of a win, both major WAR versions are in exact agreement about the Betts lead has, even after Acuña’s 4-for-5 with a homer and two steals performance in Colorado on Monday.
FanGraphs: Betts 7.2 WAR, Acuña 6.6
Baseball-Reference: Betts 7.2 WAR, Acuña 6.6
Leading the league in WAR, home runs and OPS, all for a first-place team? Maybe the question is less what Betts’ case is for winning the award, and more what his case for not winning it is.
That’s too glib, of course. What Betts is lacking is the season-long narrative of being the front-runner for the award, which matters a lot. What he’s lacking are the 51 (!) additional stolen bases that Acuña has, likely on the way to history’s first 30/70 season, having already achieved history’s first 30/60 season, at that. But if we’re discussing narratives here, then the narrative of Betts answering the call to move from right field to start 53 games (and counting) as a middle infielder, just because his team needed him to, is a strong one in and of itself.
That this is even a conversation (and it is!) says considerably more about the greatness of Betts than it does about any imagined flaw of Acuña’s. How did Betts even get here – and how do you define value, anyway?
(A brief moment to acknowledge Freddie Freeman, who is in the midst of the best full season of his own Hall of Fame career; he is, believe it or not, just 10 points behind Luis Arraez for the Major League lead in batting average and may set the Major League record for doubles, each feats which would likely catch the eyes of some voters. He actually leads Acuña in FanGraphs WAR. But since Freeman plays first base and lags Betts in slugging and both Betts and Acuña in home runs, he’s lacking some of that narrative quality that matters when humans vote on awards.
To a lesser extent than that, this applies also to Matt Olson, who will probably hit 50 homers and lead the sport in RBIs, though he’ll lag in WAR due to lack of baserunning value and first base defense that is, by his own admission, not up to his usual standard. With the understanding that a red-hot finish could change the equation, we’ll consider this a two-man race for now.)
1) It took Betts’ best month at the plate to even get here
As of Tuesday, Betts, who spent part of last offseason training with weighted bats at Driveline Baseball, is second in the Majors (behind only Shohei Ohtani) in slugging percentage and OPS, and he’s already tied his own career high with 35 homers.
This is the key, because for most of the season, Betts trailed Acuña in hitting production, and as we noted earlier, Acuña has hardly run into any kind of slump. Instead, Betts has turned it on, in a way that might be easier understood if you look at their respective monthly OPS. It’s indisputable that Acuña got off to a faster start than Betts did, just as it’s indisputable that Betts has had a far better August than Acuña has had. In between? From May through July, Betts had a 1.000 OPS. Acuña had a .989 OPS, which is to say: essentially identical.
The difference is in that first month, and the most recent month. Since Betts’ advantage in August was larger than Acuña’s was in April, the season-long totals reflect that Betts has been somewhat better at the plate, mostly when it comes to power, because he has 11 additional extra-base hits.
Betts: .312/.406/.606, 1.011 OPS, 169 OPS+, 35 HR
Acuña: .335/.418/.572, .989 OPS, 164 OPS+, 29 HR
Betts now holds a 22-point gap in OPS. Acuña has scored nine more runs, and Betts has an edge of 14 in RBIs. They each have excellent strikeout rates and walk rates, both better than average.
But it took until Aug. 20 for Betts to take the lead in OPS, and that’s key here. Given Acuña’s large lead in stolen bases, which we’ll get to in a moment, Betts was pretty much going to have to hit as well or better to make a strong case, which he now finally has – thanks to the best month he’s ever had. It’s one of the best months anyone’s had in the last 10 seasons, actually.
Betts, best months ever, by OPS
1.282 // August 2023
1.200 // May 2018
1.173 // April 2018
1.156 // September 2018
1.103 // August 2020
This gets into “create whatever narrative you prefer” territory, really. If you want to credit Acuña for consistency, feel free to do so. If you want to credit Betts for improving as the season goes on and playing at the highest level as the playoffs near, credit him for that, too. There’s never going to be a right answer there.
Aside from batting average, Betts leads Acuña in most every notable batting metric, including the batting component of WAR (FanGraphs has Betts at 51 batting runs, best in the NL, with Acuña third behind Freeman, at 49). Though Betts isn’t likely to repeat his August, that 22-point lead in OPS seems a difficult one to overcome in the final few weeks, and the projections suggest that they should perform about identically in that regard for the rest of the season, which would be a fitting finale for two elite hitters.
If that happens, Betts will lead in OPS, and he’ll likely lead in WAR, and … well, what would that mean?
2) How rare would it be to lead the league in WAR and OPS and not win the MVP?
“Sixteen of the last 28 MVPs led their league in bWAR,” Benjamin Alter wrote for SABR earlier this year, noting also that only once in the last 15 seasons did an MVP win without finishing with a top-5 WAR total, an indication of the strengthening acceptance of the metric over the years. Having the most WAR in a season doesn’t (and shouldn’t) guarantee an MVP Award, but leading the league in it surely says a lot about how valuable you were. How often, then, does a player lead in OPS, and in WAR? And if they do that, as Betts currently does, how often does that turn into an award?
Since the Baseball Writers’ Association of America began voting for MVPs in 1931, a player has led his league in OPS and WAR 80 times. (That’s 43 in the NL, and 37 in the AL.) Only 42 of those seasons ended with an MVP season, or just over half. That seems like a disappointing correlation, except that it’s accounting for all of those seasons from nearly a century ago long before anyone had heard of any such thing.
Maybe it’s more useful to stick to modern times. Just look at how it’s gone since the year 2000:
National League since 2000
10 seasons with a player leading in OPS and WAR
8 of those seasons saw the player win MVP
The two that didn’t? In 2000, when voters surely did not know how to handle the numbers Todd Helton put up in a pre-humidor Coors Field (he finished fifth), and 2017, which isn’t hard to explain at all, because Giancarlo Stanton was essentially tied with Joey Votto in WAR (7.9 to Votto’s 8.1), but he hit 59 homers on the way to the MVP.
American League since 2000
6 seasons with a player leading in OPS and WAR
4 of those seasons saw the player win MVP
Again, only two didn’t. That was in 2015, when Mike Trout’s August slump and a non-playoff Angels team helped Josh Donaldson take the prize, and in 2001, when Ichiro Suzuki’s magical rookie season captured the award over Jason Giambi’s WAR lead – again, years before anyone used WAR.
So, you might say that in the last 20 years, the player who leads in OPS and WAR has won 10 of 12 times (83%), a number that is most likely going to change given that Ohtani is sure to lead the AL in those categories as well – and Betts is on track to do so in the NL. To do that, and not win the award, would require a pretty compelling narrative. Fortunately for Acuña, he has one – but so does Betts.
Acuña has 61 steals after two on Monday night, the most in baseball. Betts has 10. If we put that into our super fancy science calculator, we’ll find that Acuña has stolen over six times the bases that Betts has. It’s a lot. It’s so many, and the reasons are various, as MLB.com’s David Adler dove into recently. It’s not just about speed; it’s also, it seems, about being wise enough to realize that the game has changed and aggression is good. This is clearly the largest selling point of any “Acuña for MVP” case, that he’ll end up with nearly unparalleled power/speed numbers, likely ending with a historic 30/70 season. (A 40/70 season, which once seemed possible, now seems unlikely, since he’s hit only nine homers since the start of July.)
But for Betts supporters, there are a few easy counterpoints here. The first is that Acuña has also been caught stealing more than anyone, and making an out on the bases hurts more than gaining a base helps, though that hardly closes the gap. The second is that this year’s rule changes have made stolen bases easier to come by than they’ve been in decades, making comparison to previous stolen base totals difficult.
The third is the in-season move Betts made to (mostly) second base and (occasionally) shortstop, changes necessitated by early-season injuries to Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas and the July demotion of struggling rookie second baseman Miguel Vargas to the Minor Leagues. Every game Betts has played in the infield is one that James Outman, David Peralta, or Jason Heyward (cumulative .766 OPS) have been able to play, as opposed to more of Vargas.
Entering Monday, Betts has appeared in 92 games in right field, 48 at second, and 16 at short. Here is the full and complete list in AL/NL history of players to appear in at least 15 games at second, short, and any outfield position, in a season where they also hit at least 25 home runs:
Mookie Betts, 2023
Acuña posting a 30/70, or whatever he ends up at, is an incredibly impressive feat. Betts moving into the middle infield (and back to right, and back again, while hitting equally well at all three of them) is impressive in its own way. Will voters be able to consider either one more impressive? It’s an impossible choice.
4) Defense metrics either favor Betts, or neither.
If we really want to invite controversy, let’s put this one out there: Advanced metrics don’t necessarily agree on Betts, but they think that Acuña’s overall defensive game has been merely around average this year.
Statcast’s Fielding Run Value has Acuña at -2 runs, and Betts at an even 0.
Defensive Runs Saved has Acuña at 0 runs saved, and Betts at +7, mostly at second base.
It’s not hard to explain what Statcast sees in the six-time Gold Glover, Betts, and it’s not new. His once-elite speed has declined as he’s aged, and now, at 30, he’s in possession of exactly league-average speed, which can be seen in the fact that he’s now rated as more good-than-great in baserunning. His defense has followed suit as the glove that was once all-world (through 2018) became solid (through 2022) and this year is more average.
For Acuña, on this point, Statcast and Defensive Runs Saved each agree; his tremendously strong and valuable arm, one of the best in the game, helps to counteract somewhat below-average range, making his overall defensive value something like “average.” Statcast has him as -6 on range, and +4 on arm, in part because below-average reads and jumps have turned easier opportunities into harder ones.
There’s actually a highly entertaining world in which Betts wins the utility player Gold Glove award, first handed out last season. But either way, the Betts case here isn’t so much “beloved by defensive metrics” as it is “this is not an area where Acuña has a clear advantage in an MVP case.”
5) So who really has the edge right now?
Both stars have a track record of success and play for a first-place club, so there’s not much of a differentiator there. Both have a slugging first baseman as their running mate, so there’s a somewhat similar “vote-splitting” factor. If you care about context-dependent stats like win probability, they’re basically tied there, though Betts has a healthy lead with runners in scoring position.
The right answer here is there is no right answer, not right now, as August turns into September. You can make a strong case for either one – or really Freeman, too – and you wouldn’t be wrong, because they’re all deserving. Much like Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge last year, when you have two elite players having truly outstanding seasons, sometimes the only mistake you can make is not appreciating both at the expense of needing to choose a winner.
As things stand, Acuña has the advantage of having held the lead all season long and having done absolutely nothing at all to squander that lead, which is powerful. But at the same time, it’s clear Betts has an extremely good case, because that’s how well he’s played. In September, it’s going to be an extremely interesting race. But it is, at least, that. For the first time, it’s now an actual race.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
VIKINGS AGREE TO TERMS WITH PRO BOWL TIGHT END T.J. HOCKENSON ON CONTRACT EXTENSION
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a contract extension Thursday with tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Hockenson was the eighth overall pick by Detroit in the 2019 draft out of Iowa. The two-time Pro Bowl pick was acquired in a deadline-day trade last year by the Vikings and had 60 catches for 519 yards in 10 games. His season total of 914 receiving yards was a career high.
Hockenson was only a limited participant for most of training camp, first citing an ear infection that caused equilibrium trouble and later attributing his absence to lower back stiffness. Hockenson repeatedly said he wasn’t holding back because of his contract extension.
“I didn’t view at as that at all,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. “I just know there was a process that had to play out.”
Hockenson was close to a full participant in practice Wednesday, coach Kevin O’Connell said, and is expected to be in the starting lineup for the season opener Sept. 10 against Tampa Bay.
The Vikings sent a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 third-round draft pick to the Lions for Hockenson and two draft picks (a fourth-round draft pick in 2023 and a conditional draft pick in 2024).
With Hockenson locked up for the long term, the Vikings have one more contract situation to resolve with a pending extension for superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson. He still has two years left on his rookie deal, but the Vikings would be unwise to play hardball with the reigning Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award winner.
“Justin’s someone we want around here for a very long time,” Adofo-Mensah said.
O’Connell also announced the eight captains for the season at a joint news conference with Adofo-Mensah: Jefferson, quarterback Kirk Cousins, fullback C.J. Ham, right tackle Brian O’Neill, outside linebacker Danielle Hunter, linebacker Jordan Hicks, safety Harrison Smith and safety and special teams ace Josh Metellus. Cousins was an unanimous pick by his teammates, excluding his own ballot.
With running back Kene Nwangwu on injured reserve with a lower back injury, O’Connell said Ty Chandler will start as the primary kickoff returner. Chandler is the backup to starter Alexander Mattison. Myles Gaskin was added Wednesday for depth with Nwangwu sidelined.
DOLPHINS RB JEFF WILSON JR. WILL START SEASON ON INJURED RESERVE
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. will start the season on injured reserve because of midsection and finger injuries.
The Dolphins placed Wilson, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and offensive lineman Robert Jones on the injured reserve list Thursday morning, sidelining them for at least four games.
Miami coach Mike McDaniel said there is a possibility that Wilson can play this season.
“It was a midsection injury compounded by some finger issues, and really, we just made the assessment that he couldn’t protect himself and be himself the way we know him to be,” McDaniel said, “so time is the best healer. Knowing Jeff, his true passion in life is to play this game, so he’ll do everything he can. I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if he would make a return this season, but we’ll let his body tell us.”
Wilson’s injury leaves Miami with veteran Raheem Mostert, rookie De’Von Achane, Salvon Ahmed, Chris Brooks, who made the team as an undrafted rookie free agent, and fullback Alec Ingold in the backfield.
Both Achane and Ahmed have been dealing with injuries.
Achane injured his shoulder in Miami’s preseason game against Houston, but McDaniel said he expects the former Texas A&M running back to be available in practice next week to “get some prep work” before the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 10.
“Timelines are always fluid, but with regard to him, I think him and his teammates are very confident in his competitve play,” McDaniel said. “The good news is he got a ton of reps in the spring and in training camp, so we’re not too worried about that with him.”
Ahmed, who left Miami’s preseason finale against Jacksonville with an injury, should practice Thursday, McDaniel said, adding that the team has been “deliberately cautious” with him.
Ahmed had a strong preseason, with 16 carries for 142 yards and 8.9 yards per carry.
Mostert, who dealt with various injuries in 2022, led Miami in rushing with 891 yards on 181 carries. Wilson joined the team in November via a trade with San Francisco, but led Miami’s ball carriers with five rushing TDs.
Both Wilson and Mostert averaged more than 4.6 yards per carry and were expected to share lead running back duties in 2023.
Ramsey was officially placed on injured reserve after suffering a meniscus injury early in training camp. Jones suffered a leg injury against Houston.
HALL OF FAMER GIL BRANDT, WHO HELPED BUILD COWBOYS INTO ‘AMERICA’S TEAM,’ DIES AT 91
DALLAS (AP) Gil Brandt, overshadowed by coach Tom Landry and general manager Tex Schramm as part of the trio that built the Dallas Cowboys into “America’s Team” in the 1970s, has died. He was 91.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Brandt died Thursday morning. No cause of death was given, but Brandt had been in declining health in recent years.
Brandt was the player personnel director alongside the stoic, fedora-wearing Landry and media-savvy Schramm, but had to wait almost 30 years longer to get into the Hall of Fame.
By the time Brandt was enshrined as a contributor, it was as much for his ability to remain involved in the NFL by adapting to the social media age as for the innovation the Cowboys brought to the draft process with computers in the early 1960s.
“You can’t tell the story about the success of the Dallas Cowboys and their two-decade run of winning seasons from the mid-1960s to mid-1980s without mentioning Gil Brandt,” Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said.
“To me,” said former Dallas running back Calvin Hill, a first-round pick in 1969, “Gil should have been the first one in terms of certainly from a personnel standpoint.”
In 2019, Brandt finally joined Landry (1990) and Schramm (1991) in Canton, Ohio, and always said he never felt overshadowed.
“I think we all got credit,” Brandt told The Associated Press before his induction. “And I think Tex rightfully so got more credit than Tom and myself. Because he was really a very media-savvy person. When somebody from Sports Illustrated called, they didn’t talk to Tom, they didn’t talk to me. They talked to Tex.”
Schramm, Landry and Brandt were together for the franchise’s first 29 seasons, and Brandt was the last of the three to go after Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989 and immediately fired Landry. Schramm resigned shortly thereafter (Jones has been the GM for all 34 years he has owned the team).
“How could you not be overshadowed by Tex and Tom?” asked a chuckling Cliff Harris, who credits his Hall of Fame career as a safety to Brandt finding him as an undrafted player out of tiny Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas. “Everybody was.”
Brandt said late Raiders owner Al Davis tried to hire him before the 1989 draft by telling him he had heard Jones was going to fire him after the draft. Brandt didn’t believe it, and though Davis turned out to be right, Brandt said he probably wouldn’t have done it anyway because Dallas had become home for the Wisconsin native.
Animosity toward Jones didn’t last long for Brandt, who maintained a presence around the club even as his health forced him into a wheelchair for game days in the press box.
Brandt even asked Jones to be his presenter in Canton, and Jones put him in the club’s ring of honor a few weeks before Brandt was voted into the Hall of Fame.
In a statement, Jones called Brandt “a true icon and pioneer of our sport.”
“Gil was at the very core of the early success of the Dallas Cowboys and continued to serve as a great ambassador for the organization for decades beyond that,” Jones said. “He was my friend and a mentor not only to me, but to countless executives, coaches, players and broadcasters across the National Football League.”
At Schramm’s urging, Brandt worked with IBM to create a system in which numerical values were assigned to intangibles such as character, competitiveness and “mental alertness,” along with tangible measures such as quickness and strength. The numbers were stored on punch cards and loaded into massive computers, allowing the club to rank players.
Brandt enjoyed telling the story of Vince Lombardi chiding the Cowboys by asking if their computer had broken down while Dallas held up the 1964 draft waiting for medical information on Mel Renfro. The Cowboys drafted the future Hall of Fame defensive back in the second round.
“I think Gil, in terms of quantifying so many things about scouting, was really ahead of his time,” Hill said. “They could look at all the individual things that go into making a player and a teammate and tried to quantify it.”
While the Cowboys developed a Hall of Famer out of a track star in receiver Bob Hayes of Florida A&M, they also found a four-time All-Pro on the basketball court at Utah State in cornerback Cornell Green.
There were plenty of future stars among high draft picks from bigger schools, such as TCU’s Bob Lilly, the first draft choice for the Cowboys in 1961, and Alabama linebacker Lee Roy Jordan, their top selection two years later.
But the list of lower-round picks or undrafted players, particularly from smaller schools, under Brandt stood out as much as anything else. Brandt often mentioned Jethro Pugh, an unsung defensive lineman taken in the 11th round in 1965 out of tiny Elizabeth City State in North Carolina.
Pugh played for the first five Dallas teams to reach the Super Bowl, as did Roger Staubach. The Hall of Fame quarterback was a 10th-round choice a year before Pugh, with the Cowboys taking him while knowing Staubach’s arrival would be delayed five years by a Navy commitment.
Brandt’s longevity also turned him into one of the few unofficial historians for the NFL – a role that served him well when the league celebrated its 100th anniversary the same year he went into the Hall of Fame. He had more than 150,000 followers on Twitter.
“I feel like I have reinvented myself,” Brandt said in 2019. “From somebody that did pretty good with the Cowboys to somebody that’s doing pretty good right now with social media.”
Brandt had a weekly show on satellite radio, but mostly disappeared after making insensitive comments following the death of quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who was struck by a dump truck on a Florida interstate in April 2022.
Brandt said Haskins had been advised to stay in school rather than turn pro, and equated Haskins’ decision to go the NFL with the circumstances of his death.
“I hate anytime anybody is killed or anybody dies, but he was a guy that was living to be dead, so to speak,” Brandt said on the radio show. “It’s a tragic thing any time somebody dies, especially when you’re 24 years old and have your whole life ahead of you. But maybe if he stayed in school a year, he wouldn’t do silly things. Jogging on a highway on a road like that leaves it open.”
Brandt apologized for the comments on social media.
REPORT: DOLPHINS MAKE ALEC INGOLD HIGHEST-PAID FB
Alec Ingold and the Miami Dolphins have agreed to a three-year contract extension that will make him the highest-paid fullback in the league, NFL Network reported Thursday.
The extension reportedly is worth up to $17.2 million, per the report. With an annual average value of $5.7 million, the contract exceeds the $5.4 million average earnings for San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Ingold, 27, landed in Miami as a free agent in 2022. He started his NFL career as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin in 2019 with the then-Oakland Raiders.
With the Dolphins last season, he appeared in 17 games (14 starts) and caught 15 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Relied on as an old-school blocking back, Ingold also carried the ball six times for 8 yards and a score.
In 58 career games (25 starts), Ingold has gained 374 yards from scrimmage and scored five times.
BEARS BRING BACK QB NATHAN PETERMAN AFTER RELEASE
The Chicago Bears signed quarterback Nathan Peterman, two days after releasing him in their final roster cuts.
The Bears on Thursday also announced the signing of receiver/return specialist Trent Taylor to the active roster.
Peterman and undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will back up Justin Fields.
Peterman, 29, appeared in three games (one start) last season for the Bears, connecting on 14 of 25 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In two preseason games this summer, he was 14-of-24 passing for 173 yards and a TD.
In his career with the Buffalo Bills (2017-18), Las Vegas Raiders (2020-21) and Bears, Peterman has a 1-4-0 record as a starter and has appeared in 13 games. He has thrown for 712 yards, completing 53.1 percent of his passes with four TDs and 13 interceptions.
Taylor, 29, was a fifth-round pick of the 49ers in the 2017 NFL Draft.
He spent three seasons in San Francisco, followed by two with the Cincinnati Bengals, and appeared in 61 games (three starts). For his career, Taylor has 87 receptions for 834 yards and three touchdowns. He’s returned 89 punts for 863 yards (9.7 yards average) and eight kickoffs for 106 yards (13.3).
In corresponding moves, the Bears placed guard Teven Jenkins and offensive lineman Doug Kramer on injured reserve.
JAGUARS PLACE DT DAVON HAMILTON (BACK) ON INJURED RESERVE
The Jacksonville Jaguars placed starting defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton and rookie guard Cooper Hodges on injured reserve Thursday.
Hamilton (back) and Hodges (knee) will miss the first four games of the season and are eligible to return for the Oct. 8 contest in London against the Buffalo Bills.
Hamilton, 26, set career highs with 56 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 17 games (14 starts) in 2022. He has 132 tackles, 4.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries in 44 games (28 starts) since the Jaguars drafted him in the third round in 2020.
Hodges, 23, was a seventh-round pick out of Appalachian State. He was carted off the field during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 19.
Jacksonville added defensive lineman Angelo Blackson and offensive lineman Blake Hance to the active roster in corresponding moves.
The Jaguars also signed defensive linemen Esezi Otomewo and Tommy Togiai, tight end Josh Pederson and safety Ayo Oyelola to the practice squad.
DOLPHINS PLACE CB JALEN RAMSEY (KNEE) ON IR
The Miami Dolphins placed All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and two others on injured reserve Thursday.
Ramsey, 28, underwent meniscus surgery on his left knee on July 28 and is not expected back until December.
The non-contact injury occurred in training camp while he was covering wideout Tyreek Hill in an 11-on-11 drill.
The three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection joined Miami in a March 12 trade with the Los Angeles Rams.
Ramsey has 19 interceptions in 108 career games (107 starts) with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-19) and Rams (2019-22).
Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (undisclosed) and offensive lineman Robert Jones (knee) were also placed on IR and are ineligible for the first four games.
The Dolphins reloaded their 53-man roster by signing cornerbacks Justin Bethel and Parry Nickerson and tight end Tyler Kroft.
RAIDERS RESUME REBUILD, REUNITE JIMMY G WITH FORMER COACH
Las Vegas Raiders
2022 record: 6-11, third AFC West
Playoff picture: The Raiders have made two postseason appearances in 20 seasons with their last victory coming in 2002.
Biggest Week 1 question: After nine seasons of Derek Carr, the Raiders now employ Jimmy Garoppolo, who will be under the microscope from the first snap. Garropolo is familiar with the system, having played for New England while Las Vegas coach Josh McDaniels was offensive coordinator of the Patriots.
What’s new: Garoppolo figures to provide the Raiders with steady if not spectacular play. Whether the Raiders can contend with him is uncertain since they didn’t come close last season with running back Josh Jacobs and receiver Davante Adams enjoying big seasons. Las Vegas added receiver Jakobi Meyers, while second-round pick Michael Mayer could be a quick contributor at tight end. Las Vegas might have scored big by drafting defensive end Tyree Wilson, the seventh overall pick, and he could join defensive Maxx Crosby as an up-front playmaker. The Raiders also added safety Marcus Epps.
They’re gone: Carr became the scapegoat for the poor 2022 season and was benched after 15 games. Carr got the last laugh by refusing to waive his no-trade clause. The Raiders released him and got nothing in return after he signed with the Saints. Tight end Darren Waller struggled with injuries last season and the Raiders sent him packing via trade to the New York Giants in the offseason.
On the money: Jacobs led the NFL in rushing yards (1,653) and yards from scrimmage (2,053) and then had to hold out to receive a one-year, $12 million deal. Adams fared quite well with 1,516 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his first pro season without catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. Those two playmakers should again excel.
Get to know: Jacobs may be the Raiders’ top all-around player and one of the league’s top running backs, but he didn’t seek the bright lights during his holdout.
The 25-year-old left Las Vegas and returned to his hometown of Tulsa, Okla., to be around his children and other family members. To keep in shape, he worked out at his former high school — McLain High — and enjoyed the opportunity to mentor the school’s football players.
Vegas says: BetMGM pegs the Raiders win total at 7.5. That number only gets exceeded (+130) if Garoppolo proves to be a good fit.
CHARGERS IN PROVE-IT MODE, CHASE CONSECUTIVE 10-WIN SEASONS
Los Angeles Chargers
2022 record: 10-7, second AFC West
Playoff picture: The Chargers made the playoffs for the third time in 13 seasons in 2022. They potentially can get there again, but head coach Brandon Staley is potentially at risk if he falls short given the way the postseason exit came about.
Biggest Week 1 question: The Chargers collapsed in epic fashion in last season’s playoffs, blowing a 27-point lead and losing 31-30 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Is the residue of that collapse still hanging around? Kellen Moore is the new offensive coordinator and he will be asked to take quarterback Justin Herbert to the next level. The buzzwords in training camp: vertical passing.
What’s new: The Chargers believe veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks still has fuel in the tank. He was a six-time Pro Bowler in eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. First-round pick Quentin Johnston arrives at a time when veteran Keenan Allen (10 games in 2022) might be slowing down; his health is no longer a given. Johnston was the 21st overall pick and looks like a power forward in cleats, bringing mismatches in the red zone.
They’re gone: Linebacker Drue Tranquill moved on and landed with the AFC West rival Chiefs. Three-year starting safety Nassir Adderley surprisingly retired at age 25.
On the money: Herbert signed a five-year $262.5 million deal to become the highest-paid player in NFL history before he has won a single playoff game. He has thrown for more yards (14,089) than any player in his first three NFL seasons. Austin Ekeler wants more pay, too. While running backs are battling to regain financial footing, Ekeler has been essential to the Chargers and Herbert, scoring 38 total touchdowns over the last two seasons (most in the NFL). Pass rusher Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James are stellar and the club hopes linebacker Khalil Mack can reach double digits in sacks for the first time since 2018.
Get to know: Johnston will increase the depth at receiver. Allen is a five-time Pro Bowler but averaged 11.4 yards or less in each of Herbert’s three seasons. While Allen missed seven games, sidekick Mike Williams missed four in the regular season and also sat out the Jacksonville loss. So a youthful Johnston figures to be valuable.
Nobody is anointing Johnston as the next Lance Alworth or Charlie Joiner, but the TCU product has tremendous athleticism. He played high school basketball and said he patterned part of his game after Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. Expect him to win his share of jump balls.
Vegas says: BetMGM set the Chargers’ win mark at 9.5 (over -115).
CHIEFS DEFEND THRONE WITH KEY CHARACTERS IN PLACE
Kansas City Chiefs
2022 record: 14-3, first AFC West
Playoff picture: The defending Super Bowl-champion Chiefs have reached the AFC Championship game in five straight seasons with memorable meetings with the Bengals and Bills in recent years. The division favorites are also consistently challenged by the Los Angeles Chargers. Five of the past six games between them were decided by one score.
Biggest Week 1 question: The holdout of star defensive end Chris Jones hurts the defense if he doesn’t report before the Thursday night kickoff game with the Detroit Lions. The four-time Pro Bowler wants a huge payday after being one of the top defensive players (15.5 sacks) in the NFL last season. The Chiefs also start the season without Charles Omenihu, who was suspended six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
What’s new: Omenihu, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, was signed in the offseason. First-round draft pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah also could play a role up front. Kansas City has two new offensive tackles, spending big money for ex-Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (four-year, $80 million) to play on the right side. Donovan Smith (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) was signed to be the left tackle and protect star quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind side.
They’re gone: Left tackle Orlando Brown departed for the Cincinnati Bengals and fellow offensive lineman Andrew Wylie and pass rusher Frank Clark also are gone. Receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman relocated in free agency, but the Chiefs are high on second-round pick Rashee Rice.
On the money: Mahomes won MVP honors after a monster season that included 5,250 yards and 41 touchdowns. Kansas City has reached the Super Bowl in three of his five seasons as a starter and the franchise has two rings to show for it. Mahomes starred in the playoffs despite a gimpy ankle. Tight end Travis Kelce will be looking for his eighth straight 1,000-yard season.
Get to know: Defensive end George Karlaftis had 6.0 sacks and seven pass breakups during a solid rookie season and he could approach double digits if Jones is around. Karlaftis has a keen ability to deflect passes and part of it stems from his time serving as the goalkeeper on the Greece under-16 national water polo team. Treading water and trying to deflect the ball at the same time went a long way in improving Karlaftis’ hand-eye coordination.
The 2022 first-round pick from Purdue also has been working on his pass-rushing technique with Chiefs legend Tamba Hali.
Vegas says: BetMGM has Kansas City in the favorite role (+600) to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
BRONCOS BANK ON SEAN PAYTON, RUSSELL WILSON IN REBOUND BID
Denver Broncos
2022 record: 5-12, last AFC West
Playoff picture: The Broncos have missed the playoffs seven straight seasons. Denver hired former Saints coach Sean Payton to put them in contention, but a rapid rebound might be more difficult in the competitive AFC West.
Biggest Week 1 question: A tumultuous 2022 created many questions. But the critical concerns really come down to answering this riddle … “Is Russ Cooked?”
Payton and quarterback Russell Wilson begin their partnership with a home game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Wilson’s debut will be heavily dissected. He flopped badly in his first season in the Mile High City and injuries at the WR position have piled up in August.
What’s new: Payton won a Super Bowl with the Saints and he’s adamant expectations are sky high. Tackle Mike McClinchey and guard Ben Powers were signed to pump up the offensive line, while Frank Clark and Zach Allen were added to improve the pass rush. Linebacker Drew Sanders, chosen in the third round, should contribute as a rookie and with injuries to Tim Patrick and Jerry Jeudy, second-round rookie receiver Marvin Mims Jr. might become vital. Running back Samaje Perine adds depth while Jarrett Stidham was signed to be Wilson’s backup.
They’re gone: Nathaniel Hackett went 4-11 last season before being fired with two games left. Defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones had 22 sacks in four seasons but departed for the Seattle Seahawks. Guard Billy Turner left for the New York Jets.
On the money: Wilson was supposed to solidify the quarterback position and end the Denver playoff drought. Instead, he was one of the worst QBs in the NFL and the Broncos floundered. He received a five-year, $243 million extension from the Broncos. In short, a lot of money is tied into Wilson.
Get to know: Jeudy is just 24 years and was viewed as a player who could shine in Payton’s system. But a hamstring injury in late August is expected to cause him to miss the start of the season. Denver didn’t place him on short-term injured reserve, which is a clear signal they expect him to play at some point in September.
An ankle injury limited Jeudy to 15 games last season when he established career highs of 67 receptions, 972 yards and six touchdowns. That performance created optimism Jeudy could rise up with an even better campaign. Jeudy’s misfortune comes after Tim Patrick (Achilles) was lost for the season.
Vegas says: BetMGM has the Broncos at +105 to top 8.5 victories. Failure to reach that total will certainly continue the playoff drought.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
NO. 14 UTAH RIDES BACKUP QBS PAST FLORIDA, 24-11
Fill-in quarterbacks Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson capitalized on gift-wrapped field position and No. 14 Utah’s suffocating defense did the rest as the Utes took down Florida 24-11 on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
Utah played without 25-game starter Cam Rising, who is still recovering from a torn ACL sustained in the Rose Bowl, but could get the All-Pac-12 passer back for a Sept. 9 date at Baylor.
With Rising resting, the Utes flexed early and often, holding Florida to 13 rushing yards on 21 attempts.
Leading 17-3 at halftime, Utah picked off Florida quarterback Graham Mertz — his pass attempt was deflected by wide receiver Ricky Pearsall — early in the third quarter to gain possession 11 yards from another score. Barnes ran in from 5 yards out on third down to stretch the score to 24-3.
Mertz, a three-year starter at Wisconsin who transferred to start for the Gators, didn’t convert a third down to first down until the 11-minute mark in the fourth quarter. However, he went on a tear in the final 10 minutes, including a run of nine consecutive completions. The Gators’ comeback bid ended with jarring sack, Utah’s fifth of the game, and a fourth-down incompletion with 1:39 to go.
Mertz finished 31 of 44 for 333 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception.
Mertz’s scoring pass came in the fourth quarter to cap the Gators’ 98-yard drive. He found Caleb Douglas for a hard-earned, 19-yard grab over cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn with 9:22 to go. The Gators converted the two-point try, Mertz completing a toss to Eugene Wilson, and narrowed the deficit to 24-11. Florida regained possession just inside of six-minute mark after Cole Becker missed a 55-yard field goal try.
Barnes whipped a 70-yard TD pass on Utah’s first offensive play of the game.
A quick play-action fake pulled the secondary forward. Barnes hit the fifth step in his dropback and immediately unfurled a slingshot throw that hit wide receiver Money Parks, tracking diagonally from right of the formation to the left-side numbers, in stride between Gators defensive backs Jason Marshall Jr. and Miguel Mitchell.
Following a Florida field goal and then a 31-yard missed try by the Gators, it was Johnson’s turn at the controls for the Utes.
Utah retained possession following a penalty on Florida for having two players wearing uniform No. 3 on the field on fouth-and-3.
Four plays later, Johnson grabbed a shotgun snap on second down at the 8-minute mark in the second quarter, faked an inside handoff and darted left. The redshirt freshman ripped through Florida’s front seven with multiple escorts and crossed the goal line with four white shirts closing in pursuit for a 27-yard TD run that bumped Utah’s advantage to 14-3.
Florida hosts McNeese on Sept. 9 as part of a three-game stretch at home.
Utah won its 15th consecutive home game and has won 26 of its last 27 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
NO. 5 LSU AND NO. 8 FLORIDA STATE OPEN IN ORLANDO WITH RETURNING STARS AND CHAMPIONSHIP GOALS
No. 8 Florida State vs No. 5 LSU in Orlando, Florida, Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Line: LSU by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Florida State leads 8-2, including five consecutive wins.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The first top-10 matchup in series history should provide early season insight into which of these teams is a legit national championship contender. The Seminoles return the bulk of their roster from last season’s 10-3 campaign, including star quarterback Jordan Travis and stud defensive end Jared Verse. They’re seeking to extend a six-game winning streak. LSU has nearly as many starters back from its 10-4 debut under coach Brian Kelly, including dynamic quarterback Jayden Daniels, speedy receiver Malik Nabers and standout linebacker Harold Perkins.
KEY MATCHUP
LSU’s offensive line versus FSU’s defensive front. The Tigers return five starters, including bookend tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones, but could have their hands full against Verse, Fabien Lovett and Patrick Payton. Verse had nine sacks in 2022, Payton was named the ACC’s rookie of the year, and the Seminoles ranked 10th nationally in tackles for loss.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Florida State: Johnny Wilson and Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman expect to be one of the best receiving duos in the country. The 6-foot-7 Wilson, a fourth-year junior who has the NFL’s attention, caught 43 passes for 897 yards and five touchdowns in 2022. Coleman had 58 receptions for 798 yards and seven scores last year.
LSU: Nabers led the Southeastern Conference with 72 catches for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, becoming the 10th 1,000-yard receiver in school history. The sophomore was at his best down the stretch, finishing with five receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown against eventual national champion Georgia in the SEC title game and then catching nine passes for 163 yards and a score against Purdue in the Citrus Bowl.
FACTS & FIGURES
The teams opened last season against each other in the Superdome in New Orleans, a 24-23 victory for the Seminoles in which Shyheim Brown blocked an extra point on the final play. FSU’s Verse also blocked a field goal in the second quarter. … Both teams ended last year with wins at Camping World Stadium: FSU beat Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl four days before LSU topped Purdue in the Citrus Bowl. … The Seminoles are 10-0-2 all-time in Orlando, including nine consecutive wins. … LSU has won 12 straight games when rushing for 200 yards. … FSU’s O-line has the most combined games played (307) and starts (214) in the country. … The Tigers will be without DT Maason Smith (NCAA suspension) and RB John Emery (undisclosed).
NO. 7 PENN STATE READY TO GO AGAINST WEST VIRGINIA WITH QB DREW ALLAR, DECORATED SUPPORTING CAST
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — James Franklin has a pretty good idea of what he will see from quarterback Drew Allar on Saturday night.
Penn State’s coach saw glimpses last season and he’s seen it all summer. The strong-armed sophomore is ready to take over what could be one of the more explosive offenses in the country when No. 7 Penn State hosts West Virginia in the season opener for both teams.
“I want him to continue to play like last year,” Franklin said. “With poise and a really good understanding of how to manage the game. I also want him to let the plays come to him, because with our running game, and with the weapons that we have at tight end and wide receiver, he doesn’t need to force anything.”
Not that he would.
Although Allar put up solid numbers in relief of five-year starter Sean Clifford during Penn State’s 11-2 season last year, the 6-foot-5, 242-pounder has turned heads this summer with his ability to make big throws and protect the football.
Franklin guessed it was “practice 13 or 14” before Allar threw an interception in camp.
Additionally, Allar has decorated skill position players around him. Behind an experienced offensive line, the Nittany Lions are one of 17 FBS teams with three 800-yard rushers and one of just 11 with two 1,000-yard receivers. That doesn’t include tight ends who combined for eight touchdowns last year.
“He doesn’t need to feel like he’s got too much on his shoulders,” Franklin said.
West Virginia will have to shoulder the din of 100,000-plus voices in a raucous Beaver Stadium. Cracking Penn State’s star-studded defense will be another challenge, West Virginia coach Neal Brown said.
“I may be conservative in this, but they’ve got nine (NFL) draft picks probably on their two-deep on defense,” Brown said. “That’s not just me up here talking, that’s legit.”
GREENE SPEED
The Mountaineers will rely on a quarterback who’s played most of his career to this point off the bench.
Dual-threat Garrett Greene will likely lead West Virginia’s offense as the Mountaineers try to ascend in a crowded Big 12. They finished ninth in the league’s 10-team alignment last season.
While Greene is West Virginia’s top returning passer, his running ability makes him dangerous. He threw for 493 yards and five touchdowns and also added 276 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 45 carries, many of them designed runs.
DEEP BACKFIELD
After combining for 25 total touchdowns as freshmen last year, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are sure they can do more.
Penn State’s running backs spent the summer pushing one another in the weight room and studying film. Allen noticeably is up to 222 pounds from the 201 he played at last year while Singleton spent more time catching passes than he has before, determined to add that to his duties that also include kickoff returns.
They also got a new teammate. Former Minnesota back Trey Potts transferred in the spring after rushing for 1,195 career yards with the Golden Gophers.
“We can definitely be dominant,” Singleton said.
HAVOC PLAYERS
Penn State’s front seven includes returning defensive ends Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac who combined with rangy linebacker Abdul Carter for 47 1/2 stops behind the line of scrimmage last season. West Virginia is aware.
“We’ve got to win some 1-on-1 battles up front vs. probably the most talented group we’ll play up front as a whole,” Brown said. “It’s a group that can really run and get to it, so we’ve got to be able to break some tackles.”
PHYSICAL SUMMER
West Virginia didn’t hold back when it came to hitting this summer. Brown expects a physical affair in Beaver Stadium and believes the Mountaineers have already set a good tone by banging pads as much as the rules allow.
“That’s kind of the price you pay,” Brown said. “I knew that this game was going to extremely physical. When you look at both their line of scrimmages and the talent that they have, we had to give our guys a chance and the only way we give ’em a chance is to be super physical.”
O-LINE SHUFFLE
Penn State’s offensive line took a hit earlier this week when left guard Landon Tengwall announced on social media Wednesday that he can no longer play due to an unspecified injury. Tengwall, a sophomore, started five games last year. He was expected to slot in next to star left tackle Olu Fashanu this season.
Penn State has a handful of guards who’ve played, notably JB Nelson who appeared in four games last year after starting 10 at Lackawanna Community College as a freshman.
MCCORD READY TO GET STARTED WITH NO. 3 BUCKEYES AS HOOSIERS REMAIN SILENT ON QB CHOICE FOR OPENER
No. 3 Ohio State at Indiana, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Line: Ohio State by 29 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Ohio State leads 79-12-5.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The Buckeyes enter each season with three goals — beating Michigan, winning a Big Ten title and claiming a national championship. This year is no different, so getting a victory at Indiana is an absolute must. The Hoosiers think they can change directions after going 6-18 over the past two seasons. An upset would certainly do the trick, but making this game competitive might, too.
KEY MATCHUP
Buckeyes WR Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. the Hoosiers secondary. Harrison returns to the state where his father became one of the NFL’s most feared receivers. The Buckeyes think Harrison and new QB Kyle McCord can re-establish their prep connection. Indiana coach Tom Allen understands the challenge and is about to find out if a revamped defensive line can help a secondary that allowed a Big Ten-worst 274.2 yards passing per game last season. If not, Harrison could produce numbers that will add fuel to the Heisman Trophy hype.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ohio State: McCord and Devin Brown. Though Harrison is the Buckeyes’ top playmaker, coach Ryan Day has pegged McCord as the starter while promising Brown would see action. That means the quarterback competition to replace C.J. Stroud will continue for at least one more week.
Indiana: QB Tayven Jackson or QB Brendan Sorsby. Allen has chosen a starting quarterback but, as usual, won’t announce it publicly. Jackson, the brother of former Indiana basketball All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis, spent last season at Tennessee and may have more upside. Sorsby was with the Hoosiers last season and has more experience in the system.
FACTS & FIGURES
Ohio State has won 27 consecutive games against Indiana, the longest active winning streak of any FBS series. … The Hoosiers’ last two wins in the series came in 1987 and ’88, with then Ohio State coach Earle Bruce calling the loss in Columbus the darkest day he’d seen at Ohio State during his lifetime. The teams also played to a tie in 1990. … The Buckeyes have not lost a season opener this century, having won 22 straight since a loss to Miami in 1999. … The Buckeyes have 16 all-conference honorees on its 2023 roster. … Indiana has 48 newcomers on its roster this season. … Saturday marks the second time in seven years the schools have squared off in a season opener. The last time was Allen’s first regular-season game as Indiana’s coach.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK: LSU VS. FLORIDA STATE
(LSU NOTES)
LSU Faces Florida State In Nation’s Only Top 10 Matchup In Week 1 LSU opens its second season under head coach Brian Kelly on Sunday, Sept. 3 when the fifth-ranked Tigers face eighth-ranked Florida State at the Camping World Kickoff in Orlando. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on ABC with Chris Fowler (pxp), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline) on the call. The Tigers are coming off a 10-4 record and the SEC Western Division title last year. LSU closed out the 2022 season with a 63-7 win over Purdue in the Citrus Bowl. Florida State won its final six games to finish 10-3 overall. Sunday’s contest marks the 11th meeting between LSU and Florida State with the Seminoles leading the series, 8-2. Last year, Florida State used a blocked PAT with no time remaining on the clock to hold on for a 24-23 win over LSU in Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. LSU’s wins over Florida State came in 1968 (31-27 in the Peach Bowl) and 1982 (55-21 in Tiger Stadium). LSU enters the season ranked No. 5 in both the AP and Coaches polls, its highest preseason ranking since 2020 when the Tigers were ranked No. 5 to open the year. LSU’s highest preseason ranking came in 2007 when they were ranked No. 2. The LSU-Florida State contest will mark the first time since 2011 the Tigers will open the year in a game featuring two Top 10 teams. In 2011, No. 4 LSU beat No. 3 Oregon, 40-27, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. LSU returns its top passer (Jayden Daniels: 2,913 yards, 17 TDs), top rusher (Daniels: 885 yards, 11 TDs), top receiver (Malik Nabers: 72 rec., 1,017 yards, 3 TDs) and 5 starters on the offensive line (LT Will Campbell, OG Garrett Dellenger, C Charles Turner, RG Miles, Frazier, RT Emery Jones Jr.) in addition to TE Mason Taylor. Defensively, LSU returns its leader in tackles for loss (Harold Perkins: 13), sacks (Perkins: 7.5) and interceptions (Greg Brooks: 2) from a year ago. LSU also returns 3 of its top 4 tacklers on defense LB Greg Penn: 78, Perkins: 72, and Brooks: 66). LSU Coach Brian Kelly Brian Kelly enters his second year with the Tigers in 2023, inheriting a roster with only 39 scholarship players, and quickly turning LSU into a 10-win team in his first year in 2022. Kelly is the most accomplished hire in LSU football history, taking over the program after 12 years and 113 wins at Notre Dame. He enters 2023 with a 294-101-2 overall mark (32 years) after posting a 10-4 record in 2022. Kelly’s coaching resume includes 11 10-win seasons at the FBS level (7 at Notre Dame, 3 at Cincinnati, 1 at LSU), along with 14 bowl/CFP playoff appearances and 3 National Coach of the Year honors (2009 at Cincinnati, 2012 and 2018 at Notre Dame). Kelly’s record includes a 113-40 mark at Notre Dame, where he’s the winningest coach in school history; 34-6 at Cincinnati (4 years), 19-16 at Central Michigan (3 years) and 118-35-2 at Grand Valley State (13 years). He won two Division II National Championships at Grand Valley State and enters 2023 as the winningest active coach in college football.
• With 43 career starts, QB Jayden Daniels ranks No. 3 among active FBS quarterbacks in games started. He trails only Bo Nix (Oregon) with 47 and Sam Hartman (Notre Dame) with 46. • Daniels has rushed and passed for a TD 15 times during his career (6 at LSU, 9 at Arizona State). LSU is 6-0 in games in which he accounts for a rushing and passing TD. • LSU’s returning starters on the offensive line have combined to start 62 games with OG Miles Frazier leading the way with 14. Frazier was the only player on the offensive line to start every game in 2022 (10 LG, 3 RG, 1 RT). • DT Mekhi Wingo, a third-team AP All-America in 2022, will wear No. 18 in 2023. He was presented the jersey following practice on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. Number 18 is given to the player who best represents the program with his daily work habits, traits, and spirit. • LT Will Campbell was awarded jersey No. 7 and will be reflected with a patch worn on his No. 66 jersey. The No. 7 has been worn by some all-time LSU greats and is given to a player who impacts the game as a playmaker (in this case protecting the QB) and is from the state of Louisiana. • LSU has won 12 straight games when rushing for 200 yards. The Tigers were 6-0 in 2022 when reaching the mark. The last time LSU rushed for 200 yards on lost came at Texas A&M in the 7OT game in 2018 (215 yards). • WR Malik Nabers became the 10th 1,000-yard receiver in LSU history in 2022 after leading the league with 72 receptions for 1,017 yards and 3 TDs. Nabers enters 2023 with 100 career receptions for 1,437 yards and 7 TDs. • LSU OT bookends in Will Campbell and Emery Jones started 11 games together on the offensive line last year as true freshmen. LSU was 9-2 in those games. • LSU returns all of its rushing yards (1,583) and TDs (27) from its running backs from a year ago with Josh Williams (532 yards, 6 TDs) and Noah Cain (409, 10) leading the way. LSU set a school-record with 39 rushing TDs in 2022. • LB Harold Perkins – one of the nation’s top playmakers on defense in 2022 – is back after leading the Tigers in tackles for loss (13), sacks (7.5) and QH hurries (14). Perkins had at least 1 tackle for loss in LSU’s final 7 games. • LSU’s defense will feature transfers in LB Omar Speights (Oregon State), DB Andre Sam (McNeese/ Marshall), CB Zy Alexander (Southeastern Louisiana), JACK Bradyn Swinson (Oregon), and DL Jordan Jefferson (West Virginia). • LSU returns starters at punter (Jay Bramblett), placekicker (Damian Ramos), kickoff specialist (Nathan Dibert), and long snapper (Slade Roy). The Tigers added transfer Aaron Anderson, who is a dynamic player in the return game.
(FLORIDA STATE NOTES)
Florida State enters year four under Mike Norvell ranked No. 8 in the preseason polls, the program’s highest preseason rank since 2017, after doubling its win total from the previous year and finishing 10-3 in 2022. » FSU is playing in a top-10 season opener for the fourth time in program history and first time since 2017 when No. 3 Florida State faced No. 1 Alabama in the first collegiate game inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This season’s game is the fifth top-10 season opener nationally in the last 10 seasons, and Florida State is the only program to be involved in two of those contests. » Florida State is 10-0-2 all-time in Orlando and has won nine straight contests in Orlando since a 17-17 tie with Georgia in the 1984 Citrus Bowl. The Seminoles are 2-0 in season openers played in Orlando, defeating No. 11 Ole Miss 45-34 in 2016 and beating Duke 70-26 in 1995. » FSU scored at least 35 points in its final six games of 2022, the longest active streak in the nation entering 2023 and the program’s longest 35-point stretch points since the 2013 national championship season. » The Seminoles return 77 players from the 2022 squad, including 11 all-conference selections and the ACC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. Those players combined to account for 89.2 percent of FSU’s total offense, including 99.5 percent of passing yards and 76.4 percent of rushing yards, and 68.7 percent of its defensive production, including 80.0 percent of tackles for loss, last season. » FSU also added a top-20 high school recruiting class, with seven true freshmen included on the opening week’s depth chart, and a top-5 group of transfers, including the nation’s highest-rated tight end, offensive tackle, cornerback and defensive lineman in the portal as well as top-five additions at defensive end and wide receiver. » Florida State’s roster features 78 different players who have combined for 1,584 collegiate appearances and 39 players who have started at least one game combining for 626 collegiate starts. » The Seminoles’ offensive line is by far the most experienced group in the country as they enter the season with a nation’s-best 307 games played and 214 combined starts, ranking 41 games played and 35 starts ahead of the next-closest team nationally. Nine different offensive lineman have started at least one collegiate game, and seven different offensive lineman on the 2023 squad have made at least 20 college starts. » Heisman Trophy candidate Jordan Travis was the only player in the country to lead his conference in yards per play, yards per pass attempt, yards per completion, pass efficiency rating and fewest interceptions thrown (min. 200 pass attempts) last season. » Preseason first-team All-American Jared Verse returns as the consensus ACC Defensive Player of the Year favorite. Verse earned the most votes among defensive players on the preseason All-ACC team after leading the conference in sacks and ranking 10th nationally in tackles for loss last season.
THE BEST COLLEGE GAMES THIS WEEKEND
LSU – Florida State (Sunday Night, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
This is pretty clearly the best game of the weekend, as evidenced by the fact ABC will send the Chris Fowler-Kirk Herbstreit broadcast team to Orlando. Whether it lives up to the billing ultimately comes down to whether Florida State leaves up to their billing. The Seminoles are expected to have a big year and leap into national contention. I share those expectations, but there’s always risk when dealing with a talented, but inconsistent program like this one has been since 2014.
There’s also the question about how well non-SEC teams will step up in class when facing the elite teams of the nation’s best conference. There’s no question LSU is an elite team—they won the West last year. They have a dynamic passing game, with Jayden Daniels at quarterback. Florida State can answer that with Jordan Travis.
Therefore, this game looks likely to be decided in the trenches. The FSU defensive line is expected to be outstanding, and they’ll be tested by an LSU offensive front that looks pretty good in its own right. As for the Tigers, their key question mark is whether a defense that’s been rebuilt via the transfer portal has all the new faces playing with cohesion this early.
Can either team afford to lose and still make the College Football Playoff? LSU certainly has a loss to give, but whether they can afford to give it away this quickly, with a brutal SEC West schedule still ahead is another question entirely. As for Florida State, their decision to play a non-conference opponent of this caliber gives them a better shot than ACC rival Clemson of getting a CFP ticket at 12-1. But anyone outside the SEC is at least inviting doubt the minute they lose their first game.
Boise State – Washington (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
The oddsmakers don’t see this game as particularly competitive. Washington is slotted as a solid (-16) favorite. I get why. The Huskies have legitimately high expectations, with Michael Penix back at quarterback and a veteran defense in place. But that defense is going to be tested. Boise State has an offense that’s set to explode, which is why I’m surprised that the Over/Under for this game is as low as it is, at 58.5. The combination of point spread and O/U, would point to a Washington victory of about 37-21. I can buy the margin, but I at least expect the Broncos to score points. And if they can go into Seattle and spring the upset, Boise will be off and running to get their first major bowl bid since 2014.
One more point of note—Robert Griffin III will be the ABC analyst for this game, paired up with Bob Wischusen, a solid play-by-play guy. As someone who rooted for the Redskins and loved RG3 back in the day, I wish someone would have told me during his dynamic rookie year of 2012 that he would be in the broadcast booth a decade later. I would have saved myself the heartache of the next two years. But in all seriousness, it’s good to see him thriving in his new career, and he’s got a plum assignment for Saturday.
West Virginia – Penn State (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, NBC): It’s difficult to imagine Penn State losing this game, but how decisively the Nittany Lions can make a statement will provide at least an early clue as to whether they’ll challenge Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten East. It’s fitting that as the Lions play a rival from their days as an Eastern independent, it will be Todd Blackledge—quarterback of this program’s 1982 national champions—who will handle game analysis.
UNC – South Carolina (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC): Charlotte is the neutral-site host of this game and will also host the Week 1 edition of ESPN’s Gameday. The ball should be in the air a lot and the points are expected to flow freely. The Over/Under on this game opened at 70.5 before being bet down during the week to 64.5. With UNC a (-1 ½) favorite, that still adds up to a game along the lines of 33-31. I’m most curious as to whether Mack Brown’s Tar Heel defense can be better than expected. If so, they become the odd-on favorite to win the ACC Coastal and eventually get a shot at Clemson or Florida State in this same locale come December.
Clemson – Duke (Monday, 8 PM ET, ESPN): Duke is another team with a shot to win the Coastal Division if they can play defense. There’s no question that Clemson can play some defense and it would be a shock if they lost this game—even on the road, and even against a pretty good team. The bigger picture storyline is whether the Tigers can end some of the quarterback funk they’ve been in since Trevor Lawrence left for Jacksonville. If hotshot prospect Cade Klubnik is ready, Clemson will blow this open quickly. If not, they’ll have to grind out a win. And that will point to potential stumbling blocks later on against Florida State and Notre Dame.
WNBA NEWS
A’JA WILSON (26 POINTS) HELPS ACES TOP MYSTICS TO END 2-GAME SKID
A’ja Wilson recorded 26 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots and the Las Vegas Aces exacted revenge against the visiting Washington Mystics with an 84-75 victory on Thursday night.
Chelsea Gray added 21 points as the Aces (31-6) snapped a two-game slide and avenged Saturday’s 78-62 road loss to Washington. Wilson made 10 of 14 field-goal attempts on Thursday after having just 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting on Saturday.
Kelsey Plum registered 12 points and 10 assists for Las Vegas, which holds a two-game lead over the New York Liberty in the battle for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. The Aces have three games remaining and New York has five.
Elena Delle Donne scored 17 points and Brittney Sykes added 16 for the Mystics (17-19), who had a two-game winning streak snapped and sit in a three-way tie for fifth place with the Atlanta Dream and Minnesota Lynx. Natasha Cloud added 12 points for Washington, which connected on 39.4 percent of its shots, including 6 of 21 from behind the arc.
Las Vegas shot 46.8 percent from the field and made 10 of 28 from 3-point range.
Washington scored the first six points of the final quarter and took a 66-64 lead on Delle Donne’s basket with 8:28 remaining.
Gray and Plum responded with layups to push the Aces back into the lead and Alysha Clark followed with a 3-pointer to give Las Vegas a 71-66 advantage with 7:02 left. Plum made a technical foul free throw 70 seconds later to cap the 8-0 burst.
Gray later scored four points in a span of 31 seconds to give Las Vegas an 80-71 advantage with 1:09 left en route to wrapping up the triumph.
Wilson scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the first quarter as Las Vegas took a 24-14 lead.
Wilson had 19 at halftime as the Aces held a 40-30 lead.
The Mystics got moving in the third quarter by scoring 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting (57.9 percent). Washington scored 19 of 27 points in one stretch to turn a 10-point deficit into a 54-53 lead with 2:15 left in the period.
The Aces led 64-59 entering the final quarter.
JEWELL LOYD, STORM EXTEND SPARKS’ LOSING STREAK
Jewell Loyd scored a game-high 25 points despite shooting just 1-for-9 from 3-point range as the Seattle Storm handed the host Los Angeles Sparks their third consecutive loss, 72-61 on Thursday.
Seattle (11-25) came in on a three-game skid and was eliminated from playoff contention, but the Storm jumped ahead early to hold an almost wire-to-wire lead.
Los Angeles (15-21) trailed by as many as 13 points in the third quarter but rallied to pull within a point on Rae Burrell’s 3-pointer midway through the fourth.
The Storm responded with a quick five consecutive points, all from Loyd. She wound up scoring nine consecutive Seattle points as the Storm went more than five minutes between points from any other player.
Kia Nurse bookended Loyd’s uprising, hitting a deep 3-pointer with 6:46 to go and making 1 of 2 free throws with 1:23 remaining, each time giving the visitors an eight-point lead. Nurse connected on another 3-pointer that sealed the outcome, pushing the Storm’s lead to 11 points with 1:06 left.
Nurse’s win-sealing basket came after a pair of offensive rebounds by Ezi Magbegor, who matched teammate Jordan Horston with a game-high eight boards. Horston added nine points, matching Nurse’s scoring total.
Seattle’s Sami Whitcomb finished with 14 points despite shooting 4-for-13 from the floor, including 2-for-7 from 3-point range. The Storm finished just 5 of 23 from deep (21.7 percent), but countered on defense limiting the Sparks to 20-of-66 shooting overall from the field (30.3 percent).
The Storm made 38.9 percent of their field-goal attempts.
Nneka Ogwumike led Los Angeles with 11 points, 8.3 fewer than her per-game average for the season. Ogwumike also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Karlie Samuelson scored 10 points and Burrell added another 10 off the Los Angeles bench. The Sparks’ 61 points matched their season low, set in a June 20 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Los Angeles fell into a tie with the Chicago Sky for the final WNBA playoff position. The Sparks play just one more home game, Sunday vs. the Washington Mystics, before closing the regular season on a three-game road swing that concludes in Seattle.
SUN’S TORRID 3-POINT SHOOTING SINKS MERCURY
Tyasha Harris and Natisha Hiedeman each scored 18 points and led a 3-point barrage to lift the Connecticut Sun past the Phoenix Mercury for the first time this season, 84-74, on Thursday in Uncasville, Conn.
Harris and Hiedeman both canned four triples and combined to shoot 8-for-10 from distance for the Sun (25-11), who shot a sizzling 12 of 18 (66.7 percent) on 3-pointers.
DeWanna Bonner added three treys and finished with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes hit for 13 points and Alyssa Thomas supplied 12 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to notch her WNBA record-extending 26th double-double this season.
Connecticut won despite making six fewer field goals than the Mercury and shooting just 31.2 percent in the first half.
The Sun seized control after a rocky first two quarters by clamping down on defense and initiating contact on the offensive end.
After Phoenix shot 50 percent to take a 41-38 lead into halftime, Connecticut held the Mercury to eight points in the third period and drew seven fouls it converted into nine made free throws on 12 attempts.
Hayes’ runner at the 5:49 mark in the third quarter broke a 43-43 tie and came amid an 8-0 Sun run that put the Sun ahead for good.
Phoenix trimmed Connecticut’s lead to 49-47 on Michaela Onyenwere’s jumper, but the Sun made six straight free throws and used Hiedeman’s 3-pointer to charge ahead 58-49 with just over a minute left in the third quarter.
The Mercury got no closer than 68-64 with 4:29 left in the game as Harris canned a pair of key triples down the stretch to put the game out of reach. Harris’ 18 points tied her career high.
Brittney Griner paced Phoenix (9-27) with 15 points in its 14th straight road loss, which dropped its WNBA-worst road record to 1-17.
Sug Sutton added 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, Onyenwere scored 11 points and Megan Gustafson contributed 10 points off the bench in Phoenix’s season-high seventh straight loss.
The Mercury dominated the Sun near the basket in the first half. Phoenix outscored Connecticut 26-8 in the paint and held the Sun to 4-for-21 shooting on 2-pointers. Bonner drilled a 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer to pull Connecticut within 41-38.
TOP INDIANA PRESS RELEASES
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL’S BIG GAMES FRIDAY
It’s week 3 of the high school football season and as usual there are several huge match-ups on tap. Here are the biggest MUST SEE games:
#2 6A 2-0 BROWNSBURG VS. FRANKLIN CENTRAL #16 6A 2-0…Watch for Bulldogs RB Garrett Sherrell (408 rushing yards, five TDs).
LOUISVILLE TRINITY 1-1 AT CENTER GROVE 1-1. Watch for CG QB Tyler Cherry is 35-for-45 passing for 441 yards and three TDs. Trinity is one of the best in Kentucky.
#5 6A 2-0 WESTFIELD AT ZIONSVILLE 2-0…Keep an eye on Westfield QB Jackson Gilbert (412 passing yards, four TDs; six rushing TDs)…and Zionsville QB Luke Murphy.
#6 6A 1-1 CATHEDRAL VS. PENN #8 6A 2-0
#14 6A 1-1 LAWRENCE CENTRAL VS. #15 LAWRENCE NORTH 2-0…Keep an eye on LC QB Bryson Luter (21-for-25 passing for 515 yards and nine TDs). For the Wildcats: Izayveon Moore (233 rushing yards, three TDs) and Montez Jones (nine carries, 136 yards, three TDs).
#7 6A 2-0 FISHERS AT #10 6A NOBLESVILLE 2-0…Watch out for Khobie Martin (266 rushing yards, five TDs), Bennett Gorak (58% passer, 348 yards, three TDs) and JonAnthony Hall (11 catches, 149 yards) for the Tigers. For Noblesville keep an eye on Logan Shoffner (341 rushing yards, five TDs).
#9 6A 2-0 CROWN POINT AT MERRILLVILLE #2 5A 2-0
#4 5A 2-0 DECATUR CENTRAL AT WHITELAND #6 5A 1-1..Watch out for Bo Polston (459 passing yards) and Chris Richmond (11 receptions for 266 yards and three TDs) for DC.
#9 5A 2-0 CONCORD AT NORTHWOOD 2-0
#10 5A 1-1 MISHAWAKA AT NORTHRIDGE 2-0
#1 4A EAST CENTRAL VS. CINCINNATI MOELLER
#2 4A EVANSVILLE REITZ AT JASPER
#6 4A RONCALLI AT BISHOP CHATARD #1 3A 2-0 (INDIANASRN.ORG)
#9 4A 2-0 GREENFIELD CENTRAL VS. MT. VERNON 1-1 #18 4A…Keep an eye on Greenfield Central’s passing combo of Dallas Freeman (340 passing yards, six TDs) and Kirk Knecht (six catches, 205 yards, three TDs)….and for Mt. Vernon Luke Ertel (67.3% passer, 407 yards, three TDs) and Joliba Brogan (230 rushing yards, two TDs)
#10 4A 0-2 NEW PALESTINE VS. YORKTOWN 2-0
#2 3A 2-0 GUERIN CATHOLIC AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN #9 2A 2-0….Watch for HC’s Elijah Pimental (325 rushing yards, three TDs).
#7 3A 2-0 HANOVER CENTRAL AT HIGHLAND 2-0
#1 2A 2-0 TRITON CENTRAL AT INDIANPOLIS LUTHERAN #1 1A 2-0…Two excellent QB’s in TC’s Jace Stuckey and Lutheran’s Jackson Willis.
#2 2A 2-0 LINTON-STOCKTON AT MONROVIA 2-0
#4 2A 2-0 EASTBROOK AT OAK HILL #11 3A 2-0
#7 2A 1-1 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS #16 3A
#8 2A 2-0 LAVILLE VS. PIONEER #11 1A 2-0
#10 2A 2-0 BLUFFTON VS. SOUTH ADAMS #16 1A 2-0
#8 1A 2-0 PARK TUDOR AT SHORTRIDGE 2-0…Watch for PT QB D.J. Gordon has 392 passing yards and five passing TDs and 264 rushing yards and six rushing TDs.
2-0 GREENWOOD AT MARTINSVILLE 1-1…Watch Greenwood’s Brock Riddle (71.1% passer, 659 yards, nine TDs) and Amare Middleton (six catches, 270 yards, three TDs) and Tanner Crouch (13 catches, 259 yards, four TDs)….Martinsville will count on Brayden Shrake (278 rushing yards, two TDs).
2-0 DELTA AT SHELBYVILLE 2-0
2-0 EASTERN HANCOCK AT CENTERVILLE 2-0
1-1 COVENANT CHRISTIAN AT #3 2A SCECINA 2-0…Watch Scecina QB D.J. Mendez (60% for 473 yards and three TDs), and carried the ball for 225 yards and four TDs.
COLTS FOOTBALL
COLTS ANNOUNCE 7 TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2023 SEASON
Colts head coach Shane Steichen on Thursday announced seven team captains for the 2023 season.
The seven players were voted captains by their teammates. They are:
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner
Years as captain: 5 (2018-2019 with 49ers, 2021-2023 with Colts)
One of the NFL’s most consistent interior defensive line playmakers since his debut in 2016, Buckner brings been-there, done-that experience to a young Colts roster. Buckner is a two-time Pro Bowler and 2020 first-team AP All-Pro, and has appeared in four playoff games – including posting 1 1/2 sacks in Super Bowl LIV.
Linebacker Zaire Franklin
Years as captain: 4 (2020-2023 with Colts)
Franklin is a shining example for anyone on the Colts – from first-round picks to undrafted free agents scrapping to make the roster – of how hard work can pay off in Indianapolis. A 2018 seventh-round pick, Franklin committed himself to special teams early in his career, earning captaincies for his four-phase play on that side of the ball in 2020 and 2021. After signing a contract extension in 2022, Franklin rewarded the Colts by taking full advantage of his first opportunity to consistently play on defense, setting a new team record with 166 tackles last season.
Linebacker Shaquille Leonard
Years as captain: 5 (2019-2023 with Colts)
The Colts’ emotional, energetic leader continued to inspire teammates from the sidelines during a trying 2022 season, and his return to the field in 2023 has already been defined by a return of the signature juice brought every day by “The Maniac.” Leonard is a three-time first-team AP All-Pro and established himself as one of the NFL’s most potent takeaway machines over the first few years of his career.
Center Ryan Kelly
Years as captain: 1 (2023 with Colts)
Kelly, a three-time Pro Bowler, is the longest-tenured member of the Colts. Along with his fellow captain Quenton Nelson, Kelly and the Colts’ offensive line have worked this year to set a high standard not just for themselves, but for the entire offense heading into the 2023 season.
Cornerback Kenny Moore II
Years as captain: 2 (2022-2023 with Colts)
Moore is one of the players who sets the pace of practice on defense with his play, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said, when it comes to how physical and fast things should look every time the Colts step on the field. His journey from being an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots to being a waiver-wire pickup by the Colts and growing his career on and off the field in Indianapolis – including earning Pro Bowl honors and the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination – is one that’s inspired teammates for years.
Guard Quenton Nelson
Years as captain: 3 (2021-2023 with Colts)
The physical tone and no-nonsense standard set by Nelson has earned him captain honors in each of the last three seasons. Nelson, too, is the only player in franchise history to earn spots in five consecutive Pro Bowls to begin his career; Nelson also was named a first-team AP All-Pro in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and a second-team AP All-Pro in 2021.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson
Years as captain: 1 (2023 with Colts)
While Richardson may be a 21-year-old rookie, he carries himself with a combination of poise, confidence and humility that’s endeared him to his teammates over the last few months. The Colts named Richardson their starting quarterback for the 2023 season in mid-August, and now will ride behind the No. 4 overall pick not only as QB1, but as a team captain.
COLTS SIGN CB DARREN HALL, TE JOHNNY LUMPKIN TO PRACTICE SQUAD; RELEASE LB DONAVAN MUTIN FROM PRACTICE SQUAD
Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today signed cornerback Darren Hall and tight end Johnny Lumpkin to the practice squad and released linebacker Donavan Mutin from the practice squad.
Hall, 6-0, 190 pounds, participated in the Atlanta Falcons’ 2023 offseason program and training camp. He saw action in 31 games (10 starts) with the Falcons over the last two seasons (2021-22) and totaled 69 tackles (47 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, six passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three special teams stops. Hall was originally selected by Atlanta in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of San Diego State.
Lumpkin, 6-6, 268 pounds, participated in the New England Patriots’ 2023 offseason program and training camp. He originally signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. Collegiately, Lumpkin played in 51 games at Louisiana (2018-22) and finished with 36 receptions for 408 yards and six touchdowns. Prior to Louisiana, he played at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College for two seasons (2016-17).
Mutin, 6-0, 227 pounds, participated in the Colts’ 2023 offseason program and training camp. He originally signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2023. Collegiately, Mutin played in 50 games (40 starts) at Houston (2018-22) and recorded 231 tackles (127 solo), 16.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, five passes defensed, one interception, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. His last name is pronounced mutan.
INDIANS BASEBALL
BISONS FOUR-RUN BURST BESTS INDIANS
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Despite outhitting the Buffalo Bisons for the second consecutive game, the Indianapolis Indians dropped Wednesday’s matinee at Sahlen Field, 6-2.
After Indianapolis (59-67, 26-26) scored the opening run on a Chris Owings RBI groundout, Buffalo broke open the game with four-spot in the bottom half of the frame. The four-run inning proved to be enough to secure the victory. Max Kranick (L, 0-1) loaded the bases before being lifted from the game for Beau Sulser, who surrendered a two-run double by Nathan Lukes that plated the would-be winning run. Buffalo later tacked on two additional insurance runs, one in the fifth inning and another in the eighth.
Kyle Nicolas posted his sixth consecutive scoreless relief outing with a 1-2-3 sixth inning. Nicolas is 1-0 with a 1.88 ERA (3er/14.1ip), five hits allowed, 18 strikeouts, 0.70 WHIP and .106 batting average against in nine relief outings this month.
Hunter Stratton snapped his 11.1 scoreless inning streak with an unearned run in the eighth inning. He fanned two batters and surrendered two hits, snapping a 7.1-inning hitless streak. Hitters are 3-for-40 against him in August.
Buffalo (63-63, 29-22) relief pitcher Paxton Schultz (W, 3-4) earned the win with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.
Miguel Andújar and Chris Owings led all hitters with a pair of hits. Owings was responsible for both of Indy’s runs.
The Indians and Bisons will continue their six-game set at Sahlen Field on Thursday night at 7:05. RHP Quinn Priester (8-3, 4.00) will take the mound for Indianapolis against Buffalo’s RHP Andrew Bash (2-1, 2.88).
INDY ELEVEN
INDY RIDING FIVE-GAME UNBEATEN STREAK INTO SATURDAY’S MATCH
#INDvMIA Preview
Indy Eleven vs The Miami FC
Saturday, September 2, 2023 – 7:00 p.m. ET
Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis
Follow Live
WISH-TV
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
Spanish Radio: Exitos Radio 94.3 FM & exitos943.com
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Stats: #INDvMIA MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2023 USL Championship Records
Indy Eleven: 10W-9L-8D (5), 38 pts; 6th in Eastern Conference
The Miami FC: 7W-11L-8D (-3) 29 pts; 10th in Eastern Conference
Community Health Network Sports Medicine Indy Eleven Injury Report
OUT: Y. Oettl (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: TBD
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue stay at home looking to extend their five game unbeaten streak in a match-up against The Miami FC.
The Eleven are coming off a 2-1 win vs Loudoun United FC and are 4-0-1 in their last five games. With a 10-9-8 record, Indy is sixth in the USLC Eastern Conference. Miami is 3-2-0 in its last five matches and is coming off a 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. MIA is 10th in the Eastern Conference at 7-11-8.
| IND | MIA | |
| 27 | Games | 26 |
| 34 | Goals | 33 |
| 29 | Goals Conceded | 34 |
| 23 | Assists | 17 |
| 91 | SOT | 99 |
| 99 | Shots Faced | 111 |
| 9 | Clean Sheets | 6 |
SERIES VS. MIAMI
Saturday marks the fourth meeting between the two teams, with the series even 1-1-1 in USL Championship action. This is the second match up of the 2023 season with the Boys in Blue taking the first meeting 1-0 on the road.
IND: 1-1-1 | GF 2, GA 2
Recent Meetings
8.12.23 | at MIA | W, 1-0
7.2.22 | Home | L, 0-1
6.8.22 | at MIA | D, 1-1
USL Championship Regular Season
The Miami FC 0:1 Indy Eleven
Saturday, August 12, 2023
FIU Stadium – Miami
Scoring Summary
IND – Adrian Diz Pe (Aodhan Quinn) 51′
50/50 CLUB
Solomon Asante and Aodhan Quinn became the first two players in USL Championship history to reach both 50 regular season goals and 50 regular season assists. Asante (51G/53A) and Quinn (54G/50A) have combined for 104 goals/assists each, placing them in a tie for fourth on the USL Championship’s all-time list.
- Dane Kelly – 132 (106 goals & 26 assists)
- Enzo Martinez (BHM) – 113 (69 goals & 44 assists) *
- Jorge Herrera – 107 (72 goals & 35 assists)
- Aodhan Quinn (IND) – 104 (54 goals & 50 assists) *
Solomon Asante (IND) – 104 (51 goals & 53 assists) *
*Denotes active player
20,000 AND BEYOND…
Aodhan Quinn became the USL Championship’s leader in regular-season minutes played against Tampa Bay on July 22.
Minutes | 20,816 | 1st
Appearances | 250 | 6th
Assists | 50 | 4th
Quinn has 54 goals, and was the 24th player in USL Championship history to hit 50. He is one of only seven players to have a combined 100 career goals and assists with 54 goals and 50 assists, and is the second player to join the 50 goals/50 assists club.
Quinn has recorded 25 penalty kick goals in 28 attempts in his career in the league, the most of any individual player on record in league history.
LAST TIME OUT
IND 2:1 LDN
AUGUST 26, 2023
After trailing early, Indy Eleven battled back for a 2-1 victory at home against Loudoun United FC.
This win moves the Eleven to 10-9-8 extending their unbeaten streak to five games. Meanwhile, Loudoun’s record changes to 7-18-3.
Starting quickly, Loudoun’s Tommy Williamson found the back of the net scoring in the match’s opening minute. Indy Eleven looked to answer back possessing most of the ball which created chances in their attacking third.
Kicking off the second half, the Eleven fired back after an Aodhan Quinn penalty kick was slotted home to equalize the game at 1-1 in the 73rd minute. As a result of this penalty, Quinn adds to his USL career league lead with a 25th penalty kick goal.
Not long later in the 81st minute, Solomon Asante assisted Sebastian Guenzatti who scored to give Indy Eleven the winner at 2-1. This goal moved Guenzatti to sole possession of eighth in career goals rankings for the USL Championship. Asante’s assist gives him 53 across his career. As the final whistle sounded, the Eleven led possession with 53.6% and had the shot advantage with 13 to Loudoun’s six.
USL Championship Regular Season
Indy Eleven 2:1 Loudoun United FC
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Carroll Stadium, Indianapolis
Scoring Summary
LDN – Tommy Williamson (Cole Turner) 1’
IND – Aodhan Quinn (penalty) 73’
IND – Sebastian Guenzatti (Solomon Asante) 81’
Discipline Summary
IND – Jake Blake (caution) 22’
IND – Solomon Asante (caution) 42’
LDN – Houssou Landry (caution) 45’
IND – Stefano Pinho (caution) 90+4’
INDIANA FEVER BASKETBALL
Game Preview: Fever Take on Wings Looking to Extend Season-Long Winning Streak
August 31, 2023
Indiana Fever vs Dallas Wings
Friday, September 1, 2023
Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 7 p.m. ET
Find Tickets »
Broadcast Information
ION
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter)
The Indiana Fever (11-24) will close out a three-game homestand at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse taking on the Dallas Wings. Indiana fell to the Wings on July 9, 77-76, in the only meeting so far this regular season. Both teams will meet again in Arlington on Sunday afternoon.
Last time out in Indianapolis, the Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream, 83-80, on Sunday. The 12-point comeback victory allowed Indiana to claim its first three-game winning streak since 2021. Kristy Wallace notched 12 of her career-high 20 points on four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of the matchup, including two made in the final 30 seconds of the game, to help the Fever secure the win. Wallace has averaged 7.8 points per contest through each of her six consecutive starts since August 10, while shooting 41.2 percent (33-of-80) from beyond the arc.
After contributing 14 points and a team-high six assists in the victory against the Dream, Kelsey Mitchell was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday. During August 18-27, Mitchell averaged 23.3 points and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 47.7 percent (31-of-65) from the floor. The All-Star guard ranks in the top-15 in the league for scoring average (17.8 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage at 38.8 percent (85-of-219).
Fever forward NaLyssa Smith is adding 14.8 points per game and ranks third in the league in rebounds per game averaging 9.4 rebounds. Smith also enters the matchup two rebounds away from reaching the 500 rebound milestone through the first two years of her career.
All-Star rookie center Aliyah Boston is averaging 14.7 points per contest and is still shooting a league-leading 59.9 percent (202-of-343) from the floor, while consistently leading all rookies in rebounds (8.2 rpg), steals (1.3 spg) and blocked shots. With the help of Boston’s 1.4 blocks per game, Indiana ranks first in the league for points in the paint allowed with opponents averaging 31.4 points in the lane each game.
Guard Erica Wheeler is averaging 9.8 points this season while ranking eighth in the WNBA for assists averaging 4.9 per game. Rookie guard Grace Berger enters the matchup after contributing two consecutive double-figures scoring games while averaging 6.3 points and 2.3 assists per game through the second half of the season.
For the Wings (19-16), Dallas enters the matchup ranked fourth in the league standings and also coming off a 77-74 win against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday. Arike Ogunbowale, who ranks fifth in the league for scoring average at 20.9 points per contest, led all scorers with 29 points. Natasha Howard is contributing an average of 16.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season, followed by center Teaira McCowan’s 12.0 points and team-leading 9.1 rebounds per contest.
The Wings enter the matchup leading the league in offensive rebounds with an average of 12.0 per game, while Indiana trails behind in second averaging 9.0 offensive rebounds per game. Dallas averages a league-leading 38.7 total rebounds per game, however, Indiana allows the least number of rebounds in the WNBA with their opponents averaging 32.1 total rebounds.
Probable Starters
Indiana Fever (11-24)
Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (17.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Guard – Erica Wheeler (9.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.9 apg)
Guard – Kristy Wallace (6.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Forward – NaLyssa Smith (14.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Center – Aliyah Boston (14.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg)
Dallas Wings (19-16)
Guard – Crystal Dangerfield (8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.1 apg)
Guard – Arike Ogunbowale (20.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.7 spg)
Forward – Natasha Howard (16.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.4 spg)
Forward – Awak Kuier (2.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.7 bpg)
Center – Teaira McCowan (12.0 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
Game Status Report
Indiana: Aliyah Boston – questionable (right thumb), Lexie Hull – out (right shoulder)
Dallas: TBA
INDIANA FOOTBALL
THURSDAY TAKEAWAYS: OHIO STATE
Tom Allen | Head Coach
On who has emerged in the linebackers’ depth…
TA: Yeah, I would say Jared Casey without question has had a really good fall camp for us and continues to grow and develop in our system. Josh Rudolph is the other guy that’s been there taking reps. … I like the group, there’s obviously several new faces there that haven’t played a lot of football here, so, just excited to get those guys out there on Saturday and let them go.
On who from the cornerback room will be leaned on against Ohio State…
TA: Yeah, as I mentioned, we’ve got several new faces in the whole secondary, but Jamier Johnson is really a guy that has come along. He’s had a really good fall camp. Kobee Minor, we’ve mentioned him before, really excited about where he’s at and is definitely going to be playing a lot of football for us Saturday. And Jamari Sharpe is a guy that’s been here, but was young last year as a true freshman, so as a redshirt freshman, has length and speed and so he’s really emerged as one of our top guys and just excited about him. And Nic Toomer is another new guy that has been really impressive during fall camp. This guy coming here has got lots of length, played a lot of football at Stanford and had an injury there that he’s really kind of now back from that full speed, been a couple years ago and he’s now back to where he was before that and playing with a lot of confidence. Just really excited to be able to have him with us, A guy we recruited really, really hard the first time and really wanted him out of high school and now is coming to us four years later. JoJo Johnson is also a guy in that mix that’s gotten a lot of reps during fall camp and then James Monds also is a guy we’ve also repped, so we’ve got six guys there that have taken lots of reps for us, and so we’re probably going to have about three or four of those guys we’re going to play quite a bit on Saturday, as you mentioned, playing one of the best receiver cores in the whole country, and that’s a group that’s going to get tested early and often and have got to step up and play very well.
On rotating players with several new faces…
TA: It kind of depends. We’re definitely going to rotate the D-line just because that’s what you do in that position for sure numerically, and as well, just keeping those guys fresh. In the secondary, I think more because of having so many new guys, we still haven’t had a game yet, so getting those guys to see how they perform in a game is going to be big. So you’re probably going to rotate some guys early on and see how they respond, and then play the hot hand. The guys that are playing the best and seem to be doing the most positive things, But I think you’re going to see quite a few faces out there in the secondary. Different guys involved, and just want to do a great job of getting the chance to evaluate them as well. It’s a big game because it’s a conference game, it’s the first game. It’s all those things, but it’s also your first one you having as a team. Scrimmages are great, but they’re not a full live football game. I just think that we’re going to play a lot of guys, especially on the back end and up front.
INDIANA FOOTBALL GAME NOTES: VS. OHIO STATE
(INDIANA NOTES)
SETTING THE SCENE
• Indiana kicks off its 139th season of football when it hosts No. 3/4 Ohio State to open the 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium (55,250; Field Turf) and will air on CBS.
• The Hoosiers and Buckeyes will meet for the 97th time in program history and the 32nd time in Bloomington. The last meeting in
Memorial Stadium came in 2021 in a driving rain under the lights in a Buckeyes victory.
• IU will open with a Big Ten foe for the fifth time in Tom Allen’s seven campaigns and fourth straight season. Allen has faced
Ohio State (2017 & 2023), Penn State (2020), Iowa (2021) and Illinois to open the season as the Hoosiers frontman.
• Since 2002, Indiana has opened the season at home in 14 of the previous 21 seasons. The Hoosiers own a 13-1 record in those
games, with the lone loss to No. 2 Ohio State (2017).
• The 2023 season opener marks the sixth time that Indiana and Ohio State will meet in Week 1. The first season opening meeting
game in 1938, a 6-0 setback for IU in Columbus, Ohio. IU then met OSU in the season opener three straight seasons from 1952-54
and again opened the season versus the Buckeyes in 2017. The first four games were all played in Columbus.
• Entering the 2023 season, Indiana returns just two everyday starters on defense (Aaron Casey & Noah Pierre). Of the 15
returning letterwinners on defense, IU returns just 31 career starts on that side of the ball in 2023 (not counting transfers).
• Sophomore Jaylin Lucas enters the 2023 season at No. 2 on the career kickoff return touchdowns charts at Indiana. The only true freshman in the FBS with multiple kickoff return touchdowns in 2022, Lucas needs just 187 kickoff return yards to enter the top-15 all-time at Indiana.
• The Hoosier roster features 24 transfer scholarship student-athletes for the 2023 season and a total of 36 scholarship newcomers, which is among the most in the FBS. The eight returning starters are among a handful of FBS programs with single-digit returning starters entering 2023.
• Head coach Tom Allen joined a select group of coaches in IU history with his 30th career victory as the Hoosiers’ head coach. Of the 30 wins, 12 have come in one possession games, including a 4-1 mark in overtime contests.
• The Indiana special teams units blocked multiple kicks in a year for the second straight season in 2022. Special teams
coordinator Kasey Teegardin’s crew blocked three field goals in 2022 to give his unit nine blocked kicks in the last five seasons.
• Five team captains were announced by head coach Tom Allen prior to the season opener with wide receiver Cam Camper, defensive lineman Andre Carter, linebacker Aaron Casey, offensive lineman Mike Katic and defensive back Noah Pierre each earning the distinction for the first time in their careers.
BY THE NUMERBS
2….Number of returning everyday starters on the defensive side of the ball
for Indiana. The Hoosiers have just 31 career IU starts total returning
on defense in 2022.
.622….Indiana finished 2022 with the seventh hardest opponents winning
percentage nationally at .648.
24….Indiana welcomes 24 scholarship transfer student-athletes into the
mix for 2023, a group that was the second-highest-rated transfer
group (No. 13; On3) in the Big Ten.
7…..Head Coach Tom Allen enters his seventh season at the helm of
the Indiana program.
• One theme for the 2023 Indiana football team will be the youth that the Hoosiers have at each position. The quarterback position is no exception, as the room has just two collegiate starts entering the year. • In the Big Ten, Indiana is one of five programs with five or fewer career starts in the QB room. Michigan State and Penn State enter the season with zero career starts, followed by Indiana (2) then Minnesota (5) and Purdue (5). • A pair of redshirt freshmen commenced to battle throughout fall camp to earn the starting role, as Brendan Sorsby and Tayven Jackson each had the opportunity to earn the starting role. • Jackson was a consensus four-star recruit out of Center Grove High School in 2021. He spent one season at Tennessee before transferring to Indiana, where his brother, Trayce Jackson-Davis was an All-American on the hardwood and is now a part of the Golden State Warriors organization. • In his lone season at Tennessee, Jackson appeared in three games and went 3-for-4 passing for 37 yards. He also ran four times for 10 yards and one touchdown. Scored his one touchdown against Akron (9/17). • A consensus top-20 quarterback at CGHS, Jackson led Center Grove to back-to-back undefeated IHSAA Class 6A state championships and 28-straight wins between his junior and senior seasons. • A Nike Elite 11 finalist, he was tabbed Indiana Football Coaches Association all-state as a senior. He set the school record for career passing yardage (4,813), as he completed 329- of-547 passes with 47 touchdowns in his career. • The collegiate debut for Sorsby came after an injury to Jack Tuttle against No. 16/16 Penn State in the second quarter. He completed 3-of-6 passes for 8 yards. • Sorsby was the No. 13 rated pocket passer nationally per ESPN after he threw for 14 touchdowns in 2021 at Lake Dallas High School in Corinth, Texas. He threw for 1,271 yards in seven games during an injury-shortened senior season.
(OHIO STATE NOTES)
FIRST AND TEN
No. 3/4 (AP) Ohio State kicks off its 134th season of intercollegiate football with a 3:30 p.m. game Saturday in Bloomington, Ind., against Indiana. CBS, one of two new network TV partners with the Big Ten, will broadcast the game nationally. Ohio State, after winning Big Ten championships in head coach Ryan Day’s first two seasons (2019 and 2020), is coming off consecutive 11-2 seasons in 2021 and ’22 with 8-1 Big Ten records. The Buckeyes hold a commanding 78-12-5 advantage over the Hoosiers in the all-time series that began in 1901 and have won 27 consecutive games since a 27-all tie in Bloomington in 1990. Ohio State is 29-2-1 vs. IU all-time in Bloomington. Indiana’s last wins over Ohio State came consecutively in 1987 and 1988. Ohio State features 16 players who earned all-Big Ten honors last season, including first-team honorees WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (All-American; Big Ten WR of the Year), DE JT Tuimoloau (10.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 2 INTs and 4 PBUs), LB Tommy Eichenberg (2nd-team All-American, 120 tackles and 12.0 TFLs) and OG Donovan Jackson (13 starts 2022).
THE 2023 BUCKEYES
Ohio State’s 2023 team will feature 16 players who earned all-Big Ten honors last season, including first-team honorees WR Marvin Harrison Jr., DE JT Tuimoloau, LB Tommy Eichenberg and OG Donovan Jackson. Also returning: 2nd-team all-Big Ten honorees WR Emeka Egbuka and OG Matt Jones; 3rd-team: DT Michael Hall Jr., TE Cade Stover and RB Miyan Williams; and honorable mention: CB Denzel Burke, LB Steele Chambers, RB TreVeyon Henderson, P Jesse Mirco, SAF Lathan Ransom, DE Jack Sawyer and DT Tyleik Williams.
A total of 16 starters are back, with seven each on offense and defense. On special teams, the Buckeyes will be replacing two-year starting kicker Noah Ruggles and veteran longsnapper Bradley Robinson. The positions of wide receiver (38 combined career starts between Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming) and linebacker (44 career starts by Tommy Eichenberg, Steele Chambers and Cody Simon) are the most veteran and experienced for the Buckeyes entering the season. In the transfer portal, the Buckeyes added 85 combined starts to the roster in the form of the addition of Victor Cutler Jr., (21) and Josh Simmons (13) along the offensive line and Ja’Had Carter (28) and Davison Igbinosun (10) in the defensive backfield. The team also added long snapper John Ferlmann, who snapped in all 12 games for Arizona State in 2022. Ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press preseason poll, Ohio State is beginning a season ranked in the top five for the 10th time in the last 11 years.
SCOUTING INDIANA: Head coach Tom Allen enters his seventh season leading the Hoosiers in 2023. He was the 2020 American Football Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. IU co-defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri spent the 2022 season on Ohio State’s staff as a senior advisor/analyst. He has a long history with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, including working with him at Duke from 2012-17. The Hoosiers’ roster includes 48 newcomers, the second-most of any program in the Big Ten (Nebraska has 62 newcomers). Of those 48 newcomers, 36 are scholarship players and 32 were brought in via the transfer portal. Indiana returns just eight starters from last year’s team, which is the fourth-fewest nationally. Only Colorado, Stanford and New Mexico return less.
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
HOOSIERS LOSE TIGHT BATTLE TO LONG BEACH STATE
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Indiana Volleyball team (3-1, 0-0) fell on the short end of a match that featured three deuce games, two games go to extra points and just six total points between the sides.
A back-and-forth affair went in favor the hosts (RV) Long Beach State 3-1 (26-28, 23-25, 26-24, 21-25) at the Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif. on Thursday (Aug. 31) night.
Senior middle blocker Savannah Kjolhede provided a career-high 13 kills while hitting .400 (13-3-25) on the evening with fellow middle blocker Kaley Rammelsberg chipping in 10 kills as well.
Sophomore outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles came off the bench in the first set and turned in a productive offensive night, hitting .345 with 12 kills on 29 swings.
IU out blocked Long Beach State 8-6 but a firm advantage in aces (7-5) and digs (57-39) for the hosts was enough to spur the contest in their favor.
The Hoosiers will play UCLA in the second of three contests in California on Friday (Sept. 1) evening at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT.
Stats and Notes
Team
• The Hoosiers had three players finish with double-digit kills including Kjolhede (13), Alonso-Corcelles (12) and Rammelsberg (10).
• IU led the match as a team with eight total blocks highlighted by three apiece from Kjolhede and Haworth.
#15 Kjolhede, Savannah
• IU’s senior middle blocker produced an outstanding offensive night, hitting .400 with 13 kills on 25 swings.
• The Colleyville, Texas native set a career high in kills (13) which bested her previous mark of 12, last seen in a match against Purdue in October of 2022.
#10 Haworth, Camryn
• IU’s junior setter recorded a season-best 46 assists to pair with four digs, three blocks and two aces.
• On the night, Haworth surpassed 100 career aces, becoming the 19th Hoosier in program history to hit that mark.
#32 Gary, Ramsey
• The freshman libero recorded a career-best 14 digs across four sets.
#3 Alonso-Corcelles, Candela
• The Madrid native came off the bench to record 12 kills and hit .345 for the Hoosiers. She also provided three digs and two solo blocks.
Scoring Recap
Set 1: Long Beach State 28, Indiana 26
• Kjolhede and Rammelsberg provided nine kills combined in the opening frame as IU looked to set the tone by running the middle and the slide.
• Kills by Kjolhede and Saris on either side of a Long Beach State timeout leveled the score at 22-all.
• The Hoosiers fended off a pair of set points but an IU attack error on the final point gave Long Beach a 28-26 victory in the first set.
Set 2: Long Beach State 25, Indiana 23
• Alonso-Corcelles hit .429 (6-0-14) and Kjolhede hit .667 (5-1-6) in the second set as the Hoosiers combined to hit .300 as a team.
• Long Beach State’s lead never got bigger than the four-point advantage it held at 12-8 before a service error halted an offensive run.
• Alonso-Corcelles had her sixth kills of the set to fend off one set point but Long Beach State setter Zayna Meyer dumped a ball over the net on the next point to win the second frame.
Set 3: Indiana 26, Long Beach State 24
• Nine assists and two aces from Haworth gave IU a needed boost in the third set.
• A strong challenge from the IU bench reversed score and prevented the Hoosiers from going down two points late in the frame.
• Alonso-Corcelles buried a ball off the Long Beach State block before the hosts hit the next ball into the net to give IU a 26-24 win in set three.
Set 4: Long Beach State 25, Indiana 21
• Down 21-12 in the fourth set, junior outside hitter Kenzie Daffinee turned in a strong run of serve from the end line to spark a 5-0 run for the Hoosiers.
• A pair of aces from Daffinee, including the second which landed past the Long Beach State defenders, was enough to force a second timeout from Beach head coach Tyler Hildebrand.
• Saris had a kill to draw back within three and fend off a first match point but a big kill from Long Beach State’s Maura Hayes ended the affairs on Thursday night.
INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER
BLACK, WEBBER SCORE IN DRAW AGAINST NO. 25 TENNESSEE, 2-2
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana graduate forward Paige Webber scored the Hoosiers first goal in the 33rd minute before senior midfielder Sofia Black would double the score just 23 seconds later in a 2-2 draw against No. 25 Tennessee (3-1-2) at Regal Stadium on Thursday evening.
KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana (3-0-2) midfielder Hope Paredes came up with the steal at the center circle as she dribbled around some Tennessee defenders before connecting with Webber.
• Webber dribbled all the way down the stretch just inside the 18-yard box finding the perfect angle before striking with her left foot to send it to the right side of the net.
• The Hoosiers continued the attack as sophomore forward Marisa Grzesiak threaded a pass right through the Vols defenders to Black as she cut behind them making a quick strike at the net doubling the Indiana lead, 2-0. Both teams continued to battle it out in the remaining half.
• The squads picked up where they left off in the first half in a back-and-forth battle, but Tennessee would break through in the 53rd minute to cut the deficit, 2-1.
• The Lady Vols scored the equalizer in 79th minute from their leading goal scorer, Jaida Thomas.
HOOSIER POINTS
GOALS: Paige Webber (33′), Sofia Black (33′)
ASSISTS: Hope Paredes, Marisa Grzesiak
NOTABLES
• The Hoosiers are now 1-0-1 against the Lady Vols.
• Black scored her first goal of the season and the third of her career.
• Webber netted her third goal this season and the ninth of her career as a Hoosier.
• The draw against No. 25 Tennessee is the first ranked opponent since the Hoosiers tied No. 8 Penn State, 0-0, on Sept. 18, 2022.
• Junior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg made six saves on the night.
UP NEXT
The Hoosiers return home to host Northern Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 3 at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on B1G+.
INDIANA WOMEN’S GOLF
HOOSIER TRIO HONORED BY BIG TEN CONFERENCE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Senior Dominika Burdová, fifth-year senior Caroline Craig, and sophomore Chloe Johnson were named Preseason Big Ten Women’s Golf Honorees, the league announced on Thursday afternoon.
Dominika Burdová / Senior / Liberec, Czech Republic
After transferring from Gardner Webb ahead of the 2022-23 season, finished second on the Hoosiers in season stroke average at 74.93 swings per round. She was one of two IU players to appear in all 30 rounds and was the co-leader in rounds at or below par with eight. She earned three top-10 finishes and four top-20 efforts during her junior season.
Caroline Craig / Senior + / Sautee Nacoochee, Ga.
The Georgia transfer was a four-time selection to the SEC Academic Honor Roll during her time in Athens. Her fourth collegiate season produced a stroke average of 74.17 across 17 rounds and six total events. She earned five career top-20 finishes with two places inside the top-10.
Chloe Johnson / Sophomore / Evansville, Ind.
A native of Evansville, Johnson transferred from Furman alongside her twin sister, Faith Johnson. She was one of three players to play in all 35 rounds across 12 events for the Paladins. Johnson posted a stroke average of 75.0 with two top-20 finishes, two top-10 performances, and two top-5 outings. She also played nine rounds at or under par.
The Indiana women’s golf team, under the guidance of second-year head coach Brian May, opens the season at the Purdue Boilermaker Classic on Sept. 4 at the Kampen Golf Course in West Lafayette.
INDIANA MEN’S SOCCER
NO. 3 INDIANA WELCOMES NO. 9 WASHINGTON IN ADIDAS/IU CREDIT UNION CLASSIC
BLOOMINGTON — A top-10 matchup is set for Friday (Sept. 1) night in Bloomington.
No. 3-ranked Indiana men’s soccer (1-0-1) hosts No. 9 Washington (1-1-0) at 8 p.m. ET on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium in the second match of the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. Ohio State will play Seton Hall in the first contest of the invitational at 5 p.m.
IU’s match is its first of five scheduled contests to be televised on the Big Ten Network. The match can also be streamed on foxsports.com.
Fans who bring their ticket for Saturday’s IU football game versus Ohio State may purchase a ticket to Friday’s match for just $5. IU students, faculty and staff get in free with a valid Crimson Card.
SETTING THE SCENE
• Indiana and Washington are ranked in all three polls (United Soccer Coaches, Top Drawer Soccer, College Soccer News). IU is ranked as high as No. 3 (TDS, CSN) and the Huskies come in rated as well as No. 9 (TDS).
• IU head coach Todd Yeagley and Washington’s Jamie Clark are two of four active Division-I men’s soccer head coaches with at least 175 wins since 2010 – Yeagley’s first season leading the Hoosiers. Yeagley’s 179 wins are tied for the most in that span, and no coach has led his program to more NCAA College Cups (5) since 2010.
• The Hoosiers are coming off a 2-0 win over DePaul in which they outshot the Blue Demons 31-1. Freshman forward Collins Oduro scored for a second straight match before senior midfielder Quinten Helmer sealed it with IU’s second goal.
• Indiana owns a 355-70-52 record all-time at “The Bill.” The Hoosiers have shut out opponents in each of their last four home matches going back to the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
• IU earned an 8-4-1 record against ranked opponents in its 2022 national runner-up season. Washington is Indiana’s first ranked test of the 2023 campaign.
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
• Washington is 1-1-0. The Huskies defeated South Florida 2-0 on opening day before falling to San Diego by the same score on Sunday.
• The Huskies are led by 16th-year head coach Jamie Clark, who has compiled a 162-55-25 record at Washington.
• Washington returned 27 players from its 2022 team, including All-Pac-12 selections Nate Jones, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Chris Meyers, Imanol Rosales and Christian Soto.
• The Huskies have earned NCAA Tournament berths in each of the last seven seasons.
SERIES HISTORY
• Indiana owns the advantage in the all-time series with a 4-1-0 record against the Huskies.
• The programs last met in the 2021 NCAA Tournament Round of 16, a thriller that ended in a 3-2, overtime victory for the hosting Huskies. Indiana had previously eliminated Washington from the tournament three times; in 1992, in 1999 on the way to NCAA title No. 5 and in 2000.
• Friday’s matchup marks just the second time the teams have met in the regular season. It last happened in 2001, a 1-0 win for the Hoosiers that was played in Portland, Oregon.
• Yeagley participated in the first-ever matchup. IU defeated Washington 2-0 in the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
INDIANA CROSS COUNTRY
CROSS COUNTRY BEGINS SEASON AT REDHAWK RUMBLE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana cross country travels to Miami (Ohio) to open up the 2023 season at the Redhawk Rumble on Friday morning.
This is the first of four regular season meets. The Hoosiers will have eight men and 10 women represented on the course.
The men’s squad has six returners with five from the women’s side.
Freshmen Grace Tyson, Lily MyersJasmine Klopstad, and transfer Andi VanMeter are making their collegiate debuts along with transfer Nolan Satterfield on the men’s side.
Friday’s races are set for 9:30 a.m. (Men’s 8K) and a 10:10 a.m. (Women’s 5K).
Men’s Lineup: Redhawk Rumble
| Personal Best (8K) | Athletes |
| 24:22.9 | Skylar Stidam |
| 24:35.9 | Abe Eckman |
| 24:08.6 | Austin Haskett |
| 25:13.9 | Cole Raymond |
| 25:24.8 | Nolan Satterfield |
| 24:48.3 | Keelan Grant |
| 25:32.5 | Tristan Forsythe |
Women’s Lineup: Redhawk Rumble
| Personal Best (5K) | Athletes |
| 17.52.72 | Phoebe Bates |
| 18:04.17 | Claire Overfelt |
| 18:08.54 | Katelyn Winton |
| N/A | Grace Tyson |
| N/A | Lily Myers |
| N/A | Tori Schmidt |
| N/A | Jasmine Klopstad |
| 19:49.58 | Maddie Russin |
| 20:25.5 | Andi VanMeter |
| N/A | Allie Latta |
PURDUE FOOTBALL
PURDUE FOOTBALL GAME NOTES: VS. FRESNO STATE
(PURDUE NOTES)
STORY LINES • Purdue opens its 136th season of football, including the 100th at Ross-Ade Stadium, by hosting Fresno State in a non-conference matchup. The battle against the reigning Mountain West champs kicks off at noon on BTN. • The Boilermakers and Bulldogs are meeting for the first time in history, and it is just the fourth time Purdue has faced a current member of the Mountain West Conference. • Ryan Walters makes his debut as head coach of the Boilermakers. The 37-year old became the 37th head coach in Purdue Football history on December 13, 2022 after serving as coordinator for the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense throughout the 2022 season. • Purdue enters the 2023 season as the reigning Big Ten West champions, capturing the division title for the first time in school history. The Boilermakers won eight regular season games, including six conference matchups, reaching both win totals in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1997-1998 when Joe Tiller served as Purdue’s head coach. • The Boilermakers have won 22 of their last 25 home openers. • Mike Alstott, the 12-year NFL veteran and Purdue’s all-time rushing leader (3,365 yards), will serve as the honorary captain for the season opener. • Ahead of its 100th season, Ross-Ade Stadium underwent a renovation in the offseason. The south end zone was bowled in and now features a brand-new student section for the Ross-Ade Brigade. • Tiller Tunnel, named after the winningest coach in Purdue history, was added to the northeast corner of the stadium to connect to the Kozuch Football Performance Complex. • Six Boilermakers landed on preseason award watch lists Jack Ansell (Ray Guy), Hudson Card (Maxwell, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose), Gus Hartwig (Outland, Rimington), Damarjhe Lewis (Comeback Player of the Year), Garrett Miller (Comeback Player of the Year) and Devin Mockobee (Doak Walker). • Hudson Card, a transfer from Texas, enters the season as Purdue’s starting quarterback after Aidan O’Connell took his talents to the NFL; O’Connell left his mark at the school known for the Cradle of Quarterbacks, ending his career as the most accurate passer in school history. • Cam Allen enters his final year as a Boilermaker ranked ninth in program history with 10 career interceptions; the senior safety made a team-high 3 INTs a season ago. • Walters and his coaching staff hit the transfer portal hard over the offseason; Purdue’s season-opening depth chart features 17 players from the portal.
A WIN WOULD: • Make Purdue 79-51-6 in season openers • Make Purdue 93-38-4 in home openers • Be the 19th win for a Boilermaker head coach in his first game, and the first since Sept. 5, 2009, when Danny Hope beat Toledo • Give Purdue an 87-31-3 all-time record when facing an opponent for the first time.
(FRESNO STATE NOTES)
QUICK LOOK • Fresno State closed the 2022 season with a 10-4 record, and as Mountain West and LA Bowl champions. • The Bulldogs became the first team in FBS history to open a season 1-4 and finish with 10 wins in 2022. • Fresno State is riding a 9 game winning streak, the third-longest active winning streak in the FBS. • Fresno State finished the 2022 season ranked No. 24 in the AP and Coaches poll. It was the fourth time in program history (1992, 2004, 2018 and 2022) that the team appeared in the final rankings. • Head coach Jeff Tedford is back in his second stint as the program’s head coach, having previously coached the ‘Dogs from 2017-19 before stepping away for health concerns. • Fresno State retained its entire coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball under defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle. • The ‘Dogs added two new position coaches to the offense in Brian Armstrong (OL) and Aaron Prier (RB). • The ‘Dogs have a new offensive coordinator for 2023 as Tedford promoted Pat McCann from wide receivers coach to OC in January 2023. Matt Wade was also elevated from offensive quality control to quarterbacks coach. • Fresno State was picked to finish third in the Mountain West this sesaon. The ‘Dogs received five first place vote. • Two Bulldogs were on the MW preseason all-conference team in offensive lineman Mose Vavao and defensive lineman Devo Bridges • For the first time since the 2020 season, Fresno State will have a new starting quarterback as Tedford announced UCF transfer Mikey Keene will be the starter at Purdue. Keene was 8-3 as a starter in his time at UCF.
ABOUT THE MATCH UP • Fresno State and Purdue will meet for the first time in program history on Saturday. • This week’s travel trip is the furthest in mileage for Fresno State this season, traveling 2,222 miles to West Lafayette. • The last true Big Ten opponent the ‘Dogs have faced was Minnesota. The ‘Dogs fell 38-35 at home in overtime on Sept. 7, 2019. • Fresno State is playing on the Big Ten Network for the first time since 2016 (vs. Nebraska) • Fresno State looks to defeat a current Big Ten member for the first time since defeating Rutgers in overtime in 2013 (52-51). Rutgers was not a member of the Big Ten that year. • Fresno State is 59-38-4 in its season openers all-time. As head coach of the Bulldogs’ program, Tedford is 3-1 in his season openers with wins in the 2017, 2018 and 2022 openers. • Fresno State is opening the season on the road for the first time since the 2019 season when the ‘Dogs opened at USC. • Anybody, Anytime, Anywhere. Fresno State has 40 wins all-time against current Power 5 programs. • Fresno State has defeated a Power 5 opponent in back-to-back seasons.
Scouting Purdue opens the 2023 season against Fresno State, under first-year head coach Ryan Walters. The Boilermakers were picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten West Division this season. Walters announced on August 8 that the Boilermakers will be without FAU transfer receiver Jahmal Edrine for 2023. Edrine was expected to come in and make an impact for the offense. Purdue was 8-6 in the 2022 campaign, finishing with a win in regular season play against Indiana (30-16). The Boilermakers closed out the postseason with back-to-back losses against Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game (43-22) and in the Citrus Bowl against LSU (63-7). Purdue finished the 2022 campaign with a 6-3 conference mark as the leader in the Big Ten’s West Division, winning the title for the first time. Purdue Preseason Honors The Boilermakers have six players that have been named to preseason watch lists. Quarterback, Hudson Card, has been selected in two preseason award watch lists, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List and Maxwell Award Watch List. Defensive lineman Damarjhe Lewis and tight end Garrett Miller have been selected for the Comeback Player of the Year after they missed the entire 2022 season due to injury. Running back Devin Mockobee has been selected for the Doak Walker Award watch list. Mockobee has earned multiple award recognitions early in his career, coming into Purdue as a walk-on freshman and earning the starting running back position mid-season. Center Gus Hartwig has also been selected in two preseason award watch lists, the Rimington Trophy Watch List and Outland Trophy Watch List. Punter Jack Ansell has been selected for the Ray Guy Award Watch List. Series History The teams will be meeting for the first time in program history this weekend. Fresno State is set to play three schools for the first time in its program history this season – at Purdue (Sept. 2), and vs. Eastern Washington (Sept. 9) and Kent State (Sept. 23). Fresno State vs. Big Ten Fresno State is 5-11 all-time against current members of the Big Ten. Fresno State’s last win over a current Big Ten team was a 52-51 overtime victory over Rutgers on August 29, 2013 in Fresno.
Going for 10 Fresno State enters Week 1 on a 9-game winning streak – the third-longest active winning streak in the FBS. Georgia leads the nation with 17-straight games and Troy is next with 11. Washington has 7, behind Fresno State’s 9. The Bulldogs closed out the 2022 season with nine wins in a row. It was the program’s longest winning streak since 2013 when the ‘Dogs won 10 in a row under head coach Tim DeRuyter and quarterback Derek Carr. Fresno State’s longest winning streak in program history is 17 games over two seasons, winning the final seven games of the 1988 season and 10 games to open the 1989 campaign. Let’s rewind for a second The 2022 season was a roller coaster of emotions, from wins and losses to injuries to championships – it was truly a “trust the process” season. The Bulldogs opened the season 1-4, but finished the season with a 10-4 record becoming the first team in FBS history to open a season with one win and finish that year with 10 wins. Gotta get things started on the right foot Fresno State is 59-38-4 in its season openers all-time. As head coach of the Bulldogs’ program, Tedford is 3-1 in his season openers with wins in the 2017, 2018 and 2022 openers. • Fresno State has won its last two season openers • Fresno State’s last win in a season opener on the road was its Sept. 1 win at Rutgers (24-7) in 2008 • Since 2000, the ‘Dogs are 15-8 with four of those eight losses against top 25 teams (Ohio State-2000, Wisconsin-2002, Tennessee-2003 and USC-2014).
PURDUE SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL HIRES JORDAN RICHWOOD
By: Rachel Coe
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Head softball coach Magali Frezzotti announced the final addition to her coaching staff with the hiring of assistant coach Jordan Richwood. Richwood will oversee the Boilermaker pitching staff.
Richwood will oversee the team’s pitching staff.
“I am excited about the addition of Coach Richwood to our coaching staff,” Frezzotti said. “Jordan has a progressive and creative approach to pitching development, and I cannot wait to see what she does with our pitching staff. She brings a great balance between science and analytics, while also understanding the human-element of coaching. Our student-athletes are going to be benefit tremendously from being coached by Coach Richwood.”
Richwood joins the Boilermakers from S2 Breakthrough Softball Facility in Romeoville, Illinois, where she served as pitching coach since 2020. Managing and creating 10-plus pitcher’s training programs, she oversaw assessments covering mobility, movement and more while working to analyze and improve pitcher performance.
Prior to her time at S2 Breakthrough, she was a member of the Bucknell’s coaching staff, where she also oversaw pitching from 2019-2020. Richwood came to the Bison after previously serving as an assistant with the softball teams at Christian Brothers and at Memphis, following a standout playing career with the Tigers.
Memphis won 59 games during the two seasons that Richwood was on the staff, including a 37-21 mark in 2018. Richwood primarily developed and coached the Tigers’ outfielders, while also working with the pitching staff and managing the team’s academic needs.
From 2015-18, Richwood served as a graduate assistant coach at Christian Brothers, teaching and coaching the pitching staff. She also oversaw the team’s travel plans, academic progress, and directed the program’s social media efforts.
Richwood also served as a pitching instructor at the Legends Baseball and Softball Facility in Atoka, Tenn. from 2016-18, where she worked with young athletes’ mechanics and taught the basics of softball pitching. As an instructor, Richwood emphasized mental preparation and putting athletes in game situations through challenging mental and physical drills.
As a player, Richwood appeared in 117 games as a pitcher for the Memphis Tigers from 2012-15, totaling 26 wins, four saves, and 430 strikeouts. In 2012 she was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team after pitching nine complete games and recording 10-plus strikeouts three times. As a senior, Richwood captured a career-high 11 wins and pitched five shutouts.
PURDUE VOLLEYBALL
DETERMINATION LEADS TO 3-2 WIN AT #23 KANSAS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After three challenges delayed match point, the No. 25 Purdue volleyball team took down No. 23 Kansas in the Jayhawks’ home-opener, 3-2 (17-25, 25-19, 16-25, 17-15). With the result, Purdue bounces back to improve to 2-2 on the season, while handing Kansas (2-1) its first loss of the year.
Quick Hits:
The victory marked the first win over a ranked opponent this season. The last win over an AVCA top-25 team came in the sweep over #8 Minnesota in the 2022 Big Ten opener.
Moreover, it was Purdue’s first true road win over a top-25 non-conference team since 2019 (W, 3-2 at #16 Kentucky, 9/18/2019).
Purdue set a season-high 14 blocks
Chloe Chicoine led all players with 21 kills (21-5-54 for .296%)
Two Boilermakers recorded double doubles: Eva Hudson (15 kills, 11 digs) and Chicoine (career-high 21 kills, 12 digs)
Chloe Chicoine recorded her first career double-double
Purdue ended the night with a .299 hitting %
The Boilermakers posted a match-high 14.0 blocks and limited opponents to a match-low 7 opponent blocks.
Raven Colvin posted nine total blocks (1-8) alongside 10 kills
Set One (17-25)
A slow start by the Boilermakers
Purdue out-blocked Kansas 3-2 in the first set.
Chloe Chicoine led the team with four kills
Set 2 (25-19)
A block solo by Raven Colvin sparked a 3-0 run for Purdue to take the first lead of the match, with the block followed by an assist with Eva Hudson and a service ace by Chloe Chicoine.
Boilers hit .333% in the set.
Chloe Chicoine posted six kills with one error on 14 attacks.
Lorrin Poulter led teh team with four digs and 11 assists and one kill.
Purdue recorded four blocks in the set.
Set 4 (15-19)
Taylor Anderson dished out13 assists while the Boilermakers hit .448% in the set.
Purdue regained and held onto the lead after a kill by Eva Hudson broke the 15-15 score stalemate
Chloe Chicoine had the set-winning block solo to push the match to a fifth set.
Set 5 (17-15)
Eva Hudson took three straight points (two kills, one block solo) for Purdue take the lead, 6-4
Back-to-back block assists from Raven Colvin and Kenna Wollard followed by Colvin and Chloe Chicoine was a key momentum shift to give Purdue the 11-10 edge, despite the 11 tied scores in the set.
Purdue had its most efficient side-out with 73% in the final set.
PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER
BOILERS DROP ROADTRIP OPENER AT NO. 19 USC
LOS ANGELES – In its first road game of the season, the Purdue soccer team fell to No. 19 USC, 4-0, on Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles.
On a hot and sun-filled day at McAlister Field, the Boilermakers (2-3-0) faced their second top-25 team in their first five games of the season. The Trojans (3-1-0) recorded their second win by at least two goals in their last three matches.
In the non-conference matchup, USC had 10 shots, six on target, and Purdue registered five shots, two on frame. Both teams had three corner kicks and the home side had a 10 fouls called against them to the visitors’ five.
Senior midfielder Emily Mathews posted a game-high-tying two shots, one on target.
USC took an early lead at 1:01 on a goal by Hannah Griffin. Zoe Burns and Aaliyah Farmer assisted.
Senior goalkeeper Charlotte Cyr made a nice save in the 12th minute, with the help of sophomore defender Olivia Hall, who came in late to prevent an open shot by the USC attacker.
The Boilermakers then had the majority of chances for the remainder of the half. After several opportunities in the final third, one of their best scoring chances came in the 23rd minute. Sophomore forward Kayla Budish centered a ball in from inside the penalty box, but it was intercepted.
Ten minutes later, in the 33rd minute, Purdue came inches away from scoring the equalizing goal. From the edge of the 18 near the goal line, freshman midfielder Lauren Omholt delivered the ball to the top of the six. Mathews was there and sent a shot through the legs of the USC keeper, who was off her line. However, the ball was cleared away by a Trojan defender, and the assistant referee ruled that the ball did not completely cross the goal line.
Sophomore midfielder Sabrina Blount had a shot wide in the 39th minute, two minutes after she came into the game.
USC had the final two chances of the half, but both were forced off target by the Boilermaker defense.
The Trojans had a 5-2 advantage in shots and a 3-1 edge in shots on goal in the first 45 minutes. Both teams had two corner kicks, and the home side was called for five fouls to Purdue’s three.
Mathews had a shot wide in the 50th minute to open the second half before USC found two quick goals. The first was by Kayla Colbert, from Griffin, at 55:32. Two minutes later, at 57:18, Helana Sampaio scored from Farmer to make it 3-0.
Junior midfielder Gracie Dunaway had a shot that was saved in the 59th minute, and Omholt had an opportunity that was blocked in the 62nd as Purdue looked to cut into the deficit.
The home side scored its fourth at 63:55, as Katie Roditis found the back of the net from Izzy Kimberly and Florianne Jourde. That proved to be the final shot of the game for either squad.
USC recorded five shots, three on goal, in the second half, and Purdue had three shots, two on target. Both teams earned one corner kick and the Trojans were called for five fouls to the Boilermakers’ two.
Up next, Purdue’s weekend concludes at Colorado on Sunday, September 3, at 2 p.m. ET / noon MT. The contest will be broadcast live on the Pac 12 Network.
BUTLER FOOTBALL
BUTLER FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW: LINEBACKERS
INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs roll into Week 1 of the college football season with 15 linebackers on the roster. Defensive Coordinator Jeff Knowles oversees the young linebacker corps that includes just three upper classmen.
Mike Wymer, Charlie Bless and Hocking College transfer Matthew VanSteenlandt are the oldest players in the position group, but a trio of sophomores are set to see plenty of action on Saturday at Montana.
Jeremiah Jackson, Tyson Garrett, and Adam Sturtz will be lined up and ready to go for the BU defense at the start of the season. Sturtz has the best stats of any returning linebacker on the roster. In 2022, he came up with 37 tackles over 11 games while adding an interception and a forced fumble. Jackson played in all 11 games as a true freshman and collected 18 tackles. Garrett mirrored that stat line with 17 stops in nine games.
Evan Niemi, Danny Orgler and Brayton Spetter all saw playing time in 2022 and will look to carve out a larger role on the BU defense this year. Niemi blew up multiple plays a year ago and was credited with two tackles for a loss and two quarterback hurries.
Sam Scullion, James McCabe, Mason Armstrong, Matthew Randar, Jayden Norris, Brady Stanifer will add depth to this unit.
BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER
SOMMER’S HAT TRICK SPURS WOMEN’S SOCCER TO SHUTOUT OF IUPUI
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler women’s soccer team took care of cross-town rival, IUPUI, in a match at the Sellick Bowl on Butler’s campus. Talia Sommer became one of 13 Bulldogs who have scored three or more goals in one match, leading the Bulldogs (2-3-0, 0-0-0 BIG EAST) to a two-goal lead at the break and adding one more just after halftime. The visiting Jaguars (3-2-0, 0-0-0 Horizon League) had a late opportunity to get on the board due to a Butler foul in the penalty area, but an errant shot preserved the first solo shutout of the season for Anna Pierce in goal.
Key Moments
2′ | Talia Sommer splits two defenders with the ball, eludes a third and bypasses the IUPUI keeper with a low shot into the net. Butler takes an early, 1-0, lead.
30′ | Aliya Diagne has the ball on the defensive end on the left side. She plays Becky Dean a midfield who immediately sends it forward and back to the left touch line where a wide-open Anna Schroeder collects it. Schroeder carries forward and lays the ball across to the top of the box. Sommer is there, and she makes a move to her left and puts a left-footed shot just inside the left post. The Bulldogs are up, 2-0.
—HALFTIME—
48′ | At midfield, Sommer drops the ball to Arianna Jalics for a give-and-go. Sommer then travels forward, eludes two IUPUI defenders, puts a move on the keeper and slides the ball in for the hat trick. Butler has a three-goal advantage.
84′ | A Butler foul in the penalty area awards the Cougars a chance from the spot. The IUPUI shot sails over the crossbar
Butler Points Summary
GOALS: Talia Sommer (3)
ASSISTS: Becky Dean, Anna Schroeder
Bulldog Bits
Talia Sommer’s hat trick was a career first and represents her first three goals of the season. She now has eight career goals.
Becky Dean’s assist was her second of the season and the sixth of her career.
Anna Schroeder’s assist was the first of her career.
The solo shutout for Anna Pierce (2-1-0) was her first of the season and the fourth of her career.
Alli Leonard made her first appearance of the season as she recovers from an injury in the 2022 season.
BUTLER VOLLEYBALL
BUTLERVB CARRY UNDEFEATED RECORD TO THE DAYTON FLYER CLASSIC
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler volleyball team will head east to compete at the Dayton Flyer Classic this weekend. On Friday, the Bulldogs will face off against North Dakota St. and Ohio followed by a match against Dayton on Saturday, which will be streamed on ESPN+.
2023 Dayton Flyer Classic Schedule
Friday, September 1
North Dakota St. vs. Butler – 11 AM
Butler vs. Ohio – 5 PM
North Dakota St. vs. Dayton – 7 PM
Saturday, September 2
Ohio vs. North Dakota St. – 11 AM
Butler vs. Dayton – 1 PM
Bulldog Bits
-Butler opened the season 3-0 for the second consecutive season after they started 4-0 in 2022.
-The Bulldogs are one of four BIG EAST teams to start of the season with an undefeated record of 3-0
-North Dakota State, Ohio and Dayton all lead the overall record against Butler. The Bulldogs have one win against NDSU (1-2) and UD (1-4), and they still haven’t beaten Ohio (0-1).
-BU haven’t met Dayton since 2012 where they faced off twice in a month with the Flyers taking both matches 3-1.
-Jaymeson Kinley was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Mon. Aug. 28th.
-Kinley was named the 2023 Bulldog Brawl tournament MVP for the second consecutive season after tallying 56 digs over the first three matches.
-Abby Maesch and Mariah Grunze were named to the 2023 Bulldog Brawl All-Tournament team
-Cora Taylor reached 1,000 career assists last weekend in just her second season with the Bulldogs.
-Grace Boggess set a career-high 7 total blocks against UC San Diego last weekend
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA STATE: The Bison enter the Dayton Invite with a 3-0 record after competing at the Vandal Volleyball Invite in Moscow, Idaho last weekend. Head coach Jennifer Lopez will help lead a NDSU squad that earned its highest Summit League Preseason Coaches’ Poll ranking since 2016 after being picked second. Kelley Johnson, who was named Summit League Setter of the Year, returns to the team after she led the conference and ranked eighth in the nation with a career-best 1,342 assists last year.
Johnson will be joined by Ali Hinze who became just the ninth player in program history to surpass the 1,000 kills mark with 1,052 over her first three seasons.
SCOUTING OHIO: The Bobcats began opening weekend with a 2-1 record at the LD&B Insurance Invitational. Ohio lost a five set thriller against UMBC 3-2 in their season opener followed by consecutive wins over James Madison 3-0 and High Point 3-1. Ohio’s roster features 12 returners, including All-MAC First Team honorees Caitlin O’Farrell and Caroline Clippard.
In the first three matches, the Bobcats have four players with 30 or more kills. O’Farrell is Ohio’s top option with a team-high 40 kills.
SCOUTING DAYTON: The Flyers started the regular season 2-1 after hosting the Flyer Invitational last weekend. The season opener could not have gone better as Dayton swept No. 24 ranked Western Kentucky to enter the win column. The Flyers would head into the second day of the tournament where they would split two five-set battles, where they knocked off Drake 3-2 before falling to No. 12 ranked Marquette in the following match.
UD was picked to finish second in the 2023 Atlantic 10 Conference by the 2023 Preseason A10 Coaches Poll. OH/L Lexie Almodovar, and MB Amelia Moore are the Flyers top returners after being named to the 2022 All-Conference First Team.
CORA CRACKS 1K: Setter Cora Taylor reached 1,000 career assists last weekend in just her second collegiate season. Taylor finished with 119 assists in her first three matches at the Bulldog Brawl including a 46 assist performance against UC San Diego. She currently sits at 1,111 career assists and is currently on pace to jump into the top 10 of Butler’s All-Time career assist leaders this season.
Last season, Taylor was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team after tallying a team-high 992 assists along with 9.36 assists per set, which ranked fifth in the BIG EAST.
LEGENDARY LIBERO: The two-time BIG EAST Libero of the Year Jaymeson Kinley is coming off another record-breaking season after her 618 digs and 5.42 digs per set became the best marks in program history. Kinley was selected to the All-BIG EAST Team and AVCA East All-Regional Team after playing in all 114 sets last season. She enters the 2023 season on the Preseason All-BIG EAST team for just the second time in program history.
Kinley was named the MVP of the Bulldog Brawl tournament last weekend after racking up 56 digs over the first three matches of the season.
PIN IT TO WIN IT: The Butler volleyball team boasts an impressive young attacking core at the pins. Mariah Grunze will headline the frontcourt after appearing in all 113 sets and leading the team with 415.5 points. Opposite of Grunze will be transfer Abby Maesch, who was a steady contributor during her two years at the University of Georgia where she registered 142 kills and 12 serving aces.
Abby Maesch returns to Indianapolis for her junior campaign after spending two seasons at Georgia. The local product is originally from Avon, Ind.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: The Bulldogs welcomed eight new players to the team including one transfer and seven true freshmen. Transfer Abby Maesch hopes to bring her experience to the team at the outside hitter position after spending two years with the University of Georgia. Elise Ward, Laiya Ebo and Sawyer Jones are three true freshmen outside hitters who will also look to make an immediate impact
The Bulldogs have four other true freshmen hoping to make a quick influence on the team and coaching staff including D/S Reese Bates, D/S Abby Herman, MB Jaeda Lockhart and S Kaylee Finnegan.
FRESH START: The Kyle Shondell Era couldn’t have started off any better after he helped lead his team to a 3-0 record at the Bulldog Brawl last weekend. The 2022 AVCA National Coach of the Year arrived on campus on March 7, 2023 becoming the sixth head coach in program history. Shondell also brought along an entire new coaching staff including three new assistant coaches.
The Butler volleyball coaching staff includes two previous assistant coaches in Tyler Golsteyn from Eastern Michigan and AJ Lux from Missouri State along with first time assistant coach Grace Cleveland from Purdue.
WATCH THE BULLDOGS: The match between Butler and Dayton will be streamed on ESPN+ beginning on Saturday at 1pm. Viewers can follow along on the Live Stats for the Bulldogs’ two matches on Friday.
UP NEXT
Butler will head south to Morehead, Kent. for the MSU Comfort Inn-vitational. Morehead State will host three teams including BU, Northern Kentucky and Indiana State.
The Bulldogs will face off against NKU (1PM) and Indiana State (4:30PM) on Sept. 8 followed by a single match against MSU (2PM) on Sept. 9.
IUPUI VOLLEYBALL
JAGUARS OPEN HAMPTON INN INVITE WITH WIN
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI Jaguars opened the Hampton Inn Invite with a win over UC Riverside on Thursday night, 3-2. Freshman Maia Long led the Jaguar attack with 21 kills while Kate White added 14.
“I continue to be impressed and proud of this team’s grit and fight,” said head coach Andrew Kroger. “There are certainly technically aspects that we continue to work on and get better at as a team, but you want out of your team is to continue to fight and be aggressive.”
IUPUI took a two set lead after winning the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-23. The Jags outhit the Highlanders 14 kills to 13 in the first set, but the highlight of the set was the Jags five blocks. IUPUI kept that momentum in the second set with three blocks, 11 kills and two service aces.
The third set was a back-and-forth battle with UC Riverside coming out on top, 31-29. Three kills by freshman Maia Long late in the third set kept the Jags in the fight but the Highlanders outlasted the Jags.
IUPUI couldn’t hang on to the 2-1 lead, falling in the fourth set, 25-23. The Highlanders had set point at 24-21 but back-to-back kills by Ava Harris led the Jags to threaten at 24-23. Ultimately, IUPUI couldn’t hold on and the Highlanders forced a fifth set.
In the fifth and deciding set, UC Riverside held an 8-5 lead when the teams switched sides. IUPUI fought back to tie the game at 10-10 with a kill from Emily Alan then tied the game once again at 12-12. The Jags took command and went on 3-1 run with kills from White and Harris to close out the match, 15-13.
IUPUI’s young squad shined as freshman Grace Purichia led in assists with 45 and added 15 digs and six kills. Long led the kill category with 21 while adding 13 digs. Fellow freshman White was right behind her with 14 kills and four blocks. Junior Addie Evans kept the ball in the air with a team-leading 20 digs.
The Jaguars are now 3-1 to start the season and 1-0 during the Hampton Inn Invite. They will next face Oral Roberts tomorrow, September 1 at 6:00 PM in the Jungle.
IUPUI WOMEN’S SOCCER
JAGUARS BULLIED AT BUTLER IN 3-0 DEFEAT
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI women’s soccer team suffered a 3-0 setback at crosstown foe Butler on Thursday night (Aug. 31) as Butler’s Talia Sommer registered a hat trick in the win. The Jaguars fell behind early and were unable to scratch against the Bulldogs.
Sommer opened the game’s scoring in the game’s second minute and made it 2-0 later in the first half. She completed the hat trick early in the second half.
“I thought, our gameplan going in probably wasn’t as aggressive as we should’ve been,” head coach Chris Johnson said. “Maybe I kind of held us back a bit and I need to adjust that as we move forward here.
IUPUI (3-2) was able to stem the tide for much of the second half, creating scoring chances down the stretch, including a penalty kick in the 84th minute. Abbey Renner drew a foul to gain the opportunity, but Caroline Kelley’s attempt flew harmlessly over the bar. Earlier in the half, Kelley had a header off Leah Shumate’s free kick at the far post that went just wide of target. Moments later, Katie Hoog got free and forward and had her attempt fly high of target from long distance.
In the 80th minute, Emma Antoine just missed a left-footed attempt after getting in behind the Butler defense. Her tough angled attempt rolled just wide of frame and beyond the endline.
Junior goalkeeper Ashton Kudlo made six saves in a busy first half before Cailynn Junk took over for the second half. Junk recorded just one stop as the back line was more stingy after intermission.
With injuries mounting for Johnson’s squad, the longtime head coach was forced to retool his starting unit on Thursday with Lindsey Castillo and Maddie Long each receiving their first career starts.
IUPUI will return home to host Tennessee Tech on Sunday (Sept. 3) at 1:00 p.m. at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium.
IUPUI MEN’S SOCCER
MEN’S SOCCER TO FACE DAYTON ON FRIDAY
DAYTON, Ohio – The IUPUI men’s soccer team will face another stiff road test on Friday (Sept. 1) when the Jaguars take on the University of Dayton at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Head coach Sid van Druenen’s team comes in at 1-1 to start the year with a home win over Southern Indiana and a road defeat at Notre Dame. Senior midfielder Lukas Hackaa is the reigning #HLMSOC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring twice in the 3-1 season opening win over USI.
Hackaa helped ignite an IUPUI (1-1) charge that scored three times in the game’s first 36 minutes of the 3-1 win over the Screaming Eagles. Josemir Gomez scored the game’s first goal off assists from Emerson Nieto and Edgar Correia before Hackaa tallied on a penalty kick in the 12th minute. He later scored in transition off a Spencer Holland assist in the 36th minute of that game. Fifth-year senior Lucas Morefield earned the win, making a pair of saves in a full 90 minutes of work.
The tides were turned at Notre Dame on Sunday as the Jaguars fell to the Irish, 5-0. The hosts tacked on a pair of insurance goals in the game’s final five minutes in stretching out the win. The Jaguars were outshot 14-5 in that contest and 6-2 on frame.
Hackaa leads the Jaguars in goals (2), points (4), shots (6), shots on goals (4) and game-winners (1) to start the year. Freshman Jago Thompson-Roberts is the lone field player to have played all 180 minutes in the season’s first two games. Sophomore Brady Horn is next in line with 167 minutes and Correia has played 166.
Morefield has played all 180 minutes in net with a 3.00 goals against average and three saves in two starts.
IUPUI enters at 0-3 all-time against Dayton as the two sides haven’t met since 2014. The Jaguars have been outscored by a collective score of 11-0 in the three prior meetings.
IUPUI MEN’S GOLF
TOURNEMIRE LEADS JAGUARS ON DAY ONE OF EKU COLONEL CLASSIC
RICHMOND, Ky. – The IUPUI men’s golf team registered rounds of 290 and 275 on day one of the EKU Colonel Classic at the University Club at Arlington on Thursday (Aug. 31) and is tied for second among the 12-team field heading into Friday’s finale. Belmont leads the field at 10-under 550 while IUPUI is knotted with Austin Peay at 565 through 36 holes. IUPUI’s second round, 5-under 275 was the low round of round two, buoying the Jaguars up to second-place.
Junior Morgan Tournemire led the charge with an even par 70 in the morning round and a 5-under 65 in the afternoon. Both Taylor Gardner and Kevin Tillery shot 1-under 69 in round two while Colten Girgis and Titus Boswell both shot 2-over 72.
Tournemire’s second round saw him make seven birdies, including three straight at one point, accompanied by a double bogey on the par-5, No. 2. Gardner made five birdies in round two and Tillery recorded four.
“I was happy with my rounds today,” Tournemire said. “I wasn’t able to get it going this morning, but this afternoon, I drove it better and some putts dropped. The team was a little rusty at first, but we were able to flip it around this afternoon and have some great rounds. I’m looking forward to carrying this momentum tomorrow.”
The morning round saw Tournemire lead the way at even par 70 while Tillery and Boswell both shot 2-over 72. Gardner was countable at 6-over 76 and Girgis shot 85.
Tournemire is tied for second among the 91-player field while Tillery is tied for 15th at 1-over 141 (72-69).
Noah Kirsch shot rounds of 72 and 73 while playing as an individual while Brady Schier shot 73 and 82 in his collegiate debut.
Teams will resume play at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.
BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL TRAVELS TO OMAHA FOR BLUEJAY INVITATIONAL
THIS WEEK IN BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL: The Ball State women’s volleyball team travels to Omaha, Nebraska, to compete in the three-day Bluejay Invitational hosted by Creighton … The Cardinals will face the 20th-ranked host Bluejay Friday at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT to open the event … Up next is a Saturday showdown with UNI at 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CT … BSU closes play in the tournament Sunday at 1 p.m. ET / Noon CT versus LSU.
FOLLOW THE ACTION: Fans unable to make their way to D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha, Nebraska, can follow the action with live video with a paid subscription to FloSports … Only BSU’s match versus Creighton will have announcers, while the remaining contests will have ambient sound … In addition, live stats will be available for all three matches and updates from the matches will be provided on the team’s X feed: @BallStateWVB.
MAC PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION: For the second straight season, the Ball State women’s volleyball program was selected to repeat at the Mid-American Conference West Division champions in the league’s annual preseason poll … The Cardinals received 61 points and 11 of the 12 first-place votes to win the division … Western Michigan was second with one first place vote and 43 points … In addition, the Cardinals received five votes to win the MAC Tournament which will be hosted by the league’s top seed … Bowling Green was selected to win the MAC East Division and earned six votes to win the tournament.
PRESEASON HONORS: In addition to the team being picked to win the MAC West Division, fifth-year middle Marie Plitt and junior setter Megan Wielonskihave been named to the preseason All-MAC team … Both were first team all-conference selections in each of the past two seasons, with Wielonski earning 2021 MAC Freshman of the Year honors and 2022 MAC Setter of the Year accolades.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: The Cardinals are 4-7 all-time versus teams in this weekend’s Bluejay Invitational field.
– Ball State is 0-1 all-time versus Creighton, with the Bluejays winning the only previous meeting 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-21) in Greeley, Colorado, as part of the Northern Colorado Classic played Sept. 7, 2012.
– Ball State is 3-4 all-time versus UNI, despite winning the last meeting by a score of 3-1 (25-16, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23) on Aug. 28, 2021, as part of the GBD Invite hosted by Green Bay.
– Ball State is 1-2 all-time versus LSU, including a 3-0 (15-11, 15-9, 15-13) victory in the latest meeting played Sept. 5, 1997, in Champaign, Illinois, as part of the Illini Classic.
SCOUTING BALL STATE:
• The Cardinals opened the 2023 season by going 2-1 in its own Ball State Invitational last weekend … BSU secured sweeps of Gonzaga and Purdue Fort Wayne to bookend a 3-1 loss to Oklahoma.
• For their play over the two-day tournament, Marie Plitt and Megan Wielonski were named to the Ball State Invitational All-Tournament Team … Plitt led the offense with 29 kills and a .431 attack percentage, while Wielonski handed out 10.60 assists per set and ran the offense at a .283 clip over the three matches.
• Fifth-year libero Havyn Gates led the backcourt with a 3.70 digs-per-set average, while senior middle Lauren Gilliland collected 1.00 block per set.
SCOUTING GONZAGA:
• The Bluejay enter the week ranked 20th in the latest AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll … Creighton started the season with sweeps of Loyola and then-No. 16 Purdue at the Reamer Club Xtra Special Premier hosted by the Boilermakers, before closing opening weekend with a 3-2 loss to Duke.
• Creighton turned in a dominating attack opening weekend and currently ranks eighth nationally with a 15.36 kills-per-set average led by Ava Martin at 4.45 and Norah Sis at 4.09.
• The Bluejays also made some solid plays on defense and rank eighth nationally at 19.00 digs per set … Ellie Bolton leads the way at 4.82.
SCOUTING UNI:
• The Panthers opened the season by going 1-2 at the Western Michigan Tournament, book ending a sweep of Milwaukee with a 3-2 loss to Villanova and a 3-1 setback to the host Broncos.
• Kira Fallert led the UNI offense with a 3.25 kills-per-set average over the first three matches, while Layanna Green hit a team-best .450.
• Erin Powers led the Panthers backcourt and ranks 60th nationally with a 4.75 digs-per-set average … Olivia Tjernagel led UNI at the net with 18 total blocks for a 1.50 blocks-per-set mark.
SCOUTING LSU:
• The Tigers, who received votes in the latest AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll, hosted UCLA for a pair of matches last weekend, opening the season with a 3-2 win, followed by a 3-2 setback to the Bruins.
• LSU averaged 12.20 kills per set over the two matches, paced by Jurnee Robinson at 4.60 which ranks 23rd nationally … The Tigers also hit .253 as a squad, which is 82nd among all NCAA Division I programs.
• Erin Carmichael and Jade Demps tied for team-high honors with 27 digs apiece last week, boasting 2.70 digs-per-set averages … At the net, Anita Anwusi registered 11 blocks for a 1.10 blocks-per-set average.
BALL STATE QUICK HITS:
• In its 52nd season of play, Ball State boasts a 997-634-2 (.611) all-time record in women’s volleyball … The Cardinals have captured 12 MAC West Division Championships, 10 MAC Regular Season Championships and eight MAC Volleyball Championship titles … Ball State has made 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including three of the last four seasons … BSU has also earned one bid into the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).
• Ball State concluded the 2022 regular season as the winningest program in league play with a 433-215 (.668) all-time Mid-American Conference record … Western Michigan is second on the list, seven matches behind the Cardinals at 426-222 (.657).
• The Cardinals own an even better record when playing at home, boasting a 309-96 (.763) mark inside Worthen Arena after last weekend’s Ball State Invitational … Looking at just opponents from the MAC, Ball State is 226-58 (.796) when battling in “The Nest” … Overall, no MAC opponent owns a winning record inside Worthen Arena, as the Cardinals have at least a .632 winning percentage against all league schools on its current home floor.
• Marie Plitt picked up right where she left off last season, hitting a team-best .431 during the Ball State Invitational … Her best effort came in Saturday evening’s win over Purdue Fort Wayne when she smashed 10 kills on 12 swings with one error for a .750 attacking mark … Plitt also hit .500 in the season opener versus Gonzaga, leading all players in the match with 13 kills.
• Thanks to her solid start to the year, Marie Plitt enters the Bluejay Invitational ranked third on Ball State’s all-time list with a .355 career hitting percentage … Plitt has steadily improved each year, hitting .295 as a freshman, .316 as a sophomore, .360 as a junior, a Ball State single season record .404 last year, and .431 so far this season … She is the first player in program history to hit .400-or-above in a single season.
• In addition, Plitt became just the 13th player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills with her first of 10 markers in last season’s NCAA Tournament opening round match at then-No. 16 Marquette … With 29 kills so far this season, Plitt needs 97 more kills to break into the top 10 in program history, with Mindy Stanley (1993-96) currently ranking 10th at 1,135.
• Fifth-year defensive specialist Havyn Gates served as Ball State’s starting libero in the first three matches this season, and has now donned the off-colored jersey eight times in her Ball State career … She collected a team-best 37 digs opening weekend and currently ranks seventh in the MAC with a 3.70 digs-per-set average … Gates collected a season-high 16 digs in Saturday’s win over Purdue Fort Wayne (Aug. 26) … Her Ball State career-high is 33 digs in the five-set thriller at Central Michigan (Sept. 24, 2022) … Gates, who registered 42 digs in a match as a freshman at Indiana Wesleyan in 2019, has 1,782 career digs including 658 at BSU and 1,124 at IWU.
• Megan Wielonski, who currently ranks eighth in program history with 2,859 career assists, has proven to be one of the nation’s elite setters … In fact, her 2,859 career assists currently rank 21st among all active NCAA Division I players and are 22nd among all active NCAA setters across all divisions (I, II and III) … As a freshman, she finished the 2021 season ranked second nationally with 1,394 total assists … Her sophomore campaign saw her ranked fourth nationally with 1,358 total assists in 2022 … Three matches into the 2023 season and Wielonski is 44th nationally with 106 total assists.
• In addition to being one of the nation’s top setters, Megan Wielonski is one of the country’s top servers with 110 career aces … She scored six aces during the Ball State Invitational to tie for 85th nationally … As a freshman, she ranked eighth among all NCAA Division I players with 58 aces, including a career-high seven vs. Ohio (Sept. 30, 2021) … Her 58 aces in 2021 tied as the sixth-most in a single season in Ball State history and were a single season record for a BSU setter, topping Amber Seaman’s total of 51 in 2018 … Last season, she ranked 55th nationally with 46 service aces.
• Cait Snyder started her senior year strong, scoring 11 kills versus Gonzaga (Aug. 25) and a team-high 11 versus Oklahoma (Aug. 26) … Overall, she has smashed double digit kills in 18 of BSU’s last 22 matches, including a career-high 21 in the 2022 MAC Championship semifinal win over Central Michigan (Nov. 21, 2022) … Snyder has also led the Ball State offense in kills in 14 of the last 22 matches dating back to last season.
• Sophomore opposite Madison Buckley made a big impact opening weekend, starting with a career-high 10 kills in the win over Gonzaga (Aug. 25) … She followed with eight kills versus Oklahoma (Aug. 26) and nine against Purdue Fort Wayne (Aug. 26) … Buckley, who ranks sixth in the MAC with a .375 attack percentage this season, tallied just 33 kills in 12 matches as a freshman in 2022.
• Freshman Aniya Kennedy also made the most of her first collegiate weekend, coming in as an outside and smashing four kills versus Oklahoma (Aug. 26) and a career-high nine against Purdue Fort Wayne (Aug. 26) … She also hit a combined .423 over the two matches, including a .467 effort against the Mastodons.
BALL STATE FIELD HOCKEY
FIELD HOCKEY FACES BUCKNELL AND NEW HAMPSHIRE ON THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State field hockey team will continue its five-game road trip this weekend with contests against Bucknell (Friday) and New Hampshire (Sunday). Both games will be played at a neutral site in Columbus, Ohio on the campus of Ohio State.
The Cardinals open play Friday at 1 pm ET versus the Bison. It will be only the second-ever meeting between Ball State and Bucknell. The last time the two teams met was on Sept. 6, 2008, in Towson, Md., resulting in a 4-3 victory for the Bison. Bucknell enters the contest with an 0-2 record with losses to Drexel (4-0) and Temple (2-1).
After Friday’s game, the Cardinals will close out the weekend against the Wildcats on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two squads. New Hampshire comes to Columbus with a 2-0 start to the season after defeating Quinnipiac (4-3 OT) and Michigan State (4-0).
Ball State suffered two hard fought losses last weekend to open the 2023 season. The Cardinals dropped both contests by a 4-3 decision at Villanova and Lehigh. Despite the losses, the Cardinals were able to score six goals total with Fleur Knopert leading the way with two for the weekend. Defensively, goalie Hannah Johnston closed out the weekend with 27 saves.
After this weekend, the Ball State Field Hockey team will continue its five-game road stretch at Saint Francis (Sept. 8) and at Lock Haven (Sept. 10).
BALL STATE FOOTBALL
GAME NOTES VS. KENTUCKY
(BALL STATE NOTES)
Ball State kicks off the 2023 campaign at Kentucky to open a two-week grind against Southeastern Conference foes – UK on Saturday, and next week at defending national champion Georgia. Saturday’s game marks the second straight season that Ball State has opened the season in an SEC stadium, falling last year at Tennessee, 59-10, to the Volunteers. Since opening at South Carolina in 1998, it is the fifth time the Cardinals have begun a season on SEC soil (Florida ‘00, Auburn ‘01, Tennessee ‘22). Ball State faces SEC opponents in consecutive weeks for just the second time in its history. The Cardinals opened the 2001 season on Sept. 1 at Auburn, then fell to Kentucky, 28-20, the only other time these teams have met on the gridiron. The Cardinals enter the 2023 campaign having appeared in bowl games in two of the past three seasons, falling one game short last season in an effort to reach a third straight bowl game for the first time in program history. The Cardinals enter 2023 with its greatest strengths entrenched in its offensive and defensive fronts. There exists a balance of youth and experience, representing some of the deepest units Ball State has seen in its interior lines in several years. – Of the 112 players on last year’s roster, 82 were classified as underclassmen, then ranked as the 18th-highest in college football. Ball State’s roster makeup of 73.2 percent underclassmen ranked as the seventh-highest in the FBS. – Aside from wide receiver and secondary rooms hit hard with losses (WRs lost 5 of 6 letterwinners; DBs lost 4 of 6), 31 of 57 letterwinners return from last year’s roster. The bulk of those losses (12 of 26) were comprised of receivers (5), defensive backs (4) and specialists (3). What’s that mean? The O-Line, D-Line and Linebacking units are deep and experienced. The Cardinals expect to feature a former Alabama redshirt, Layne Hatcher, as their starting quarterback. Between stints at Arkansas State and Texas State, Hatcher opens his fifth college season among active FBS career leaders in passing yards (5th, 10,080) and touchdowns (3rd, 84).
INSIDE THE SERIES: KENTUCKY: In their lone meeting in 2001, Ball State led the Wildcats 10-7 midway through the second period, but Kentucky managed a 14-10 lead at the intermission. UK commanded a 28-13 lead in the fourth, but the Cardinals pulled within 28-20 with six minutes to play. Neither team scored the rest of the way. VS. SEC: Saturday’s game marks the second straight season that Ball State has opened the season in an SEC stadium, falling last year at Tennessee, 59-10, to the Volunteers. Since opening at South Carolina in 1998, it is the fifth time the Cardinals have begun a season on SEC soil (Florida ‘00, Auburn ‘01, Tennessee ‘22). Ball State faces SEC opponents in consecutive weeks for just the second time in its history. The Cardinals opened the 2001 season on Sept. 1 at Auburn, then fell to Kentucky on Sept. 8, 28-20, the only other time these teams have met on the gridiron. The Cardinals are seeking their first win against an SEC opponent. Ball State is 0-11 against teams currently in the SEC and 0-8 against SEC foes at the time of the game (Auburn 0-3; Florida 0-1; Kentucky 0-1; Missouri 0-3 while in Big XII; South Carolina 0-1; Tennessee 0-1; Texas A&M 0-1).
(KENTUCKY NOTES)
The University of Kentucky football program begins an anticipated season in 2023. There is a lot for Big Blue Nation to be excited about this season, from a coordinator combination that has proven success in the Bluegrass, to well-versed leaders in the locker room, to developing talent primed to take a step up, to an impressive group of transfers that are itching to stand out. In the Kentucky-Ball State season opener, fans will get a first look at a remodeled offensive line, an anticipated wide receiver room and a revamped running back room, paired with transfer quarterback Devin Leary. They’ll also see a younger but still talented UK defense, highlighted by linebacker J.J. Weaver, who returned for his senior season after opting out of the 2022 NFL Draft, and sophomore defensive lineman Deone Walker, who earned All-SEC honors as a true freshman.
(QUICK NOTES)
Kentucky begins its 133rd season on Saturday. • UK was picked to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division in a 2023 SEC Preseason Media Poll, behind defending national champion Georgia, then Tennessee and South Carolina. • Three Wildcats were named to the 2023 Preseason Media Days All-SEC Teams, including sophomore Deone Walker (Second Team Defense), graduate students Eli Cox (Third Team Offense) and J.J. Weaver (Third Team Defense). • In 2022, UK earned a 7-6 record overall and a 3-5 record in the conference, reaching its school record seventh consecutive bowl game (TransPerfect Music City Bowl). • It marked the sixth time in the last seven seasons that UK won at least seven games, with the lone exception being the COVID-shortened season in 2020. • In 2023, the Wildcats celebrate its 50th anniversary of the opening of Kroger Field, which was formerly named Commonwealth Stadium. • The Cats are 182-141-4 (.563) all-time in Kroger Field, including 46-25 (.648) under Mark Stoops. • The Cats have won 13 of their past 17 games at Kroger Field. • The Cats are 16-4 in their last 20 home night games. • The Wildcats begin the season receiving votes in both the Associated Press Poll and AFCA Coaches Poll.
This is the second consecutive season UK has been ranked or receiving votes in the preseason edition of both major polls. • Three of Kentucky’s opponents (Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee) are ranked in the top 12 of the polls and eight opponents are ranked or receiving votes in the polls. • UK head coach Mark Stoops is in his 11th year at the helm of the program in 2023, the longest in program history, which was an accomplishment he set last season. He also is the secondlongest tenured active head coach in the SEC, behind Alabama’s Nick Saban, and he is the eighth-longest nationally. • In that time, Stoops has accumulated an 66-59 overall record. • Stoops became the winningest head coach in program history last season after No. 20/20 Kentucky upset No. 12/19 Florida in Gainesville, 26-16, on Sept. 10, 2022. Stoops passed former UK head coach Bear Bryant (1946-53), who set the previous record at 60. • Stoops began his tenure in Lexington 12-26 (.316) (2013 – through first two games of 2016). He has since gone 54-33 (.621) (2016 – present). • Stoops has guided UK to three second-place SEC East finished in the last eight seasons, which are the program’s only second-place SEC East finishes in program history. • Stoops made a couple of changes to his coaching staff in the offseason, including adding Jay Boulware (Running Backs / Special Teams Coordinator) and Liam Coen (Offensive Coordinator). • Coen returned for his second stint at Kentucky in the offseason, having served as UK’s offensive coordinator in 2021, then the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive Coordinator in 2022. • The Wildcats returned 36 letterwinners, including 13 offensive and defensive starters, for the upcoming season. The Cats also bolstered the roster with the addition of 16 newcomers from the transfer portal. • The offensive starters returning include wide receivers Dane Key and Tayvion Robinson, offensive linemen Jager Burton, Kenneth Horsey, Eli Cox and Jeremy Flax, and tight ends Brenden Bates and Jordan Dingle. • The defensive starters returning include linemen Deone Walker and Tre’vonn Rybka, inside linebacker D’Eryk Jackson, outside linebacker J.J. Weaver, and defensive back Jordan Lovett. • The specialty starters returning include punter Wilson Berry and kicker Chance Poore. • Other updates that occurred during the offseason include the renovation of Nutter Field House, with the help of a lead donation from Brett and Billie Jo Setzer, allowed the playing surface inside the facility to be named Rich and Karen Brooks Field, and a the new turf at Kroger Field. • In 2022, Kentucky concluded its regular season with a win over in-state rival Louisville, 26-13, which marked the Cats’ fourth-straight win over the Cards. It was also the Cats’ fifth-straight triumph in the regular-season finale, which marked the first time in program history that has been accomplished. • Former quarterback Will Levis was selected No. 33 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, marking the fifth straight season Kentucky has had one or more players selected in the first three rounds.
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
GAME NOTES VS. TENNESSEE STATE
(NOTRE DAME NOTES)
IRISH ITEMS – BY THE NUMBERS
1 Two Irish freshman will not forget their first career touches from the
Navy game last week. Jaden Greathouse caught a 35-yard touchdown on his first reception, while Jadarian Price burst through the
line for a 19-yard touchdown on his first career carry.
2 Freshman Jaden Greathouse became the first Irish freshman wide
receiver to catch two touchdown passes in his Notre Dame debut
against Navy last week, nabbing 35- and 20-yard receptions from
Sam Hartman.
3 Only three Irish signal callers have thrown four touchdown passes in
their Notre Dame debut – current Senior Associate Athletics Director
for Football Ron Powlus in 1994 against Northwestern, Jack Coan in
2021 versus Florida State and Sam Hartman last Saturday against
Navy.
4 In Marcus Freeman’s debut season in 2022, Notre Dame defeated
four Associated Press ranked teams: No. 5 Clemson, No. 16 BYU, No.
16 Syracuse and No. 20 South Carolina, which matched Terry Brennan
(1954) for the most ranked wins in a coaching debut season at Notre
Dame and was most in one single season for the program since 2018.
6 Benjamin Morrison intercepted six passes during his rookie season
in 2022 and was one of two Power 5 defensive backs to reach that
mark (Miami’s Kamren Kinchens also had six).
11 There were 11 Irish players that made their college footall debuts in
last weekend’s game against Navy: LB Jaiden Ausberry, LB Drayk
Bowen, OL Ashton Craig, HLD Dylan Devezin, DB Christian Gray, WR
Jaden Greathouse, TE Cooper Flanagan, WR Rico Flores Jr., RB Jadarian Price, OL Billy Schrauth, OL Aamil Wagner.
35.3 Not only did Notre Dame improve to 3-9 all-time against Navy in Ireland last weekend, but it pushed its average margin of victory over
the Midshipmen on the Emerald Isle to 35.3 ppg.
48 Fifth-year senior DJ Brown is the most experienced returning player
to the Irish roster this season, having appeared in 48 career games
with 12 starts. JD Bertrand has the most starts of any returning player with 24 in his career. The two of the most experienced players, in
terms of games played in a career, are new to the roster this season
– Sam Hartman (49) and Javontae Jean-Baptiste (48).
81 Irish quarterback Sam Hartman has thrown 81 touchdown passes
since 2021 – the most of any Power 5 quarterback.
95 Notre Dame begins its 95th season at Notre Dame Stadium in 2023
and will be playing their 500th game in ‘The House that Rockne Built’
in the season finale against Wake Forest.
100 When an Irish running back reaches the 100-yard plateau, that typically coincides with a Notre Dame victory. Since 2021, the Irish are
16-2 (.889) when at least one ND player reaches 100 rushing yards.
231.7 Sam Hartman’s 231.7 passer rating from the victory over Navy ranks
as the ninth-best in Notre Dame history and the third-best in a season
opener. Malik Zaire (250.9 vs. Texas in 2015) and Tommy Rees (239.0
vs. Temple in 2013) were the only other two openers rated above Hartman’s performance against the Midshipmen.
NOTRE DAME – TENNESSEE STATE SERIES HISTORY • Notre Dame and Tennessee State will be meeting for the first time on Saturday afternoon. The matchup marks the first time the Irish will face a Football Championship Series (FCS) team since the NCAA split its football divisions in 1978. After Saturday afternoon’s game, Southern Cal will be the only FBS school that will not have played an FCS team. • The Irish have taken the field against current members of FCS before the NCAA football divisions split in ‘78. Notre Dame has played (number of games played) Butler (3), Dartmouth (2), Drake (8), Penn (6), Princeton (2), South Dakota (5) and Valparaiso (1) with their most recent game against a current FCS team against Penn in 1955. • The matchup with Tennessee State also marks the first time Notre Dame will face one of the country’s Historically Black Colleges or Universities.
NOTRE DAME HOME OPENERS • Notre Dame opens its 95th season at Notre Dame Stadium in 2023. The facility opened in 1930 and the Irish own an all-time record of 372-117-5 (.759) in “The House That Rockne Built.” • The Irish are 109-19-4 (.841) in home openers (the team did not have a home opener in 1889 or 1929) with a mark of 75-16-2 (.817) at Notre Dame Stadium. • Notre Dame saw its 10-game win streak in home openers end last season, which matched the program record for consecutive home-opener victories from 1964- 73.
TWO-DEEP TIDBITS – OFFENSE Jayden Thomas, the leading returning receiver for the Irish in 2023, led the team with four catches for 63 yards against Navy, including a 14-yard touchdown reception. Deion Colzie continued his penchant for key third down conversions against Navy last weekend and also turned a short pass to the outside into a 25-yard touchdown reception. Chris Tyree has shifted to wide receiver after three years as a running back with the Irish. He caught three passes for 36 yards against Navy. True freshman Jaden Greathouse nabbed a 35-yard touchdown pass on his first career touch last week against Navy. He followed up with a 20-yard scoring catch later in the game. Joe Alt, the son of former NFL All-Pro John Alt, is one of four team captains for the Irish this season, has been selected as a consensus preseason All-American and is on the Outland, Lombardi and Walter Camp Award watch lists. See page 7 for more on Alt. Pat Coogan made his first career start in just his second game played last weekend against Navy. He helped the Irish OL clear the way for 191 yards rushing (6.0 average). Zeke Correll has played guard and center during his career and now enters the season as one of the top snappers in the nation. He will make his 23rd-career start on the Irish offensive line against Tennessee State and is on the Rimington Award watch list. Rocco Spindler joined Coogan to make his first career start at guard for the Irish against Navy. Blake Fisher combines with Joe Alt to give the Irish offensive line two of the top tackles in the nation. See page 7 for more on Alt and Fisher. Mitchell Evan’s last reception of 2022 was the game-winning touchdown against South Carolina in the Gator Bowl. Evans also plays a key role in some of Notre Dame’s short yardage packages by taking direct snaps. He rushed for five first downs and a touchdown from under center last season. Tobias Merriweather made one catch as a rookie for a key touchdown against Stanford last season and was poised for a surge in playing time, but an injury before last year’s Navy contest slowed his progress. He has the length and athleticism to be one of Hartman’s top targets. Rico Flores Jr. has shown a penchant for getting open in the preseason and is one of Notre Dame’s true freshmen expected to contribute to the Irish offense. Sam Hartman posted a near-perfect debut in an Irish uniform against Navy, completing 19 of 23 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns. See page 6 for more on Hartman as he continues his climb up the career quarterback statistical charts. Audric Estimé paced the Irish run game against Navy with 95 yards on 16 carries while also catching two passes for 26 yards. Gi’Bran Payne posted an early-career-best performance against Navy with six rushes for 31 yards. Jadarian Price burst through the middle and broke a tackle on his first career carry, eventually finding himself in the end zone 19 yards later in his Irish debut against Navy. He finished the game with four carries for 25 yards. Devyn Ford brings experience (three years at Penn State) and leadership to the group. His key blitz pick up in the second quarter played a key role in Jaden Greathouse’s 35- yard touchdown reception. Jeremiyah Love flashed his game breaking potential in his first career game against Navy, rushing four times for 40 yards which included Notre Dame’s longest rush of the day (21 yards). Spencer Shrader decided to play his final year at Notre Dame, claimed the starting kicker duties and has not looked back. A former professional soccer player, Shrader has rushed twice in his career (once for a 22-yard touchdown), caught a pass for seven yards, made two tackles on kick offs, punted once for 36 yards and has converted 28 career field goals. Bryce McFerson has a booming leg and was slated to be the Irish kickoff specialist last season as a true freshman, before an injury kept him off the field. Michael Vinson is in his sixth year at Notre Dame and is one of the top long snappers in the nation. He has developed into a clear leader not only for the Irish special teams, but the entire roster.
TWO-DEEP TIDBITS – DEFENSE Jordan Botelho finished with three tackles and a QBH against Navy. His key third down stop in the second quarter forced Navy into a field goal attempt that they eventually missed. Junior Tuihalamaka started his career as a linebacker and has a nose for stopping the run. Joshua Burnham logged his first career sack in his the most extensive playing time of his young career against Navy. Rylie Mills is No. 10 on The Athletic’s Freak List for his work in the weight room and he is poised for a breakout season. Mills’ timely sack against Navy in the fourth quarter pushed the Midshipmen back from the four-yard line that eventually led to a field goal. Jason Onye’s motor never stops and he has been one of the talking points of the Irish preseason in his push for more playing time. Howard Cross III will appear in his 40th game for Notre Dame against Tennesse State and is a dependable force on the interior of the defensive line. Gabriel Rubio is in the same role as Onye and Burnham, talented younger defensive linemen who are hoping to level up their game in 2023. Javontae Jean-Baptiste single handedly ended a Navy drive with back-to-back tackles at the line in the second quarter. A graduate transfer from Ohio State, he finished his first game in an ND uniform with four tackles, including one TFL. Nana Osafo-Mensah is a leader in the defensive line group and a steady force against the run. Marist Liufau enters his second full season as a starter in 2023 and was all over the field agianst Navy, making seven stops and forcing a fumble that just trickled out of bounds before the Irish could recover the ball. JD Bertrand is the defacto leader of the Irish defense, and is one of the most prolific tackling linebackers of the last 20 years. See page 7 for more on Bertrand. Jack Kiser does a little bit of everything for the Irish defense, and can appear on the line or even as a spot safety if necessary. He led the team with eight tackles against Navy. Cam Hart was voted a captain by his teammates this season, and looks poised for a highly productive final season with the Irish. Among the most veteran defenders on the team (36 games played) Hart has 72 career tackles, 13 PBUs and two interceptions. DJ Brown returned for a fifth year and is the ‘quarterback’ of the back seven for Notre Dame’s defense. A solid and sure tackler, Brown has 107 career stops and three interceptions in his career. Xavier Watts has grown from a rookie wide receiver into one of Notre Dame’s starting safeties. He has appeared in 27 games and has 58 career tackles to his credit. Benjamin Morrison was a Freshman All-American last season, and is focused on taking his game to an even higher level in 2023. See page 7 for more on Morrison. The Irish defense is filled with talented younger players eager to make their mark with increased playing time in 2023. Jaylen Sneed loves to pressure the quarterback and get downhill on running situations. Christian Gray, a true freshman, has earned the trust of position coach Mike Mickens to be listed as a back up to Benjamin Morrison. While those talented younger players are ready for their moment, there are three key veterans in the back seven of the defense who will play key roles. Clarence Lewis has played in 38 games at Notre Dame and might be the team’s top choice as the nickel defender. Thomas Harper, a transfer from Oklahoma State, also is a top choice to defend slot receivers. Antonio Carter II jumps up a level from Rhode Island and will provide the Irish safeties depth and contribute across the Irish special teams. Dylan Devezin, a sophomore walk-on quarterback, has seized the team’s holder role and has earned Spencer Shrader’s – and special teams coordinator Marty Biagi’s –trust. Chris Tyree just needs one person to miss on a punt return to show off his burst. Matt Salerno has been a dependable punt returner throughout his five-year Notre Dame career. Devyn Ford returned kicks at Penn State and will be joined by Tyree, who Irish fans still remember for his key kick return for a touchdown against Wisconsin in 2021 that shifted the game’s momentum.
(TENNESSEE STATE NOTES)
SERIES INFORMATION: This is the first meeting between Tennessee State and Notre Dame. WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU Football can be heard on WNSR’s flagship network, 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), 107.9 FM (Smyrna), and WNSR.com. Globally, the broadcast can be heard on Sirius XM. Additionally, WNSR will offer in-depth pregame and postgame analysis, exclusive interviews with coaches and players, and behind-the-scenes content to engage fans on a deeper level. “The Voice of the Tigers” Greg Pogue returns for his 12th season behind the mic and will be joined by former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chris Sanders. Nashville broadcasting legend Albert Dawson will fill-in for Sanders. The action can also be heard on the TSU Tigers app. TSU BY THE NUMBERS 356: The number of combined tackles between Josh and James Green. Josh Green is the current team leader with 225 career tackles, while James ranks third on the team with 131 tackles under his belt. 207: The number of yards head coach Eddie George rushed for against Notre Dame in 1995. George’s three touchdowns helped Ohio State defeat the Fighting Irish 45-25. 39: The number of players from Tennessee that are on the roster this year after having 35 in 2022. 26 of those players are local products that played their high school ball in Nashville. 17: The number of players on TSU’s roster who have already completed their bachelor’s degrees. 14: The number of FBS transfers on TSU’s roster. The Tigers picked up two SEC transfers this summer in defensive back Tyler Jones (Missouri) and wide receiver Lucien Brunetti (Tennessee). Former Michigan State product Trenton Gillison arrives from the Big Ten and is expected to contribute in big ways this season.
TSU IN SEASON OPENERS: TSU is 51-31-4 in season openers dating back to the 1933 season. The Tigers’ largest margin of victory in a season opener came in 1966 when they took down North Carolina A&T 58-0 to open the season. John Merritt’s team would finish that season 10-0 and take down Muskingum 34-7 in the Grantland Rice Bowl. TSU’s 55-19 loss to Middle Tennessee to open 1987 is the worst opening-day loss that the Tigers have suffered. TSU has posted 17 shutout wins in season openers since 1933, with the last one coming in the 2016 opener as the Tigers shutout Arkansas-Pine Bluff 44-0. THE BIG STAGE: Tennessee State is 1-5 against FBS teams dating back to 2006. The Tigers have taken on Vanderbilt twice, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee Twice, and Mississippi State in that span. The Tigers picked up their first-ever FBS victory in the 2017 season opener as they defeated Georgia State. The Tigers have dropped their last four games against FBS opponents including two in the Eddie George area, a 49-6 loss to MTSU last season, and a 55-10 loss in 2021. OUT EAST: The Tigers will play three games in the Eastern time zone this season. The last time TSU played in the Eastern Time Zone was in the 2021 season opener against Grambling State in Canton Ohio, as Eddie George made his coaching debut in a 16-10 loss. After opening up the season against Notre Dame in South Bend, the Tigers will also travel to Charleston S.C., and Kennesaw, Ga., for their others games in the Eastern Time Zone. KEEPING IT 100: The Tennessee State defense has four players with 100+ career tackles heading into 2023, with three more players on the brink of reaching the century mark. Josh Green leads the team with 225, followed by Monroe Beard III who transfers into TSU with 141 career tackles that he tallied at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. James Green has notched 131 tackles, while Jalen Bell made 113 stops at Mississippi Valley State before transferring to TSU for his final year. Terrell Allen (87), Kenyon Garlington (77), and Jeremiah Josephs (70) will all took hit the 100 mark this season. ELITE EIGHT: Eight true freshmen have made the travel roster for the season opener and will look to make their college debuts live on NBC against Notre Dame. Hadine Diaby (OL), Delanie Majors (WR), Jason Hoath Jr. (TE), and Ryder Hagan (QB) represent the offense, while Eriq George (DL), Terrence Carpenter (DL) and Sammy Taylor (LB) made the flight as defensive freshmen. Kicker Ahmed Mohammed will also travel as the backup kicker. OLD HEADS: With redshirt years, injury redshirts, and extra years of eligibility from Covid, teams across the country have an abundance old 5th, 6th, and even 7th-year players. TSU has a combined 25 guys that are in their 5th-7th year of playing college football. James Green leads the in years in college football as he enters his 7th season. When James was a freshman at TSU in 2017, the current TSU freshmen were in the 6th grade. The Tigers have 10 6th years guys and 14th players in their 5th season. OVC PRESEASON SELECTION: The Tigers received 57 points in the poll, a promising position for Eddie George as he enters his third year as head coach. Last season, TSU recorded a 4-7 overall record and a 2-3 standing in the OVC. Adding to the optimism, six players from George’s squad have been selected to the Conference’s Preseason Watch List. The players on the Preseason Watch List are as follows: Draylen Ellis – Senior 2021 2nd Team All-OVC 2020 OVC Freshman of the Year Terrell Allen – Senior 2022 1st Team All-OVC 2x All-Conference James Green – Graduate 2021 2nd Team All-OVC Josh Green – Senior 2019 Freshman All-American OVC All-Newcomer Bryce Phillips – Sophomore 2022 2nd Team All-OVC OVC All-Newcomer.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S SOCCER
MATCH 3 PREVIEW: NIU
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Irish will play their third straight match at Alumni Stadium to open the 2023 season when they take on NIU at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 1. The match will air on ACCNX.
NOTRE DAME vs. NIU
Location: South Bend, Indiana | Alumni Stadium
TV: ACCNX
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDMenSoccer
Game Notes: vs. NIU
THE NIU SERIES
• Notre Dame and NIU will face each other on Friday evening for the fifth time in series history.
• The Irish and Huskies are currently deadlocked in the matchup history with a mark of 1-1-2.
• Notre Dame is an unbeaten 1-0-2 when facing NIU in South Bend.
• The most recent matchup came in South Bend during the 2021 season with the Irish winning by a score of 2-0.
• Current players Matthew Roou and Eno Nto each scored a goal in the 2021 win while Bryan Dowd was in goal for the clean sheet.
LAST TIME OUT
• Notre Dame turned in a decisive display in its 5-0 victory over IUPUI on Sunday.
• The five goals mark the most the Irish have scored against a DI opponent since winning 8-0 against Purdue Fort Wayne during the 2019 season.
• Matthew Roou led the Irish attack with a three-goal hat trick.
• Eno Nto and KK Baffour each found the back of the net as well to help the Irish secure three points.
• In goal Bryan Dowd made two saves on the evening en route to his clean sheet.
ROOU’S CAREER NIGHT
• Matthew Roou’s hat trick was the first of his career and the first of the season for the Irish.
• The junior forward finished with seven points off three goals and an assist, becoming the first Notre Dame player to record seven or more points in a match since Dave Donohue also had seven points against Marquette on Sept. 11, 2008.
• Roou currently has 14 career goals to go along with eight career assists, totaling 36 career points for the forward.
EXPERIENCE IN GOAL
• Bryan Dowd is back for his senior season after being the team’s primary goalie for each of the last two seasons.
• The shot stopper has 43 career starts while appearing in 44 matches over his previous three seasons in South Bend.
• Dowd has amassed 106 career saves and has recorded 14 clean sheets over his time in South Bend.
2023 CAPTAINS
• Paddy Burns and Ethan O’Brien will serve as the captains for this year’s Fighting Irish team.
• Burns is a senior defender from Northern Ireland and was selected to the 2023 ACC Preseason Watch List.
• Burns scored five goals last season as a left back and has nine goals and six assists in his Notre Dame career.
• After missing the entire 2022 season to an injury, O’Brien returns to the Irish midfield this fall.
• O’Brien had a breakout 2021 season with two goals and five assists, playing an integral role in the team’s College Cup run.
FRESH FACES
• The Irish welcome seven freshman to the 2023 squad, totaling a 34-man roster.
• The seven freshman are Nico Bartlett (M), Jack Flanagan (F), Lukas Kamrath (D), Sean McDowd (D), Jack Ross (D), Nolan Spicer (M), Nate Zimmermann (F).
• Also joining the team is midfielder Wyatt Lewis, who was a practice player last season before making the 2023 team.
NOTRE DAME VOLLEYBALL
PREVIEW: IRISH COMPETE IN CATHOLIC CHALLENGE AT VILLANOVA
VILLANOVA, Penn. – The Irish are back on the road this weekend as they compete in the 2023 Catholic Challenge hosted at Villanova. Notre Dame enters the tournament 1-1 as they face the Villanova Wildcats (3-1) on Friday, September 1 and the Santa Clara Broncos (4-0) on Saturday, September 2.
NOTRE DAME vs. VILLANOVA
Location: Villanova, PA | Jake Nevin Field House
TV: FloSports
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDvolleyball
NOTRE DAME vs. SANTA CLARA
Location: Villanova, PA | Jake Nevin Field House
TV: FloSports
Live Stats: Click Here
Twitter Updates: @NDvolleyball
A WEEK IN REVIEW
Notre Dame volleyball opened up the 2023 season with a win on the road as they competed in the Under Armour Challenge, taking down the Wichita State Shockers on Friday, August 25.
The Irish defeated the shockers in a five-set thriller (25-18, 20-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-12) to start the season 1-0.
Notre Dame was led by junior Sydney Palazzolo, the 2022 Big South Player of the Year, who made her debut in an Irish uniform against WSU. The outside hitter tallied a team-high 24 kills, a .254 hitting percentage, 12 digs, and three blocks.
Freshman Ava Lange made her freshman debut and first start at Notre Dame, recording 13 kills and five digs.
Graduate transfer Nicole Drewnick also dished out 54 assists and tallied 12 digs in her first Irish game day.
Senior middle blockers Lauren Tarnoff and Charity McDowell finished with eight kills and seven kills, respectively, while Tarnoff also defended the net with a team-high four blocks.
The Irish took on Texas Tech in day two of the tournament, falling in four sets (19-25, 17-25, 25-14, 17-25) to the Red Raiders.
Sydney Palazzolo and Lucy Trump led the offensive charge with 15 kills and 14 kills respectively. Lauren Tarnoff finished with a team-best seven blocks and chipped in five kills. Nicole Drewnick dished out 40 assists and tallied five blocks for the Irish and libero Hattie Monson recorded 22 digs.
Palazzolo finished the weekend 39 kills and 17 digs, earning a spot on the Under Armour Challenge All-Tournament Team.
HISTORY VS. VILLANOVA
This will be the 24th meeting between the Irish and the Wildcats with Notre Dame leading the overall series 19-4.
The last match up between the two squads was September 12, 2021 on the road as the Irish fell in five (16-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-23, 9-15).
Notre Dame won the previous match up before the loss in 2021 as the two faced off almost ten years prior on October 21, 2012.
The Irish took home the road sweep 25-15, 25-18, 25-13 in their last game together as BIG EAST opponents.
HISTORY VS. SANTA CLARA
This is just the sixth time in program history that the Irish and Broncos have faced off. Santa Clara leads the series 1-4.
It has been 13 years since the last game between the two programs. Notre Dame fell in three (18-25, 19-25, 24-26) in the last match up on September 18, 2010 at home in the Notre Dame Invitational.
Santa Clara comes into this weekend’s tournament 4-0 after a perfect performance in their home tournament (Santa Clara/SJSU Invitational) this past weekend.
MEET THE TRANSFERS
Two transfers join the Irish for the 2023 season. Sydney Palazzolo enters into her junior season after spending freshman and sophomore year at High Point. Nicole Drewnick is a graduate transfer hailing from Georgia Tech.
Palazzolo had a decorated two seasons in North Carolina, earning a plethora of awards at High Point.
Last season, Palazzolo earned Big South Player of the Year and Big South First Team All-Conference honors and was named the Big South All-Tournament MVP. She was recognized as an AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region player and an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American. She was also tabbed as the Big South Player of the Week three times.
Palazzolo finished her sophomore season with a team-best 443 kills, 321 digs, 27 blocks, and led the conference with 42 service aces.
Not only was she recognized as the Big South Freshman of the Year in 2021, but she was also named to the Big South All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
While Drewnick spent her freshman season at Nebraska, she most recently has spent the last two seasons with Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Drewnick appeared in 20 matches and 43 sets last season with the Yellow Jackets and finished the season with 99 assists and 16 digs.
MEET THE FRESHMEN
Five freshmen join the Irish for the 2023 season. Freshmen additions include Alyssa Manitzas, Lily Fenton, Logan Brannan, Olivia Maulding, and Ava Lange.
Manitzas was a part of the Under Armour All-American game and was also named the 2021 Prep Dig Top Libero in Texas. The San Antonio, TX native is the all-time dig leader at Cornerstone Christian High School.
Fenton was a First Team All-Conference and All-District player out of Latrobe, PA. Fenton was a three-year captain and was the Greater Latrobe High School program all-time assist leader.
Brannan hails from Lake Travis High School in Austin, TX and was a First Team All-District and TGCA All-State honoree.
A gradute of La Salle Prep, Maulding was named the 2022 Northwest Oregon Co-player of the Year, while also being named to the 2022 Oregon State Championship All-Tournament Team. Maulding was recognized as the 2022 Volleyball Magazine Top Performer in Oregon.
Lange was a nationally recognized four star player out of Playa Del Rey, CA, who was named to the AVCA All-America Watch List and played in the 2022 USAV Girls 17’s Junior National Championship.
RETURNERS
The Irish return six rising sophomore, a pair of rising juniors, and a trio of rising seniors.
Sophomores Lucy Trump and Avery Ross were offensive power houses for the Irish last season as both outside hitters led Notre Dame in their first years in an Irish uniform. Trump led the way with 252 kills, followed by Ross with 227 kills.
Juniors Phyona Schrader and Paris Thompson return for their third seasons at Notre Dame. Thompson returns after tallying 148 kills and 71 digs across 63 sets last season.
Schrader led the Irish last season with 877 assists and was second on the team with 333 digs. The setter also led the ACC with two triple-doubles and finished second in the conference with 17 double-doubles.
Hattie Monson, Lauren Tarnoff, and Charity McDowell are rising seniors for the Irish after playing in a combined 259 sets as a class last season.
Monson played in all 108 sets for the Irish as the libero recorded 453 digs in her junior campaign, while also surpassing the 1,000 career digs mark. She heads into her senior season with 1,163 career digs.
Both Tarnoff and McDowell return as middle blockers for the Irish as the duo finished with 141 combined blocks; Tarnoff was second on the team with 80 blocks and McDowell was third with 61. Tarnoff also led the Irish with a team-best 15 solo blocks.
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL
SYCAMORES UNABLE TO OVERCOME EARLY TURNOVERS IN 2023 OPENING LOSS TO EASTERN ILLINOIS
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State was unable to overcome six turnovers in the 2023 season opener and Eastern Illinois capitalized with a pair of interceptions returned for scores as the Sycamores fell to the visiting Panthers on Thursday night at Memorial Stadium, 27-0.
The Sycamores (0-1) were able to move the ball against the Eastern Illinois (1-0) defense as the Sycamores posted 16 first downs and held possession for 30:11 in the contest. However, the EIU defense was opportunistic with four interceptions, including a pair of pick-sixes in the final minute of the first half to pull away from Indiana State in the win.
ISU posted four drives of six plays or longer, including a 13-play, 71-yard drive in the second quarter, but the Sycamores drive ended with a fumble inside EIU territory that ended ISU’s best scoring chance in the contest.
Gavin Screws finished 13-of-24 through the air for 116 yards with two interceptions. Evan Olaes added a team-high 59 rushing yards on nine carries and threw two picks through the air in the loss. Korbin Allen was strong late in the contest with 29 rushing yards on five carries. Dakota Caton led the Sycamore receiving efforts with a team-high six catches for 70 yards.
Maddix Blackwell recorded the first double-digit tackling effort of his collegiate career with 11 stops to pace the Sycamore defense. The redshirt sophomore safety added a half-tackle for loss and his second career interception to lead ISU. Micah Hauser added six solo tackles in the loss, while Lucas Hunter forced a fumble.
Pierce Holley lead Eastern Illinois’ offense going 19-of-30 through the air for 244 yards with touchdown passes to both Justin Bowick and Anthony Manaves in the win. Kevin Daniels picked up 57 rushing yards on 13 carries, while Eli Mirza had a team-high four catches for 82 yards.
Elijawah Tolbert was active on the EIU defense with 11 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception in the win. Tyris Harvey and NiJhay Burt both recorded pick-sixes in the win, while Joel Barrows and Russell Dandy both had fumble recoveries.
How They Scored
Eastern Illinois took the lead with 10:08 in the first quarter as Pierce Holley targeted Justin Bowick for a 35-yard touchdown connection. The Panthers’ extra point sailed wide left to leave EIU ahead 6-0 in the first quarter.
Tyris Harvey doubled the EIU lead with 55 seconds left in the second quarter as the EIU defensive back stepped in front of a Sycamore pass and returned the ball up the right sideline for a 19-yard interception return to make it a 12-0 score. The Panthers’ two-point conversion attempt fell short.
EIU returned a second interception for a score with 21 seconds left in the first half as NiJhay Burt stepped in front of a deep pass and weaved his way through the ISU offense to put the Panthers ahead 18-0. The two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete to keep the score the same heading into the half.
The Panthers added to their lead with 6:50 remaining in the third quarter as a botched ISU snap on a punt left the ball to roll through the end zone for a safety to put the score at 20-0 in favor of EIU.
EIU’s final points came with 3:20 remaining as Holley connected on a two-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Manaves in the right flat, while William Orth converted the PAT to cap the scoring in the 27-0 game.
Inside the Numbers
Indiana State finished the game with 217 total offensive yards (101 rushing) in the first game of the 2023 regular season.
The Sycamores posted 16 first downs and held the 30:11-29:49 edge in time of possession on Thursday night.
Indiana State converted 4-of-14 third downs in the game and went 1-of-4 on fourth downs.
Eastern Illinois finished the game with 338 total offensive yards over 61 plays averaging 5.5 yards per play in the contest.
The Panthers recorded 244 yards through the air with both offensive scores coming through the passing game.
Both teams were successful in the punting/field position game with ISU (43.0 ypk) and EIU (42.5 ypk) both dropping two punts inside the 20 on Thursday.
News & Notes
Indiana State’s Thursday evening loss to Eastern Illinois snapped a three-game winning streak against the Panthers dating back to the 2018 season.
The loss also snapped a two-game winning streak when ISU opened the season at home dating back to the start of the 2021 season when the Sycamores topped EIU, 26-21.
Thursday’s contest marked the first time Indiana State was shutout by the Panthers since the 2009 season when EIU topped ISU 31-0 at Memorial Stadium.
It marked the 13th time in the programs’ histories that EIU shutout the Sycamore offense dating back to the inaugural contest in 1901.
The shutout marked the first time the Sycamore failed to score since ISU was shutout by Purdue last season in West Lafayette.
ISU surrendered two pick-sixes on Thursday night marking the first time the Sycamores surrendered a pair of interception returns for scores since Northern Iowa’s Tim Kilfoy and Jamison Whiting both returned interceptions for touchdowns in the 2015 season.
Dakota Caton’s six receptions equaled his career-high set last season at Northern Iowa on October 1, 2022.
Maddix Blackwell’s 11 tackles shattered his career-high seven tackles set last season vs. Purdue on September 10, 2022.
Up Next
Indiana State heads to Bloomington, Ind. and Memorial Stadium on Friday, September 8, as the Sycamores take on Indiana University to continue to the 2023 season. Kickoff between the in-state foes is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be carried live on the Big Ten Network.
INDIANA STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER
HELLING STRIKES AGAIN AS SYCAMORES FALL TO ROBERT MORRIS ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON
MOON TOWNSHIP, PA. – Robert Morris scored late in the second half to hold off visiting Indiana State on Thursday afternoon as the Sycamores fell for the first time in the 2023 season at the North Athletic Complex following the 2-1 decision.
Maddie Helling found the back of the net for the second consecutive match as the junior defender collected Isabella Hunter’s corner kick inside the box. She touched the ball off her right foot and targeted the upper right part of the goal to tie the game up at 1-1 in the 62nd minute. The Sycamore (0-1-4) goal marked Helling’s second goal in 2023 and ISU’s third goal overall to even the match.
Robert Morris (5-0) remained undefeated on the pitch in the 2023 season as the Colonials scored in the 13th and the 72nd minutes in their home opener. Renae Mohrbacher put RMU ahead in the first half with a goal off the assist from Malia Kearns as the Colonials held the 1-0 lead through the first 45 minutes.
Following Helling’s goal, Lidia Nduka swung the advantage back to Robert Morris in the 72nd minute with a header off Paloma Swankler’s cross inside the box for the eventual game-winning goal.
Indiana State and Robert Morris both held the offensive attack throughout the first half as the teams battled evenly throughout the contest. RMU ended the match with the 17-11 edge in shots, while ISU had the 9-8 advantage in corner kicks on the afternoon.
ISU had double-digit shots (11) for the second consecutive match paced by Mackenzie Kent’s trio of shots on goal. Sasha Thompson and Helling both had three shots apiece in the match, while Alexa Mackey and Audrey Stephens both had attempts on target in the contest.
Maddie Alexander went all 90 minutes in goal for the fifth consecutive contest as the senior goalkeeper finished one save shy of her season high with eight stops in the contest.
RMU’s Brenna Murray recorded five saves against one ISU goal in recording the win.
News & Notes
Maddie Helling was the first Sycamore to multiple goals on the season as the junior defender scored in consecutive matches following her goal on Thursday afternoon.
Helling becomes the first Sycamore to score in back-to-back matches since CeCe Wahlberg scored in four consecutive matches spanning October 3-22 in the 2021 seaosn.
Isabella Hunter recorded the second assist of her collegiate career and first since October 3, 2021, against Evansville.
Indiana State posted back-to-back double-digit shot matches for the first time since recording 13 against UNI and 14 against Southern Illinois over October 2-6, 2022.
Maddie Alexander is closing in on 200 career saves following her eight-save effort on Thursday afternoon. The Sycamore keeper sits with 191 career saves following the first five matches of the 2023 season.
Alexander and Alexa Mackey both played all 90 minutes in Thursday’s match with the Sycamore duo sitting as the final two Indiana State players to play the entirety of the 2023 season.
Up Next
Indiana State closes out the three-match road trip on Sunday afternoon as the Sycamores travel to Youngstown, Ohio, and Farmers National Bank Field to take on the Youngstown State Penguins. Kickoff between the two programs is set for 1 p.m. ET with the game set to be carried live on ESPN+.
INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
SWOPE PROJECTED AS BLUE RIBBON COLLEGE BASKETBALL MVC NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Blue Ribbon – Indiana State guard Isaiah Swope was projected as the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year as announced by the organization on Thursday morning.
Swope was the lone Sycamore selected to the squad as the Southern Indiana transfer signed with Indiana State in April following the 2022-23 season. The Newburgh, Ind. native was a First Team All-OVC and Second Team NABC All-District selection after leading the Eagles with 15.6 points and 3.5 assists per game last season.
Swope played in all 33 games earning 31 starts as a sophomore at USI. He scored a career-high 28 points in the Screaming Eagles’ win over ISU last season in Evansville connecting on eight three-pointers. He notched double-figure scoring in 25 of those contests. He led USI with 15.6 points and 3.5 assists per game while averaging 20.4 points per game in his last 10 outings.
He started 11 games in 26 appearances as a freshman with 8.2 points per game and dished out a career-high 10 assists against the University of Illinois Springfield that season.
Overall, the Sycamores were selected sixth in the Blue Ribbon Forecast Poll. UNI was chosen for the top spot, while Drake, Bradley, Belmont, and Missouri State round out the top-five.
Get Indiana State Men’s Basketball Season Tickets Now
Season tickets for the 2023-24 Indiana State men’s basketball team is on sale now. The Sycamores will host 10 conference games to go along with the nonconference slate.
INDIANA STATE VOLLEYBALL
TREES HEAD WEST FOR LINDENWOOD INVITATIONAL
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State competes in its second early-season tournament of the 2023 campaign when it takes part in the Lindenwood Invitational Friday and Saturday.
The Sycamores open play with a Friday twinbill, facing off against UL-Monroe and Austin Peay on the opening day. Indiana State closes the weekend Saturday against Lindenwood, with the Sycamores’ match against the Lions to be broadcast on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
Indiana State went 1-2 in its season-opening tournament, the Tribute to #10 Tournament hosted by Cincinnati. The Sycamores won their first match of the 2023 season Saturday afternoon, taking down Alabama State in four sets.
Indiana State hit .328 as a team and had 12 service aces in the win both of which represented the Sycamores’ best marks in those statistics in head coach Ashlee Pritchard’s tenure.
Weekly Winner
Indiana State picked up its first weekly honor of the 2023 season Monday, as Macy Lengacher was named the MVC Freshman of the Week.
Lengacher led all MVC freshmen with 40 digs and 3.64 digs per set during the opening weekend of play, serving as the Sycamores’ libero for all 11 sets played. She also added four aces, two each against Xavier and Alabama State.
The weekly honor was the first for Indiana State since November 2021. Prior to Lengacher, the last time a Sycamore was named the MVC Freshman of the Week was the opening week of the 2018 season.
Aced It
Indiana State served up 12 aces in its four-set win over Alabama State, marking the most for the Sycamores in head coach Ashlee Pritchard’s tenure at the helm of the program. It was just the second time since the start of the 2022 season that the Sycamores recorded double-digit aces in a match.
Four Sycamores had multiple aces in the match, while Emma Kaelin and Hannah Baudin had three aces apiece. It was the first time since November 2021 that Indiana State had multiple players with three or more aces in the same match.
Indiana State finished with more aces than its opponents in two of its first three matches. The Sycamores had more aces than Xavier (4-1) and Alabama State (12-7) in their matches against those programs.
Seeing Double
Indiana State outside hitter Karinna Gall’s 2023 season got off to a hot start, as the Sycamore senior recorded double-doubles in each of the first two matches of the 2023 season.
Gall opened the season with a 14-kill, 12-dig effort against Xavier and followed that with an 18-kill, 15-dig performance in the Sycamores’ win over Alabama State. The double-doubles were the first two for Indiana State this season.
Gall enters the weekend with 16 career double-doubles, the second-most on the Indiana State active roster behind only Emma Kaelin (17).
Strength In Numbers
Indiana State hit .328 in its win over Alabama State, the highest hitting percentage the Sycamores have had in a match under head coach Ashlee Pritchard.
The win over the Hornets was a balanced effort from an attacking standpoint, as Karinna Gall (18), Kaitlyn Hamilton (15) and Mallory Keller (12) all posted double-digit kills for the Sycamores.
It was the first time since Indiana State’s five-set win over Campbell in September 2022 that the Sycamores had multiple athletes with 15 or more kills in the same match.
Opponents At A Glance
UL-Monroe enters the weekend at 1-3 overall following a tough five-set loss to Grambling State. Indiana State is the second MVC foe ULM will see this season, as they lost to Valpo during the opening weekend. Ariana Brown leads the Warhawks with 44 kills, while Logan Jeffus has 33.
Austin Peay went 2-1 during the opening weekend of play, defeating Florida A&M and UAB while falling to Buffalo. The Governors were led by Elizabeth Wheat, who tallied 34 kills across three matches. APSU’s setter duo of Maggi Duyos and Kelsey Mead combined for 100 assists.
Lindenwood opened its season by going 2-1 at the Chicago Classic, defeating Oakland and St. Thomas (Minn.) before falling to fellow Valley school UIC. Addy McAleer leads a balanced Lions attack with 37 kills, while Rebecca Janke and Nyah Wilson both have more than 30 kills.
Series History
Friday’s meeting between Indiana State and UL-Monroe will be the first-ever matchup between the Sycamores and Warhawks. Indiana State’s last match against a Sun Belt opponent came in 2017 against Coastal Carolina.
Indiana State and Austin Peay have split the four previous meetings between the schools, though Austin Peay is 2-0 in neutral-site matches against the Sycamores. The programs last met in 2021, a five-set win for the Trees in Terre Haute.
Indiana State has never faced Lindenwood prior to Saturday’s meeting The Sycamores’ last match against an OVC opponent came in 2021, when Indiana State won both ends of a home-and-home series against Eastern Illinois and also defeated Austin Peay in the Governors’ final season as an OVC member.
Up Next
Indiana State plays in its final non-conference tournament September 8-9 when it faces Morehead State, Butler and Northern Kentucky at the Comfort Inn-Vitational in Morehead, Kentucky.
INDIANA STATE CROSS COUNTRY
SYCAMORES OPEN 2023 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON AT EIU
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State cross country takes part in its first meet of the 2023 season Friday, as the Sycamores are set to compete in the EIU Walt Crawford Open.
The women’s 5k race is set to begin at 4:45 p.m. at Tom Woodall Panther Trail, with the men’s 8k race scheduled to follow at 5:30 p.m.
Who’s in the Field?
Teams scheduled to compete in the season-opening meet alongside the Sycamores are host institution Eastern Illinois, Danville Area CC, Kaskaskia College and Vincennes University.
Run it Back
Indiana State is looking to defend its EIU Walt Crawford Open title on the men’s side. The Sycamore men won the season-opening meet last year for the program’s first meet win since 2014.
In addition to the team title, Jackson Krieg won the individual title with a time of 25:12.2. Four Sycamores finished in the top 10 – Krieg, Layton Hall, Cael Light and Jason Dworak, while the entire Sycamore top seven finished in the top 30 in the field.
Season Outlook
Indiana State looks poised to take a step forward in 2023 on the men’s side, with the Sycamores returning their top five runners from last season. Jackson Krieg leads the way for the Trees, ranking sixth in program history in the 8k (24:22) and also winning the season-opening EIU Walt Crawford Open in 2022. Logan Pietrzak (24:24) and Jason Dworak (24:35) also rank in the top 15 in program history in the 8k, while Cael Light earned Honorable Mention All-MVC after finishing 12th at the conference championships. Krieg, Pietrzak and Dworak all finished in the top 35 at the MVC Championships, while Layton Hall was just outside the top 40. Indiana State’s top seven finishers from the 2022 MVC Championships are all back (Light, Krieg, Pietrzak, Dworak, Hall, Ethan Breen, Emerson Fayman).
Indiana State returns most of its 2022 women’s team, with Erica Barker leading the way for the Blue and White. Barker moved up to 10th in program history in the 6k (21:46) and was the Sycamores’ top finisher at the MVC Championships (22nd), while Morgan Dyer returns after being among the Sycamores’ top runners at both the MVC Championship and NCAA Great Lakes Regional. Sara Skaff returns after placing in the top 40 at her first-ever MVC Championship, while graduate transfer Rachel Conhoff was a two-time NCAA Division III National Championship participant. Kyra Young, Cami Farmer and Chloe Loftus also return for the Sycamores. Among the newcomers, Conhoff should challenge for a top-three spot immediately while eight freshmen add needed depth and competition to the program.
Know the Course
Indiana State’s roster has familiarity with Friday’s course, the Tom Woodall Panther Trail. The Sycamores competed at last year’s EIU Walt Crawford Open at the course, with four Sycamore men earning top-10 finishes in the 8k race and Morgan Dyer placing seventh in the women’s 5k.
In addition, the Sycamore coaching staff has plenty of experience at the course. Both head cross country coach Brad Butler and assistant coach Riley McInerney ran at Eastern Illinois, with Butler also previously serving as an assistant coach for the Panthers.
Up Next
Indiana State plays host to the John McNichols Invitational September 16 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE CROSS COUNTRY
CROSS COUNTRY SQUADS SELECTED IN TOP HALF IN PRESEASON POLL
INDIANAPOLIS – The 2023 Under Armor Horizon League Cross Country Preseason Poll has been released, and both Mastodon squads have been picked in the top half of the league.
The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s team earned 77 points with only Youngstown State (99 points) and IUPUI (91 points) picked above the ‘Dons.
The women’s team owns the fifth spot on the poll in the 11-team league with 76 points. Milwaukee (113 points) was selected as the favorites on the women’s side, with Oakland, Youngstown State and IUPUI following.
The Mastodon men’s team finished third in last year’s Horizon League Championship, the best finish in Purdue Fort Wayne history. The women placed fifth at the 2022 Horizon League Championship, having their best finish since 2008. Both teams look to build off of last year’s success by returning many key runners.
The Mastodon men return three runners who finished in the top 25 of last year’s league event. Nicholas Mills and Nathan Mills placed 21st and 24th, respectively. Sophomore Austin Hall placed 23rd. Hall’s solid season continued to the summer where he finished second at the USATF U-20 Championship in the 10K.
The Purdue Fort Wayne women had three runners finish in the top 25 at the league meet last season and all are returning for the 2023 season. Senior Brooke Neal, placed sixth in the 2022 Championship, earning All-Horizon League First Team. Senior Madison King placed 19th and sophomore Riley Tate placed 25th in the 2022 Championship.
The ‘Dons open the season on Friday, September 1 at 6 p.m. in the Mastodon Alumni Open on Purdue Fort Wayne’s campus.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S SOCCER
MASTODON MEN’S SOCCER SET FOR HOME OPENER
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Mastodon men’s soccer team (0-2-0) returns to Hefner Soccer Complex for the first time in the 2023 season as they host Bellarmine on Friday (Sept. 1).
Game Day Information
Who: Bellarmine Knights
When: Friday, September 1 | 1 PM ET
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Hefner Soccer Complex
Live Stats: Link
Watch:ESPN+
Know Your Foe: The Knights are 0-1-1 on the young season. They open the season with three straight road matches, starting with a 1-1 draw with Evansville. They lost to Louisville 3-0 ahead of Friday’s match against Purdue Fort Wayne. Calle Sjoberg has the lone goal this season for Bellarmine.
Series History: Since both schools moved up to Division I, Bellarmine holds a 2-0 record against Purdue Fort Wayne. The Knights won 1-0 in overtime in their 2021 trip to Fort Wayne and won 2-0 in Louisville last season.
Old Rivals: Purdue Fort Wayne and Bellarmine were rivals back in their Division II days. Both programs were members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Mastodons won the last DII meeting between the two teams 2-1 back in 2000.
Home Sweet Home: Friday will be the first of seven home matches for the ‘Dons in the 2023 season.
More Minutes for Morrell: Luke Morrell is the only Mastodon to play all 180 minutes of action this season. A transfer from Michigan State, Morrell will make his home debut on Friday for Purdue Fort Wayne. Morrell started his collegiate career at Oakland where he was an all-league pick.
A Team Effort: Through the first two matches this season, 20 different Mastodon players have seen at least 13 minutes of action. The same 10 men have started in the field for Purdue Fort Wayne, but several more have been able to spell the starters and keep fresh legs on the field.
First Half Defense: The Mastodons have yet to allow a goal in the first half of a match this season. Purdue Fort Wayne kept Wisconsin off the board for 50 minutes and Marquette for 47 minutes.
Up Next
The ‘Dons head back to Wisconsin next weekend to face Milwaukee at 4 PM on September 9 to open league play.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE VOLLEYBALL
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TO COMPETE IN RED FLASH CLASSIC
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s volleyball team will hit the road to play at head coach Steve Florio‘s alma mater this weekend in the Red Flash Classic.
Game Day Information (Friday)
Who: Stony Brook Seawolves
When: Friday, September 1 | 4 PM
Where: Loretto, Pennsylvania | DeGol Arena
Live Stats:Link
Watch:Link
Match Notes:Purdue Fort Wayne
Game Day Information (Saturday AM)
Who: St. Francis Red Flash
When: Saturday, September 2 | 11 AM
Where: Loretto, Pennsylvania | DeGol Arena
Live Stats:Link
Watch:Link
Match Notes:Purdue Fort Wayne
Game Day Information (Saturday PM)
Who: Manhattan Jaspers
When: Saturday, September 2 | 4:30 PM
Where: Loretto, Pennsylvania | DeGol Arena
Live Stats:Link
Watch:Link
Match Notes:Purdue Fort Wayne
Know Your Foes
• Stony Brook opened their season with a 3-0 sweep of Bucknell before losing their other two matches at the Liberty Tournament.
• Saint Francis took their season opener in a five set win over Belmont. They lost their second match to Canisius before beating the hosting Youngstown State.
• Manhattan went 0-3 in the Wildcat Invitational, hosted by Weber State. They weren’t able to win a set in any of their three matches.
Series Histories
• Stony Brook won the only meeting over Purdue Fort Wayne in five sets back in 2016.
• Purdue Fort Wayne has won all seven matchups against St. Francis in their respective histories. The two teams have met exclusively at neutral sites between 2001 and 2022.
• Manhattan and Purdue Fort Wayne will meet for the first time this weekend.
She Digs It
Mastodon libero LonDynn Betts racked up 42 digs in the opening weekend. She had 14 in the season opener against Oklahoma, her season high 15 against Gonzaga, and added 13 more against Ball State. Her 4.20 digs per set is the third-best rate in the conference so far this season.
Ratkai’s Debut
After redshirting the 2022 season, Panna Ratkai made her Purdue Fort Wayne debut last weekend and immediately established herself as one of the Mastodons’ best attackers. She had double-digit kills in her first two matches and leads the ‘Dons with 2.78 kills per set this season.
Three ‘Dons with >2 Kills per Set
After the opening weekend, three Mastodons’ can boast a rate of more than two kills per set. Panna Ratkai leads the way with a rate of 2.78 while Ashley Willis is close behind at 2.60 kills per set. They each rank in the Horizon League’s top 20 in that category. Finally, Iris Riegel is averaging 2.22 kills per set after the first three matches.
Coming Up Aces
Several Mastodons got off to good starts in their serves in the opening weekend. Panna Ratkai served up four aces in the first weekend of play while three others (Taya Haffner, Becky Barrett, Savanna Rogers) had three aces,
Fresh Faces
All three true freshmen debuted over the weekend at the Ball State Invitational. Becky Barrett served three aces and averaged 2.25 digs per set; Ashby Willis hit 26 kills and had two blocks; and Kennedy McCants had four total blocks and two kills.
Early Season Tournaments
The Mastodons will start the season with four weekend tournaments. Last weekend, Purdue Fort Wayne faced Oklahoma, Gonzaga and Ball State at the Ball State Invitational. This weekend, the Mastodons will match up with Stony Brook, Saint Francis (Pa.) and Manhattan at the Red Flash Classic. The following weekend (September 8 and 9), the ‘Dons square off with Kent State, Niagara and Canisius at the Ellicott Hotels Western New York Invitational. Finally, The ‘Dons return home to host the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Presented by Hyatt Place for matches against Miami (OH), SIUE and Valparaiso.
Coming Home
The Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Presented by Hyatt Place will be the first of 12 home matches at Gates Sports Center. The Mastodons saw more than half of their wins last season come at home.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne lost their first three matches over the weekend at the Ball State Invitational.
Coming Up
The Mastodons travel to Buffalo, New York next weekend for the Western New York Invitational.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S GOLF
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s golf team returns for the 2023-24 season this weekend (Sept. 2-3) at the A-Ga-Ming Invitational in Kewadin, Michigan.
Event: A-Ga-Ming Invitational
Host: Central Michigan
When: September 2-3
Where: Kewadin, Mich.
Course: A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort, Sundance Course
Par: 72
Format: Play 5, take 4
Live Results: Link
About the Course
Facilities at A-Ga-Ming have steadily grown over the years since inception in the early 1970’s. Starting as a nine-hole facility, it wasn’t until 1986 that growth began when former owner, Bill Siebenthaller, and his close friend (1954 PGA Champion) Chick Harbert, pooled their talents to take the course to the next level. By re-routing the original nine-hole layout and adding nine more, they created a challenging golf course layout that boasted the most spectacular views in Northern Michigan. During this time, the original clubhouse was erected on one of the highest points of the property, offering unforgettable views of the golf course, Torch Lake, and the surrounding countryside. Eventually, it became apparent that in order to continue to meet and exceed guest expectations, additional golf courses were needed. After two years of intensive effort, June 2005 marked the official opening of the Sundance golf course. An outstanding links style resort course, Sundance’s inaugural year resulted in rave reviews and continues to receive accolades.
Meet the Field
The field consists of Abilene Christian, Bellarmine, Bradley, Central Michigan, Chicago State, Detroit Mercy, Eastern Michigan, Green Bay, Niagara, Oakland, Ohio, Purdue Fort Wayne and Western Michigan.
Mastodon Lineup
Anna Olafsdottir, Olivia Jang, Hunar Mittal, Adrienne Rohwedder and Lillie Cone will compete for the Mastodons’ team score. Arny Dagsdottir will compete as an individual.
Last Time Out
The Mastodons had a sixth-place finish at the Horizon League Championship, which tied their best finish in program history.
Coming Up
The Mastodons will head south to Yorktown, Indiana to play in the Brittany Kelly Cardinal Classic on September 18-19.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S GOLF
LILLY SHOOTS 2-UNDER ON DAY ONE OF COLONEL SHOOTOUT
RICHMOND, Ky. – The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf team finished up day one of the Colonel Classic tied for fifth after 36 holes of action on Thursday (Aug. 31).
Like much of his five-year career with the Mastodons, Kasey Lilly was the best player for the ‘Dons, shooting 69-69-138. His opening round featured a stretch of 10 pars in a row from hole four to 13. A birdie on 14 broke up the pars, then after a bogey, par stretch on 15 and 16, he birdied 17 to go back to 1-under. He finished the morning with four more pars. To start round two, he eagled hole four with a two. Lilly added birdies on holes 10 and 16, then finished his round with a birdie and two pars for another 1-under round. He is tied for fifth with 18 holes to play. He is just three shots out of second.
Nick Holder, while playing as an individual, was the second-best for the ‘Dons. He shot 72-68-140 to share 11th place. He found birdies on holes four and 18 in round one with a nine-hole stretch of pars in the middle. In the afternoon, He birdied three, four, six and nine for a 2-under 33. He added a birdie on 12 and 14 for the 68.
One shot behind Holder, Hunter Mefford shot 74-67-141 for a tie for 15th. His opening round included birdies on 10 and 17, but his afternoon round saw five birdies go down. They came on one and nine to bookend a bogey-free front nine, then 12, 14 and 17 on the back.
Newcomer AJ Agnew also played as an individual but finished the opening day in the top four for the ‘Dons. He shot 74-68-142 to share 20th. After 14 pars in round one, he managed five birdies in the second round for a 2-under afternoon. His birdies came on holes two, five, 12, 13 and 15.
Burke Pitz tied for 26th after day one with a 74-69-143. He found birdies on 16 and 17 in the morning, then did the same on holes two, four, five, 10 and 17 in the afternoon. He had just two holes of bogey or worse in round two.
Jadden Ousley rounded out the lineup with a 72-75-147 to tie for 47th. He birdied holes three and 11 in the morning, then two, four, 10 and 16 in the afternoon. He had a stretch of eight bogey-free holes in round one.
Freshman Nick Bellush shot 75-74-149 to tie for 55th after 36 holes. Bellush got birdie putts to fall on holes one and 12 in round one and holes one, two and five in round two.
The ‘Dons shot 289-281-570 to tie with Eastern Kentucky. The ‘Dons are one shot back of Northern Kentucky and three behind IUPUI. Belmont is leading the pack at 10-under. Bruin Reeve Felner is 12-under on his own to lead the individual medal race.
The final round will fire off at 9:30 a.m. on Friday (Sept. 1)
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S SOCCER
‘DONS PICK UP DRAW WITH EASTERN ILLINOIS
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne’s stout defense held Eastern Illinois without a shot on goal for the final 85:53, but the two teams finished their non-league game with a 0-0 draw.
The Panthers were quick on the attack to start the game, notching three shots on goal and a corner kick before five minutes had ticked off the board. Samantha Castaneda and the Mastodons’ stalwart defense managed to turn away the Panthers’ attack, flipping the field for the majority of the rest of the game.
In the first half, Morgan Retiano, Zoe Greenhalge and Gigi Ricciardi each had a shot. Reitano’s shot in the seventh minute was on target.
After halftime, The Mastodons held EIU without a shot until the 89th minute. In the attacking half, Rylee Vruggink, Greenhalge and Lauryn Brucchieri each had an opportunity. Greenhalge’s shot came off a set piece after a yellow card for EIU. In the final moments of the contest, the Mastodons had a corner kick that led to a shot from Brucchieri. Had it gone in, it would have just beaten the final horn with one second left.
The Panthers out-shot the ‘Dons 7-6, but had just the one shot in the second half. Purdue Fort Wayne led in corner kicks 4-2.
Castaneda and the ‘Dons picked up their third clean sheet of 2023. The Mastodons’ eight shutouts in 2022 stand as the program record.
Purdue Fort Wayne goes to 2-2-1 to stay .500. Eastern Illinois goes to 1-2-2. The Mastodons will welcome Valparaiso to the Hefner Soccer Complex next on Sunday (Sept. 3) at 1 p.m.
EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER FALLS TO BELLARMINE, 2-0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Bellarmine University goalkeepers Cambria Kingman and Natalie Schutte combined to turn away nine University of Evansville shots on Thursday night, and the Knights scored late goals in each half to hand the UE women’s soccer team a 2-0 defeat at Evansville’s Arad McCutchan Stadium.
Kingman recorded four saves in the first half, while Schutte registered five second-half saves to stymie a UE attack which produced a season-high 16 shots, including nine on goal. Evansville out-shot Bellarmine, 16-11, including posting a 9-3 edge in shots on goal, but the Knights made the most of their opportunities to win their second-straight match.
In the first half, midfielder Brielle Heuglin was able to give Bellarmine a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute, as she curled a ball from the left side of the penalty area to just inside the far post for her third goal of the year. Evansville produced multiple chances in the first half, including a pair of breakaways, but was unable to find the back of the net.
In the second half, Evansville pressed forward, maintaining possession for much of the second stanza while producing an 8-4 edge in shots. But, with Evansville pressing forward in the 72nd minute, the Knights were able to counter-attack and get a breakaway goal from reserve Lauren Bingham to produce the final scoreline.
Evansville freshmen Ella Hamner and Taylor Johnson each produced four shots, with Hamner placing three on goal, to lead the UE attack. Midfielder Emma Nicholson produced three of Bellarmine’s 11 shots on the evening.
With the victory, Bellarmine improves to 2-1-1 overall. Evansville, meanwhile, drops to 0-2-2 with the loss. The Purple Aces will hit the road this weekend, as UE will travel south to Nashville, Tennessee to take on the Lipscomb Bisons on Sunday night at 6 p.m. Sunday’s match can be seen live on ESPN+.
EVANVILLE MEN’S SOCCER
MEN’S SOCCER READIES FOR FIRST ROAD TEST AT HIGH POINT
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — It will be UE men’s soccer’s first road game of the season on Friday evening as they travel to the Palmetto State.
For the first time in program history, Evansville will head down to High Point, N.C. to play the Panthers on their home turf. The Purple Aces are coming off their first win of the season against Cal State Fullerton on Sunday afternoon. After a slow first half, UE’s offense fired into gear in the second half finding the net three times. Sunday’s 3-1 win was a momentous occasion as Interim Head Coach Robbe Tarver picked up his first win as a Division I Head Coach. The win was particularly special as Tarver handled recruiting for the Aces before being elevated in March of 2023.
Heading into the first road trip of the season, Evansville is spending the long holiday weekend throughout the state of North Carolina. UE’s first stop in High Point which marks its first regular-season road game. The Aces bring a 1-0-1 record into Friday night’s contest after their first win and a draw against Bellarmine to open the season last Thursday. After two games last week, UE leads the Missouri Valley Conference in assists and total assists, while sitting in the Top 20 in the country in both categories. In individual stats, Jose Vivas leads the conference in shots per game, averaging 4.5 that good for 14th among Division I men’s soccer players.
High Point comes into Friday’s game with one draw to its name. The Panthers’ first scheduled game of the regular season at Davidson was canceled due to weather. The team was able to host their home opener on Sunday against Saint Peter’s, ending after 90 minutes in a 1-1 tie. Grad midfielder Alex Abril netted High Point’s lone goal of the game after a blown cross from the Peacocks. Abril had a high-powered performance in his first game back from a major injury in 2022, putting up 10 shots that have him leading the nation in the category.
Evansville has never faced the Panthers since the latter’s move to the Division I level in 1999. Friday evening’s game will be live-streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available through High Point.
SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
EAGLES FACE A TRIO IN THE BELLARMINE INVITATIONAL
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (1-3) is set to battle Murray State University (9 a.m.) and Bellarmine University (6:30 p.m.) on Friday before taking on the University of New Orleans (11 a.m.) on Saturday in the Bellarmine Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky. This will be the second tournament the Screaming Eagles have competed in this season.
Game Coverage
Information about USI Volleyball, including live stats, video, and audio broadcasts, is available on USIScreamingEagles.com.
Tickets
For more information about ticket prices, follow this link.
Screaming Eagles Headlines:
Eagles challenged Aces. The Screaming Eagles showed intensity against the University of Evansville in a 3-1 loss. USI dropped the first two sets before taking the third and almost winning the fourth.
Consistent Starts. In their first four matches, senior Leah Anderson has racked up 10 or more kills while junior Carly Sobieralski has totaled 20 or more assists in the same number of matches.
Double-Doubles. Three Eagles have secured double-doubles this season. Senior Abby Bednar and junior Carly Sobieralski each have earned a pair of double-doubles while senior Leah Anderson has recorded one.
OVC Leaderboard. USI ranks second in digs per set (16.57) and opponent service aces per set (1.21) within the conference. The Eagles also stand fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.177) while standing fifth in points per set (14.50) and assists per set (10.36).
OVC Leaders. Junior Abby Weber is second in the conference with 0.73 service ace per set while senior Leah Anderson is fourth best in kills per set (3.79) and points per set (4.46). Junior Carly Sobieralski is third in assists per set (8.93) while sophomore Keira Moore has the sixth most digs per set (3.93).
Team Leaders. Senior Leah Anderson leads the pack in a pair of categories with 53 kills while junior Paris Downing has nabbed 12 blocks, seven coming against Evansville. Junior Carly Sobieralski has shown true potential in the passing game, putting up 125 assists. Junior Abby Weber has produced a team-leading eight service aces while sophomore Keira Moore has added 55 digs to the stat line.
Aucoin gets first win. Newly hired head coach Jeffrey Aucoin earned his first-ever head coaching win on Friday against Radford. Prior to USI, Aucoin spent 10 seasons at Harvard University as an assistant coach.
History in Progress. Senior Leah Anderson will look to leave her mark as one of the greatest in USI Volleyball history. She enters the 2023 season ranked all-time at USI at No. 3 with 169 career service aces, No. 5 with 1,284 kills, and No. 10 with 1,135 digs. The outside hitter became the 15th player to reach 1,000 kills, the 13th player to reach 1,000 digs, and the fifth player in program history to reach both feats. She has joined an elite group that includes Shannon Wells, Jamie Roth, Danielle Peter, and Leeanne Gross in the 1,000 kills/1,000 digs club.
About Murray State. The Racers are 2-1 going into the tournament after defeating a pair of OVC opponents at the Leatherneck Classic. MSU has totaled 189 kills, 160 assists, and 24 aces to go along with 223 digs and nine blocks. The Racers rank 44th in the nation in digs per set (15.93). This will be the third matchup all-time between the USI and MSU with the Racers leading the series, 2-0, after sweeping the Eagles in last year’s season opener.
Leading the Racers. Junior Bailey DeMier leads MSU at the line and in the passing game, recording 140 assists and 11 aces. Senior Darci Metzger leads the group with 59 kills while senior Dahlia Miller has nabbed 53 digs. Sophomore Haidi Miliou has taken over the net with a team-leading five blocks.
About Bellarmine. The former GLVC and DII rival has had a slow start to the season, going 0-3 at the Mountaineer Classic. The Knights have totaled 102 kills, 91 assists, and 13 aces to pair up with 110 digs and 16 blocks. Bellarmine has won seven straight and nine of the last 10 against USI with the last meeting dating back to October 2019.
Leading the Knights. Freshmen Natalie Bland and Maddie Hagan have fulfilled their new roles by leading the team in a pair of categories in kills (Bland, 30) and blocks (Hagan, 7). Senior Macie Garrison has 42 assists while senior Anna Lococo has 35 digs with sophomore Tessa Nauert holding a team-high five aces.
About New Orleans. The Privateers are 1-2 after competing in the GSU Invitational. UNO has recorded 117 kills, 108 assists, and 18 aces to go with 144 digs and 15 blocks. This will be the first meeting between USI and UNO. The Privateers will face Murray State and Bellarmine before matching up with the Eagles.
Leading the Privateers. Graduate Student Karen Dordero Barr leads the pack with 32 kills and four aces while junior Claire Turner has recorded 49 assists. Defensively, junior Vera Beltrame has nabbed 24 digs while senior Sydney Gott has tacked on eight blocks.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER
EAGLES EDGED 1-0 AGAINST REDHAWKS
OXFORD, Ohio – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer faced a tough road test against Miami University (Ohio) and the Redhawks’ offense on Thursday evening, but the Screaming Eagles came up just shy in a 1-0 loss.
With Thursday’s result, USI dropped to 0-4-1 on the season, while Miami moved to 2-2-1. Thursday was the Screaming Eagles’ third straight game determined by a one-goal difference.
Thursday’s match started in a defensive struggle, as neither side allowed many quality shooting windows in the opening minutes of the first half. Southern Indiana’s defense blocked one shot from Miami in the sixth minute. USI had its first opportunity in the 10th minute on a shot on goal from sophomore defender Brynn Quick (Cottage Grove, Minnesota) that was saved.
After the 25-minute mark, both offenses came alive and fired away at goal. The Screaming Eagles’ defense got involved in the attack again in the 32nd minute when redshirt freshman Abby Rhoutsong (Newburgh, Indiana) had her shot saved by the Redhawks’ freshman goalkeeper Dominique Popa. Minutes later, junior midfielder Adriana Berruti (Berwyn, Illinois) had her attempt kept out of the goal by Popa.
Meanwhile, USI sophomore keeper Anna Markland (Hoover, Alabama) collected multiple saves on the other end of the field, doing her best to keep Miami off the scoreboard. However, the Redhawks broke through right before halftime with a goal in the 43rd minute, taking a 1-0 lead into the break. Nine of 14 combined first-half shots between the two teams came after the 25-minute mark.
At the start of the second half, the Redhawks came out attacking, taking five shots in the first 10 minutes of the second stanza. As the second half waned on, USI’s defense stood tall and kept the match a one-goal contest. The physicality and foul count also picked up. Unfortunately, for the Screaming Eagles, the offense was held without a shot in the second half. USI was outshot 10-0 by the Redhawks in the second 45 minutes, but USI’s defense remained strong to keep it a one-goal match and keep Southern Indiana in the game.
For the match, Miami totaled 20 shots compared to USI’s four. The Redhawks had seven shots on goal, while USI put three on target. There were 24 total fouls, including three yellow cards in the contest. Senior midfielder Paige Vanek (St. Charles, Missouri) recorded USI’s other shot on the night. For Markland, the netminder surpassed her previous season-high five saves from last time out on Sunday, tallying six saves Thursday against the Redhawks.
Southern Indiana will return home Sunday at 1 p.m. against the University of North Dakota. The home match kicks off a three-match homestand at Strassweg Field for the Screaming Eagles. Sunday’s match can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+.
VALPO FOOTBALL
VALPO FALLS AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE DESPITE PROMISING FIRST HALF
A touchdown just before halftime helped the Valparaiso University football program enter the break with significant momentum and confidence, trailing by just seven at 17-10 against full-scholarship, Missouri Valley Football Conference foe Youngstown State, a team that entered the season ranked as high as 23rd nationally. However, the Penguins scored five unanswered touchdowns in the second half, four of which came in the third quarter, to prevail 52-10 in Thursday’s season opener at Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown, Ohio.
How It Happened
After the two teams exchanged three-and-out possessions to start the game, Youngstown State used a 62-yard run by Tyshon King to start the scoring with 10:04 left in the first quarter.
Valpo moved the ball well during a 12-play, 73-yard drive that featured a 23-yard pass from Michael Appel Jr. (Springboro, Ohio / Springboro) to Brandon Jimenez (Suffern, N.Y. / Don Bosco Prep [Albany]) for a first down at the YSU 23. After a 10-yard pass from Appel to freshman Brian Thomas (Apopka, Fla. / Orlando Christian Prep) on third-and-goal from the 11, Valpo faced fourth-and-goal from the 1. The Beacons were stopped just shy of the goal line as the Penguins forced a turnover on downs to keep their 7-0 lead intact. Appel had nearly thrown a TD pass earlier in that sequence, but a sliding Jimenez was narrowly out of bounds at the back of the end zone.
Backed up deep in its own territory, Youngstown State was forced to run the football and couldn’t gain much traction against the Valpo defense, leading to a three-and-out.
After the Penguin punt, Valpo took over with good field position on its own 45. Jimenez snagged first-down catches of 10 and 13 yards in succession to move the ball to the Youngstown State 32. Appel used his legs to move the chains again, and eventually Patrick Oliva (South Bend, Ind. / Saint Joseph) sent one through the uprights for a 33-yard field goal to make it 7-3.
Youngstown State nearly went three-and-out for the second straight possession, but a key conversion on third-and-10 jumpstarted a possession that culminated with a 17-yard TD pass from Mitch Davidson to CJ Charleston, extending the YSU lead to 14-3 with 8:42 left in the second quarter.
The Penguins added a 30-yard field goal to make it 17-3 with 1:52 left in the second quarter.
On the ensuing possession, Valpo received a big catch from Moise Tezzo (Houston, Texas / Fort Bend Austin [Millsaps]), who hauled in a 16-yard pass from Appel on third-and-8 from the Valpo 29. On the next play, Appel found Solomon Davis (Brighton, Tenn. / Brighton) for 53 yards down to the YSU 2. Ryan Mann (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Vernon Hills [Northern Illinois]) then punched it in from 2 yards out to help Valpo find pay dirt for the first time in the game and cut the lead to 17-10.
Valpo went into the half with momentum, trailing by just seven and set to receive the football to start the second half.
The Beacons sputtered in the third quarter, when a blocked punt, two strip-sack fumbles and a fumble on a kickoff return helped set up Youngstown State’s four scores that built the lead to 45-10. Youngstown State added on one more score in the fourth to account for the game’s final margin.
Inside the Game
Punter Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lakes [West Virginia]) averaged 45.8 yards per punt on his five tries, pinning a pair inside the 20. His day was highlighted by a 70-yard boot, the longest of his career and the longest by a Valpo player since Ben Niesner’s 72-yarder on April 17, 2021 vs. San Diego.
Davis (four catches, 56 yards), Ji menez (four catches, 52 yards) and Tezzo (three catches, 21 yards) were all key targets for Appel, who completed 17 of his 29 passes for 155 yards. Mann carried the bulk of the load for the Valpo rushing attack, finishing with 10 carries for 40 yards.
The defense was paced by Colin Graves (Seattle, Wash. / Bishop Blanchet), who accumulated eight tackles, while Evan Annis (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) registered seven in his return to the gridiron after missing all of last season with a knee injury.
Oliva’s 33-yard field goal and made PAT represented the first kicks of his collegiate career.
Mann’s rushing TD was his first in a Valpo uniform.
This marked Valpo’s first Thursday night game since 2019 at Eastern Kentucky, the first game of the Landon Fox head coaching era.
Youngstown State improved to 41-2 in its last 43 nonleague home games. They brought back the bulk of their starters from a team that went 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the MVFC.
Thoughts from Head Coach Landon Fox
“I liked the way we competed in the first half. Physically, we were very competitive. The frustrating part is that we beat ourselves in the second half. When you make those mistakes, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you’re going to get beat. I talked pregame about the genuine love I have for this team and how I feel about them. Just as you would as a parent when you have that love for your child, when they don’t play up to their potential, you get frustrated and mad. The key moving forward is addressing how we fix it.”
Up Next
Valpo (0-1) will travel to Marion, Ind. to take on Indiana Wesleyan next Saturday, Sept. 9 for a 5 p.m. CT kickoff. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.
VALPO WOMEN’S SOCCER
JOINER NETS HAT TRICK AS SOCCER DEFEATS CHICAGO STATE
Valpo soccer junior forward Addy Joiner (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) recorded the eighth hat trick in program history on Thursday evening on Brown Field, leading the charge as the Beacons took down Chicago State by a 5-1 final.
How It Happened
Joiner got the scoring started quickly in the sixth minute, the beneficiary of the speed of senior Lindsey DuSatko (Plainfield, Ill./North). Valpo won the ball near midfield, and senior Chase Ray (Bellevue, Ohio/Bellevue) sent a 40-yard ball down the right which Dusatko tracked down. DuSatko got around the defender on her shoulder and sent a right-footed cross along the ground to Joiner in the center of the box, where the junior one-timed it with her right foot inside the right post to give the Beacons the early 1-0 edge.
DuSatko’s pace also directly led to her finding the back of the net for Valpo’s second goal in the 11th minute. The senior ran onto another ball down the right, slowed up about 30 yards out and then beat one defender to the outside. DuSatko cut back into the 18-yard box, pulled up to let another defender run by her, and then cut the ball inside towards the edge of the six. With a clear, unmarked look at goal, she sent a left-footed shot inside the far post to make it 2-0.
Valpo struck again less than six minutes later off a set piece. Fifth-year Nicole Norfolk (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels) took a free kick from the center of the field just under 30 yards out and sent it on goal. CSU goalkeeper Julie Arballo was able to punch Norfolk’s effort away out toward her right, but freshman Anna Cup (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) came charging in unmarked and volleyed the rebound into the top shelf with her right foot.
It took Valpo less than 90 seconds out of the halftime break to extend the advantage to four goals. An attempted clearance by the Cougars in their defensive third fell to Joiner. The junior took a couple touches before drilling a left-footed effort from 25 yards out, just off the ground, which beat Arballo inside the right post.
Joiner capped her hat trick in the 52nd minute, taking advantage of a CSU handball in the penalty area. The junior calmly roofed her right-footed effort straight down the middle for her third goal of the evening.
CSU pulled a goal back in the 54th minute off a corner kick, as Jacqueline Tamayo scored for the Cougars.
Inside the Match
Valpo’s five goals Thursday evening was its highest output against a D-I program since winning 5-1 over Indiana State to close the 2018 campaign.
The victory pushed the Beacons’ record to 3-1-1, the program’s best start through five matches since opening the 2010 season 3-0-2.
Joiner netted her first collegiate hat trick in Thursday’s win, and the eighth in program history by seven different players. It was the first Valpo hat trick since Cory Griffith had a four-goal outing against Robert Morris [Pa.] in September 2018.
Joiner has scored four goals over the Beacons’ last two games.
Joiner’s penalty kick goal was the 14th goal of her career, moving her into a tie for 10th place in program history.
DuSatko was involved in multiple goals in the same game for the first time in her career. Her helper on Joiner’s opener was the seventh assist of her career, while she tallied her eighth career goal — three of which have been match-winners — a few minutes later.
Ray picked up her second career assist with the secondary helper on the opening goal.
In her fifth collegiate appearance, Cup notched the first goal of her collegiate career.
Freshman Hannah Gabriel (Northville, Mich./Northville) came off the bench for 30 minutes to make her college debut.
Valpo ended the night with a 19-4 edge in shots and put nine on goal to the Cougars’ two.
Thoughts From Head Coach John Marovich
“We talked about coming out in the first 15 minutes and really trying to be on the front foot. I thought we did that in the first half at Kentucky, and we did that tonight in both halves. We were getting forward well, getting our wingers higher, and finishing with quality during those segments.”
“Great to see Addy get her hat trick, but beyond just the goals, the quality was there. Lindsey gets in deep early on, Addy picks up the second ball and hits a really good shot to the back post. A strong strike from distance for her second, and then you didn’t even have to see her PK, you heard it.”
“Our center backs have been getting it done on set pieces this year with three goals already, and it was good to see Anna put one home. Great job by her being aware at that back post on the rebound.”
Next Up
Valpo (3-1-1) tries to extend its strong start to the season Sunday afternoon at Purdue Fort Wayne. Kickoff is slated for noon CT, and the match can be seen live on ESPN+.
U OF INDY VOLLEYBALL
GREYHOUNDS OPEN FALL CAMPAIGN AT FERRIS STATE INVITATIONAL
INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy volleyball team begins the fall looking for a bounce back campaign, opening the 2023 slate at the Ferris State Invitational in Big Rapids, Mich., from Sept. 1-2. The Greyhounds have four matches on tap, including three in-region bouts, across the two-day event.
Joining host Ferris State among the Midwest region foes scheduled for UIndy are Great Midwest members Malone and Wayne State. The Hounds and Pioneers of Malone are scheduled for a 2 p.m. serve on Friday, Sept. 1.
Nine of the 19 Greyhounds on this season’s roster are newcomers, including grad transfer Elana Brueggemann. All-GLVC Second Team honoree Grace Hegwood leads a host of returners, including senior middles Elizabeth Eads and Hannah Sabotin, as well as right-side hitter Lauren Cullison.
Coverage links can be found here for the entire weekend. Live stats are available each contest, while the lone UIndy match to be streamed is against host Ferris State.
U OF INDY WOMEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER DROPS SEASON OPENER TO #23 CEDARVILLE
INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Indianapolis women’s soccer team fell in a 1-0 affair to the No. 23-ranked Cedarville Yellow Jackets late on Thursday night to open their season 0-1-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a quiet first ten minutes, the Yellow Jackets were the first to taste offense, placing a shot on net at the 15th minute which was saved by Kendall Ellis. They kept the Greyhounds keeper busy shortly later with another bottom-right attack just five minutes later. It took until the 33rd for UIndy to respond, grabbing their lone shot on net of the contest, a boom by new-comer Kayleigh O’Neal, which was corralled by the goalie. Cedarville attempted late minute heroics, but strong defensive shape by the Hounds kept the score 0-0 into intermission.
Early pressure, much like the first half, was the recipe for the visitors in the second half, this time proving to be more fruitful. After a pair of corners, the Yellow Jackets found the advantage at the 59th minute mark, grabbing what would be the lone goal of the contest.
The sides battled back-and-forth from there on, but neither budged, leaving the final score 1-0.
UP NEXT
The Hounds hope to rebound and find their first win of the season this Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. UIndy will battled Ohio Dominican at 3 p.m.
MARIAN WOMEN’S SOCCER
WALTERS’ HAT TRICK FUELS SHUTOUT AGAINST INDIANA TECH
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian women’s soccer team lit up the scoreboard at St. Vincent Field, as they shutout Indiana Tech 7-0 in their home opener. The win was Marian’s third straight win and improve their record to 3-0 to start the season.
The Knights’ headlined the game, dominating possession from the opening kickoff taking 13 first half shots and scoring in the first six minutes on a Katie Koger goal with the assist coming from Naomi Walters. The offense continued to come for Marian, firing off eight more shot attempts before Delaney Taylor found Silvia Quezada for her first career goal to give her team the 2-0 lead. Indiana Tech finally took possession in the final minute of the half, finding their first shot attempt of the game that would end up wide right.
The scores kept coming for Marian in the second half, with the Knights adding five more goals to their total. Gretchen Mallin scored the first of the half, finding back netting on the feed from Bridget Stratman. The Knights wasted no time in adding to their lead, scoring three straight goals in less than five minutes. Walters found herself on the other end of the ball as she netted her first goal of the game and Taylor added one as well. Walter continued her tear as she went on to score the final two goals to complete her first hat trick of the season, with the final goal coming off the bounce back from the crossbar of Kylie Conrad’s shot.
Tech had no answer for Marian’s offense as they went on to win 7-0 in dominating fashion. Marian took 25 shots in the victory and allowed the Warriors only one shot.
Walters led Marian in goals with her hat trick. Taylor, Koger, Mallin, and Quezada all scored one goal. Jones and Conrad led in the assist category, dishing out two each, while Stratman, Taylor, Koger, and Walters all added one. Kristen Morgan and Lily Ames split time in goal for the Knights, with neither seeing much action on their end. Morgan picked up the win, improving her record to 3-0.
MARIAN MEN’S SOCCER
GONZALEZ’S BRACE LEADS MARIAN TO 3-1 VICTORY OVER OAKLAND CITY
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian men’s soccer team found the back of the net three times as the Knights rolled to a comfortable 3-1 victory against Oakland City in their home opener to claim their first win of the young season. Marian (1-0-1) received a pair of goals from Sebastian Gonzalez in the win, whose brace helped the Knights continue their undefeated start to the year.
In a physical battle between the Mighty Oaks and Knights, Marian did their best to earn and win possession early in the match, controlling the pace and tempo from the opening kickoff. Marian earned a pair of corner kicks in the first 15 minutes as they sought the opening score of the contest, with Bruno Merle and Phillip Seifert taking the game’s first shots. Oakland City would responded with a pair of rapid fire shots at Juan Torres in the 15th minute, but the keeper did his best to keep the clean sheet by making a save after the initial blast was blocked.
Despite Marian controlling possession, Oakland City was able to break free and catch the Knights off their line, as Evan Reape was able to get around the defense and slash the first goal of the game in the 27th minute. Marian didn’t wait long to respond, throwing the counter attack after being fouled 35 yards out from the goal. Yoshiaki Takeishi executed the set piece with a perfect ball for Evan Dawdy, as the sophomore was able to head the ball to teammate Sebastian Gonzalez, allowing the senior to cash the equalizer. Gonzalez would get a pair of opportunities after his 29th minute score, but was denied each time, as the game moved to intermission deadlocked at 1-1.
In the second half Marian again blitzed the Mighty Oaks, taking control of the half early as Samuel Goodin and Seifert put shots on target in the first five minutes. Another set piece opportunity in the 52nd minute would allow the Knights to take the lead, as Takeishi again sent a beautiful ball toward the box on a free kick, with Kyle Alb heading the ball in the direction of Gonzalez. The senior booted the ball past Taylor Harmon of Oakland City and vaulted Marian into the lead, providing a 2-1 lead for the Knights.
Marian kept steady in their attack and threatened with shot attempts from Kelton Hooker and Alan Tenorio, but the attempts from the strikers were denied by Harmon. In the 68th minute, the Knights found their insurance goal from Bruno Merle, as one of the newest Knights sent a blast from 32 yards out on frame, and snuck the left-footed strike past the keeper to provide Marian with a 3-1 lead. Merle’s first goal as a Knight would be the final score of the match, despite Marian managing four additional attempts, including a goal that was waved off to an offsides call.
The Knights 3-1 victory was flooded with a strong offensive performance, as the team took 19 shot attempts with 11 looks on goal, while defensively the Knights allowed 12 shots with only five targets going on frame. Gonzalez led the Knights with five attempts as he scored his first two goals of the season, while Merle’s goal came on one of his four attempts. Takeishi led the Knights with two assists in his work while taking all of the team’s corner kicks, while Alb and Dawdy each picked up an assist as well. In goal, Juan Torres made four saves, all of which came in the first half as the Knights defense silenced the Mighty Oaks attack in the second stanza.
With the win, the Knights will look to start a streak as they travel to Lourdes on Saturday night for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff against the Gray Wolves.
WABASH CROSS COUNTRY
CROSS COUNTRY STARTS SEASON AT FRANKLIN COLLEGE GRIZZLY INVITE
Nineteen runners will represent the Wabash College cross country team when the Little Giants open the 2023 season Saturday at the Grizzly Invitational hosted by Franklin College. Wabash returns 11 upperclassmen to balance eight freshmen on the roster.
“This is my sixth season, and this year’s team is by far the best team we’ve put on the course,” Wabash head cross country coach Tyler McCreary said. “The guys put in some incredible work during the summer. Many of our upperclassmen are in the same physical shape they were in toward the end of the outdoor track season last year, and several of the freshmen turned in personal best times in our two-mile time trial to start practice a few weeks ago.”
Junior Brayden Curnutt is back as a two-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference performer for Wabash. Curnutt placed 12th to earn Second Team All-NCAC honors at last year’s conference championship meet with a time of 27:25.3 over the 8,000-meter course. He bettered that effort with a career-best time of 25:20.4 at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Championships to earn 50th place in a field of 272 competitors. Senior Joe Barnett scored a 26th-place finish at the NCAC cross country meet by crossing the line in 28:05.7. He turned in his career-best time at the regional championship in November by finishing 122nd with a time of 26:19.3. Junior Justin Santiago added a 33rd-place finish at the conference meet by posting a time of 28:19.7. Santiago placed 142nd at the regional with a career-best effort of 26:36.7.
“We have good depth this year,” McCreary said. “Brayden Curnutt had an outstanding year last season. Jacob Sitzman made massive growth throughout last season. Seniors Joe Barnett, and Drake Hayes, and juniors Will Neubauer and Justin Santiago had strong track and field seasons and are ready to run this fall. Haiden Diemer-McKinney has put in great summer training and seems prepared to step up in cross country for us. Those guys lead us and provide depth up front.
“We have a good freshman group, nine with some guys who can contribute. Ty Murphy, Angel Perez, David Adesanya, and Carter Norris can all help us. They need to learn how to run the 8,000-meter cross country race and develop with our upperclassmen. If they can do that, they can contribute to us at the conference championship race.”
Wabash starts the season at the 5,000-meter race in Shelbyville this Saturday before a preview of the conference championship course at Denison University on September 9. The Little Giants will compete at the Greater Louisville Classic and Augustana Interregional Invitational before returning to Denison on October 28 for the 2023 NCAC Championships.
“The 5,000-meter run at Franklin this weekend will be a good event for us,” McCreary said. “Next week, we’ll go to Denison to preview the conference course before getting a nice three-week training block in the books before competing at Louisville. That’s a highly competitive elite meet. The Augustana meet will take place on a very fast, flat course. We should put up some good numbers there.”
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
*****MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STANDINGS*****
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Baltimore | 83 | 50 | .624 | – | 42 – 26 | 41 – 24 | 26 – 15 | 20 – 8 | 16 – 10 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Tampa Bay | 82 | 52 | .612 | 1.5 | 45 – 23 | 37 – 29 | 22 – 15 | 20 – 6 | 13 – 12 | 8 – 2 | W 4 |
| Toronto | 73 | 61 | .545 | 10.5 | 35 – 30 | 38 – 31 | 12 – 25 | 19 – 10 | 14 – 11 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Boston | 69 | 65 | .515 | 14.5 | 36 – 33 | 33 – 32 | 19 – 14 | 16 – 10 | 14 – 15 | 3 – 7 | L 4 |
| NY Yankees | 65 | 69 | .485 | 18.5 | 36 – 33 | 29 – 36 | 16 – 26 | 15 – 11 | 16 – 13 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 69 | 65 | .515 | – | 40 – 29 | 29 – 36 | 12 – 17 | 24 – 21 | 14 – 9 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Cleveland | 64 | 70 | .478 | 5 | 33 – 33 | 31 – 37 | 12 – 13 | 21 – 22 | 13 – 12 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Detroit | 60 | 74 | .448 | 9 | 29 – 40 | 31 – 34 | 6 – 23 | 25 – 15 | 10 – 15 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Chi White Sox | 53 | 81 | .396 | 16 | 28 – 37 | 25 – 44 | 9 – 19 | 19 – 17 | 12 – 21 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Kansas City | 41 | 94 | .304 | 28.5 | 23 – 43 | 18 – 51 | 6 – 18 | 13 – 27 | 6 – 19 | 1 – 9 | L 6 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Seattle | 76 | 57 | .571 | – | 39 – 29 | 37 – 28 | 12 – 15 | 20 – 13 | 24 – 12 | 8 – 2 | W 1 |
| Houston | 77 | 58 | .570 | – | 35 – 31 | 42 – 27 | 15 – 12 | 13 – 12 | 26 – 17 | 7 – 3 | W 5 |
| Texas | 75 | 58 | .564 | 1 | 42 – 24 | 33 – 34 | 14 – 11 | 18 – 8 | 21 – 15 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| LA Angels | 64 | 70 | .478 | 12.5 | 32 – 33 | 32 – 37 | 13 – 13 | 14 – 8 | 18 – 22 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Oakland | 39 | 95 | .291 | 37.5 | 20 – 45 | 19 – 50 | 7 – 22 | 11 – 14 | 7 – 30 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 88 | 45 | .662 | – | 44 – 22 | 44 – 23 | 27 – 8 | 16 – 6 | 19 – 11 | 8 – 2 | W 4 |
| Philadelphia | 74 | 59 | .556 | 14 | 41 – 26 | 33 – 33 | 16 – 19 | 14 – 8 | 16 – 14 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Miami | 67 | 67 | .500 | 21.5 | 38 – 31 | 29 – 36 | 16 – 21 | 13 – 10 | 12 – 16 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Washington | 62 | 73 | .459 | 27 | 29 – 37 | 33 – 36 | 15 – 25 | 12 – 14 | 14 – 14 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| NY Mets | 61 | 73 | .455 | 27.5 | 33 – 32 | 28 – 41 | 18 – 19 | 12 – 17 | 15 – 13 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Milwaukee | 74 | 59 | .556 | – | 38 – 27 | 36 – 32 | 10 – 9 | 25 – 14 | 13 – 19 | 8 – 2 | L 2 |
| Chi Cubs | 71 | 62 | .534 | 3 | 37 – 31 | 34 – 31 | 11 – 17 | 26 – 16 | 9 – 8 | 7 – 3 | W 2 |
| Cincinnati | 69 | 66 | .511 | 6 | 31 – 34 | 38 – 32 | 13 – 16 | 16 – 23 | 18 – 14 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 61 | 73 | .455 | 13.5 | 32 – 36 | 29 – 37 | 10 – 10 | 17 – 23 | 16 – 15 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| St. Louis | 58 | 76 | .433 | 16.5 | 30 – 38 | 28 – 38 | 11 – 15 | 14 – 22 | 12 – 17 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 83 | 50 | .624 | – | 46 – 22 | 37 – 28 | 13 – 9 | 19 – 14 | 26 – 12 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| San Francisco | 70 | 64 | .522 | 13.5 | 38 – 31 | 32 – 33 | 13 – 18 | 20 – 10 | 19 – 11 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Arizona | 69 | 65 | .515 | 14.5 | 35 – 32 | 34 – 33 | 13 – 15 | 14 – 11 | 25 – 22 | 6 – 4 | L 3 |
| San Diego | 62 | 73 | .459 | 22 | 35 – 34 | 27 – 39 | 15 – 14 | 9 – 20 | 17 – 23 | 3 – 7 | L 3 |
| Colorado | 49 | 84 | .368 | 34 | 28 – 36 | 21 – 48 | 14 – 20 | 11 – 13 | 8 – 27 | 1 – 9 | L 3 |
*****TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY*****
1890 On Labor Day at Brooklyn’s Washington Park, the Bridegrooms, later known as the Dodgers, win all three games against Pittsburgh in the first tripleheader ever played. The home team sweeps the visiting Alleghenys, who will become the Pirates next season, 10-9, 3-2, and 8-4.
1906 In the longest game in American League history, Philadelphia beats the Red Sox in 24 innings, 4-1. Each starter goes the distance when A’s hurler Jack Coombs, who fans 18 batters, bests Boston’s Joe Harris in the Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds contest.
1909 Bill O’Hara, inserted as a pinch-runner, becomes the first major leaguer to steal two bags in the same inning when he swipes second and third base in the Giants’ 9-6 victory over St. Louis at the Polo Grounds. The 28-year-old New York outfielder will end the season with 31 stolen bases and duplicates the feat tomorrow against the same opponents.
1918 The major league regular season, scheduled to end today due to World War I, is extended when the owners decide to play through Labor Day. The Browns want the Indians fined and believe Cleveland should forfeit the two games for refusing to play the additional contests.
1931 Lou Gehrig hits a grand slam for the third time in four days. The Bronx Bomber first baseman’s third-inning base-loaded home run off Ed Morris proves to be the difference in New York’s 5-1 victory over Boston at Yankee Stadium.
1945 Philadelphia outfielder Vince DiMaggio’s bases-loaded home run paces the Phillies to an 8-3 victory over Boston at Braves Field. Joe and Dom’s older brother ties a major league mark with his fourth grand slam of the season.
1947 The Giants surpass the 1936 Yankees’ mark for the most home runs hit in a season by a team. The three Polo Grounds homers in today’s twin bill sweep over Boston raise the record total to 185, and the New York National League club will finish the season with 221 round-trippers.
1950 To save the Phillies a 24-hour train trip to play the Braves, Philadelphia’s GM Bob Carpenter charters his team’s first plane flight. The TWA Lockheed Constellation, delayed due to mechanical problems, makes a precarious landing during a severe thunderstorm, with players loudly cheering the pilot for their safe arrival in Boston.
1953 The Cardinals tie a major league mark, hitting five homers in a 12-5 loss to Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. The solo shots hit by Stan Musial, Harry Elliot, Rip Repulski, and Steve Bilko (2), all off starter Preacher Roe, aren’t enough to offset the Dodgers’ 17-hit attack, which includes six doubles but no round-trippers.
1958 Cardinal southpaw Vinegar Bend Mizell beats Joe Nuxhull and the Reds, 1-0, thanks to an unearned run in the second inning at Busch Stadium. The future U.S. Congressman, born in Leakesville, Mississippi, on the other side of the Alabama state line near neighboring Vinegar Bend, establishes a National League record by walking nine batters without giving up a run.
1961 In his first major league at-bat, Cuno Barragan hits his only big-league home run, taking Dick LeMay deep over the left-field fence at Wrigley Field in the second inning of the Cubs’ 4-3 loss to San Francisco. The 29-year-old catcher will play in 69 games for Chicago over three seasons.
1963 Cardinal starter Curt Simmons becomes one of the few pitchers to steal home with his second-inning dash to the plate in the team’s 7-3 victory over the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. The 34-year-old Redbird southpaw, who had tripled, scores on an aborted squeeze play when Chris Short uncorks a pitch that Julian Javier cannot bunt.
1964 Masanori Murakami becomes the first native-born Japanese player to appear in the U.S. major leagues when he throws a scoreless eighth inning in the Giants’ 4-1 loss to the Mets at Shea Stadium. The 20-year-old southpaw, scheduled to play only minor league ball until June as an ‘exchange player,’ will be allowed to stay and play in one full season with San Francisco before returning to the Nankai Hawks, ending his brief American stint with a 5-1 record and an ERA of 3.75.
1966 Tim McCarver’s third-inning triple, his 13th and final one of the season, plates Orlando Cepeda in the Cardinals’ 7-4 victory over Atlanta at Busch Stadium. The 22-year-old Memphis (TN) native will become the first backstop ever to lead the National or American League in three-baggers.
1967 Amid his franchise record-setting of pitching 40 consecutive innings without allowing a run, Gaylord Perry extends his scoreless streak when he hurls 16 innings of shutout ball in the Giants’ 1-0 victory over the Reds. Frank Linzy keeps Cincinnati scoreless for the final five frames, getting the victory for San Francisco in the 21-inning Crosley Field contest.
1967 After 20 scoreless innings, which equals the major league mark, Dick Groat draws a bases-loaded walk, giving the Giants a 1-0 victory over the Reds. In 1918, the Braves and Pirates also matched zeros for twenty frames until the Bucs scored two runs in the top of the 21st for an eventual 2-0 victory in the Boston ballpark.
1969 At Dodger Stadium, Willie Davis ties the franchise record by hitting in 29 consecutive games with his second-inning single in LA’s 10-6 victory over New York. Zack Wheat established the mark in 1916.
1971 In a 10-7 victory against the Phillies at Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium, the Pirates become the first major league team to start an all-black squad. The lineup includes infielders Al Oliver (1b), Rennie Stennett (2b), Jackie Hernandez (ss), Dave Cash (third base), and outfielders Willie Stargell (lf), Gene Clines (cf), Roberto Clemente (right field), with Dock Ellis (p) and Manny Sanguillen (c) making up the battery.
1975 Tom Seaver, when he whiffs Pirate Manny Sanguillen in the top of the seventh inning, becomes the first pitcher to strike out at least 200 batters in eight consecutive seasons. The 3-0 victory is also ‘Tom Terrific’s’ 20th of the season, making it the fourth time the right-hander has reached that plateau in his career.
1979 Carney Lansford hits three consecutive home runs in California’s 7-4 victory over the Tribe at Cleveland Stadium. The Angels’ third baseman’s trio of round-trippers comes in the first, third, and fifth innings, each with the bases empty.
1980 PawSox infielder Wade Boggs loses the International League batting title on the season’s final day when he grounds out to first base in his last plate appearance. The Mud Hens, ahead 6-0, issue a two-out intentional walk to light-hitting Ray Boyer, who goes around the bases unchallenged and scores on a deliberate error, forcing Boggs to bat and, after making an out, putting him .007 of a percentage point behind Dave Engle, an outfielder for the opponents.
1980 Ed Farmer, who had been accosted on the mound in June by Al Cowens, agrees to drop the assault charges brought against the Tiger center fielder by the Illinois authorities in exchange for a handshake and an apology from his attacker. Before the Comiskey Park contest, the two former combatants bring out the lineup cards, smile, and shake hands. The White Sox fans continue to boo the Detroit player, and a “Coward Cowens” banner will express the Southsiders’ sentiments.
1983 Entering the game with 286 strikeouts, Lynchburg right-hander Dwight Gooden strikes out a dozen batters in the first six frames of a scheduled seven-inning against Hagerstown, needing two more in the last frame to record 300 for the season. After the leadoff batter grounds out, the 18-year-old phenom whiffs the next two Suns hitters to secure the 1-0 victory, reaching the lofty plateau in 191 innings.
1984 At the age of 42 and 110 days, Tony Perez becomes the oldest player to hit a walk-off pinch-hit home run when he goes deep off Don Robinson in the Reds’ 7-5 victory over the Pirates at Riverfront Stadium. Jason Giambi will accomplish the feat twice for the Indians in 2013, setting the mark when he was 159 days older than the Cincinnati veteran.
1987 During the fourth inning of the Astros’ 3-2 loss at Wrigley Field, Billy Hatcher has his infield hit taken away and is immediately ejected from the game after his shattered bat reveals cork. The Houston left fielder, suspended for ten days, claims he mistakenly picked up Dave Smith’s bat, which the pitcher used during batting practice before the game.
1992 At Tiger Stadium, Rick Aguilera pitches a scoreless ninth inning to notch his 35th save of the season in the Twins’ 5-4 victory over Detroit. The save is the closer’s 109th, making the right-handed reliever the franchise’s all-time saves leader.
1998 Cardinal slugger Mark McGwire, in a 7-1 victory over Florida, homers twice to break Hack Wilson’s National League single-season home run record of 56. Big Mac’s seventh-inning shot ties the 1930 mark set by the Hall of Fame Cubs’ outfielder, and he establishes a new record in the ninth, hitting a Don Pall pitch 472 feet over the center-field wall at Miami’s Pro Player Stadium.
1999 The Boones become the twelfth pair of siblings to homer in the same game when Aaron, the Reds third baseman, goes deep in the bottom of the eighth inning of the team’s 8-7 loss to the Braves. Earlier in the Cinergy Field contest, brother Bret hit a third-inning two-run round-tripper off Cincinnati southpaw Ron Villon.
1999 Due to the union chief Richie Phillips’ ill-advised ploy to use mass resignations to force the owners into a new collective bargaining agreement, twenty-two of baseball’s regular 68 umpires find themselves unemployed. In an understanding mediated by U.S. District Judge J. Curtis Joyner, the Umpires Association agrees to a deal, costing those members their jobs, but allows for an arbitration proceeding that could permit displaced umps to return to the game at some point.
2000 In an unusual play, the Orioles turn a triple play as shortstop Melvin Mora purposely lets a short fly drop in left field with runners at first and second. The runner at second (Travis Fryman) is tagged out, and the runner at first (Wil Cordero) is forced at second, with the batter (Sandy Alomar), thinking of the infield-fly rule, does not go to first and is called automatically out for going back to the dugout.
2000 Darin Erstad breaks the Angels’ club record for total hits in a season when he doubles in the second inning of the team’s 9-8 loss to the White Sox at Chicago’s Comiskey Park. The 26-year-old Halo outfielder will finish the season with 240 hits, far surpassing Alex Johnson’s mark of 202, established in 1970.
2001 Cubs’ slugger Sammy Sosa hits the longest home run in Turner Field history when his two-run shot, the outfielder’s 53rd of the season, travels 471 feet to straightaway center field. The historic homer comes in the first inning off four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux in the team’s 5-3 victory in Atlanta.
2002 Thanks to Miguel Tejada’s three-run ninth-inning walk-off home run, the A’s beat the Twins, 7-5, extending their winning streak to 18. The dramatic victory marks the longest stretch in franchise history, established by the Philadelphia A’s with 17 consecutive wins in 1931.
2005 The Pacific Coast League announces the total attendance saw over seven million fans turn the turnstiles this season. The PCL had set a new single-season record in minor league history when the 16-team circuit passed the 6.8 million mark earlier in the month.
2005 The first busload of Hurricane Katrina refugees, formerly housed at the Superdome in New Orleans, arrive at the Houston Astrodome. The Astros’ former home will afford the displaced an opportunity to escape the horrendous unhealthy conditions of their former shelter by supplying air conditioning, cots, food, and showers for eventually 25,000 people to arrive from Louisiana.
2006 The Pirates extend their franchise-record consecutive losing-season streak to 14 when the club drops their 82nd game to Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals, 3-1. The 1933-1948 Phillies own the big league mark, finishing with a losing record for 16 straight campaigns.
2007 In only his second major league start, Clay Buchholz, using an assortment of fastballs, curves, and changeups becomes the 20th rookie to throw a no-hitter, beating the Orioles in front of a very supportive Fenway crowd, 10-0. The 23-year-old right-hander, called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the start, becomes the youngest of the seventeen players to have accomplished the feat in Red Sox history.
2008 In his complete-game effort against the Pirates, CC Sabathia gives up only a questionable infield hit to Andy LaRoche in the fifth inning of the Brewers’ 7-0 victory at PNC Park. The club plans to forward a DVD of the play to Major League Baseball, hoping somehow official scorer Bob Webb, the only person allowed to reverse his decision according to the rules, can be convinced to change the scoring of the grounder to the mound to an error.
2008 Cliff Lee shuts out the White Sox, 5-0, to become the Indians’ 56th twenty-game winner in franchise history, but the first to accomplish the feat in 34 years. The last Tribe’s moundsman to win as many games was Gaylord Perry, who posted a 21-13 record in 1974.
2008 In Arizona’s 8-6 comeback victory over the Cardinals, Stephen Drew singles in the first, triples in the third, homers in the fifth, and doubles in the seventh to complete the cycle. The Diamondbacks’ shortstop becomes the third player in franchise history and the first major leaguer to accomplish the feat at Chase Field, formerly known as the Bank One Ballpark.
2008 Adrian Beltre triples in the eighth inning off Rangers’ right-hander Josh Rupe to become the fourth player in franchise history, joining Jay Buhner (1993), Alex Rodriguez (1997), and John Olerud (2001) to hit for the cycle. The rare event occurs twice today when Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew also collects a single, double, triple, and home run against the Cardinals at Chase Field.
2009 In his first game back from the DL after suffering a torn right testicle when a bad-hop grounder hit him in the groin last month, Adrian Beltre hears the Nutcracker Suite when he steps into the batter’s box. Mariner teammate Ken Griffey Jr. arranged to have the Safeco Field PA system play the waltz to have some fun with the third baseman, who decided not to wear a protective cup until today’s game.
2010 “This is the major leagues. This is not college any more. You’re not on scholarship. You’re being paid to do the job and guys depend on you, and I think it’s unfortunate that the Nationals and the team are in a situation here where this kid now, he feels any kind of arm pain, he’s gonna call you out?… You give these guys (today’s players) $15 million bucks, please. Get your butt out there and play every fifth day.” – ROB DIBBLE, commenting as a Sirius XM Radio show host
The Nationals announce Rob Dibble will no longer be employed as a TV analyst for the team’s games on MASN, which telecasts the Washington games. As a host on a Sirius XM Radio show, the former major league reliever severely chastises Stephen Strasburg for not pitching through pain before the rookie phenom’s diagnosis of a torn elbow ligament.
2014 The Phillies become the eleventh team in baseball history to throw a combined no-hitter when four of their hurlers do not yield a hit in their 7-0 victory over the Braves. Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels goes the first six innings in the Turner Field contest, with relievers Jake Diekman, Ken Giles, and Jonathan Papelbon, each tossing a perfect inning to accomplish the rare feat.
2019 Patrick Corbin joins teammates Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, recording his 200th strikeout on the season when he fans Garrett Cooper on three pitches in the Nationals’ 9-3 victory over the Marlins. Washington becomes the second team in National League history to have three pitchers reach the milestone in the same season, a feat first accomplished in the Senior Circuit by the 1969 Astros, behind the trio of Larry Dierker, Tom Griffin, and Don Wilson.
2019 Justin Verlander throws his third career no-hitter, blanking the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, 2-0. Astros rookie Abraham Toro hit a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning of the scoreless contest to allow the Houston right-hander to complete the no-no in the bottom of the frame, including his fielding of a ground out for the final out of the game.
2019 Texas snaps the Yankees’ run (pun intended) of not being shut out at 220 consecutive games, making the streak second only to the 1931-33 Bronx Bombers, who scored in 308 straight games. Mike Minor and a pair of Rangers relievers held New York to six hits in the team’s 7-0 victory at the Bronx ballpark.
2021 In his first year of playing the position, Marcus Semien ties the major league record for the most homers by a second baseman in a single season. At Target Field, the Blue Jay infielder hits a sixth-inning solo shot in the team’s 6-1 victory over the Twins for his 43rd dinger, equaling the mark set in 1973 set by Braves’ second sacker Davey Johnson.
*****BASEBALL HALL OF FAME******
BRUCE SUTTER
Pitcher
“He’s the greatest relief pitcher that I’ve seen in my 45 years in baseball.” – Herman Franks
Bruce Sutter was on the fringes of professional baseball, a struggling minor league pitcher with an injured arm, until he received a gift that changed his life forever. He learned a new pitch, a split-fingered fastball, from Cubs minor league pitching coach Fred Martin in the spring of 1973. And within just a few years, Sutter was blazing a trail as one of the game’s top relief pitchers.
Martin had been trying to teach Cubs farmhands this new pitch, a derivation of the forkball, with little success. But he now had an apt pupil in Sutter, who needed something new to keep his big league dream alive. After making just two minor league appearances in his first pro season in 1972, Sutter injured his arm and underwent surgery – at his own expense – following the season. He reported to Spring Training in 1973 with a diminished fastball and little expectation of success.
But Sutter quickly mastered the pitch, in which the thumb pushes the ball out from between wide-spread fingers, imparting a sharp forward spin to the ball. What appeared to be an ordinary fastball suddenly dove through the strike zone as it reached the plate.
Sutter debuted in the big leagues in 1976 and by 1977 was entrenched as the Cubs’ closer, finishing with 31 saves garnering the first of six All-Star Game invitations. The Sutter name became known throughout the baseball world with his remarkable 1979 season, winning the National League Cy Young Award after tying the Senior Circuit record with 37 saves.
Cubs’ starting pitchers certainly appreciated seeing Sutter in the bullpen, with Ray Burris once saying: “He was lights out when he came in. As a starter you knew if you got into the seventh or eighth inning that the game was pretty well sealed.”
Dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1981 campaign, Sutter proved to be the missing piece for a championship-caliber club. Not only did he average almost 32 saves over the four seasons he was with the Cardinals, establishing a NL record for most saves in a season with his 45 in 1984, he also helped the team win the 1982 World Series.
Sutter won or saved the All-Star Game for the National League each season from 1978-81.
“He had the best makeup of any closer I’ve ever seen,” said Whitey Herzog, the St. Louis manager who had also acquired Sutter. “He just cut the percentages down for me from 27 outs a game to 21.”
Sutter signed with the Braves as a free agent following the 1984 season, but shoulder injuries limited his effectiveness over the next four seasons. He saved his 300th career game in his final big league appearance on Sept. 9, 1988 – 17 years to the day after he signed with the Cubs as an amateur free agent. He was the third pitcher in history to reach the 300-save mark.
Sutter was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006. He passed away on Oct. 13, 2022.
*****FOOTBALL HISTORY*****
September 1, 1937 – The 4th annual Chicago Charities College All-Star Game is played in the Windy City as the Green Bay Packers were defeated by the College players in a 6-0 nail biter with over 84,000 fans watching at Soldier Field. The only score of the game came on a 47-yard touchdown pass from future Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh to Gaynell Tinsley.
September 1, 1954 -Junction, Texas the legendary head coach of the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide, Paul “Bear” Bryant, opens up his ten day football camp for his players inspiring both the book and its subsequent TV movie titled “The Junction Boys.”
September 1, 1984 – In NCAA College Football Willie Totten of Mississippi State University passed for over 536 yards and 9 touchdowns setting a record for Division I-AA college football. The leading receiver in the game catching Totten’s passes was none other than the legendary Jerry Rice who dragged in 17 of them for a total of 294 yards and 5 trips to the end zone.
September 1, 1996 – The Baltimore Raven’s quarterback Vinnie Testeverde leads the Ravens over the Oakland Raiders 17-14 for the first win by the franchise in their new city with their new colors and nickname. The franchise was formerly the old Cleveland Browns.
September 1, 1996 – Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina opens as the Carolina Panthers outlast the Atlanta Falcons 29-6.
September 1, 2006 – A new era in NFL management begins as Roger Goodell takes over the reigns as NFL Commissioner from retiring Paul Tagliabue.
September 1, 2007 – Appalachian State pulls of what many believe may be the largest upset in NCAA football history when they knocked off the University of Michigan 34-32. State’s Corey Lynch blocked a 37 yard FG attempt by Michigan kicker Jason Gingell at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan to preserve the win.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR SEPTEMBER 1
September 1, 1903 – Ray Flaherty was a player and head coach in the early NFL and he spent a total of 18 years in pro football. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined this great coach in the entry class of 1976 as a coach.
September 1, 1904 – Johnny Mack Brown was a former University of Alabama halfback that later became a Hollywood actor. Legendary opposing coach Pop Warner described Brown as one of the fastest football players he had ever seen. In 1925 Johnny Mack Brown helped the Crimson Tide win the National Championship according to the National Football Foundation. He was recognized as alegend in 1957 when the College Football Hall of Fame enshrined him. As for his screen career , Brown had the starring role in the 1930 film, ‘Billy the Kid.”
September 1, 1916 – Ed Bock was a two-way guard from Iowa State that entered into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970 according to the National Football Foundation. In 1938 he became Iowa State’s first ever unanimous first team All-American selection.
September 1, 1951 – Brian Kelley hailed from California Lutheran University as a heralded linebacker. As a junior, his Cal. Lutheran team won the NAIA National Championship in 1971. In 2010 the selection committee of the College Football hall of Fame announced his enshrinement according to the National Football Foundation. He played a solid 11 year pro career with the NFL’s New York Giants from 1973 through the 1983 seasons. He alongside Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor and Brad Van Pelt made up the feared Giants “Crunch Bunch” which was one of the most productive linebacker corps ever.
September 1, 1973 – Zach Thomas was a former linebacker at Texas Tech University. He entered the College Football hall of Fame in 2015 according to the National Football Foundation. He played a long successful 13 year NFL career with the Miami Dolphins then playing his final season with the Dallas Cowboys. According to ProFootballReference.com, Thomas averaged a whopping 9.7 tackles per game in his 168 games played for the Dolphins. The legendary linebacker was selected to play in 8 Pro Bowls and was voted as an All-Pro 5 times in his brilliant career. In January 2020 the Pro Football Hall of Fame selected Zach Thomas have his bust cast in bronze.
September 1, 1974 – Jason Taylor was a disruptive defensive end for the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Washington Redskins. As a collegian at the University of Akron, Taylor dropped quarterbacks in the backfield at a steady pace. Miami drafted him with the 73rd overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft and they were not disappointed. Taylor went on to put up 139.5 sacks in his 15 season NFL career. He was the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was a 3 time First Team ALL-Pro, and was named to the NFL’s All Decade team for the 2000’s. Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Jason in their 2017 enshrinement class.
*****INDIANA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME*****
CHUCK ALEXANDER
Mishawaka
Player
Mishawaka
1976
3-year football letterman, starting 3 years on defense and 2 years on offense; Northern Indiana Conference MVP 1974 and 1975 (one of only two repeat winners); 1st Team NIC All-Conference running back 1974, 1975; 2nd Team NIC All-Conference linebacker 1974, 1975; 1st Team UPI All-State linebacker 1974; 1st Team UPI All-State running back 1975; Bloomington Herald-Tribune Top 33 linebacker 1974, 1975; MHS was Class 3A State runner-up 1974; MHS all-time leader in rushing yardage and blocked punts (5); National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award 1976; played on North All-Star team 1976; 3-year basketball letterman with several honors including NIC Honorable Mention All-Conference guard 1976; 4-year award-winning baseball letterman, including NIC All-Conference catcher 1975 and Honorable Mention All-State 1975; received football scholarship to attend IU.
Indiana University
1980
3-year football letterman, 2 years as starter at strong safety 1979, 1980; starter of 1979 Holiday Bowl team that defeated BYU 38-37 for first bowl victory in IU history, with an 8-4 season ending #16 ranking by UPI and #19 ranking by AP; Ted Verlihay Award for mental attitude and loyalty 1980.
Inducted into Mishawaka High School Athletic Hall of Fame 1989; works as an accountant in the Mishawaka area.
Daughter, Jessica, and son, Jason.
Coaching Experience: Volunteer assistant football coach, Mishawaka HS, 1985-1993.
******FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME******
BOBBY BELL
Position: Tackle
Years: 1960-1962
Place of Birth: Shelby, NC
Date of Birth: Jun 17, 1940
Jersey Number: 78
Height: 6-4
Weight: 217
High School: Shelby, NC (Cleveland HS)
His full name is Bobby Lee Bell, and he was a quarterback in high school at Shelby, North Carolina. Murray Warmath recruited him for the University of Minnesota, tried him at end, then tackle. Warmath summed up Bell’s versatility with a statement: “He would have been a standout at any position; he was of maximum value to us at tackle.” Bell then went into pro football and became a linebacker. At Minnesota he stood 6- 4, weighed 217, and could run as fast as any of the backs. The Gophers had a 22-6-1 record and were in two Rose Bowls in Bell’s time. He was two-time All-America and in 1962 won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman. United Press and the Columbus Touchdown Club named him Lineman of the Year; Coach & Athlete Magazine called him Player of the Year. His 1961 Minnesota team was national leader in rushing defense, allowing 52 yards a game. After college, Bell played with the Kansas City Chiefs 1963- 1974 and was all-pro eight times.
******NUMBERS IN SPORTS******
4 – 7 – 16 – 17 – 10 – 39 – 24 – 21 – 8 – 10 – 88 – 61 –
September 1, 1906 – The Philadelphia Athletics defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-1 in 24 innings in Boston. It is the longest game in AL baseball history. Both starting pitchers went the duration as A’s hurler Jack Coombs overcame Boston’s Joe Harris
September 1, 1931 – Future Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman Lou Gehrig, Number 4 hit his 3rd grand slam in 4 days & 6th homer in consecutive games in NY Yankees’ 5-1 win v Boston Red Sox
September 1, 1945 – Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Vince DiMaggio, Number 7 smashed his 4th grand slam of season, tying NL record, in an 8-3 win against the Boston Braves. Vince was the oldest of the three DiMaggio brothers. Of course the other two were Dom and Joe.
September 1, 1947 – Infielder Jack Lohrke, Number 16 hit the New York Giants’ 183rd homer of season in 2-1 win v Boston Braves. The blast broke the New York Yankees MLB mark of 182 set in 1936.
September 1, 1958 – St Louis Cardinals pitcher Number 17, Vinegar Bend Mizell walked a NL record 9 batters in a 1-0 shutout of Cincinnati Reds
September 1, 1964 – San Francisco Giants reliever Masanori Murakami wearing Number 10, became the first Japanese-born player to appear in US MLB; on debut. The native of Osuki threw a scoreless inning in a 4-1 loss versus the New York Mets
September 1, 1967 – Cincinnati Reds reliever Bob Lee (Number 39) walked Dick Groat (Number 24)with the bases loaded in 21st inning to give SF Giants a 1-0 win at Crosley Field. The contests previously 20 scoreless innings ties MLB mark, Pirates v Braves 1918
September 1, 1971 – The Pittsburgh Pirates started a game with what is believed to be first all-black line-up (including several Latinos) in MLB history‚ in 10-7 win v Philadelphia Phillies; includes future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Number 21 and Willie Stargell, Number 8.
September 1, 1975 – New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver (Number 41) shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-0. With this victory he was the first to reach 200 strikeouts for a MLB-record 8th straight season
September 1, 1978 – Baltimore Orioles pitcher Sammy Stewart, wearing Number 53, sat down 7 consecutive batters in his MLB debut, en route to 9-3 win v Chicago White Sox
September 1, 1984 – The quarterback of Mississippi Valley State, Willie Totten, Number 10 passed for a Division I-AA record 536 yards and 9 TDs in 86-0 win v Kentucky State. His main receiver was none other than Jerry Rice, Number 88 who caught 17 passes for 294 yards and 5 TDs. Rice ended up breaking his own Division I-AA record for total yardage in pass receptions. The school retired the jersey numbers of both players.
September 1, 2007 – Clay Buchholz, Number 61 became the first Boston Red Sox rookie to pitch a no-hitter. In just his second MLB appearance; beats Baltimore Orioles 10-0 at Fenway Park
September 1, 2019 – Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander, Number 35 struck out 14 as he throws his third career no-hitter in a 2-0 decision against the Toronto Blue Jays
******TV FRIDAY ******
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (WOMEN’S)
11 p.m.
FS2 — AFL: Gold Coast at Carlton
1 a.m. (Saturday)
FS2 — AFL: Port Adelaide at Adelaide
3 a.m. (Saturday)
FS2 — AFL: Western at Geelong
5 a.m. (Saturday)
FS2 — AFL: Essendon at Hawthorn
AUTO RACING
7:25 a.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy
10:55 a.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy
6:25 a.m. (Saturday)
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
7 p.m.
ACCN — Miami (Ohio) at Miami
FS1 — Cent. Michigan at Michigan St.
7:30 p.m.
ESPN — Louisville vs. Georgia Tech, Atlanta
11 p.m.
CBSSN — Stanford at Hawaii
COLLEGE SOCCER (MEN’S)
6 p.m.
BTN — Syracuse at Penn St.
8 p.m.
BTN — Washington at Indiana
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)
7 p.m.
SECN — Pittsburgh at Kentucky
GOLF
7:30 a.m.
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Omega European Masters, Second Round, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans-Montana, Switzerland
6 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Portland Classic, Second Round, Columbia Edgewater Macan Course, Portland, Ore.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
7 p.m.
ESPNU — Charlotte Catholic (N.C.) at Providence Day (N.C.)
HORSE RACING
1 p.m.
FS2 — Saratoga Live: From Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m.
MLBN — Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati (Game 1)
10 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Atlanta at LA Dodgers OR Baltimore at Arizona (9:30)
RUGBY (MEN’S)
5:55 a.m.
FS2 — NRL: Sydney at South Sydney
SOCCER (MEN’S)
3 p.m.
USA — Premier League: West Ham United at Luton Town
9 p.m.
FS2 — Liga MX: Mazatlán at Juárez
TENNIS
12 p.m.
ESPN — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Flushing, N.Y.
6 p.m.
ESPN2 — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Flushing, N.Y.
7 p.m.
ESPN2 — ATP/WTA: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Flushing, N.Y.
WNBA BASKETBALL
8 p.m.ION — Connecticut at New York