“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 5 SCHEDULE
ADAMS CENTRAL (3-1) AT HERITAGE (4-0)
ALEXANDRIA (3-1) AT MISSISSINEWA (4-0)
ANDERSON (0-4) AT MUNCIE CENTRAL (0-4)
ANDREAN (2-2) AT HOBART (2-2)
ANGOLA (1-3) AT LAKELAND (3-1)
AVON (1-3) AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL (1-2)
BATESVILLE (4-0) AT EAST CENTRAL (2-2)
BEECH GROVE (2-2) AT MONROVIA (3-1)
BELLMONT (0-4) AT HUNTINGTON NORTH (2-2)
BEN DAVIS (1-3) AT WARREN CENTRAL (4-0)
BLACKFORD (2-2) AT EASTBROOK (2-2)
BLOOMINGTON NORTH (3-1) AT TERRE HAUTE NORTH (1-3)
BOWMAN ACADEMY (0-4) AT LAKE STATION (0-4)
BREBEUF JESUIT (3-1) AT CARMEL (2-2)
BREMEN (2-2) AT JIMTOWN (2-2)
BROWNSBURG (4-0) AT FISHERS (3-1)
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (4-0) AT NORTH HARRISON (3-1)
CALUMET CHRISTIAN AT HAMMOND NOLL (1-3)
CASCADE (4-0) AT SULLIVAN (1-3)
CENTERVILLE (4-0) AT TRI (2-2)
CHARLESTOWN (1-3) AT PROVIDENCE (4-0)
CHESTERTON (3-1) AT VALPARAISO (3-1)
CLOVERDALE (3-1) AT NORTH PUTNAM (4-0)
COLUMBIA CITY (4-0) AT DEKALB (2-2)
COLUMBUS EAST (2-2) AT NEW ALBANY (3-1)
COLUMBUS NORTH (4-0) AT INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (3-1)
CORYDON CENTRAL (0-4) AT EASTERN (PEKIN) (1-3)
COVENANT CHRISTIAN (0-4) AT TRITON CENTRAL (2-2)
COVINGTON (2-2) AT SOUTH VERMILLION (4-0)
CRAWFORD COUNTY (0-4) AT MITCHELL (0-4)
CULVER ACADEMY (3-1) AT HAMMOND CENTRAL (2-2)
DELPHI (2-2) AT TRI-CENTRAL (1-3)
EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (1-3) AT MUNSTER (0-4)
EAST NOBLE (3-1) AT LEO (4-0)
EASTERN (GREENTOWN) (1-3) AT CARROLL (FLORA) (4-0)
EASTERN GREENE (1-3) AT CLARKSVILLE (0-4)
EASTERN HANCOCK (2-2) AT KNIGHTSTOWN (4-0)
EASTSIDE (1-3) AT GARRETT (4-0)
EDGEWOOD (2-2) AT SOUTH PUTNAM (2-2)
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (1-3) AT EVANSVILLE REITZ (4-0)
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (3-1) AT JASPER (2-2)
EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL (4-0) AT EVANSVILLE HARRISON (0-4)
EVANSVILLE NORTH (1-3) AT EVANSVILLE BOSSE (0-4)
FAIRFIELD (2-2) AT WEST NOBLE (4-0)
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (0-3) AT SOUTH ADAMS (1-3)
FORT WAYNE DWENGER (1-3) AT HOMESTEAD (2-2)
FORT WAYNE LUERS (3-1) AT FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA (2-2)
FORT WAYNE NORTH (2-2) AT FORT WAYNE NORTHROP (1-3)
FORT WAYNE SNIDER (3-1) AT CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (2-2)
FORT WAYNE SOUTH (0-4) AT FORT WAYNE WAYNE (1-2)
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (1-3) AT ATTICA (0-4)
FRANKFORT (0-4) AT LEBANON (2-2)
FRANKTON (0-4) AT OAK HILL (2-2)
FREMONT (1-3) AT CENTRAL NOBLE (0-4)
FRONTIER (3-0) AT BENTON CENTRAL (0-4)
GARY WEST (3-1) AT WHITING (2-2)
GIBSON SOUTHERN (3-1) AT SOUTHRIDGE (3-1)
GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (4-0) AT SHELBYVILLE (1-3)
GREENSBURG (0-4) AT SOUTH DEARBORN (3-1)
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (3-1) AT MILAN (2-2)
GRIFFITH (4-0) AT RIVER FOREST (3-1)
GUERIN CATHOLIC (3-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (1-2)
HAGERSTOWN (2-2) AT CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN (1-3)
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (3-1) AT WESTFIELD (4-0)
HAMMOND MORTON (0-4) AT CALUMET (3-1)
HANOVER CENTRAL (3-1) AT KANKAKEE VALLEY (2-2)
HERITAGE HILLS (3-1) AT NORTH POSEY (4-0)
INDIAN CREEK (1-3) AT GREENCASTLE (1-3)
INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS (1-1) AT PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD (1-3)
INDIANAPOLIS RITTER (1-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN (3-1)
INDIANAPOLIS TECH (2-1) AT LAWRENCE NORTH (4-0)
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (1-3) AT MONROE CENTRAL (3-1)
INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (2-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE (1-2)
IRVINGTON PREP (0-3) AT CHRISTEL HOUSE (0-3)
JAY COUNTY (2-2) AT BLUFFTON (4-0)
JEFFERSONVILLE (3-1) AT FLOYD CENTRAL (2-1)
JENNINGS COUNTY (0-4) AT MADISON (2-2)
JOHN GLENN (1-2) AT KNOX (2-2)
KOKOMO (1-2) AT LAFAYETTE JEFF (4-0)
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (3-0) AT WEST LAFAYETTE (3-1)
LAPORTE (0-4) AT LAKE CENTRAL (2-2)
LAWRENCEBURG (3-1) AT FRANKLIN COUNTY (2-2)
LINTON (3-1) AT BOONVILLE (1-3)
LOWELL (1-3) AT HIGHLAND (1-3)
MACONAQUAH (3-0) AT PERU (2-2)
MADISON-GRANT (4-0) AT ELWOOD (1-3)
MANCHESTER (1-3) AT NORTHFIELD (1-3)
MARION (2-2) AT RICHMOND (0-4)
MARTINSVILLE (4-0) AT FRANKLIN (2-2)
MCCUTCHEON (2-2) AT HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (2-2)
MICHIGAN CITY (1-3) AT MERRILLVILLE (3-1)
MISHAWAKA (3-1) AT GOSHEN (0-4)
MISHAWAKA MARIAN (2-2) AT PENN (3-1)
MOORESVILLE (1-3) AT DECATUR CENTRAL (1-2)
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) (0-4) AT DELTA (3-1)
MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (3-1) AT FOREST PARK (3-1)
NEW HAVEN (0-4) AT NORWELL (1-3)
NEW PALESTINE (3-0) AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS (2-2)
NEW PRAIRIE (3-1) AT ELKHART (3-1)
NOBLESVILLE (2-2) AT ZIONSVILLE (2-2)
NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) (0-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (2-2)
NORTH DAVIESS (3-1) AT EDINBURGH (0-4)
NORTH DECATUR (3-1) AT LAPEL (4-0)
NORTH JUDSON (4-0) AT CULVER (1-3)
NORTH KNOX (1-3) AT NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (1-3)
NORTH MIAMI (3-1) AT PIONEER (3-1)
NORTH MONTGOMERY (1-3) AT WESTERN BOONE (4-0)
NORTH NEWTON (1-3) AT WEST CENTRAL (2-2)
NORTH VERMILLION (3-1) AT RIVERTON PARKE (3-1)
NORTHEASTERN (4-0) AT UNION CITY (0-4)
NORTHVIEW (4-0) AT OWEN VALLEY (0-4)
NORTHWOOD (2-2) AT NORTHRIDGE (1-3)
PAOLI (4-0) AT WEST WASHINGTON (2-2)
PARK TUDOR (3-1) AT SHENANDOAH (2-2)
PARKE HERITAGE (1-3) AT SEEGER (2-2)
PERRY MERIDIAN (2-2) AT WHITELAND (2-1)
PIKE (3-1) AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL (1-3)
PIKE CENTRAL (2-2) AT SOUTH SPENCER (1-3)
PLAINFIELD (4-0) AT GREENWOOD (2-2)
PORTAGE (2-2) AT CROWN POINT (4-0)
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (3-1) AT CHURUBUSCO (1-3)
PRINCETON (0-4) AT WASHINGTON (3-1)
RENSSELAER CENTRAL (1-3) AT TIPTON (3-1)
ROCHESTER (3-1) AT LEWIS CASS (2-2)
RUSHVILLE (2-2) AT CONNERSVILLE (2-2)
SALEM (1-3) AT SPRINGS VALLEY (3-1)
SCOTTSBURG (2-2) AT SILVER CREEK (3-1)
SEYMOUR (1-3) AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (0-4)
SHERIDAN (2-2) AT CLINTON PRAIRIE (3-1)
SOUTH BEND ADAMS (0-4) AT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (2-2)
SOUTH BEND RILEY (1-2) AT SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-4)
SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) (1-3) AT CASTON (0-4)
SOUTHERN WELLS (0-4) AT WOODLAN (1-3)
SOUTHMONT (2-2) AT CRAWFORDSVILLE (2-2)
SOUTHPORT (0-4) AT HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (3-1)
SOUTHSIDE HOMESCHOOL AT SOUTH DECATUR (2-2)
SPEEDWAY (3-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA (1-3)
SWITZERLAND COUNTY (3-1) AT OWEN COUNTY (KY.)
TAYLOR (2-2) AT CLINTON CENTRAL (2-2)
TECUMSEH (0-4) AT PERRY CENTRAL (1-3)
TELL CITY (3-1) AT HANCOCK COUNTY (KY.)
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (1-2) AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (2-2)
TIPPECANOE VALLEY (3-1) AT LAVILLE (2-2)
TRI-COUNTY (2-2) AT SOUTH NEWTON (3-1)
TRITON (3-1) AT WINAMAC (2-1)
TRI-WEST (2-2) AT DANVILLE (3-1)
TROTWOOD-MADISON (OHIO) AT CENTER GROVE (3-1)
TWIN LAKES (2-2) AT LOGANSPORT (3-1)
UNION COUNTY (0-4) AT WINCHESTER (0-4)
VINCENNES LINCOLN (2-2) AT CASTLE (3-1)
WABASH (0-4) AT SOUTHWOOD (0-4)
WARSAW (3-1) AT CONCORD (4-0)
WAWASEE (0-4) AT PLYMOUTH (2-2)
WES-DEL (1-3) AT NORTH WHITE (1-3)
WEST VIGO (1-3) AT BROWN COUNTY (3-1)
WESTERN (0-4) AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS (0-4)
WHEELER (2-2) AT BOONE GROVE (2-2)
WHITKO (0-4) AT NORTHWESTERN (4-0)
YORKTOWN (3-1) AT NEW CASTLE (2-2)
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL REPORTED SCORES
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 3 GUERIN CATHOLIC 2
KOUTS 3 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 1
SHERIDAN 3 CLINTON PRAIRIE 0
MORGAN TWP. 3 WHITING 1
NORTHVIEW 3 GREENCASTLE 0
LOWELL 3 GRIFFITH 0
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 3 MICHIGAN CITY 1
FORT WAYNE CARROLL 3 BELMONT 0
WESTVILLE 3 BOONE GROVE 2
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 3 WESTFIELD 0
NEW PALESTINE 3 PERRY MERIDIAN 1
RONCALLI 3 TRI WEST 2
FORT WAYNE DWENGER 3 E. NOBLE 1
OAK HILL 3 ELWOOD 0
ADAMS CENTRAL 3 NEW HAVEN 0
LAPEL 3 ANDERSON 0
JENNINGS COUNTY 3 E. CENTRAL 0
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER REPORTED SCORES
PORTAGE 4 MICHIGAN CITY 1
LAKE CENTRAL 6 LAPORTE 0
SOUTH KNOX 7 SULLIVAN 0
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 1 ROCHESTER 0
SOUTHWESTERN 5 S. RIPLEY 1
HERRON 2 INDIANAPOLIS TECH 1
CHESTERTON 4 CROWN POINT 1
MILAN 1 JAC CEN DEL 0
LEBANON 12 N. MONTGOMERY 0
SWCHA SAINTS 3 HAMILTON/AUDUBON 1
NORTH HARRISON 4 CORYDON CENTRAL 1
PROVIDENCE CHRISTO REY 7 KNIGHTSTOWN 1
SHAWE MEMORIAL 5 RISING SUN 2
NEW HAVEN 2 FORT WAYNE SNIDER 1
HENRYVILLE 4 MITCHELL 1
EAST CENTRAL 11 RUSHVILLE 0
COLUMBIA CITY 5 WAWASEE 1
FORT WAYNE CARROLL 2 FORT WAYNE NORTHRUP 1
HOBART 3 ANDREAN 1
CASTLE 2 EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 1
KANKAKEE VALLEY 0 HANOVER CENTRAL 0
HAMMOND NOLL 4 E. CHICAGO CENTRAL 0
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 9 YORKTOWN 0
LOWELL 7 HIGHLAND 1
WESTERN 5 LOGANSPORT 1
NORTHEAST DUBOIS 9 WASHINGTON CATHOLIC 0
DUPONT MANUAL 5 JEFFERSONVILLE 0
HOMESTEAD 0 WARSAW 0
ELKHART 2 NEW PRAIRIE 1
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER REPORTED SCORES
VINCENNES RIVET 9 BLOOMFIELD 2
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 3 PRINCETON 0
NORTHWESTERN 6 ELWOOD 0
HOMESTEAD 8 FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY 0
JENNINGS COUNTY 1 COLUMBUS EAST 1
PERU 2 TWIN LAKES 1
LEO 3 DEKALB 0
NEW PALESTINE 2 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 0
PLAINFIELD 2 GREENWOOD 0
TRI-WEST 4 LEBANON 3
JEFFERSONVILLE 1 CHARLESTOWN 0
CULVER COMMUNITY 9 OREGON DAVIS 0
LAWRENCEBURG 5 S. DEARBORN 0
HARRISON 1 LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 0
INDIANAPOLIS TECH 4 HERRON 1
MCCUTCHEON 3 LAFAYETTE JEFF 0
LAWRENCE CENTRAL 5 PIKE 2
MOORESVILLE 9 DECATUR CENTRAL 0
NORTH CENTRAL 9 BEN DAVIS 0
HERITAGE 3 NEW HAVEN 1
NOBLESVILLE 1 ZIONSVILLE 0
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA 8 HUNTINGTON NORTH 0
FRANKLIN 1 MARTINSVILLE 0
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH 4 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 1
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 1 WESTFIELD 0
COLUMBUS NORTH 1 LAWRENCE NORTH 0
BROWNSBURG 2 FISHERS 0
CENTER GROVE 1 MOUNT VERNON 0
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 8 BLOOMINGTON NORTH 0
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 4
THURSDAY, SEPT. 19
7:30 P.M. | SOUTH ALABAMA AT APPALACHIAN STATE | ESPN
8 P.M. | EDWARD WATERS AT BENEDICT COLLEGE | ESPNU
FRIDAY, SEPT. 20
7 P.M. | UNION AT SPRINGFIELD | FLOSPORTS
7 P.M. | SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE AT BENTLEY | FLOSPORTS
7:30 P.M. | STANFORD AT SYRACUSE | ESPN
8 P.M. | NO. 24 ILLINOIS AT NO. 22 NEBRASKA | FOX
10 P.M. | SAN JOSE STATE AT WASHINGTON STATE | CW NETWORK
SATURDAY, SEPT. 21
12 P.M. | MARSHALL AT NO. 3 OHIO STATE | FOX
12 P.M. | NC STATE AT NO. 21 CLEMSON | ABC/ESPN+
12 P.M. | FLORIDA AT MISSISSIPPI STATE | ESPN
12 P.M. | VILLANOVA AT MARYLAND | BIG TEN NETWORK
12 P.M. | JAMES MADISON AT NORTH CAROLINA | ACC NETWORK
12 P.M. | HOUSTON AT CINCINNATI | FS1
12 P.M. | KANSAS AT WEST VIRGINIA | ESPN2
12 P.M. | TULANE AT LOUISIANA | ESPNU
12 P.M. | RICE AT ARMY | CBSSN
12 P.M. | CHARLOTTE AT INDIANA | BIG TEN NETWORK
12 P.M. | STETSON AT HARVARD | ESPN+
12 P.M. | PRINCETON AT LEHIGH | ESPN+
12 P.M. | LAFAYETTE AT COLUMBIA | ESPN+
12 P.M. | ALFRED STATE COLLEGE AT MIT | FLOSPORTS
12 P.M. | CENTRAL MISSOURI AT DAVENPORT | FLOSPORTS
12 P.M. | CORTLAND AT SUSQUEHANNA | FLOSPORTS
12 P.M. | HUNTINGDON COLLEGE AT NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN | FLOSPORTS
12 P.M. | SUNY MORRISVILLE AT CATHOLIC | FLOSPORTS
12 P.M. | ST. ANSELM AT AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL | FLOSPORTS
12:45 P.M. | OHIO AT KENTUCKY | SEC NETWORK
1 P.M. | BALL STATE AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN | ESPN+
1 P.M. | BROWN AT GEORGETOWN | ESPN+
1 P.M. | FORDHAM AT DARTMOUTH | ESPN+
1 P.M. | CORNELL AT COLGATE | ESPN+
1 P.M. | ALMA COLLEGE AT NORTHERN MICHIGAN | FLOSPORTS
1:30 P.M. | NORFOLK STATE AT VMI | ESPN+
2 P.M. | ARKANSAS STATE AT NO. 20 IOWA STATE | ESPN+
2 P.M. | VIRGINIA AT COASTAL CAROLINA | ESPN+
2 P.M. | UTAH STATE AT TEMPLE | ESPN+
2 P.M. | SAINT FRANCIS (PA) AT EASTERN MICHIGAN | ESPN+
2 P.M. | TOWSON AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE | ESPN+
2 P.M. | SAN DIEGO AT NORTH DAKOTA | ESPN+
2 P.M. | DRAKE AT SOUTH DAKOTA | ESPN+
2 P.M. | YALE AT HOLY CROSS | ESPN+
2 P.M. | ST. THOMAS (MINN.) AT LINDENWOOD | ESPN+
2 P.M. | ROOSEVELT AT VALPARAISO | ESPN+
2 P.M. | HUSSON AT NORWICH | FLOSPORTS
2:15 P.M. | VANDERBILT AT NO. 7 MISSOURI | SEC NETWORK
2:30 P.M. | TENNESSEE STATE AT TENNESSEE TECH | ESPN+
3 P.M. | SOUTHERN MISS AT JACKSONVILLE STATE | ESPN+
3 P.M. | EASTERN WASHINGTON AT NEVADA | MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
3 P.M. | BRYANT AT NEW HAMPSHIRE | FLOSPORTS
3 P.M. | WESTERN CAROLINA AT MONTANA | ESPN+
3 P.M. | MERCYHURST AT MONTANA STATE | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | NO. 11 USC AT NO. 18 MICHIGAN | CBS
3:30 P.M. | MIAMI (OHIO) AT NO. 17 NOTRE DAME | NBC
3:30 P.M. | UCLA AT NO. 16 LSU | ABC
3:30 P.M. | KENT STATE AT NO. 10 PENN STATE | BIG TEN NETWORK
3:30 P.M. | GEORGIA TECH AT NO. 19 LOUISVILLE | ESPN2
3:30 P.M. | BUFFALO AT NO. 23 NORTHERN ILLINOIS | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | ARKANSAS AT AUBURN | ESPN
3:30 P.M. | RUTGERS AT VIRGINIA TECH | ACC NETWORK
3:30 P.M. | CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AT UMASS | ESPN+
3:30 P.M. | YOUNGSTOWN STATE AT PITT | ESPN+/ACCNX
3:30 P.M. | ARIZONA STATE AT TEXAS TECH | FS1
3:30 P.M. | MEMPHIS AT NAVY | CBSSN
3:30 P.M. | HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT UTSA | ESPN+
4 P.M. | NO. 12 UTAH AT NO. 14 OKLAHOMA STATE | FOX
4 P.M. | DUKE AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE | ESPNU
4 P.M. | MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT NICHOLLS | ESPN+
4 P.M. | VALDOSTA STATE AT ERSKINE | FLOSPORTS
5 P.M. | TCU AT SMU | CW NETWORK
5 P.M. | STONY BROOK AT CAMPBELL | FLOSPORTS
5 P.M. | LANE AT MILES COLLEGE | ESPN+
6 P.M. | MONMOUTH AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | ESPN+
6 P.M. | EAST CAROLINA AT LIBERTY | ESPN+
6 P.M. | UTEP AT COLORADO STATE | TRUTV
6 P.M. | PENN AT DELAWARE | FLOSPORTS
6 P.M. | EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT ELON | FLOSPORTS
6 P.M. | RICHMOND AT DELAWARE STATE | ESPN+
6 P.M. | FURMAN AT WILLIAM & MARY | FLOSPORTS
6 P.M. | MOREHEAD STATE AT EASTERN KENTUCKY | ESPN+
6 P.M. | SOUTHERN UTAH AT IDAHO STATE | ESPN+
6 P.M. | THE CITADEL AT MERCER | ESPN+
6 P.M. | MARIST AT BUCKNELL | ESPN+
6 P.M. | UINDY AT WAYNE STATE (MICH.) | FLOSPORTS
7 P.M. | NO. 8 MIAMI (FLA.) AT SOUTH FLORIDA | ESPN
7 P.M. | NORTHWESTERN AT WASHINGTON | FS1
7 P.M. | FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT UCONN | CBSSN
7 P.M. | CAL AT FLORIDA STATE | ESPN2
7 P.M. | FLORIDA A&M AT TROY | ESPN+
7 P.M. | TULSA AT LOUISIANA TECH | ESPN+
7 P.M. | NEW MEXICO STATE AT SAM HOUSTON | ESPN+
7 P.M. | TOLEDO AT WESTERN KENTUCKY | ESPN+
7 P.M. | WYOMING AT NORTH TEXAS | ESPN+
7 P.M. | NORTH CAROLINA A&T AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL | ESPN+
7 P.M. | ALABAMA A&M AT AUSTIN PEAY | ESPN+
7 P.M. | EASTERN ILLINOIS AT ILLINOIS STATE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | MISSOURI STATE AT UT MARTIN | ESPN+
7 P.M. | SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT SE LOUISIANA | ESPN+
7 P.M. | SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS | ESPN+
7 P.M. | JACKSON STATE AT GRAMBLING | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
7 P.M. | NORTHERN ARIZONA AT UIW | ESPN+
7 P.M. | VIRGINIA LYNCHBURG AT MORGAN STATE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | SOUTHERN AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M| ESPN+
7 P.M. | TEXAS SOUTHERN AT LAMAR | ESPN+
7 P.M. | SACRAMENTO STATE AT TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | WEBER STATE AT NORTHWESTERN STATE | ESPN+
7 P.M. | GARDNER-WEBB AT PRESBYTERIAN | ESPN+
7 P.M. | TARLETON STATE AT NORTH ALABAMA| ESPN+
7 P.M. | WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE AT GRAND VALLEY STATE | FLOSPORTS
7 P.M. | TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE AT UT PERMIAN BASIN | FLOSPORTS
7 P.M. | WEST ALABAMA AT WEST FLORIDA | FLOSPORTS
7:30 P.M. | NO. 6 TENNESSEE AT NO. 15 OKLAHOMA | ABC/ESPN+
7:30 P.M. | AKRON AT SOUTH CAROLINA | ESPNU
7:30 P.M. | IOWA AT MINNESOTA | NBC
7:30 P.M. | BOWLING GREEN AT NO. 25 TEXAS A&M | ESPN+/SECN+
7:45 P.M. | GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT NO. 5 OLE MISS | SEC NETWORK
8 P.M. | UL MONROE AT NO. 1 TEXAS | ESPN+/SECN+
8 P.M. | MICHIGAN STATE AT BOSTON COLLEGE | ACC NETWORK
8 P.M. | BAYLOR AT COLORADO | FOX
8 P.M. | ALCORN STATE AT MCNEESE | ESPN+
8 P.M. | IDAHO AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN | ESPN+
8 P.M. | NORTHERN COLORADO AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | ESPN+
8 P.M. | CENTRAL WASHINGTON AT WEST TEXAS A&M | FLOSPORTS
8 P.M. | MIDWESTERN STATE AT EASTERN NEW MEXICO | FLOSPORTS
8 P.M. | ANGELO STATE AT WESTERN NEW MEXICO | FLOSPORTS
8:30 P.M. | FRESNO STATE AT NEW MEXICO | TRUTV
8:30 P.M. | PURDUE AT OREGON STATE | CW NETWORK
9:45 P.M. | PORTLAND STATE AT BOISE STATE | FS1
10 P.M. | UTAH TECH AT UC DAVIS | ESPN+
10:30 P.M. | NO. 13 KANSAS STATE AT BYU | ESPN
MIDNIGHT | UNI AT HAWAI’I | SPECTRUM SPORTS PPV
INDIANA HOOSIERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
INDIANA 31 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 7
INDIANA 77 WESTERN ILLINOIS 3
INDIANA 42 UCLA 13
SEPTEMBER 21 VS. CHARLOTTE TBA
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. MARYLAND TBA
OCTOBER 5 AT NORTHWESTERN TBA
OCTOBER 19 VS. NEBRASKA TBA
OCTOBER 26 VS. WASHINGTON TBA
NOVEMBER 2 AT MICHIGAN STATE TBA
NOVEMBER 9 VS. MICHIGAN TBA
NOVEMBER 23 AT OHIO STATE TBA
NOVEMBER 30 VS. PURDUE TBA
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0
NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7
SEPTEMBER 21 AT OREGON STATE 8:30
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. NEBRASKA 12:00
OCTOBER 5 AT WISCONSIN TBA
OCTOBER 12 AT ILLINOIS TBA
OCTOBER 18 VS. OREGON 8:00
NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTHWESTERN TBA
NOVEMBER 9 AT OHIO STATE TBA
NOVEMBER 16 VS. PENN STATE TBA
NOVEMBER 22 AT MICHIGAN STATE 8:00
NOVEMBER 30 AT INDIANA TBA
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
NOTRE DAME 23 TEXAS A&M 13
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 16 NOTRE DAME 14
NOTRE DAME 66 PURDUE 7
SEPTEMBER 21 VS. MIAMI (OH) 3:30
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. LOUISVILLE 3:30
OCTOBER 12 VS. STANFORD 3:30
OCTOBER 19 AT GEORGIA TECH TBA
OCTOBER 26 AT NAVY 12:00
NOVEMBER 9 VS. FLORIDA STATE 7:30
NOVEMBER 16 VS. VIRGINIA 3:30
NOVEMBER 23 AT ARMY 7:00 (YANKEE STADIUM)
NOVEMBER 30 AT USC TBA
BUTLER BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
BUTLER 40 UPPER IOWA 7
BUTLER 19 MURRAY STATE 17
BUTLER 53 HANOVER 0
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY-LYNCHBURG 1:00
OCTOBER 5 VS. MOREHEAD STATE 1:00
OCTOBER 12 AT DRAKE 1:00 CT
OCTOBER 19 VS. DAYTON 1:00
OCTOBER 26 AT DAVIDSON 1:00
NOVEMBER 2 VS. STETSON 1:00
NOVEMBER 9 AT VALPO 1:00 CT
NOVEMBER 16 VS. ST. THOMAS 1:00
NOVEMBER 23 AT PRESBYTERIAN 1:00
BALL STATE CARDINALS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
BALL STATE 42 MISSOURI STATE 34
MIAMI FL 62 BALL STATE 0
SEPTEMBER 21 AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN TBA
SEPTEMBER 28 AT JAMES MADISON TBA
OCTOBER 5 VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN TBA
OCTOBER 12 AT KENT STATE TBA
OCTOBER 19 AT VANDERBILT TBA
OCTOBER 26 VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS TBA
NOVEMBER 5 VS. MIAMI OH TBA
NOVEMBER 12 AT BUFFALO 7:00
NOVEMBER 23 VS. BOWLING GREEN TBA
NOVEMBER 29 AT OHIO TBA
INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
PURDUE 49 INDIANA STATE 0
EASTERN ILLINOIS 27 INDIANA STATE 20
INDIANA STATE 24 DAYTON 13
SEPTEMBER 28 VS. HOUSTON CHRISTIAN 1:00
OCTOBER 5 AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE 2:00
OCTOBER 12 VS. MURRAY STATE 1:00
OCTOBER 19 AT MISSOURI STATE 3:00
OCTOBER 26 VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 1:00
NOVEMBER 2 VS. NORTH DAKOTA 1:00
HOUSTON 29 INDIANAPOLIS 27
GREEN BAY 16 INDIANAPOLIS 10
SEPT. 22: VS. CHICAGO, 1 P.M., CBS
SEPT. 29: VS. PITTSBURGH, 1 P.M., CBS
OCT. 6: AT JACKSONVILLE, 1 P.M., CBS
OCT. 13: AT TENNESSEE, 1 P.M., CBS
OCT. 20: VS. MIAMI, 1 P.M., FOX
OCT. 27: AT HOUSTON, 1 P.M., CBS
NOV. 3: AT MINNESOTA, 1 P.M., CBS
NOV. 10: VS. BUFFALO, 1 P.M., CBS
NOV. 17: AT N.Y. JETS, 8:20 P.M., NBC PEACOCK
NOV. 24: VS. DETROIT, 1 P.M., FOX
DEC. 1: AT NEW ENGLAND, 1 P.M., CBS
DEC. 15: AT DENVER, 4:25 P.M., CBS
DEC. 22: VS. TENNESSEE, 1 P.M., CBS
DEC. 29: AT N.Y. GIANTS, TBD
JAN. 5: VS. JACKSONVILLE, TBD
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
OAKLAND 5 CHICAGO CUBS 3
ARIZONA 9 COLORADO 4
LA ANGELS 4 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3 (13)
SAN FRANCISCO 5 BALTIMORE 3
CLEVELAND 5 MINNESOTA 4 (10)
SAN DIEGO 4 HOUSTON 0
LA DODGERS 8 MIAMI 4
ATLANTA 7 CINCINNATI 1
BOSTON 2 TAMPA BAY 1
NY METS 10 WASHINGTON 0
DETROIT 4 KANSAS CITY 2
MILWAUKEE 2 PHILADELPHIA 1
ST. LOUIS 10 PITTSBURGH 5
TEXAS 2 TORONTO 0
NY YANKEES 2 SEATTLE 1 (10)
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
INDIANAPOLIS 10 ST. PAUL 2
WNBA SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCORES
COLUMBUS 2 TORONTO 0
MIAMI 2 ATLANTA 2
PHILADELPHIA 5 NEW YORK CITY 1
NEW ENGLAND 2 MONTRÉAL 2
ORLANDO CITY 2 CHARLOTTE 0
CINCINNATI 2 MINNESOTA 1
NASHVILLE 1 CHICAGO 0
KANSAS CITY 4 COLORADO 1
HOUSTON 1 VANCOUVER 1
SALT LAKE 3 DALLAS 2
PORTLAND 4 LA GALAXY 2
LOS ANGELES 1 AUSTIN 1
SEATTLE 2 SAN JOSE 2
WEEK 3 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 19
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 23
NEW YORK GIANTS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1:00P FOX)
CHICAGO BEARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1:00P CBS)
HOUSTON TEXANS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1:00P CBS)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1:00P FOX)
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1:00P CBS)
DENVER BRONCOS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1:00P FOX)
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1:00P FOX)
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4:05P CBS)
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4:05P CBS)
DETROIT LIONS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4:25P FOX)
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (4:25P FOX)
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (4:25P FOX
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, SEPT. 24
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT BUFFALO BILLS (7:30P ESPN)
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (8:15P ABC)
WEEK 4 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 29
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1:00P FOX)
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1:00P FOX)
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT CHICAGO BEARS (1:00P FOX)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1:00P CBS)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1:00P CBS)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1:00P CBS)
DENVER BRONCOS AT NEW YORK JETS (1:00P CBS)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1:00P FOX)
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4:05P FOX)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4:05P FOX)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4:25P CBS)
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4:25P CBS)
BUFFALO BILLS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, SEPT. 30
TENNESSEE TITANS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (7:30P ESPN)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT DETROIT LIONS (8:15P ABC)
WEEK 5 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, OCT. 3
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SUNDAY, OCT. 6
NEW YORK JETS VS MINNESOTA VIKINGS (9:30A NFL NETWORK, TOTTENHAM)
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT CHICAGO BEARS (1:00P FOX)
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (1:00P CBS)
BUFFALO BILLS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1:00P CBS)
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1:00P CBS)
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1:00P FOX)
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1:00P FOX)
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS (4:05P FOX)
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4:05P FOX)
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (4:25P CBS)
NEW YORK GIANTS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4:25P CBS)
DALLAS COWBOYS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, OCT. 7
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8:15P ESPN)
TOP NATIONAL SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS: NEW CONFERENCE RIVALRIES FOR NO. 11 USC AND NO. 15 OKLAHOMA TAKE SPOTLIGHT
Conference realignment often seems to have done more harm than good for college football and it is easy to lament what has been lost in the name of chasing dollars.
Then Week 4 of the season rolls around and the schedule is highlighted by No. 6 Tennessee at No. 15 Oklahoma in the Sooners’ first Southeastern Conference game and No. 11 Southern California visiting No. 18 Michigan in USC’s Big Ten debut.
Yes, those matchups were created by greed, but they are pretty tasty. That’s how they get you.
USC and Michigan have played 10 times, eight at the Rose Bowl. The last time the Trojans and Wolverines played on each other’s fields was 1957 and ’58.
The Volunteers and Sooners have met four times, including a home-and-home in 2014 and ’15 that was swept by OU.
These new conference rivalries will take some getting used to, but there is no doubt they make the list of most intriguing games this weekend.
No. 11 USC at No. 18 Michigan (plus 5 1/2)
The Wolverines’ stock is way down as coach Sherrone Moore makes a switch to QB Alex Orji, who still seems limited as a passer. Stock’s up for USC and its seemingly improved defense. Beware small sample sizes. Expect Michigan to test whether the Trojans’ newfound toughness and discipline on defense is for real.
Pick: USC 24-21.
No. 24 Illinois (plus 8 1/2) at No. 22 Nebraska
Amazingly, it’s been 11 years since Memorial Stadium hosted a matchup of ranked teams. The Cornhuskers’ struggles in recent years can be summed up by three losses in the last four games against the Illini. They snapped a skid in the series last year. If Nebraska is truly taking a significant step forward in Year 2 under Matt Rhule, they should take care of business with little drama Friday night.
Pick: Nebraska 23-16.
No. 6 Tennessee (minus 7) at No. 15 Oklahoma
The Vols are climbing the rankings and have the look of a team that should be considered in the same SEC tier as No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama. Good time to raise ticket prices! The Sooners have had to grind to stay unbeaten.
Pick: Tennessee 31-17.
No. 12 Utah (minus 2 1/2) at No. 14 Oklahoma State
Another ranked matchup between new conference foes, this one Big 12 contenders. Fun fact: Utes QB Cam Rising (age 25) and Cowboys QB Alan Bowman (24) have combined for 14 years of college.
Pick: Utah 28-23.
No. 8 Miami (minus 16 1/2) at South Florida
The Bulls hung with Alabama for three-plus quarters before a tidal wave of late touchdowns. QB Cam Ward and the Hurricanes, like Tennessee, have looked like a possible national championship contender against overmatched opponents. A show-us-your-serious game for The U.
Pick: Miami 45-20.
The rest of this week’s games with ranked teams, with odds from BetMGM:
Louisiana-Monroe (plus 44 1/2) at No. 1 Texas
QB Arch Manning’s first career start probably won’t need to last more than about two and half quarters. … TEXAS 52-10.
Marshall at No. 3 Ohio State (minus 39 1/2)
Buckeyes’ extended nonconference tune-up reaches four weeks … OHIO STATE 49-7.
Georgia Southern (plus 34 1/2) at No. 5 Mississippi
Maybe Rebels coach Lane Kiffin will have some mercy on old friend Clay Helton, who leads the Eagles … OLE MISS 45-17.
Vanderbilt at No. 7 Missouri (minus 21)
Tigers are 9-3 against the Commodores since moving to the SEC … MISSOURI 38-16.
Kent State at No. 10 Penn State (minus 48 1/2)
Golden Flashes go from Knoxville at night to Happy Valley with the Nittany Lions coming off an open date. Ugh. … PENN STATE 59-7.
No. 13 Kansas State (minus 6 1/2) at BYU
First meeting since 1997, when No. 5 BYU beat No. 14 K-State in Dallas … KANSAS STATE 27-17.
UCLA at No. 16 LSU (minus 24 1/2)
Bruins appear to be in a total rebuild, with a new coach and brutal schedule. Tough combo … LSU 45-17.
Miami, Ohio (plus 28) at No. 17 Notre Dame
Irish are four-touchdown favorites at home against a MAC team. What could possibly go wrong? … NOTRE DAME 35-13.
Georgia Tech at No. 19 Louisville (minus 10 1/2)
First real test for the Cardinals, who have outscored opponents 111-14 … LOUISVILLE 34-21.
Arkansas State at No. 20 Iowa State (minus 21 1/2)
Cyclones QB Rocco Becht leads Big 12 in completion percentage at 70.5% … IOWA STATE 35-10.
NC State (plus 20 1/2) at No. 21 Clemson
Wolfpack has won two of the last three Textile Bowls, both in Raleigh … CLEMSON 28-14.
Buffalo (plus 13 1/2) at No. 23 Northern Illinois
Huskies had a week off to celebrate beating Notre Dame. Is that a good thing? … NIU 23-14.
Bowling Green at No. 25 Texas A&M (minus 22 1/2)
Falcons gave Penn State heck for a half so they shouldn’t catch the Aggies by surprise … TEXAS A&M 42-17.
Social media requests
Rutgers (plus 3 1/2) at Virginia Tech. Scarlet Knights won their home game in the series last year … VIRGINIA TECH 23-21. (@VorpGrit)
California at Florida State (minus 2 1/2). Seminoles can’t start 0-4, can they? … FLORIDA STATE 27-23. (@JustR_02.
TCU (minus 3) at SMU. Iron Skillet rivalry is only booked for one more season, Hopefully, it sticks through realignment … TCU 30-24. (@MattCoffelt)
Iowa at Minnesota (plus 2 1/2). Gophers snapped an eight-game skid last season in battle for Floyd of Rosedale … IOWA 20-19. (@nklpkl)
Florida (minus 6) at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs just got crushed at home by Toledo. If Billy Napier and the Gators can’t get this one? … FLORIDA 34-24. (@seancarp)
___
RECORD
Last week: Straight-up — 18-3; Against spread — 9-12.
Season: Straight-up — 53-11; Against spread — 34-30.
ONCE KNOWN FOR ITS TOUGH DEFENSES, THE SEC HAS STARTED TO OPEN UP THE OFFENSE THIS SEASON
Tennessee had piled up 37 points and nearly 300 yards of offense by the time the first quarter mercifully came to an end last week against Kent State. It turned out that mercy for the Golden Flashes was still quite a ways away.
The then-No. 7 Vols pushed their lead to 65-0, and that gaudy yardage total over 500, by the time the teams trudged to the locker rooms at Neyland Stadium. That is when Tennessee finally pulled back on the reins of coach Josh Heupel’s high-powered offense, content to kick just a couple of second-half field goals and move on to bigger games against better opponents.
Here is the scary thing for all of them, beginning with No. 15 Oklahoma on Saturday: The Vols didn’t even play that well.
At least, that was the assessment of Nico Iamaleava, who threw for 173 yards and a touchdown before his day was done early.
“I think there’s still room for improvement,” the freshman quarterback insisted. “I think that’s every day what we’re working for, it’s to get 1% better. Anything that we can do to get our offense (going), whether that’s a tempo or being set — no pre-snap penalties — everything that goes into play, yeah, there is still a lot of room for improvement.”
Maybe Iamaleava sees what a lot of people are seeing already this season: It’s going to take points to win in the Southeastern Conference.
Mississippi leads the nation through Week 3 in total offense, averaging 692 yards per game, thanks primarily to the nation’s No. 1 passing game. No. 6 Tennessee is right behind, averaging 639.3 yards, a total that could have been much bigger had the Vols not backed off in a 69-3 win over Chattanooga, a 51-10 rout of then-No. 24 NC State and the win over Kent State.
Tennessee still leads the nation in scoring at 63.7 points per game — Ole Miss is second at 56 points — with a bunch of SEC teams close behind. In fact, the SEC has four of the top 10 nationally in total offense and five of the top 11 in scoring offense, a lineup that includes Big 12-turned-SEC heavyweight Texas, the new No. 1 in the AP Top 25.
It makes some sense that the Longhorns would be putting up points, given their background in the Big 12, where the Air Raid offense of Mike Leach helped turn the conference into one in which defense often seemed something of an afterthought.
The SEC has long had a reputation of stout defenses, despite outliers such as Steve Spurrier’s Florida teams and Peyton Manning’s teams at Tennessee. That so many of its teams are scoring at such a high rate this season is starting to raise some eyebrows.
Kent State coach Kenni Burns’ assessment after seeing the Vols up close: “They have weapons all over the place.”
Fifth-ranked Ole Miss scored on its first five possessions last week against Wake Forest, and its 96-yard touchdown drive during the 40-6 rout was the fourth time the Rebels have driven at least 90 yards for a TD this season. That followed a 76-point thrashing of Furman and a 49-point win over Middle Tennessee, a program in a bowl game just two years ago.
SEC teams are piling up yards in different ways, too. Whereas Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart has shredded defenses with his arm, Arkansas has piled up points on the ground, scoring multiple rushing touchdowns in each of its three wins this season.
Like Tennessee, the Rebels and Razorbacks think they are far from polished, too.
“There’s a lot of positives to know that you can have a 34-point road win against and ACC team and not play up to our standards, and leave a lot of points out there,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “Like I told them, it’s a good and bad thing. It depends what you make of it. It’s really good if you change those things, take care of the ball and make better decisions.”
It wasn’t so long ago that defense ruled the league. LSU and Georgia had the nation’s top two just 20 years ago, SEC newcomer Oklahoma had the fifth-best and Auburn ranked eighth. By contrast, only three SEC teams averaged at least 31 points.
Of course, some of those gaudy offensive numbers in the SEC are inflated early in the season, the byproduct of soft nonconference schedules. Tennessee’s scoring average almost certainly will take a hit when it plays Oklahoma this weekend, and Georgia and Kentucky just showed they still play defense in the Bulldogs’ 13-12 win on Saturday.
Still, it’s a safe bet it’s going to take a lot more than 13 points to keep winning in the SEC this season.
SO FAR SO GOOD FOR DEBOER AND NO. 4 ALABAMA, BUT GEORGIA AND OTHER BIG TESTS AWAIT
Quarterback Jalen Milroe and Alabama’s offense have dished out explosive plays and big numbers. The defense has been stingy, and the Crimson Tide deftly handled their first road test.
The first few games of Kalen DeBoer’s tenure have gone off well enough to appease even most fans spoiled by 17 years of domination under his predecessor, Nick Saban.
But the real measuring stick for DeBoer and the fourth-ranked Tide awaits. That starts with No. 2 Georgia visiting after an open date for both teams in a rematch of last season’s Southeastern Conference title game.
It will be DeBoer’s first SEC game and first against a ranked opponent.
“Everything’s a first, right?” he said.
First win. First fourth-quarter adversity. First road game.
Done, done and done.
Now comes the first truly huge game. After an extra week for both teams to let the anticipation and hype build, of course.
“I think this is a great week to reflect on the games that we had and what we need to work on so we can go out on fire when it comes to playing our next opponent,” Milroe said after the 42-10 win at Wisconsin. “No matter who we play after a bye, we have to clean things up, dial in on the details. This week is all about us.”
Then begins the portion of the schedule where DeBoer’s first season since replacing the seven-time national champion Saban (six at Alabama) will truly be judged.
There’s no storyline in this game of Georgia coach Kirby Smart facing his former boss and chief SEC rival (at the time) in Saban. DeBoer and Smart have no such history, plus new SEC member Texas is actually now the nation’s No. 1 team.
“We know its going to be a great test for us,” DeBoer said. “It’s really about the game. There isn’t any past history with us competing against each other.”
Even after Georgia, games loom against No. 6 Tennessee, No. 7 Missouri, No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 16 LSU.
How’s that for a proving ground?
DeBoer’s first quarter of the regular season has included a cakewalk against Western Kentucky, a fourth-quarter explosion versus South Florida and a lopsided win on the road against a Big Ten team.
That was a statement of sorts for a new team and coaching staff.
“Alabama is the best of the best,” Tide tailback Jam Miller said. “This year, people don’t believe that since we’ve got a new head coach and a new (offensive coordinator). We proved our point to people.”
Milroe has been dominant in all three games, accounting for eight passing touchdowns and six more on the ground. He is the nation’s third-rated passer, having completed 35 of 52 passes for 590 yards without throwing an interception.
The top running backs and receivers are either new or in greatly increased roles, and they’ve thrived.
Freshman receiver Ryan Williams is only 17 and already holds a starring role. Williams has 10 catches for 285 yards and four TDs.
Miller is averaging 9.1 yards on 29 carries with three touchdowns. Justice Haynes is averaging 8.7 yards on 19 carries with a pair of scores.
A number of defensive newcomers like lineman LT Overton and defensive back Keon Sabb, among others, have played big roles.
But the biggest tests awaited after Wisconsin.
“Now that this game is over, we’ve got to flush this game and prepare ourselves for the next game,” Miller said.
NFL NEWS
CHARGERS COACH: JUSTIN HERBERT’S ANKLE ‘MUCH BETTER’
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is trending toward playing against the host Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend.
The question of Herbert’s status was raised for Sunday’s game on the heels of the Pro Bowl quarterback sustaining an ankle injury during the Chargers’ 26-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers this past weekend. Herbert did not miss a snap after having his legs trapped under Panthers linebacker DJ Johnson.
“Crystal ball? Expect him to get better every day,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said, per The Athletic. “I was in a meeting with him. Said he was feeling much better and good today.”
It was not immediately known if Herbert would participate in practice on Wednesday.
Herbert, 26, has completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 274 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in two games for the Chargers (2-0).
Easton Stick would get the nod over Taylor Heinicke should Herbert be unable to suit up on Sunday, Harbaugh said.
“Right now it’s Easton,” he said. “But we are going to be way over the legal limit of ‘what ifs’ if this or if that.”
–Field Level Media
EAGLES COACH NICK SIRIANNI NOT SECOND-GUESSING FG DECISION DESPITE ONE-POINT LOSS
Head coach Nick Sirianni and the Eagles put themselves in a position similar to the Week 1 win over Green Bay as the final minutes played out against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday.
Sirianni already knew what he was going to do based on an analytics study he led the team through entering the season. The Eagles kicked a field goal to go up six and wound up losing by one when Kirk Cousins drove the Falcons 70 yards in six plays for the 22-21 win.
“Is every decision I make going to be successful? No,” he told reporters Wednesday. “I’m responsible for all of it.”
The Eagles beat the Packers 34-29 in Brazil in Week 1. With a five-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the Eagles tacked on two field goals in the fourth quarter and held on as Green Bay had a last-gasp chance in the final minute.
Sirianni knew the situation would come up again, but it’s one he studied closely with an internal league review of similar situations and analytics analysis.
“I asked (our staff) for every time it was 1 point to 5 points the team was up,” Sirianni said of reviewing late-game situations around the league.
“I come back and I re-evaluate it (after Week 2), right, and I’m even more convicted, to be quite honest with you, because of just everything that goes into that … As an offensive coach, there’s a stress having to have to score a touchdown when you’re giving the ball back to a team… There’s a different stress being down six as opposed to being down three.
“This game always comes down to players and plays. That’s where your confidence is coming from in going for that. We’ve went for it more in our plus territory than anybody else.”
Sirianni cited two home wins against the Cowboys in 2022 and 2023 and the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers two years ago when the team converted a 4th-and-3.
In the regular season, the Eagles are 3-for-4 on fourth down this season, and went 19-of-26 in 2023 and 22-of-32 in 2022.
On Monday, Sirianni said he referenced his trusted “chart” for guidance on what to do in the late-game situation — attempt a field goal or go for a first down — and it read “kick it.”
Atlanta’s defensive look with pressure up the middle on second down prompted the Eagles to go outside on third down. On 3rd-and-3 with the Eagles leading 18-15 from the Atlanta 10-yard line and 1:46 on the game clock, three yards ends the game. The Falcons were out of timeouts. Rather than run the ball, quarterback Jalen Hurts attempted a pass to Saquan Barkley. He bobbled and dropped the pass, stopping the clock, and Sirianni went for the field goal.
“Be ready, be willing to pass it,” Sirianni said. “We’ve done it and we’ve won games that way. We’ve also lost being too conservative.”
–Field Level Media
PANTHERS COACH: BRYCE YOUNG ISN’T BEING SHOPPED
Bryce Young is no longer Carolina’s starting quarterback, but the Panthers aren’t ready to send him packing.
That was the message Wednesday from Carolina coach Dave Canales, who announced two days earlier that veteran Andy Dalton would start this week against the host Las Vegas Raiders.
Young and Panthers (0-2) lost 26-3 to the visiting Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, leaving the second-year quarterback with just two wins in 18 NFL starts. Carolina selected the former Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Asked whether the Panthers are ready to deal Young to another team, Canales said, “That’s not something we’re really considering. We have a great situation with our quarterbacks right now with guys that have experience. We love where we are at, and it’s all hands on deck.”
Canales praised Young’s effort on Wednesday as the No. 2 quarterback.
“Right back to work,” the coach said. “He dove into the game plan. We had our conversations in the QB room, talking about reads, about what we see from the defense. He followed it up with a great day on the field, some fantastic throws.
“He just got right back to work, which is exactly what I expected.”
The coach added regarding Young’s future, “This is a developmental-minded program, so the development didn’t stop (when he was removed from the starting role). Every rep he’s out there, we’re evaluating the whole thing, having conversations and continuing to push all of our guys, including Bryce, to take the next step.”
Young, 23, has completed 55.4 percent of his passes this year for 245 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Last year, he connected on 59.8 percent of his attempts for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 picks.
Dalton, 36, spent nine seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals’ starter and has since started games for the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Carolina. The three-time Pro Bowler has attempted just one pass this year, and it was incomplete.
–Field Level Media
BASEBALL
MLB ROUNDUP: BREWERS WIN NL CENTRAL, THEN WALK OFF PHILLIES
Jake Bauers lined a bases-loaded, walk-off single in the ninth inning, giving Milwaukee a 2-1 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies in the finale of a three-game series between division leaders after the Brewers clinched the National League Central earlier on Wednesday.
Rookie Jackson Chourio sent the second pitch of the ninth from Carlos Estevez (4-5) the opposite way for a triple into the right field corner. William Contreras was walked intentionally and took second on catcher’s indifference. Willy Adames drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Bauers then lined the first pitch down the right field line to clinch a three-game series win for the Brewers.
Milwaukee clinched the NL Central title by virtue of the Chicago Cubs’ 5-3 afternoon loss at home to Oakland. It is the Brewers’ second consecutive division title, third in the last four seasons and fourth in the last seven.
The loss prevented the Phillies from clinching a postseason berth. Philadelphia, which has the best record in baseball, leads the NL East by seven games over the Mets. The Phillies lead the Dodgers by one game for the best record in the National League.
Phillies starter Aaron Nola allowed one run — a sixth-inning homer by Rhys Hoskins — on three hits in seven innings, striking out nine and walking one. Brewers starter Freddy Peralta allowed one run on two hits — Alec Bohm’s leadoff homer in the second — over five innings, striking out nine and walking two.
Yankees 2, Mariners 1 (10 innings)
Anthony Rizzo doubled home the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning as New York clinched an American League playoff berth with a victory against host Seattle.
The Yankees won for the sixth time in their past seven to earn at least a wild-card berth. They have a five-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East. The Mariners remained five games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West and three back of the final wild-card spot.
In the 10th, with Jasson Dominguez as the automatic runner, Rizzo lined the first pitch of the inning from Mariners reliever Collin Snider (3-4) into the right field corner. In the bottom of the 10th, Yankees catcher Austin Wells picked off Julio Rodriguez at third after Rodriguez avoided Randy Arozarena’s bat after a strikeout. Ian Hamilton then struck out Justin Turner to end the game.
Dodgers 8, Marlins 4
Shohei Ohtani got closer to the historic 50-50 milestone as Los Angeles defeated host Miami.
Ohtani stole his 49th base. He has 48 home runs this season as he attempts to become the first major leaguer to produce 50 homers and 50 steals in the same season.
Marlins starter Ryan Weathers (3-6) made his first start since June 7 due to an injury to his left index finger. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and six runs (five earned).
Padres 4, Astros 0
Dylan Cease allowed just two hits in 8 1/3 innings and Manny Machado homered twice as San Diego blanked visiting Houston to win a tight, well-played interleague series between playoff contenders.
Tanner Scott came out of the bullpen and got the final two outs for his third save with San Diego and his 21st overall. The Padres maintained a 2 1/2-game lead on the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets for the National League’s first wild-card spot and remained 3 1/2 games of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West.
The Astros, who were limited to two hits, maintained their five-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the American League West.
Athletics 5, Cubs 3
Zack Gelof doubled home the go-ahead run and scored another in a two-run eighth inning, and visiting Oakland sent Chicago to the verge of playoff elimination.
Tyler Soderstrom had two hits, including a homer, scored two runs and drove in a pair for the Athletics, who completed the interleague portion of its schedule with a winning record (24-22).
Despite 2 2/3 shutout innings from Justin Steele in a comeback effort, the Cubs dropped seven games out of the final National League wild-card spot with just 10 games remaining.
Giants 5, Orioles 3
Michael Conforto had three hits, including a homer, and San Francisco frustrated host Baltimore again, dealing the Orioles another setback as they try to remain in the American League East picture.
Mike Yastrzemski hit a home run for the second consecutive night and Casey Schmitt drove in two runs for the Giants.
The Orioles (84-68) have lost eight of their past 10 games and are in danger of sliding out of the chase with the New York Yankees in the American League East. With the Yankees winning 2-1 in Seattle on Wednesday, Baltimore is five games back in the division race.
Mets 10, Nationals 0
Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run homer to cap an impressive nine-run fourth inning and Jose Quintana pitched seven scoreless innings as host New York rolled past Washington.
The Mets outscored the Nationals 20-1 in the final two games of the three-game series after eking out a 2-1 victory on Monday. New York is tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second National League wild-card spot, with both teams two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the third and final wild-card spot.
Quintana (10-9) benefited from strong run support for the second straight outing and allowed two hits and two walks to win his fourth straight start. He struck out four and extended his scoreless streak to a career-best 22 2/3 scoreless innings.
Diamondbacks 9, Rockies 4
Corbin Carroll homered twice, Randal Grichuk also went deep, and Arizona beat Colorado in Denver.
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (3-3) had a season-high 11 strikeouts with five hits, two runs and one walk allowed in 6 1/3 innings for Arizona. The Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep and remained tied with the Mets for the second National League wild-card berth.
Grichuk, Jake McCarthy and Gabriel Moreno finished with two hits each for Arizona.
Aaron Schunk and Sam Hilliard had two hits apiece for Colorado. The Rockies have captured six of their last nine home series and need to win four of their last nine games to avoid a second straight 100-loss season.
Braves 7, Reds 1
Marcell Ozuna doubled twice and snapped a tie with a towering home run in a three-run seventh inning as visiting Atlanta beat Cincinnati.
Michael Harris II added a no-doubt homer, his 13th, in the eighth as Atlanta defeated Cincinnati for the first time in five meetings this season. The win assured the Braves of staying within two games of the New York Mets for the third and final National League wild-card spot with 10 games remaining. With the loss, the Reds were eliminated from playoff contention.
Cincinnati starter Jakob Junis held Atlanta to one run and two hits over six innings. The righty was perfect early, retiring the first 11 batters before Ozuna broke through with a double just beyond the diving reach of Spencer Steer in left-center. Matt Olson followed with a sharp single to center, scoring Ozuna.
Guardians 5, Twins 4 (10 innings)
Josh Naylor hit a pair of tying solo homers and Brayan Rocchio’s RBI single capped a three-run 10th as Cleveland beat visiting Minnesota.
Carlos Correa’s two-run single with the bases loaded in the 10th off Hunter Gaddis (5-3) capped a four-RBI night and gave Minnesota a 4-2 lead. However, the Twins’ Ronny Henriquez (1-1) allowed RBI singles to Kyle Manzardo and Will Brennan in the bottom of the frame to tie the contest. With one out and runners on the corners against Michael Tonkin, Rocchio delivered the game-winning hit.
With a postseason berth nearly clinched, the Guardians improved to 13-7 since Aug. 28. They hold a 6-game lead in the American League Central over the Kansas City Royals, who lost to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. The devastating result for Minnesota — clinging to the third and final AL wild-card spot — overshadowed a stellar 12-strikeout effort from starter Bailey Ober.
Tigers 4, Royals 2
Tarik Skubal won his fifth straight decision and Riley Greene homered as Detroit beat host Kansas City Royals, completing a three-game sweep.
In the wild-card chase, Detroit closed the gap to two games behind Kansas City and a half-game behind the Minnesota Twins for the third and final wild-card spot.
Skubal (17-4) completed five innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. His 221 strikeouts lead the majors, and he leads the American League in wins and ERA, at 2.48. Greene blasted a 427-foot homer over the right field bullpen to open a three-run third inning.
Red Sox 2, Rays 1
Jarren Duran drove in the winning run in a small-ball eighth inning as Boston evened its three-game series with Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla.
After Trevor Story (2-for-3, homer, two runs) opened the eighth with a weak single past Drew Rasmussen (0-2), the Boston shortstop stole second and third. With one out, Duran slapped the winning hit to right for the Red Sox. Boston starter Tanner Houck yielded one run and four hits in four innings.
Tampa Bay’s Josh Lowe (double, run), Jonny DeLuca (hit by pitch) and Taylor Walls (RBI, walk, stolen base) had two hits apiece. Ryan Pepiot dominated Boston for six innings, allowing one run while fanning a career-high 12. In the fifth, he crafted the fourth immaculate inning (struck out all three batters on a total of nine pitches) in Rays history.
Angels 4, White Sox 3 (13 innings)
Jordyn Adams hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning, giving Los Angeles a walk-off win over Chicago in the rubber game of their three-game series in Anaheim, Calif.
With automatic runner Eric Wagaman on third base, Adams’ hard grounder on a 1-0 slider by reliever Jairo Iriarte (0-1) against a drawn-in infield deflected off third baseman Miguel Vargas’ glove into the hole at short for his first career walk-off hit.
It marked the 117th loss for Chicago, tying the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (36-117-1) for the third most losses in a season in modern major league history and just three shy of the major league record of 120 held by the 1962 New York Mets. It was also the 10th walk-off loss of the season for the White Sox.
Rangers 2, Blue Jays 0
Adolis Garcia belted a two-run homer and Cody Bradford tossed seven shutout innings to fuel Texas past Toronto in Arlington, Texas.
Rookie Wyatt Langford singled to lead off the sixth inning before Garcia deposited a first-pitch sinker from Bowden Francis (8-5) over the wall in left field for the game’s only scoring. The homer was Garcia’s 23rd of the season and first since Sept. 5.
The Blue Jays had just five hits on Wednesday after totaling 13 in the series opener. Francis saw his winless streak extend to three starts despite permitting only two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings.
Cardinals 10, Pirates 5
Jordan Walker hit the game-breaking three-run double in the seventh inning as St. Louis Cardinals past visiting Pittsburgh.
Brendan Donovan hit a two-run homer and Masyn Winn hit a solo shot for the Cardinals, who have won the first three games of this four-game series. Nolan Arenado went 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs and an RBI and Cardinals starter Sonny Gray allowed four runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Billy Cook hit a three-run homer for the Pirates, who lost for the fifth time in six games.
–Field Level Media
GOLF NEWS
GOLF GLANCE: LIV PLAYS FOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, LPGA HEADS TO CINCY
Field Level Media’s Golf Glance provides weekly news and storylines from each of the major North American golf tours.
PGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: Procore Championship (Patton Kizzire)
THIS WEEK: OFF.
FedEx Cup Champion: Scottie Scheffler
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Presidents Cup, Montreal, Sept. 26-29
LPGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: Solheim Cup (United States)
THIS WEEK: Kroger Queen City Championship, Maineville, Ohio, Sept. 19-22
Course: TPC River’s Bend (Par 72, 6,705 Yards)
Purse: $2M (Winner: $300,000)
Defending Champion: Minjee Lee
Race to the CME Globe leader: Nelly Korda
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Sunday: 1-4 p.m. ET (All times Golf Channel)
X: @QueenCityLPGA
NOTES: Eleven players who participated in the Solheim Cup are in the field: eight from Europe, Korda, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang. Korda and Zhang are making their tournament debuts. … Lee defeated Charley Hull with a birdie on their second playoff hole to win last year’s edition. … It’s the third year of this event and the first year at TPC River’s Bend after Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati dropped out due to a renovation.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, Rogers, Ark., Sept. 27-29
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
LAST TOURNAMENT: Sanford International (Steve Stricker)
THIS WEEK: PURE Insurance Championship, Monterey Peninsula, Calif., Sept. 20-22
Courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links (Par 72, 6,858 yards); Spyglass Hill Golf Course (Par 72, 7,025 yards)
Purse: $2.3M (Winner: $345,000)
Defending Champion: Thongchai Jaidee
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Ernie Els
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday-Sunday, 6-9 p.m. ET (All times Golf Channel)
X: @PUREFirstTee
NOTES: The tournament pairs one PGA Tour Champions player with one First Tee junior golfer and two amateurs during the first two rounds. Each group plays one round at Pebble Beach and one round at Spyglass Hill. The low 50 professionals and ties make the cut for Sunday’s round at Pebble Beach, along with the low 24 pro-junior teams and the low 10 amateur teams. … Els leads Stephen Ames by $169,768 for the top spot in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. Stricker moved to fifth place last week with his first win of the year.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Constellation Furyk & Friends, Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 4-6
LIV GOLF LEAGUE
LAST TOURNAMENT: Chicago (Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: Crushers GC)
THIS WEEK: LIV Golf Dallas Team Championship, Carrollton, Texas, Sept. 20-22
Course: Maridoe Golf Club (Par 72, 7,567 Yards)
Team Purse: $50M (Winners: $14M)
Defending Champions: Crushers GC
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday: 1-6 p.m. ET (CW App, LIV Golf Plus); Saturday-Sunday: 1-6 p.m. (CW Network, LIV Golf Plus)
X: @livgolf_league
NOTES: The top three teams in the regular-season standings — Crushers GC, Legion XIII and Ripper GC — earned first-round byes while the other 10 teams will be in action in Friday’s quarterfinals, in which five head-to-head matches will consist of two singles matches and one foursomes (alternate-shot) match. … Saturday’s semifinals will be four head-to-head matches following the same format as Friday. The highest-ranked teams will select their opponents via draft. … Four teams advance to Sunday’s finals, which consist of one round of stroke play where all four individual scores count toward the team’s score. The eliminated teams will also compete for fifth through eighth and ninth through 13th place. … Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC won last year’s title and have the top seed this year, while newcomer Jon Rahm, who just won the 2024 individual title, and his Legion XIII also start out with a first-round bye.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: End of season
–Field Level Media
TOP INDIANA SPORTS HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANS LAUNCH THREE HOME RUNS TO DEFEAT SAINTS, 10-2
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Endy Rodríguez, Matt Gorski and Jack Suwinski each homered as the Indianapolis Indians snapped a three-game losing streak and captured a 10-2 victory over the St. Paul Saints at CHS Field on Wednesday night.
After trailing by a run at the end of the first inning, the Indians (41-29, 74-69) scored 10 runs from the third inning onward and logged 12 hits to propel the offense. Rodríguez capped a three-run seventh inning with a two-run blast before Gorski added on with a two-run blast of his own in the eighth inning. In the final frame, Suwinski logged his third hit of the contest, as he launched a solo home run to the opposite field to cap Indy’s scoring.
St. Paul (31-40, 69-76) jumped on the board in the first inning against Indians starter Thomas Harrington (W, 5-1) after Michael Helman laced an RBI single to plate Austin Martin for the Saints first run. Facing a 1-0 deficit, Indy responded by scoring three runs in the third, courtesy of a Ji Hwan Bae run-scoring groundout, an RBI single from Rodríguez and an RBI double from Suwinski. Before Rodríguez’s homer in the seventh, Indianapolis scored a run after Tsung-Che Cheng and Alika Williams reached on throwing errors. Indianapolis hitters tagged Andrew Morris (L, 1-1) for three runs on six hits. The Saints only managed to plate one additional run in the fifth inning, when Yunior Severino logged an RBI single to score Helman.
Harrington, the Pittsburgh Pirates No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, allowed seven hits and surrendered two runs in 5.0 innings of work on Wednesday night. The Indians turned to Brady Feigl, Isaac Mattson, and Eddy Yean to finish out the contest, as the trio combined to toss 4.0 scoreless innings and punched out four hitters en route to an eight-run victory.
With the win, the Indians snapped a three-game losing skid as they picked up their first win in St. Paul. Eight hitters for Indianapolis logged a hit in the victory, while three boasted a multi-hit performance.
The Indians and Saints continue their six-game series on Thursday evening at CHS Field at 7:37 PM ET. RHP Cory Lewis (0-0, -.–) gets the nod as he’s set to make his Triple-A debut with the Saints, while the Indians have yet to name a starter.
INDIANA FOOTBALL
INDIANA, CURT CIGNETTI LOOK TO EXTEND PERFECT START VS. CHARLOTTE
Indiana has caught the attention of the college football world three weeks into the season. That’s because the Hoosiers have won all three games under first-year coach Curt Cignetti.
Now they’ll look to keep it going in their first meeting with Charlotte on Saturday afternoon at Bloomington, Ind.
“There’s a standard we do everything to, and we want to keep improving as a team,” Cignetti said. “And we’ve got to have a great week of preparation. Starts with the staff. And stay humble and hungry as we prepare for this next opponent.”
The Hoosiers (3-0) returned from their first road trip with a 42-13 trouncing of UCLA.
Charlotte (1-2) needed a comeback from 17 points down in the second half to upend FCS member Gardner-Webb 27-26 last weekend.
Against Indiana, Trexler Ivey will be Charlotte’s third starting quarterback of the season after injuries to Max Brown and Deshawn Purdie.
Ivey is not a newcomer, having thrown for 1,263 yards and four touchdowns with 10 interceptions last year.
“He’s tough mentally, tough emotionally,” Charlotte coach Biff Poggi said. “He makes the right decisions, and our team has a tremendous amount of confidence in him.”
Cignetti said the Hoosiers will prepare to face multiple Charlotte quarterbacks. He said 49ers receiver Jairus Mack is a threat regardless of who’s on the field with him.
Indiana will have a more polished quarterback. Kurtis Rourke was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after four touchdown passes against the Bruins. Rouke’s experience is a plus.
“It’s not like you’re teaching a young guy how to play the position,” Cignetti said. “You got older guys that know how to play the position and now you’re just fitting them into your offensive structure and then building upon the things that they do well. And so, you know, that position, there’s just so many things that go on to having an older guy. You can’t put a value on it.”
Indiana’s 150 points through three games tied the most in program history in that time frame. The offense has not committed a turnover.
–Field Level Media
INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER
MATCH CENTRAL: INDIANA VS UCLA, USC
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s soccer (5-1-1, 0-1 B1G) continues conference play as they host newly added Big Ten schools UCLA (Thursday) and USC (Sunday) at Bill Armstrong Stadium this week.
ABOUT THE BRUINS
UCLA (6-2-1, 1-0 B1G) won their Big Ten opener last week, 2-1, against Oregon. As a team, the Bruins have scored 11 goals, with 1.22 goals a game with a .429 shots on goal percentage. Junior forward Bridgette Marin-Valencia leads the team with two goals and two assists on the season. Senior midfielder Emma Egizii has also scored two goals on the season for four points. In goal, graduate student goalkeeper Ryan Campbell has played in nine matches with 20 saves on the year. She holds a 6-2-1 record between the posts. This will be the first matchup between the two teams.
ABOUT THE TROJANS
USC (5-1-1, 1-0 B1G) earned their first win against Washington, 1-0, and will face Purdue on Thursday before facing the Hoosiers on Sunday. The Trojans went undefeated through the first five matches of the season, with their only loss coming from No. 1 Stanford, 2-1. As a team, they have scored 12 goals, with a .411 shots on goal percentage. Senior Maile Hayes leads the offense with three goals, one assists for seven points. Hayes also holds a .545 shots on goal percentage. Graduate student goalkeeper Laurence Gladu has started in all seven matches and holds a .86 GAA (6) and a .786 save percentage (22). This will be the first meet up in almost two decades between the two teams. The all-time series is tied 1-1. IU fell 6-0 in their first match up in 2005 in Los Angeles, before earning a 2-1 overtime win during the 2007 season Bloomington.
NCAA RPI (SEPT. 15)
Indiana currently rank No. 24 in the first RPI of the season. The Hoosiers are just one of seven Big Ten teams in the top 25. Michigan State (1), Ohio State (5), Penn State (6), USC (8), Iowa (12) and Rutgers (21). UCLA (26th) and Minnesota (27th) sit just outside the top 25.
B1G LEADERS
The Hoosiers lead the conference in six categories: assists per game (3.14), goal differential (19), points per game (10), scoring offense (3.43), shots per game (19.71) and total goals (24). On an individual note, Layla Sirdah is tied first in the conference in assists per game (0.71) and total assists (5). She is also ranked second in points per game (2.43).
POSTGAME AUTOGRAPHS
The IUWS team will be signing autographs for fans following the match with against USC on Sunday (Sept. 22). Stop by the Flagpole to meet the team.
LAST TIME OUT
Indiana dropped their conference opener against No. 20 Ohio State, 3-0, last week. Senior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg had a single-game high of nine saves while senior midfielder Hope Paredes led the Hoosiers with four shots.
SHARING THE SUCCESS
As a team, IU has scored 24 goals on 22 assists this season, averaging 3.43 goals per game with 19.7 shots a game. On the defensive side, the Hoosiers have four shutouts this season. Indiana has 10 different goal scorers this season, with nine Hoosiers scoring their first career goals and five gamewinners. Gerstenberg has five victories and four shutouts on the season.
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
HAWORTH MAKES INAUGURAL AVCA PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – With viewership of women’s college volleyball at an all-time high, the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) has taken its coverage to a new level. On Wednesday (Sept. 18) afternoon, the organization unveiled the first wave of its 36-player “2024 Division I Player of the Year Award, presented by Nike Volleyball” watch list.
An initiative that’s new this season, the AVCA will continue to update its watch list throughout the season before narrowing down the collection of athletes in November. The names of finalists for the prestigious award will be released before the AVCA Convention in December.
Senior setter Camryn Haworth, IU’s fourth All-American in program history, was named among the inaugural of players to watch for this year’s award. The Fishers, Ind. native has dished out 314 assists (10.13 per set) on the young season, helping IU to a 6-2 start in 2024.
Haworth is well known for being an offensive setter and being a threat at the service line. On the campaign, she’s got 16 service aces and 27 kills. She is also averaging 0.86 blocks per set, matching a career high with seven stuffs in a win over Chicago State. The Hoosiers are hitting at a .266 clip with Haworth running the offense.
In her third season as the full-time starting setter, Haworth has moved into sixth in program history in assists. She’s got 3,176 assists in her career and is just over 300 away from moving into the top five all-time at IU. Along the way, she will likely pass IU’s all-time service aces record. The senior setter needs just 18 more aces to pass Jen Magelssen’s record of 197.
Haworth and the Hoosiers have two more matches in the non-conference, both with Notre Dame, before heading into a reinvented Big Ten Conference. Seven teams from the league are ranked in the AVCA Top 25 with an additional two receiving at least one vote.
PURDUE VOLLEYBALL
TOP-10 SHOWDOWN IN KANSAS
JAYHAWK CLASSIC
Thursday, September 19
7:30 p.m. ET | #6 Purdue at #10 Kansas | ESPN+ | WSHY 104.3 FM
Friday, September 20
5 p.m. ET | #6 Purdue vs. #9 Creighton | ESPN+ | WSHY 104.3 FM
Saturday, September 14
1:30 p.m ET | #6 Purdue vs. Tulsa | ESPN+ | WSHY 104.3 FM
West Lafayette, Ind. – Coming off a victory vs. then-No. 10 Kentucky, the No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers will continue its stretch of top-10 matchups at the Jayhawk Classic this weekend.
The Boilermakers will face No. 10 Kansas on Saturday, before turning around and playing No. 9 Creighton less than 24 hours later. Then, Purdue will close out the tournament against Tulsa, another team with a top-25 win on its resume, on Saturday. All matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and available for listening on WSHY 104.3 FM or online HERE.
PURDUE: QUICK HITS
Purdue is No. 2 in the nation in blocks per set (3.52) and No. 10 in hitting % (.296).
Purdue has dropped just three of the last 27 sets. Purdue, Penn State and Syracuse are the only three teams in DI to have lost just three sets this year.
The Boilermakers are one of 16 teams to remain undefeated in Division I.
The Boilermakers adjustments during a match has led to improved play, seen in increased hitting % and/or blocks from first to second sets.
Kenna Wollard’s .313 hitting %. The sophomore has hit .300 or above in all but one match.
Raven Colvin leads the nation in blocks and is averaging a .455 hitting %. The senior has hit .700 twice already and recorded 16 kills vs. Cal (9/5) and two 10-block matches.
Freshman DS Ryan McAleer is a regular in the back row and has recorded a perfect reception % in six of eight matches.
Eva Hudson is averaging 4.37 kills per set and 4.93 points per set this season.
Chloe Chicoine owns a team-leading four double-doubles this season.
SCOUTING #10 KANSAS
The #10 Jayhawks come into this match 7-0, with one game played against a ranked opponent: a 3-1 win vs #24 Marquette.
Kansas recently moved up to #10 in the AVCA rankings after being placed at #11 the week prior.
Freshman middle blocker Zoey Burgess led the way in the win over Marquette, with eight kills on 11 attempts in her first career-start. Burgess was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week after her Week One performance.
The Jayhawks are led by the Senior trio of setter Camryn Turner, outside hitter Ayah Elnady, and opposite London Davis who were all recognized on the All-Big 12 Preseason Team.
Kansas is coached by five-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, Ray Bechard in his 27th season with the program.
SCOUTING #9 CREIGHTON
After three weeks of play, #9 Creighton has a record of 7-2 with a notable win over #20 USC, and two tough five-set losses against #5 Nebraska and #4 Louisville.
The Bluejays spot in the AVCA rankings began at #12 but has since moved up to #9.
Libero Maddy Bilinovic was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Week after recording 69 digs across the four-match week.
In addition to her transition defense, Bilinovic was successful in serve receive, only allowing one ace on 65 receptions.
Earlier in the season, Seniors Norah Sis and Kendra Wait earned their own Big East recognitions, with Sis being named Big East Offensive Player of the Week and Wait as the Big East Setter of the Week.
The Bluejays are coached by three-time National Coach of the Year, Kirsten Bernthal Booth in her 22nd season as Head Coach.
SCOUTING TULSA
Tulsa has started the season 8-2 with a highlighted win over #22 Arkansas in a five-set thriller. They will face #10 Kansas the evening prior to the Saturday match against Purdue.
The win against Arkansas was just the program’s second win over a nationally ranked opponent.
Junior setter Brayden Hipp was honored as the American Athletic Conference Setter of the Week, announced by the league on Monday.
Hipp averaged 5.50 assists and 2.86 digs per set in the three-match week at the Tulsa Volleyball Invitational.
Most of Hipp’s assists are put away by middle blocker Rachel Brown and outside hitter Tatum Tornatta, both tallying 81 kills on the season.
The Hurricanes are coached by Lauren Ramatowski in her second year leading the team. She was previously an assistant coach at Kansas State and Arkansas.
ON A MISSION: RAVEN COLVIN
The senior is hitting .455% on the season and averaging 2.44 kills and 2.04 blocks per set.
Over the last three matches, Colvin has averaged a .614 attack %.
The Boiler has recorded two 10-block performances: vs. K-State (8/30) and at Utah State (9/7).
Number of matches with one or less attack errors: 4
Number of matches hitting .300 or above: 6
Number of matchings hitting .400 or above: 5
Number of matches hitting .500 or above: 4
Number of matches hitting .700 or above: 2
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
Purdue is in a stretch with three consecutive top-10 matchups.
The Boilermakers are also in a larger stretch with five of six opponents ranked in the top-25.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
GAME 3 PREP: BOILERS TREK ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR 1ST ROAD TRIP OF THE SEASON
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football makes its first road trip of the season and its longest one since 2009, traveling 2,229 miles to Corvallis, Oregon to face Oregon State. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT) on the CW.
Saturday’s contest begins a stretch for the Boilermakers with three of their next four games on the road.
QUICK HITS
• The Boilermakers are playing in the state of Oregon for just the second time in 137 seasons of football (Sept. 12, 2009 at Oregon).
• Purdue is looking to win its first, non-conference road game of the season in back-to-back years for the first time since the 2004 and 2005 campaigns.
• Last year, the Boilermakers won their road opener, a 24-17 victory at Virginia Tech. It was Ryan Walters’ first victory as Purdue’s head coach. The game featured a rain delay that lasted five hours and 27 minutes.
• Purdue is one of two teams (Boise State) to have both Oregon State and Oregon on the schedule this season.
• The Boilermakers won the previous matchups with the Beavers, opening the 2021 season with a 30-21 victory at Ross-Ade Stadium (Sept. 4, 2021).
• Sophomore rush end Will Heldt leads the Big Ten in sacks per game (1.3), ranking eighth in the country; Heldt also ranks second in the conference in tackles-for-loss (1.8 per game), 13th nationally.
• With a team-high two touchdowns this season, Georgia transfer De’Nylon Morrissette is the only Purdue player with multiple career receiving touchdowns as a Boilermaker.
• Kydran Jenkins is tied with Jim Schwantz (1988-91) for ninth on the program’s all-time list for career sacks (18.0).
• In his first season as a Boilermaker, Keelan Crimmins leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh nationally in punting (47.2 yards per punt).
THE OREGON TRAIL
• Purdue travels to Oregon for just the second time in 137 seasons of Boilermaker Football, including the first trip to Corvallis.
• Fifteen years ago, the Boilermakers traveled to Eugene, Oregon to face the Oregon Ducks in their only previous trip to the Beaver State.
• Purdue has only faced teams from the state of Oregon five times throughout history (3 vs. Oregon, 2 vs. Oregon State).
• This season will mark the first time the Boilermakers have played Oregon and Oregon State in the same season
FAR, FAR AWAY
• When Purdue makes the 2,229-mile trip to Corvallis this weekend, it will be the 20th time in history that the Boilermakers have traveled more than 2,000 miles to play a football game.
• Six of those road trips have been to the Los Angeles area for matchups against UCLA and USC, as well as a pair of Rose Bowl appearances (1967, 2001).
• The Boilermakers have made five trips to Seattle to face Washington, their most-common opponent from the West Coast, having met 10 times throughout history.
• Saturday’s game will be the fifth-longest road trip in Purdue Football history.
LAST TIME WE MET
• David Bell and Payne Durham teamed up for 254 receiving yards and the defense delivered a pair of fourth-down stops to carry Purdue Football to a 30-21 victory (Sept. 4, 2021).
• Quarterback Jack Plummer connected with Durham on fourth-quarter touchdown passes of five and 50 yards as part of a 313-yard passing night for the junior. Durham finished with seven catches for 120 yards, both then-career bests as a Boilermaker.
• Bell caught eight passes for 134 yards and posted his 11th career 100-yard receiving game to move into third place in program history.
• The Boilermakers posted their first victory vs. a then-Pac-12 Conference opponent since beating Arizona at the 2017 Foster Farms Bowl. It was their first such win at home since also beating Arizona in September 2003.
MISSING BULLDOGS-TURNED-BOILERS
• Purdue has been without two of its highest-ranked transfers to start the season.
• Nyland Green, the No. 7 rated transfer and highest ranked cornerback in the portal according to 247Sports, was expected to make an immediate impact to the Purdue secondary before suffering an injury in fall camp.
• Wide receiver CJ Smith, one of four Boilermakers to transfer from Georgia, was injured in fall camp as well. Smith, nicknamed “Zoom,” is one of the fastest and most explosive players on the team.
MAD MAX
• Max Klare has not missed a beat since he returned to the lineup at the start of the season.
• The sophomore tight end leads Purdue with eight receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown.
• He ranks in the top 25 of the Big Ten in receiving yards (53.5) and receptions (4.0) per game.
• Klare was on pace to be one of the best tight ends in the country before his 2023 season was cut short. However, the sophomore bounced back in the 2024 season opener with five catches for 71 yards, both team highs.
• Klare also caught Purdue’s first touchdown of the season, a 9-yard strike from Hudson Card on the opening drive.
• Klare was also tabbed to the Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List ahead of the year.
HIGHWAY TO HELDT
• After recording only 12 tackles throughout his freshman season, sophomore rush end Will Heldt has made 12 tackles in the first two games of the 2024 campaign, ranking second on the team.
• Heldt started the season with a team-high seven tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks in the win over Indiana State. Prior to the season opener, Heldt’s career high in tackles were two.
• The strong start has Heldt at the top of the Big Ten in sacks and TFLs. He leads the conference in sacks per game (1.25), ranking eighth nationally. With 3.5 TFLs (1.75 per game), the Boilermaker’s average ranks second in the B1G and 13th in the country.
TACKLES BY TONE
• After battling injuries to start his career, Antonio Stevens played in nearly every game over the past two seasons primarily on special teams and as a backup in the secondary. This season, the senior has become the Boilermakers’ leading tackler.
• Stevens made 25 tackles over the previous four seasons with all of them coming in the past two years. Through the first two games of 2024, Stevens has made a team-high 15 tackles.
• The Nashville native recorded a career-high eight tackles against Notre Dame.
• In the season opener, Stevens tallied a team-high seven tackles to help lead the Purdue defense to a shutout victory over Indiana State.
• Stevens’ 7.5 tackles per game rank sixth in the Big Ten.
CREATING NEGATIVE PLAYS
• Through the first two games of the season, Purdue has recorded 15.0 tackles-for-loss to rank second in the Big Ten and 26th nationally at 7.5 per contest.
• Four Boilermakers are ranked in the Top 7 of the conference in TFLs per game.
• Will Heldt leads the way, ranking second with 1.75 TFLs per game (3.5 total).
• Damarjhe Lewis leads all Big Ten defensive interior lineman with 3.0 TFLs, averaging 1.5 per game to rank fifth among all B1G defenders.
• Kydran Jenkins and Shitta Sillah are tied for seventh in the conference (1.25 per game).
ANOTHER AUSSIE
• Keelan Crimmins has quickly become Purdue’s most reliable punter in at least seven seasons.
• Crimmins leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh nationally with a 47.2-yard average.
• Against Notre Dame, Crimmins punted 10 times for a 47.3-yard clip with a pair of balls over 50 yards and three inside the 20-yard line.
• It was only the 6th time a Big Ten punter averaged over 47 yards when punting 10 times. Iowa has three of them.
• His career-long 64-yard kick against the Irish was just the 20th ball of 64 or more yards by Purdue punter since 1996.
• He tallied a 46.7-yard average against Indiana State on three boots.
• The Aussie was the No. 3-ranked punter by ProKick Australia.
• He played cricket and high-level Australian Rules Football.
• Crimmins is the second straight Purdue punter from Australia, joining Jack Ansell (2021-23), who also wore No. 30.
PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER
PURDUE HOSTS SOCAL SQUADS FOR FIRST HOME WEEKEND OF BIG TEN PLAY
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
#25 USC (5-1-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten) at Purdue (5-2-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten)
Thursday, Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. ET / Big Ten Network & Stream on FoxSports.com
Folk Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
UCLA (6-2-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten) at Purdue
Sunday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. ET / Stream B1G+
Folk Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Thursday: $2 Beers
Sunday: Pups at the Pitch Dog Day; Bounce Houses & Face Painting for Kids Day
All Home Games: Free Admission at Folk Field
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time vs. USC: USC leads 3-1
All-Time in West Lafayette: Tied 1-1
2023: #19 USC 4, Purdue 0 (Aug. 21 in Los Angeles)
Last Meeting in West Lafayette: Purdue 3, #15 USC 0 (Aug. 18 Season Opener)
First Meeting: USC 1, Purdue 0 (September 2010 in Fullerton, Calif.)
All-Time vs. UCLA: First Meeting
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Soccer kicks off the home portion of its Big Ten Conference schedule with games against the Southern California contingent of the league’s new West Coast members, hosting No. 25 USC and UCLA at Folk Field for weekend No. 2 of the conference season.
Thursday’s 8 p.m. ET game vs. USC will be televised live by the Big Ten Network and feature a special $2 beers promotion. Fans are invited to bring their dogs to Folk Field for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET game vs. UCLA. Pups at the Pitch is a featured promotion for every Sunday home game.
The Boilermakers, Bruins and Trojans all opened Big Ten play with road wins last week. Purdue won at Northwestern 2-0 to end a five-game winless drought (0-3-2) in Evanston that dated back to 2016. Lauren Omholt (7th minute) scored early and Kayla Budish scored late (86th minute) as the Boilers opened Big Ten play with a shutout win for the first time since 2017. Goalkeeper Emily Edwards has made 10 saves while conceding just one goal over the last two games and is a big reason why Purdue has posted four shutouts in its first eight games for the first time since 2019 (five) and 10th time in program history.
Under first-year head coach Richard Moodie, the Boilermakers’ 5-2-1 mark represents their best eight-game start since the 2021 NCAA Tournament team opened 5-1-2. The program had gone just 6-24-5 since the start of the 2022 campaign. Purdue already has had seven different goal scorers this season.
OPENED BIG TEN PLAY WITH A ROAD WIN
• 2024 at Northwestern – W, 2-0
• 2021 at Nebraska – W, 3-1
• 2017 at Michigan – W, 1-0
• 2016 at Illinois – W, 2-0
• 2008 at Northwestern – W, 1-0
• 2005 at Minnesota – W, 2-1
• 2003 at Minnesota – W, 2-0
• 2001 at Wisconsin – W, 3-0
• 1999 at Northwestern – W, 1-0
In their first-ever Big Ten games, the league’s new SoCal squads bested their Pacific Northwest counterparts – USC winning 1-0 at Washington and UCLA rallying with two goals in the final 11 minutes for a 2-1 victory at Oregon. Both the Bruins (2013, 2022) and Trojans (2007, 2016) have won national titles in the last decade and a pair of national championships this century.
Purdue is actually set to play USC for the third year in a row and fifth time since 2010, splitting a non-conference home-and-home series the last two years. The Boilermakers opened the 2022 campaign with a memorable win vs. a nationally ranked USC team. With the Big Ten Network also televising the game, Purdue set an attendance record at Folk Field (3,296, later eclipsed in the 2023 season opener) on a night in which Gracie Dunaway scored twice. The senior now has 13 career goals, including the game-winner in the season opener this year.
UCLA joins Washington State, UIC and Alabama as the first-time opponents on the Boilermakers’ schedule this season. The Bruins were picked as the Big Ten favorite in the league’s preseason coaches poll. They play at Indiana on Thursday.
USC has yet to play a home game and is holding its Big Ten home dates at Dignity Health Sports Park – the home of the LA Galaxy – while construction of the new Rawlinson Stadium (soccer and lacrosse) on campus is ongoing this fall.
The first RPI rankings of the season were released this week and the Big Ten is well represented with 11 of the top 52 teams. Purdue checks in at No. 52. USC is No. 8 and tied for first nationally with its five true road wins. UCLA is No. 26 in the initial RPI.
BUTLER WOMEN’S GOLF
BIG EAST TABS KELLI SCHECK AS WOMEN’S GOLFER OF THE WEEK
Butler’s Kelli Scheck has been selected as the BIG EAST Women’s Golfer of the Week. The conference office made the announcement Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Scheck was Butler’s top performer at the Brittany Kelly Classic, tying for fifth at 219 (+3). Scheck had rounds of two-under 70, 75 and 74 over the two days. Scheck led the Bulldogs to a third-place team finish.
For Scheck, it is her second BIG EAST weekly award, joining a recognition from Sept. 28, 2023.
Scheck’s teammate Katie Steinman set a program-record with a round of 67 Tuesday. Steinman posted seven birdies against two bogeys in the final round on the 6,262-yard Players Club course in Yorktown, Ind. Steinman became the first Butler woman to shoot a round of five-under. Scheck also shot a 67 during her freshman season, but that came on par-71 track.
The Bulldogs will host the Butler Fall Invitational Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the team’s home Highland Golf Club.
IU-INDY VOLLEYBALL
JAGUARS REVERSE SWEEP INDIANA STATE IN THE JUNGLE
INDIANAPOLIS – Sophomore Maia Long slammed the door on the Sycamores as she closed out the five-set match with back-to-back kills, sealing the Jags’ 3-2 win over Indiana State. Morgan Ostrowski added a career-high 16 kills to lead IU Indy to a reverse sweep.
IU Indy (5-6) came out slow to start the match dropping the first two sets. Service errors hurt early as the Jags totaled seven service errors in the opening set. After dropping set one, 25-20, the Jags’ errors hurt in set two as well. IU Indy struggled on the attack in the second set, hitting just .049, falling 25-21.
With the Sycamores one set away from the match win, the Jags and Indiana State traded the lead back-and-forth to open set three. After the Sycamores tied the set at 8-8, IU Indy went on a five-point run, forcing an Indiana State timeout. Kills from Briana Brown and Elle Patterson as well as a service ace from Grace Purichia powered the five-point run, giving the Jags a 13-8 lead. The Jags held onto that lead, closing out the set with a kill from Patterson at 25-19.
After extended the match to the fourth set, IU Indy quickly took the lead, opening the set on a 8-1 run. Indiana State wouldn’t recover as the Jags held the momentum, taking the set 25-18.
With the match tied at two sets apiece, Indiana State took control of the fifth and deciding set. After taking a 13-10 lead, the Jags closed out the set with six straight points. Long helped finish the job with a block and back-to-back kills.
Ostrowski closed out the match with a career-high 16 kills followed by Patterson with 14 and Brown with 12. Purichia totaled 39 assists, four service aces and 15 digs.
The Jags are now 5-6 overall and will next travel to Southern Indiana for the USI Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21.
BALL STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER
SOCCER STARTS MAC PLAY WITH MATCHES VS BOWLING GREEN AND KENT STATE
The Ball State soccer team begins Mid-American Conference competition hosting Bowling Green on Thursday and playing at Kent State on Sunday for the road opener.
Ball State faces off with the Falcons at 4 p.m. at the Briner Sports Complex, while the Sunday meeting with the Golden Flashes is slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Dix Stadium. Links to the video streams and live stats can be found above and on the schedule page.
The Cardinals wrapped up their nonconference schedule with a 5-2 record after dismantling IU Indy 6-2 last Thursday in Muncie for their fourth straight win. Ball State tops the conference in assists per game (3.57, No. 7 in NCAA Division I), fewest fouls per game (7.0, No. 38), points per game (9.86, No. 9) and goals per game (3.14, No. 12).
Bowling Green (3-2-1) had a scoreless draw against Oakland last Thursday in its most recent action. The Falcons were picked to finish sixth in the MAC preseason coaches poll.
Kent State (3-2-1) most recently lost 3-1 at No. 21 Kentucky on Friday and will play at Toledo on Thursday night for the MAC opener. The Golden Flashes were voted fourth in the preseason MAC poll.
Junior forward Delaney Caldwell paces the MAC in total points (17, No. 12 nationally) while ranking second in goals (six) and assists (five, No. 13). Fellow junior Addie Chester’s six assists rank third in Division I while her 16 points and five goals are second and fourth in the MAC, respectively.
MILESTONE WATCH: Graduate forward Avery Fenchel is three goals away from tying Dee Nocero’s career goals program record of 30.
Fenchel’s 27 goals are tied with Emily Rein (2005-08) for the second-most in Ball State soccer history.
SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN: The Falcons went 10-6-2 (8-1-2 MAC) last year and are now under the direction of first year head coach Chris Fox. Bowling Green’s old head man Jimmy Walker took the job at Creighton in the offseason.
Bowling Green leads the league in corner kicks per game (6.17) while ranking third in goals-against average (.667) and fourth in shots per game (14.5).
Redshirt junior goalie Madison Vukas is third in the MAC in shutouts (three) and GAA (.667) as the only goalkeeper to see playing time so far this season for the Falcons.
SCOUTING KENT STATE: The Golden Flashes finished 2023 with a 12-7-2 (7-4 MAC) record and bowed out in the MAC Tournament final to Ohio in their 23rd season being led by Rob Marinaro.
Kent State leads the MAC and ranks No. 11 nationally in shot accuracy (.581) while standing at third in shots per game (7.17). The Golden Flashes have received the second-most yellow cards (11) amongst MAC teams.
Senior midfielder Alisa Arthur’s 4.0 shots per game and 2.3 shots on goal per game are both second in the MAC, while her 0.83 goals and 1.83 points per game are fourth and fifth. Sophomore midfielder Thea Oberhoff’s three yellow cards are the most in the conference.
Up Next
The Cardinals play at Akron on Sept. 26 in their second straight road match.
BALL STATE VOLLEYBALL
WVB VISITS BUTLER THURSDAY, HOSTS WRIGHT STATE FRIDAY
THE WEEK AHEAD: The Ball State women’s volleyball team closes the pre-conference portion of the regular season this week with a match at Butler Thursday (7 p.m.) and its regular season home opener versus Wright State on Friday (6 p.m.).
FOLLOW THE ACTION: Thursday’s contest at Butler will be streamed on YouTube, while Friday’s match versus Wright State will be broadcast live on ESPN+ … In addition, live stats will be provided for both matches by the host institution … Live updates from the matches will also be provided on the team’s X feed and Instagram story: @BallStateWVB.
THIS WEEK’S BALL STATE PROMOTIONS: The Cardinals will be looking to RED OUT the Raiders on Friday night in its 2024 regular season home opener, in addition to passing out FREE rally towels to the first 400 fans and raffling off a FREE 55-inch TV… In addition, fans will be treated to a post-match autograph session on the Worthen Arena concourse.
MAC PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION: With no divisions for the first time since the 1996 season, the Ball State women’s volleyball team received 98 points in the league’s annual coaches poll, trailing only Western Michigan (121) and Bowling Green (102) … With coaches unable to vote for their own teams, WMU earned 11 of the 12 votes to win the MAC regular season title, with BGSU claiming the other … The Broncos, who also received votes in the 2024 AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll, was also selected as the favorite to win the MAC Volleyball Championship with nine votes, followed by the Falcons (2) and the Cardinals (1).
PRESEASON HONORS: In addition to the team rankings, the MAC announced its annual Preseason All-MAC Team … Representing Ball State are senior setter Megan Wielonski and redshirt sophomore outside Aniya Kennedy … Wielonski earns Preseason All-MAC honors for the third consecutive season after claiming All-MAC First Team accolades for the third straight year … Kennedy earns a nod on the Preseason All-MAC team for the first time in her career after a stellar 2023 campaign which saw her claim both First Team All-MAC and MAC Freshman of the Year honors.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES: Ball State is 31-15 all-time versus this week’s opponents, starting with a 17-6 mark versus Butler … The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings between the two programs, including a 3-2 (25-15, 25-12, 22-25, 19-25, 15-6) win in the latest meeting on Sept. 16, 2017, at Hinkle Fieldhouse … Ball State holds a 14-9 lead in the all-time series versus Wright State, with the Raiders securing a 3-1 (26-24, 25-14, 29-31, 25-18) win on Sept. 8, 2023, at the Dayton Tournament.
SCOUTING BALL STATE:
• Ball State enters the week with a 5-4 record after going 2-1 at last weekend’s Indiana Invitational … The Cardinals swept both Chicago State and Wright State, before falling top points short of a reverse sweep against the host Hoosiers.
• The Cardinals continue to be one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses, ranking first in the Mid-American Conference and 30th nationally with a .267 attack percentage … The mark includes a .271 rate of success against then-No. 7 Penn State, which is the best hitting mark against the Nittany Lions so far this season … Ball State has hit .300-or-better in two matches so far this season, including a season-high .333 rate of success versus Bryant (Aug. 30).
• Ball State has also made some major strides at the net this season, ranking fourth in the league and 112th nationally with a 2.23 team blocks-per-set average … Graduate middle Aayinde Smith is currently seventh in the league and 228th nationally at 1.00 blocks per set … Sophomore middle Gwen Crull also has a 1.00 block per set average, but has not played enough sets to be ranked nationally.
SCOUTING BUTLER:
• The Bulldogs enter the week with a 2-7 overall record after going 0-3 at last weekend’s GCU Classic … Butler was swept by Pacific on Friday, lost a five-set heartbreaker at Grand Canyon on Saturday, and fell 3-1 to Portland State on Sunday … The Bulldogs lone wins on the season were back-to-back victories over Indiana State by scores of 3-0 and 3-1.
• One area the Bulldogs have excelled so far this season is at the net … The squad ranks second in the Big East and 48th nationally with a 2.53 blocks-per-set average … The effort is paced by Grace Boggess who ranks 95th nationally at 1.19 blocks per set … Destiny Cherry is not far behind, ranking 209th at 1.03.
• Abby Maesch leads the Butler attack with a 3.41 kills-per-set average, while Elise Ward is not far behind at 3.20 … Their effort has helped the squad post a .154 hitting percentage so far this season.
SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE:
• The Raiders, who have made appearances in each of the last two NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championships, enter the week with a 7-2 mark and are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Division I Coaches Poll … Last week, WSU went 3-0 at the Sports Imports Classic hosted by Ohio State with 3-1 wins over Buffalo, No. 20 Miami and the host Buckeyes.
• The Wright State offense enters the week ranked second nationally with a 14.77 kills-per-set average, while its .247 hitting percentage is 65th … Mya Ayro leads the squad with a 4.13 kills-per-set average, which is 42nd nationally, while Sam Ott is 122nd at 3.55.
• The Raiders are also a solid serving team, ranking 49th nationally at 1.94 aces per set … The squad has 60 aces on the year, with Jenny Wessling ranking 68th nationally with 16 of those aces … Wessling also ranks 62nd among all NCAA Division I players with a 4.45 digs-per-set average, earning 138 total digs so far this season.
BALL STATE QUICK HITS:
• With her 50th of 57 assists in the win over James Madison (Sept. 6), Megan Wielonski climbed to fifth on Ball State’s career assists list … She enters the week with 4,338 career assists which is currently third among active NCAA Division I players … Western Michigan’s Logan Case is first at 5,436 (with the benefit of an extra COVID season), while Colorado State’s Emery Herman is second at 4,475 … Wielonski has ranked in the top 15 nationally in assists in each of her first three seasons: second (1,394) in 2021, fourth (1,359) in 2022 and 13th (1,269) in 2023.
• In addition to being one of the nation’s top setters, Megan Wielonski is one of the country’s top servers with 154 career aces … The total, which includes 10 aces so far this season, currently ranks 12th among active NCAA Division I players and is the most for any active student-athlete from the Mid-American Conference … 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 also 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 … In 2022, she ranked 55th nationally with 46 service aces, while she had a team-leading 40 aces last season.
• Megan Wielonski has also shined in the backcourt over her Ball State career, becoming just the 21st player in program history to register over 1,000 career digs in BSU’s NIVC victory at Middle Tennessee (Nov. 30, 2023) … She has 76 total digs so far this season, raising her career total to 1,097 which is 17th in program history … Overall, she has accumulated double-digit digs in 57 career matches which is 12th in program history and gives her 57 career assist/dig double-doubles.
• Aniya Kennedy has picked up right where she left off last season, leading the Ball State offense with 90 kills and a 3.33 kills-per-set average … Last season, she finished the year ranked 32nd nationally with a 4.12 kills-per-set average … Kennedy has smashed double-digit kills in 30 career matches, including four so far this season, and led the team in kills in 26 outings.
• Including her season-high 20 kills at Florida Atlantic (Aug. 31), Aniya Kennedy has smashed 20-or-more kills in nine career matches … The total ranks eighth in program history … Last season, she registered a career-high 25 kills in two matches – versus Akron (Oct. 13, 2023) and at WMU (Nov. 3, 2023) – which were the most kills for a BSU player in a match since Kia Holder (2017-20) logged 27 at Eastern Michigan on March 27, 2021 … In addition, Kennedy was the first Cardinal to register multiple 20+ kill matches in the same season since Natalie Risi (2019-22) had two as a freshman in 2019.
• Freshman outside Carson Tyler added her name to the 20+ kill list by smashing a career-high 21 kills in the four-set win over James Madison (Sept. 6) … She tied the mark in last Saturday’s 3-2 setback at Indiana … Throw in a team-high 12 kills versus then-No. 7 Penn State and Tyler has registered double digit kills in three career matches … The effort helps her rank second on the squad with 79 kills and a 2.63 kills-per-set average.
• Typically a six-rotation player for the Cardinals, Carson Tyler is also third on the team with 48 digs for a 1.60 digs-per-set average … She also leads Ball State’s primary passers with a .958 reception percentage, successfully passing 159 of the 166 serves she has faced.
• Freshman libero Sophie Ledbetter has shined in her first three weeks of collegiate action, leading the squad and ranking fourth in the MAC with a with a 4.66 digs-per-set average … The effort includes a career-high 27 digs in the win over James Madison (Sept. 6), 21 digs in the sweep of Southern Indiana (Sept. 14) and 20 digs in the sweep of Bryant (Aug. 30) … Ledbetter also boasts a .927 reception percentage, including perfect marks in six of BSU’s nine matches.
• Graduate middle Aayinde Smith has been a big addition for the Ball State front line, tying for third on the squad with 2.20 kills per set, while tying for team-high honors with 1.00 blocks per set … A two-time All-CAA Second Team selection in her four years at Towson, Smith also owns a .368 attack percentage which ranks fourth among MAC players.
• Junior Madison Buckley turned in her best weekend of the season at the Indiana Invitational, ranking second on the squad with 30 kills for a 2.73 kills-per-set average … The effort included a season-high 13 kills versus Southern Indiana (Sept. 14) and 11 kills against the host Hoosiers (Sept. 14) … Buckley has registered double digit kills in three matches so far this season, giving her 16 such matches over her collegiate career.
• Looking at the entire Ball State defense, the Cardinals limited Bryant (Aug. 30) to a -.020 (24-26-99) attack percentage … It was the lowest attacking mark for a Ball State opponent since the 2018 campaign when the Cardinals held Grambling to a -.061 (18-23-82) rate of success on Aug. 31 … That same season, the Ball State defense limited North Dakota State to a -.018 (23-25-114) hitting mark on Sept. 7.
• For the team’s solid work in the classroom, Ball State was one of a record number of more than 1,400 collegiate and high school volleyball teams to earn the 2023-24 AVCA Team Academic Award sponsored by INTENT … The Cardinals, who claimed the honor for the eighth straight season and the 14th time overall, finished the 2023-24 academic year with a 3.63 team GPA … Of Ball State’s 18 countable student-athletes, 17 maintained at least a 3.07 GPA during the academic year.
INDIANA STATE CROSS COUNTRY
SYCAMORES RANKED IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2018
USTFCCCA.org – The Indiana State women’s cross country team continues to gain attention following their performance at the season opening Sam Bell Invitational as the Sycamores garnered their first ranking in the USTFCCCA Regional polls this week.
The Sycamores debuted at No. 14 in the Great Lakes Region marking the first time Indiana State has been ranked since October 15, 2018.
Led by Emma Gresham’s school record in the 4K (14:14.8) that shattered a mark which had stood since 2003 and Erica Barker’s time of 14:19.0, the Sycamores placed five runners inside the top-15 at the season-opening meet. Brittney Burak, Peyton Smith, and Morgan Dyer all scored in the meet, while Gnister Grant, Hadley Gradolf, and Halle Miller also added top-25 finishes overall in their season debuts.
Indiana State is back in action this weekend as the Sycamores host the John McNichols Invitational at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute. The men’s race is set to start at 9 a.m., while the women take the course at 9:45 a.m.
INDIANA STATE VOLLEYBALL
SYCAMORES FALL SHORT IN FIVE-SET BATTLE
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana State had five different players notch seven or more kills Wednesday night, but Indiana State fell two points short against IU-Indianapolis in an agonizing five-set match (20-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-18, 15-13).
Jadyn Smith led the Sycamores with 11 kills, while Ella Scott added nine kills, five blocks and two aces. Hannah Baudin had eight kills, while Emma Kaelin and Curry Kendall tallied seven kills apiece. Emily Weber finished with 34 assists and a season-high five blocks, while Anna Ptacin led all players with six blocks. Macy Lengacher recorded a match-high 19 digs.
Indiana State trailed for the early stages of the first set before consecutive kills from Smith, Kaelin and Baudin tied the score at nine-all. The home side recovered to take a three-point lead, but Indiana State responded with a seven-point run and never trailed for the remainder of the set. Kills from Kaelin, Weber and Baudin, paired with multiple errors and an ace from Weber, gave the Trees momentum with a 20-16 lead, and Lengacher later added an ace to extend the Sycamores’ lead to five. Kaelin finished off the first set with a kill, as the Trees took the opening frame 25-20.
Kills from Baudin and Scott gave the Sycamores a good start to set two, and the Trees stood tall for a pair of blocks to take a 6-5 lead. Scott and Smith tacked on kills, with the former also dropping in an ace, as Indiana State upped its advantage to 13-8. The Jaguars went on an extended scoring run to tie the set at 16, but Indiana State countered with a run of its own. Smith put down a kill, while Weber and Ptacin combined on a pair of blocks as Indiana State went ahead 21-16. IU-Indianapolis got within a point, but three straight kills from Baudin closed out a 25-21 win for the Sycamores in the second set, giving the Trees a 2-0 lead.
Indiana State took an early 5-3 lead in the third set, with Weber and Kaelin notching kills and Emmy Sher adding a service ace. Kills from Scott and Weber kept the momentum going for the Sycamores, but IU-Indianapolis responded with a 6-1 run to go ahead 13-8 and never trailed in the set from that point on. Sher added her second ace of the set midway through, but the Jaguars followed with another 6-1 run to put the Trees in a 21-13 hole. Late kills from Smith and Kaelin, along with a block assist from Ptacin and Smith, gave the Trees late life, but the home side extended the match by taking the third set 25-19.
Smith opened set four with a kill, but eight straight points for the home side followed and Indiana State never fully recovered in the set. Three more kills from Smith in a six-point span pulled the Sycamores within four at 11-7, and Scott added a pair of kills to keep the deficit at that margin. Indiana State got within three midway through on a kill by Smith to make it 18-15, but that was the closest the Sycamores got for the remainder of the set. Late kils from Kendall and Kaelin weren’t enough, as IU-Indianapolis took the fourth set 25-18 to force a deciding set.
Indiana State started out strong in the fifth set, courtesy of kills from Scott and Kendall. Kendall and Smith added kills to make it 7-5 Sycamores, while consecutive blocks for the Trees extended the lead out to three at 9-6. The Jaguars got back within a point, before back-to-back kills from Kendall put Indiana State ahead 13-10 and on the brink of a win. Indiana State’s momentum fell short though, as the home side won the last five points to take the fifth set 15-13 and clinch the match.
News and Notes
Macy Lengacher tied her season high of 19 digs in Wednesday’s match.
Indiana State’s 13 blocks were a season high, while the Sycamores recorded more than 2.50 blocks per set for the second time in the last three matches.
Indiana State had three players with five or more blocks (Anna Ptacin – six, Ella Scott – five, Emily Weber – five) for the first time since an October 2023 win over UIC.
Jadyn Smith recorded double-digit kills for the third time in the last five matches, and is averaging 2.31 kills per set in 2024 compared to just 1.21 kills per set in 2023.
Indiana State won the opening set for the fourth straight match, marking the first time since the 2021 season that the Sycamores accomplished the feat.
Wednesday’s match was the second five-setter for the Sycamores this season, with Indiana State falling to 1-1 in five-set matches this season.
Up Next
Indiana State takes part in the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational, starting with a Friday doubleheader against St. Francis (Pa.) (11 a.m.) and Eastern Michigan (4:30 p.m.).
SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S XC
USI’S TERRY EARNS OVC WEEKLY HONOR
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana senior Brady Terry has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week in an announcement by the league office Wednesday morning.
Brady earns his first-career weekly award after racing to a first-place finish at the UT Martin OVC Preview this past Saturday. The 2023 second-team All-OVC honoree out-kicked Southeast Missouri State University’s Nick Cimmarusti down the stretch to secure his second-career victory on the grass and his first since winning the Stegemoller Classic September 10, 2021.
A finance major at USI, Brady led the Screaming Eagles to a second-place finish. USI ended the meet with 43 points, just two back of first-place SEMO.
The Eagles return to action September 27 when they travel to Columbia, Missouri, to compete at the University of Missouri’s Gans Creek Classic.
EVANSVILLE WOMEN’S SOCCER
UE WOMEN’S SOCCER BEGINS CONFERENCE PLAY AT BELMONT
NASHVILLE — Missouri Valley Conference play begins this week for the University of Evansville women’s soccer team on the road.
UE women’s soccer closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule with a tie on Senior Night against UT Martin. The Aces scored early in the second half to hang on for the point over the last 26 minutes of the match. Freshman defender Emmy Brenner (Arlington, Tenn. / St. Benedict at Auburndale HS) scored her first collegiate goal in the game. Brenner scored Evansville’s lone goal against the Skyhawks in the 64th minute on a header off a cross from senior forward Hailey Autenrieb (Cincinnati / Seton HS) for Autenrieb’s second season assist.
Belmont comes into MVC action with a 3-5-1 record on Thursday. The Bruins closed out the non-conference portion of the season with a 1-1 tie against Chattanooga for their Senior Day. Belmont is led on offense by freshman midfielder Ava Labocki with four goals for eight points. Labocki was named the Valley Freshman of the Week on Tuesday while the Bruins goalkeeper Sydney Jones was named the Valley Goalkeeper of the Week for making 12 saves over the past week.
At the end of non-conference play, the Aces performance in goal continues to be one of the best in the nation. Between both starting goalkeepers, UE is ninth in the country in saves per game averaging 7.67 a match. While fifth-year goalkeeper Myia Danek (Laingsburg, Mich. / Laingsburg HS) is fifth among all NCAA Division I goalies in saves per game at 8.00. Evansville also leads the MVC in both categories.
VALPO VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL WRAPS NONCONFERENCE PLAY AT WOFFORD’S TERRIER INVITE
Valparaiso (6-3, 0-0 MVC)
Terrier Invite (Spartanburg, S.C.)
Friday, Sept. 20 – vs. Presbyterian (3-7) – 10 a.m. CT | vs. South Carolina State (1-5) – 3 p.m. CT
Saturday, Sept. 21 – at Wofford (6-4) – 10 a.m. CT
Next Up For Valpo Volleyball: The Valpo volleyball team brings the nonconference slate to an end this weekend with a trio of matches at Wofford’s Terrier Invite. The Beacons will play Presbyterian and South Carolina State on Friday before facing the host Terriers on Saturday.
Previously: The Beacons hosted the Popcorn Classic last weekend, posting a 2-1 record with sweeps of Miami and Purdue Fort Wayne sandwiching a 3-1 loss to Cornell. Elise Swistek and Jessica Pickett represented Valpo on the All-Tournament Team
Looking Ahead: Valpo opens MVC play next weekend with the downstate road swing, playing at Evansville and Indiana State.
Following the Beacons: Valpo’s match against Wofford will be broadcast live on ESPN+. All three tournament matches will have live stats available, linked via ValpoAthletics.com.
Head Coach Carin Avery: In her 23rd season as head coach at Valparaiso, Carin Avery is the all-time winningest head coach across all sports in the history of Valpo Athletics. She has won 495 matches (495-246, .668) at the helm of the program and has led Valpo to three league regular season and tournament titles. The program has made seven postseason appearances under Avery, including three NCAA Tournament appearances, and advanced to the championship match of the 2021 NIVC. Avery has coached 62 All-League recipients over her tenure at Valpo, which has spanned three different conferences. She is Valpo’s all-time leader in both victories and winning percentage, and owns a 550-270 (.671) record overall as a head coach.
Series History: Presbyterian – Valpo won the only previous meeting between the two programs, sweeping the Blue Hose at the Bradley Invitational in 2010.
South Carolina State – First meeting. Valpo last took on a MEAC opponent in 2022, when it defeated Delaware State and Morgan State.
Wofford – Valpo beat the Terriers in the 2014 season opener, 3-1, at the North Carolina Central Invitational in the only previous meeting between the teams.
Scouting the Opposition: Presbyterian – The Blue Hose enter the week at 3-7, with a Wednesday night match at Furman prior to this weekend’s contests. Five of PC’s seven losses have come in five sets, however. Hannah Rowe is averaging a team-best 2.51 kills/set.
South Carolina State – The Bulldogs sit at 1-5 on the year, earning a win over Mississippi Valley State last weekend. Xaria Pickett averages a team-best 3.00 kills/set, while Hailey Harris is hitting .305 with 2.52 kills/set and 1.05 blocks/set.
Wofford – The Terriers come into the weekend with a 6-4 record and earned the biggest win in program history last time out, taking down #15 Tennessee in five sets on Monday night. Sarah MacLean hits .335 with a team-high 2.95 kills/set, while Bradley Brown is averaging 2.45 kills/set on .430 hitting.
Hey, That Looks Familiar: Notably, Wofford’s win over Tennessee earlier this week featured the Terriers using their libero as their primary setter in some rotations due to an injury to one of their setters. Valpo fans are quite familiar with that situation, as in 2016, Valpo used libero Morganne Longoria as its primary setter the second half of the season due to setter injuries. All told, Longoria served as primary setter for 13 matches, averaging 5.43 assists and 5.86 digs per set over that stretch that saw Valpo post a 7-6 record.
Valpo Picked Sixth in Preseason Poll: Valpo was picked to finish in sixth place in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2024, according to preseason polling of the conference’s head coaches. The Beacons shared sixth position with Missouri State, while UNI topped the poll. In six of Valpo’s seven seasons in the Valley, the program has met or exceeded its preseason prognostication.
Looking Back at Last Season: Valpo is coming off a third consecutive postseason appearance in 2023, as the Beacons earned an at-large berth in the NIVC. The program posted an 18-15 overall record and went 10-8 in MVC play, finishing in a tie for fifth place in the Valley standings. Miranda Strongman earned First Team All-MVC honors, while Mallory Januski was a Second Team All-MVC honoree.
Who’s Back: This year’s squad returns nine letterwinners from the 2023 team, a group which includes the team’s leader in kills (Elise Swistek) and digs (Emma Hickey). The Beacons return a good bit of their back row defensive production, as 65.7% of the team’s digs from last year are back in 2024.
Who’s Gone: Valpo did graduate a talented class which accounted for a good portion of the team’s front row production last year, as the Beacons return just 37.9% of the kills and 25.3% of the blocks from 2023. Middles Mallory Januski and Miranda Strongman, both All-MVC selections last year, ended their Valpo careers 1-2 in program history in career hitting percentage, while the team also graduated players who ranked among the top-10 in program history in career digs (outside hitter Bella Ravotto) and assists (setter Victoria Bulmahn).
Who’s New: While there’s a lot of production from last year to replace in 2024, there’s also an exciting new class of rookies eager to take on the challenge of stepping up into contributing roles. This year’s squad has nine players with freshman eligibility – one redshirt (Jessica Pickett) and eight true freshmen. The incoming class includes two players who were AVCA High School All-Americans last year (Ava Helming, Second Team; Lilly Merk, Third Team) and three others who were First Team All-State honorees as high school seniors (Jordyn Gove, Drew Glaser, Kadence Brumitt).
Cracking the Record Books: There were a trio of edits to the program’s single-match record book last Friday following the Beacons’ matches against Miami and Cornell. Most notably, sophomore Mara Thomas delivered eight service aces – second-most in a match in program history and most in the rally-scoring era. As recently as two weeks ago Valpo’s previous high in the 25-point era by an individual was five service aces – freshman Lilly Merk surpassed that with a six-ace night against Northern Illinois Sept. 5 before Thomas’ performance.
Led by Thomas’ effort at the service line, the Beacons racked racked up 14 aces as a team against the Big Red – second-most by a Valpo team in the 25-point era. That came following a total of 80 digs in the match earlier Friday in the sweep of Miami- tied for fifth-most in a sweep in the 25-point era.
Moving Up the Charts: Junior Emma Hickey and senior Elise Swistek both continued their respective moves up Valpo’s career digs chart last weekend. Hickey vaulted into the top-10 in program history Friday night against Cornell, ending the weekend ninth all-time at Valpo with 1,557 career digs. On Saturday, Swistek cracked Valpo’s top-20 in career digs, finishing the win over Purdue Fort Wayne with 1,191 digs.
1,500 For Hickey: Emma Hickey reached yet another career milestone Sept. 7 with her final dig of the weekend at St. Thomas, as it was the 1,500th dig of her collegiate career. Hickey reached the mark in her 72nd career match, becoming the fastest player in both Valpo history and MVC history to hit 1,500. She surpassed Illinois State’s Courtney Pence, who reached the mark in 74 matches, as the fastest player in the MVC history to 1,500 career digs, and also bettered Rylee Cookerly and Taylor Root in Valpo’s record books, as both Cookerly and Root hit the mark in 76 matches.
The Rookies Produce: Valpo’s freshman class has stood out at the net through the season’s first three weekends. The Beacons’ rookies have accounted for 58.9% of the team’s kills and 73.1% of the team’s blocks over the first nine matches. Freshmen have combined for 10 matches with double-figure kill totals and seven matches with five or more blocks.
I’m About to Play My Ace: Through three weekends of competition, early returns indicate the service game might be more of a weapon for this year’s squad than in the program’s recent history. The Beacons have 71 aces through the season’s first nine matches, averaging 2.03 aces/set. To put the average into context, Valpo has not averaged more than 1.20 aces/set since the 2017 season, while its high in the 25-point era is 1.46 aces/set. Individually, Mara Thomas (8, Cornell) and Lilly Merk (6, Northern Illinois) have posted the program’s two highest individual single-match ace totals of the 25-point era.
All-Tournament Honors: Five different Beacons have combined for six All-Tournament Team accolades through the season’s first three weeks. Most recently, senior Elise Swistek and freshman Jessica Pickett represented Valpo on the Popcorn Classic All-Tournament Team. Swistek posted double-doubles in all three tournament matches, leading all players in digs in all three matches – including 27 in the sweep of Miami, a D-I high by a non-libero in a three-set match this season – and in kills in the Beacons’ two wins, averaging 3.80 kills/set and 6.60 digs/set for the weekend. Pickett stood out in the middle on both sides of the net, averaging 2.40 kills/set on .404 hitting and a team-best 1.50 blocks/set, highlighted by a career-high 11 kills on .500 hitting in the sweep of Miami and seven kills on just 12 swings and a match-high six blocks in the sweep of Purdue Fort Wayne.
Swistek’s honor was her second of the season, as she was joined by junior Sam Warren on the All-Tournament Team at the St. Thomas Invitational, while on opening weekend, junior Emma Hickey and freshman Ava Helming picked up All-Tournament honors at the IU Indy Hampton Inn Invitational.
Player of the Week: Junior Emma Hickey was tabbed the MVC Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time in her career following opening weekend for her performance at the IU Indy tournament. She averaged 5.42 digs/set and 1.58 assists/set over the three matches, while also committing just one service reception error on 65 chances. Hickey posted 34 digs – her eighth career 30+ dig match – and 11 assists in the season-opening win over SIUE.
Big Debuts: Valpo’s season-opening win over SIUE featured a number of standout collegiate debuts from the Beacons’ freshmen. Leading the way was Ava Helming, who debuted with 20 kills on .282 hitting – the most kills by a Valpo player in a match since Nov. 11, 2022. The 20 kills set a program record for kills by a freshman in her debut, and also is the high-water mark for any Valpo player in a season opener. Defensively, Jessica Pickett posted nine blocks – also a program record for blocks by a freshman in her debut and the highest total for any Valpo player in a season opener. Lilly Merk tallied 11 kills and Kadence Brumitt added 10 kills as well, marking the first time in program history three Valpo players have posted double-figure kills in their respective collegiate debuts in the same match.
Winning Ways: The 2023 squad secured a winning season with an early-November win over Bradley, extending the tradition of the program’s excellence. In 22 seasons under head coach Carin Avery, Valpo has posted a winning record 20 times. 18 of those times, the program has won at least 20 matches, and the team has averaged 22.2 wins per season in Avery’s tenure.
Top Half Finishes: The Beacons ended the 2023 regular season in a tie for fifth-place finish in the final MVC regular season standings. Valpo has now finished in the top-half of the Valley standings in each of its seven years in the conference, the only MVC program to accomplish that feat. Going back further, Valpo has posted top-half conference finishes in 21 of Avery’s 22 seasons – as well as qualifying for the conference tournament in each of her 22 seasons – and 30 of the last 31 years overall.
Postseason History: Last year’s at-large bid to the NIVC extended the program’s run of postseason appearances to three consecutive years and four of the last six seasons. Valpo’s history with the NIVC is highlighted by the program’s run to the title match in 2021, while its first NIVC trip in 2018 featured a trip to the quarterfinals. Previously, Valpo made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances with Avery at the helm from 2003 through 2005, while the program also appeared in an NCAA Tournament play-in match three straight years 1994-1996.
Digging Deep: Valpo continued its long tradition of strong back row play last fall, finishing 12th nationally with 17.17 digs/set. The program has ranked among the top-30 nationally in digs/set in each of the last 15 seasons, including 13 seasons among the top-20 and four seasons among the top-10 – highlighted by the 2017 campaign in which Valpo led the nation with 20.03 digs/set. Other top finishes include fourth nationally in the spring 2021 season (20.37/set), a fourth-place rank in 2010 and a sixth-place finish in 2015. Since the move to 25-point scoring, only seven teams have averaged more than 20 digs/set over the course of a season, and Valpo is the only program to have done it twice. 2018 saw Valpo lead the nation with 2,613 total digs – a mark which set a program single-season record and a Division I record in the 25-point era. Valpo also boasts two of the top-10 athletes in D-I history in career digs – Rylee Cookerly (2nd; 3,175) and Taylor Root (9th; 2,752).
Capturing Crowns: Valpo has had a penchant for winning in-season tournament titles under Carin Avery. The Beacons added yet another crown to the program’s trophy case last season as they claimed their home tournament, the Popcorn Classic. Valpo has won 34 in-season tournament titles in head coach Carin Avery’s 22 seasons at the helm of the program, winning at least one tournament in 17 of her seasons and multiple tournaments 11 times. Those tournament titles have come in 14 different states. While Valpo tied for the best record (2-1) at its season-opening tournament at IU Indy this year, Eastern Michigan earned the tournament title by virtue of the head-to-head victory.
Hickey Racks Up the Digs: Joining the long line of standout liberos at Valpo, junior Emma Hickey aims for a third straight season as one of the nation’s prolific liberos. Hickey, who became the fastest player in Valpo and MVC history to surpass 1,000 career digs last season, finished the year 15th nationally in digs/set after ranking fourth in the same category as a freshman in 2022. Hickey already ranks ninth in program history with 1,557 digs – 86 away from fifth position – and has tallied 452 more digs than any other D-I junior. She also leads all active D-I players with 5.46 career digs/set.
Swistek as a Senior: Valpo reloads its attack this year, as the Beacons graduated three of their four most prolific attackers in terms of kills/set from last year’s squad. Last year’s leader in that category does return, however, as senior outside Elise Swistek registered 2.43 kills/set to pace the Beacons and also ranked second on the team with 3.39 digs/set. Swistek became the 26th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career digs late last season and currently ranks 20th in program history with 1,191 digs, while with 753 career kills, she has a shot at potentially reaching 1,000 career kills as well.
VALPO MEN’S GOLF
DELISANTI WINS MEDALIST HONORS AT RAM MASTERS INVITATIONAL WITH RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE
Valparaiso University men’s golf senior Anthony Delisanti (Sanborn, N.Y. / Niagara Wheatfield) added yet another victory to his trophy case, establishing a new program record for 54-hole overall score en route to winning medalist honors at the 93-player Ram Masters Invitational, hosted by Colorado State at Fort Collins CC in Erie, Colo. this week.
How It Happened
Delisanti delivered a Round-3 score of 67 (-3) on Wednesday, closing out the 54-hole tournament with a 197 (-13). He beat Colorado State’s Jake Rodgers by four strokes for the top spot. Delisanti had four birdies in the final round, including a stretch of three straight on Holes 5, 6 and 7.
The team’s second-best third-round score came courtesy of Rodrigo Garcia Teruel (Puebla, Mexico / Modern Academy) at 72 (+2). He finished the tournament at 219 (+9), 66th overall.
The team’s second-best performer in terms of 54-hole score was Sam Booth (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel), who carded a 217 (+7) to place 58th including a 74 (+4) on Tuesday.
Host Colorado State won the event at 818 (-22). The Beacons were 11th of 16 in an incredibly tough field at 853 (+13) including a 286 (+6) in Round 3.
Inside the Tournament
Delisanti had the first sub-200 54-hole tournament score in program history. He beat his previous record in terms of 54-hole overall score by three strokes – a 200 at the 2023 MVC Championship.
Delisanti’s 54-hole score in relation to par of 13 under is tied for third in program history. Delisanti (2024 National Golf Invitational) and Caleb VanArragon (2023 Valpo Fall Invitational) share the program record, which is -15.
This marked Delisanti’s first tournament win since closing the 2023-24 campaign by capturing the National Golf Invitational crown.
Delisanti took medalist honors for the seventh time in his career.
The tournament win represented his 22nd career top-10 finish.
Dating back to last season, Delisanti has finished in the top five in five consecutive tournaments.
Thoughts from Head Coach Dave Gring
“We had another terrific day of weather and conditions for the final round of the tournament. We started on one of the toughest holes on the golf course, but we were able to make seven birdies in the first nine holes, along with a lot of pars. We finished the first nine holes as a team at even par. We made the turn to the back nine, but we played those first four holes at six over. We were able to get five birdies back in the middle of that back nine, but unfortunately, we gave four shots back on the final two holes.”
“Every tournament is quality experience for us and we had two of our starting five playing their second tournament for our team. We still need to get a lot better with our tee shots and getting ourselves in position to have high percentage iron shots into the greens. We missed a lot of fairways today and that led to a number of bogies and us scrambling around the golf course. We’re going to need to continue to work on our putting and allowing us more scoring opportunities in competition.”
“Anthony put in a lot of practice this summer and played in a lot of quality tournaments. He has been very meticulous with his preparation for both of these tournaments to start our season and his body of work thus far is exemplary. His putting was tremendous all three rounds, and he had a lot of shots close to the pin to put him in position to make birdie. Anthony made three birdies in three of his last five holes and that was huge, since his lead at that time was only one shot. Our team is thrilled for his individual victory and we’re already looking forward to our next tournament.”
Up Next
The Beacons will make their way back to Colorado for the Mark Simpson Colorado Invite beginning on Monday, Sept. 30 at Colorado National Golf Course in Erie, Colo. A link to live scoring will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.
UINDY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES 2024-25 SCHEDULE
INDIANAPOLIS – UIndy women’s basketball head coach Jama Sharp announced her 2024-25 schedule on Wednesday afternoon, including eight non-conference games and 20 GLVC bouts.
The schedule is split right down the middle in terms of home and away contests, with 14 games set for inside Nicoson Hall.
The Greyhounds will be battle tested right out of the gate with perennial DII powerhouse Ashland, which finished the 2023-24 campaign ranked eighth in the final WBCA national poll. The 2023 DII national champions have had the Greyhounds’ number as of late, but the programs have shared equal parts of the 40-game series at 20 wins apiece. The season opener is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.
UIndy has six in-region games on the non-con calendar, including five against Great Midwest members and one versus a GLIAC program. The Hounds visit Findlay and Walsh nearly one month apart at the end of the 2024 calendar year, meeting each opponent for the first time since 2016.
Another jam-packed league schedule is on the docket for UIndy this winter, opening the GLVC slate with Lewis on Monday, Dec. 2. The Greyhounds will then head to St. Louis for a weekend with Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville in early December.
Seventeen conference bouts remain once the calendar flips to 2025, including a four-game home stand right after the new year. UIndy visits new GLVC-member Lincoln on Jan. 30 in their first-ever meeting.
The final home game of the regular season is Thursday, Feb. 27 against Truman.
Special events such as Pack the House, Hall of Fame, and Senior Day will be announced at a later date.
MARIAN VOLLEYBALL
LYONS ECLIPSES 1000 CAREER DIGS AS MARIAN CAPTURES THRILLING REVERSE SWEEP OVER HUNTINGTON
INDIANAPOLIS – On a night where Emma Lyons recorded her 1000th career dig and broke her own single-match dig record, the Marian volleyball team earned a thrilling five-set reverse sweep over Huntington in the PE Center. Marian’s win gives them an overall record of 13-2 on the year, while they improve in the Crossroads League to 4-1.
In an evenly-matched battle between the Foresters and Knights, Marian found themselves playing from behind after two sets, as Huntington rattled off wins with scores of 25-18 and 25-23. Huntington built a 7-4 lead in the early stages of the first set, and expanded their lead to six over the next seven rallies, giving them command of the set. Marian was able rally within a point of the Foresters in the first set, but Huntington reclaimed their advantage of five points before rolling to the victory. The second set teetered back and forth for the duration of the game, with both teams answering the other’s offensive attack. Huntington saw a 20-16 lead erased late in the second set as Marian rallied on a 4-0 run, but the Knights were unable to hold their momentum, falling 25-23.
Trailing 0-2, the Knights started the third set motivated, as Khori Dryden and Gabby Fish willed Marian to an early 7-2 lead. Huntington would respond and tie the game at 10-10, however they were unable to capture the lead, as Madison Brooks pushed her team back in front with a pair of kills. Marian would only trail the opening point in the third set, leading the rest of the way as Fish, Brooks, and Evie Dart carried the Knights to a 25-22 win, getting the winning point on a Sarah Bennett kill.
The fourth set was a near mirror of the second, with both Marian and Huntington going round for round in the game, with neither team gaining a lead of more than four. Huntington pushed ahead first by building a 10-7 lead, which grew to four points over the next three rallies. A service error from Huntington killed their momentum and 12-8 lead, as the Knights slowly chipped away, eventually using a 4-0 run to take a 17-16 lead. Mikayla Christiansen was the catalyst in the run, getting a pair of blocks and kill that put her team in the lead. Both sides scored multiple 2-0 runs as the lead shifted back and forth, eventually landing with Marian in front by a 23-22 count. Dryden and Dart scored the final two points of the game for Marian, forcing a fifth set following the 25-23 win.
In the final game, Huntington controlled all the momentum in the first half of the set, as a string of three consecutive blocks fueled a 7-1 run that gave the Foresters a 9-4 lead. The two sides exchanged points as Huntington moved within five points of a win, but the 10-5 lead was not safe, as a service error by Huntington put the ball back in Emma Lyons hands for Marian. The junior libero started a strong serving run, putting Marian in control as kills from Christiansen and Forester errors quickly helped Marian tie the score at 10-10, forcing the second of Huntington’s timeouts. Marian continued the run after the stoppage as Lyons recorded a service ace, helping push Marian to a 14-10 lead as Bennett and Brooks were able to connect on kills from Sami Luttel. Huntington would break the rally with a pair of kills, but it was not enough to stop the Knights, as Christiansen buried her final attack of the match to win the fifth set 15-12, giving Marian the 3-2 win.
In the first set, Emma Lyons became Marian’s seventh player since 2008 to record her 1000th career dig, and finished the match with a career-best, breaking her own single-match dig record with 46 on the evening. Lyons nearly completed a double-double as she ended the night with nine assists. The junior also had one service ace.
Gabby Fish led the offense hitting .239 with a team-best 16 kills and eight digs. Madison Brooks finished the night with 11 kills, and Khori Dryden had 13 kills. Mikayla Christiansen worked through early match struggles and ended the night with 12 kills and 13 digs for a double-double, while posting six total blocks, including one solo. Sarah Bennett had six block assists in the win, and Sydney Schaffer had 16 digs in the back row. Emma Hirchak set a career-high 18 digs in the win, and Emerson Evans had a season-high 29 assists on the night. Sami Luttel finished with 19 assists for Marian.
Marian will look to add on to their win as their home stand continues on Saturday, with the Knights hosting Taylor at 1:00 p.m. in the PE Center.
MARIAN MEN’S SOCCER
EARLY GOAL BY GRANT PROPELS 5-0 WIN FOR THE KNIGHTS
ndianapolis, Ind. – The Marian men’s soccer team finished off conference season victorious over IU-East with a score of 5-0. The Knights are now 7-1-1 overall on the season.
Marian got on the board early with a goal by Foslyn Grant and assist from Phillip Seifert at the 13 second mark to claim the early 1-0 lead. The Knights spent the rest of the half ticking off five shots, one being on target. Kyle Alb led the first half in shots claiming four out of the eight. Most being headers off of corner kicks by Yoshiaki Takeishi.
The second half started similarly to the end of the first half with the Knights claiming three shots before Donovan Doolittle with the assist from Siefert was victorious increasing the lead 2-0 at the 59′ mark. Marian kept the goals coming in the second half with Cameron O’Brien with the assist from Grant claiming a goal nine minutes later. Sebastian Gonzalaz got the ball in the net with the assist from Takeishi. Evan Dawdy ended out the night with a goal at the 85′ mark with Keiji Nakamae claiming the assist to claim the 5-0 victory for Marian.
Marian led in shots 18-7 with 9-3 being on goal. Grant went 2-2 on the night while Alb went 4-1 and Siefert went 3-1. Siefert led in assists with two while, Takeishi, Grant, and Nakamae all claimed one each. In goal Henery Yoder gave up no goals and claimed three saves.
The Knights start conference play next Wednesday at home against Indiana Wesleyan starting at 7:00 p.m.
ROSE HULMAN WOMEN’S SOCCER
BRACE BY SCHULER LEADS ROSE-HULMAN WOMEN’S SOCCER TO FIRST WIN OF SEASON
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology women’s soccer team picked up their first win of 2024 with a 3-1 victory over Greenville on Wednesday night.
Greenville opened the scoring in the first half of action with a beautiful corner kick by Emma Cadwell, and Maddie Missie capitalized on the loose ball and tapped home her first goal of the season in the 11th minute.
The Fightin’ Engineers had chance after chance in the first half to level the score as they outshot Greenville 9-1, but the Panthers’ keeper was able to come up with four good saves to keep them off the board for 44 minutes and 59 seconds of the first half.
Sydnee Schuler opened the scoring with the first goal of the season for the Fightin’ Engineers as she buried a rebound off a shot from Alex Adams with just 1.3 seconds remaining in the first half to level the score, the latest first-half goal in school history for Rose-Hulman.
In the second half, Schuler bagged her brace in the 65th minute to give Rose-Hulman their first lead of the season on a beautiful ball into the box by Adams for her first assist of the year.
Then, in the 82nd minute, Kyra Hicks struck one with her left boot and found the bottom corner of the net off an assist from Katie Choi to put the lead out of reach with the 3-1 victory.
In goal, Lily Doré came up with three saves and several other great defensive plays to collect crosses to help lead Rose-Hulman to their first win of the year.
Rose-Hulman will look to build on this momentum on Saturday afternoon when they host the #1 team in the country, WashU, at 1:30 PM.
WABASH MEN’S SOCCER
SECOND-HALF GOAL SENDS ENDS IN FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON FOR WABASH
CRAWFORDSVILLE, Indiana – A goal in the 64th minute snapped a five-match winning streak by the Wabash College soccer team. The host Little Giants lost a 1-0 contest to the visitors from Hanover College at Fischer Field Wednesday evening.
The loss dropped Wabash’s record to 5-1-0 overall, while Hanover improved to 2-3-2 for the year.
Wabash pressed the attack throughout the match but could not penetrate the stingy Hanover defense with a final touch to score. The Little Giants matched Hanover with nine total shots but managed just one shot on goal by Emilio Paez, with that attempt coming in the second period.
Hanover took advantage of a restart in front of the Wabash bench in the 64th minute. Patricio Campos took the free kick and found Andrew Beck for his first goal of the season and the eventual game-winner. The Panthers finished the night with three shots on goal.
Fernando Ramos made two saves in goal for the Little Giants.
Wabash travels to Michigan to play Hope College and the University of Olivet this weekend.
TAYLOR VOLLEYBALL
IEREMIA PRODUCES BIG AS TROJANS DROP HOME MATCH
UPLAND, Ind. – Another strong night from senior middle hitter Grace Ieremia could not push Taylor over the hump Wednesday evening as it fell to Spring Arbor (8-6, 2-3 CL) in four sets.
The Trojans started the night on the right foot with back-to-back kills by Ieremia, both of which were set up by Lindsay Springer.
TU actively kept the ball alive throughout the opening frame, as six players notched at least two digs by the first set’s end, led by Jen Springer’s five digs. From there, Taylor did enough on the offensive end with 13 kills on a .189 percentage to take a 1-0 lead with its 25-21 win.
Five kills from five separate Trojans helped TU open an 8-4 lead in set number two, but the Cougars roared back with an 18-2 run as they evened the match at one set apiece.
The game’s third set saw competitive action from both teams, with Reagan Kleiman and Reagan Salzbrenner going to work for Taylor as the hosts opened a 15-13 lead. SAU came back to gain the advantage in the match, though, and it stayed hot by beginning the fourth frame on a 6-0 run.
The Trojans mounted a comeback and were able to cut the deficit to two points in that fourth set, but it was too steep a hill to climb as they fell 25-22 to close the match.
Ieremia totaled 11 kills against just one error for a .455 hitting percentage, while Kleiman and Jaylynn Dunsmore added 10 kills apiece. Aiding TU’s attack, Lindsay Springer raised her assists-per-set average on the season with a match-high 44 assists.
McKaylah Flagle led the Trojans’ defense, which had 70 digs compared to the Cougars’ 60, with a match-high 20 digs, followed by 12 from Lindsay Springer and 10 from Jen Springer.
Both sides had strong nights defending at the net with 20 total blocks between the teams. TU had nine blocks on 18 block assists, 11 of which came from the tandem of Ieremia and Lindsay Springer.
Taylor (6-11, 1-4 CL) will look to snap its four-match slide when it travels to play No. 22 Marian (13-2, 4-1) at a time yet to be determined.
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEBSITES
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/
HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
10 – 42 – 17 – 7 – 20 – 40 – 24 – 25 – 5 – 47 – 3 – 21 – 80 – 36
September 19, 1931 – Lefty Grove, Number 10 of the Philadelphia Athletics, won his 30th game of the season over the Chicago White Sox, by the score of 2-1
September 19, 1947 – Number 42, Jackie Robinson is named 1947 “Rookie of the Year”
September 19, 1955 – Chicago Cubs slugger Ernie Banks, Number 14 hit a record 5th grand slam of the season
September 19, 1968 – Number 17, of the Detroit Tigers Denny McLain earned his 31st win of the season, and Number 7, Mickey Mantle’s 535th HR of his career from a McLain pitch as the Tigers walloped the Yankees 6-2
September 19, 1973 – Frank Robinson, Number 20 of the California Angels, homered in a record 32nd major league ballpark – Arlington Stadium (Arlington, Texas), against the Rangers
September 19, 1986 – Chicago White Sox Joe Cowley, wearing Number 40 tossed a no-hitter against the California Angels, in a 7-1 ChiSox triumph
September 19, 1992 – Barry Bonds wearing the Number 24 of the Pittsburgh Pirates joined his Godfather Number 25 Willie Mays, Howard Johnson (Number 20) , and Ron Gant (Number 5) as having (2) 30-HR/30-steal MLB seasons
September 19, 1993 – Tom Glavine, Number 47 wins 20 games in 3 straight years
September 19, 1993 – San Diego Chargers’ kicker John Carney, Number 3 boots 6 field goals in an 18-17 win over Houston to set a new NFL record with 29 consecutive field goals made
September 19, 1995 – San Diego Padres Ken Caminiti, Number 21 switch hits HRs in the 3rd of 4 games
September 19, 2000 – Ken Griffey Jr., Number 24 pinch-hits his 400th home run becoming the first major league player to reach the mark as a pinch-hitter
September 19, 2004 – NFL Oakland Raider wide receiver Jerry Rice, Number 80 ends NFL streak of 274 consecutive games with a reception in a 13-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills
September 19, 2008 – Greg Maddux, Number 36 of the LA Dodgers, pitched his 5,000th career inning against the San Francisco Giants
September 19, 2017 – New MLB record for most home runs in a season was established when the 5,694th bomb of the season was sent into orbit off of the bat of Rookie Alex Gordon, Number 7 of the Kansas City Royals
FOOTBALL HISTORY
September 19, 1982 – The first time the New Orleans Saints posted a road shutout occurred. The scoreless opponent was the Chicago Bears on this date when the Saints blanked the Bears 10-0.
September 19, 1993 – John Carney the kicker for the San Diego Chargers sets an NFL record with 29 consecutive field goals. He achieved this in spectacular fashion and the place kicker drilled 6 field goals on this day in a game against the Houston Oiler for an 18-17 Chargers victory!
HOF Birthdays
September 19, 1873 – Sam Brinck Thorne a halfback that played for Yale University in 1893, 1894 and 1895. As a senior in 1895 he was voted as an All-American. Brinck’s final game as a Bulldog was against Princeton and Thorne led Yale to a 20-10 victory over their rivals by scoring two touchdowns, setting up another and kicking the conversion points. During his 3 seasons playing for Yale the team had a record of 39-1-2 and outscored their opponents 1137-63. He returned to Yale after graduation in 1896 to serve as the team’s coach and helped them achieve a 13-1 record. Brinck was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970.
More Hall of Fame Birthdays
September 19, 1919 – Mike Holovak a fullback from Boston College. Fordham Head Coach Frank Leahy noticed Mike Holovak while Leahy was observing the coach opposing Holovak’s high school squad in a guy by the name of Vince Lombardi. A month later Leahy left Fordham to take up the position of leading the Boston College football team. Leahy didn’t forget about Holovak’s strong play and recruited him to attend BC and play for the Eagles. As a sophomore Mike contributed to the Eagles rushing attack as well as being a key piece on the defense too. Holovak scored twice in big situations for Boston College that season; once in a 19-18 victory over Georgetown University and then again in the Sugar Bowl as the Eagles upset a strong Tennessee squad 19-13. As a senior he became a consensus All-American and finished second in total rushing yards in the nation. Holovak’s performance in the 1942 Sugar Bowl was phenomenal as he averaged 15.0 yards per carry and scored 3 touchdowns. Mike served in the Navy during World War II and after the war he played in the NFL for the LA Rams and the Chicago Bears. Holovak returned to Boston College in 1951 to become the Eagle’s head coach and he stayed in that position through the 1959 season. He moved into professional coaching ranks a couple years later as he headed the New England Patriots from 1961 through 1968 and then was the General Manager of the Houston Oilers for a period of time. The National Football Foundation selected him into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
September 19, 1921 – Charlie Conerly a former halfback from Mississippi. He was referred to as ‘Chuck’n Charlie” as he was an active passer from the tailback position. Charlie played the 1942 season at Mississippi and then spent a few years serving in the U.S. Marines fighting in the South Pacific during World War II. Chuck’n Charlie returned to Ole Miss after the war and ended up leading the nation in pass completions at 133. Conerly had 18 TD passes mixed in those 133 completions and added nine more with his legs for the Rebels. Charlie was voted as a consensus All-American and was selected as the Player of the Year by the Helms Foundation. Conerly played 14 years with the NY Giants as their quarterback and was voted the league’s MVP in 1959. Charlie Conerly was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966’s induction ceremonies.
September 19, 1930 – Don Heinrich was a quarterback from the University of Washington who played for the Huskies in the 1949, 1950 & 1952 seasons. He missed the 1951 season due to an injury. Heinrich led the nation in passing in both 1950 and 1952 and was selected as an All-American in each of those seasons. After school Don served in the U.S. Army for almost two years before joining the New York Giants where he played for 6 seasons. The last couple of years that he played in the NFL were spent on the rosters of the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders. The National Football Foundation selected Don Heinrich to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
September 19, 1957 – Dan “Danimal” Hampton was a defensive lineman out of the University of Arkansas. Dan Hampton was the fourth overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He was versatile and played both defensive tackle and defensive end for the Bears and was elected to four Pro Bowls and was named a first or second team All-Pro at both defensive line positions. Danimal was part of the Chicago Championship defense that won Super Bowl XX, and in that game he registered two tackles and one sack for 10 yards against the Patriots in the 46-10 romp. That 1985 Bears defense has gone down in history as one of the best ever assembled to play the game. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2002.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
Sept. 19
1925 — Ted Lyons lost his bid for a no-hitter when Bobby Veach singled with two outs in the ninth inning. The Chicago White Sox routed the Washington Senators 17-0.
1926 — The St. Louis Cardinals pounded the Philadelphia Phillies 23-3 in the first game of a doubleheader and beat them again in the nightcap, 10-2.
1949 — Ralph Kiner of the Pittsburgh Pirates became the first NL player to hit 50 home runs in two different seasons.
1955 — Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs set a major league record with his fifth grand slam of the season in a 12-inning, 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
1968 — Denny McLain won his 31st game, the most in the AL since Lefty Grove’s 31 in 1931. The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees 6-2 while Mickey Mantle hit his 535th and next-to-last career homer.
1972 — Minnesota’s Cesar Tovar completed the cycle with a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Twins a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.
1973 — Frank Robinson hit his first home run in Arlington Stadium, as a member of the California Angels. It was the 32nd major league ballpark in which he had homered.
1984 — Pete Rose reached the 100-hit plateau for the 22nd consecutive year, an all-time record. He also tied the NL record for doubles with 725 as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2.
1986 — Chicago’s Joe Crowley pitch a no-hitter to lead the White Sox to a 7-1 win over the California Angels.
1995 — San Diego’s Ken Caminiti became the first player in major league history to homer from both sides of the plate three times in a season as he went 4-for-4 with a career-high eight RBIs in a 15-4 win over Colorado.
1998 — Seattle’s Alex Rodriguez hit his 40th homer to become the third player in baseball history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season.
2001 — Roger Clemens became the first pitcher in major league history to go 20-1, pitching the New York Yankees to a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
2001 — Albert Pujols set a National League rookie RBI record as St. Louis beat Milwaukee 8-2. Pujols drove in three runs to give him 120 RBIs, breaking the mark of 119 set by Wally Berger in 1930 for the Boston Braves.
2008 — Baseball’s instant replay system produced its first reversal when Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena had a two-run double changed to a three-run homer during the fourth inning against Minnesota.
2008 — Greg Maddox pitches his 5,000th inning against the San Francisco Giants.
2011 — Mariano Rivera set the major league record with his 602nd save, closing out the New York Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins.
2017 — A new MLB record for the most home runs in a season, 5,694, is set when Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals homers.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
Sept. 19
1925 — Bill Tilden wins his sixth straight U.S. Open tennis championship with a five-set victory over Bill Johnston. Tilden wins 4-6, 11-9, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. It’s the fourth consecutive year that Tilden beats Johnston in the final.
1942 — Alsab, runner-up in the 1942 Kentucky Derby, beats 3-10 favorite Whirlaway, the 1941 Triple Crown champion, by a nose in a $25,000 match race at Narragansett Park. Alsab and Whirlaway meet twice more in 1942, with Whirlaway winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct.3, and Alsab taking the New York Handicap on Oct. 10.
1948 — Pancho Gonzales, 20, wins the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association title with a 6-2, 6-3, 14-12 victory over Eric Sturgess.
1951 — Ford C. Frick, president of the National League, is elected baseball commissioner by the team owners.
1985 — Minnesota’s Tommy Kramer passes for 436 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings’ 33-24 loss to the Chicago Bears.
1988 — U.S. Olympic diver Greg Louganis hits his head on diving board at the Seoul Olympics. Louganis hits the board on his ninth dive. He has four temporary stitches put in the top of his head so that he could come back and perform his last two dives. Less than 30 minutes later, he completes a reverse 1 1/2 somersault with 3 1/2 twists and, in the final round, a reverse 3 1/2 somersault in tuck position to secure his place in the medal round.
1992 — Sergei Bubka raises the world record in the pole vault, his 32nd world record, clearing 20 feet, 1½ inches in the Toto International at Tokyo.
1992 — Barry Bonds joins Willie Mays, Howard Johnson & Ron Gant as having (2) 30-HR/30-steal MLB seasons.
1993 — Nigel Mansell overpowers the field in the Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix to become the first rookie to win the Indy car PPG Cup championship.
2000 — In the Sydney Olympics, the U.S. softball team strands a staggering 20 baserunners in an 11-inning, 2-1 loss to Japan, which ends a 112-game winning streak. It’s the first loss for the Americans since the 1998 world championships.
2000 — Ken Griffey Jr. pinch-hits his 400th home run becoming the first major league player to reach the mark as a pinch-hitter.
2001 — Roger Clemens becomes the first pitcher in major league history to go 20-1, pitching the New York Yankees to a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
2004 — Jerry Rice’s run of 274 straight games with a catch is ended in the Oakland Raiders’ 13-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The last time Rice didn’t catch a pass was Dec. 1, 1985, at Washington.
2008 — Greg Maddox pitches his 5,000th career inning against the San Francisco Giants.
2009 — Texas College of the NAIA is trounced 75-6 by Texas Southern, a week after losing 92-0 to Stephen F. Austin. The Steers fall to 0-4 and have been outscored 300-12.
2010 — Matt Schaub is 38 of 52 for a franchise-record 497 yards with three touchdowns in Houston’s 30-27 overtime win over Washington. Donovan McNabb of the Redskins is 28 of 38 for 426 yards. It’s the first time two quarterbacks throw for 400 yards in an NFL game since 1994.
2015 — Greyson Lambert of Georgia throws for 330 yards, three touchdowns and sets an NCAA record by completing all but one of his 25 passes to lead the to a 52-20 victory over South Carolina. Lambert posts the highest percentage (96.0) in FBS history for a minimum of 20 completions, breaking the mark of 95.8 (23 of 24) shared by Tennessee’s Tee Martin and West Virginia’s Geno Smith.
2015 — Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma, sets a school record with 572 total yards, throws four TD passes and runs for two more scores in the Sooners’ 52-38 victory over Tulsa.
2017 — A new MLB record for the most home runs in a season as number 5,694 is hit by Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals.
TV SPORTS THURSDAY
| NFL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| New England at NY Jets | 8:15pm | Prime |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| San Francisco at Baltimore | 1:05pm | MLBN NBCS-BAY MASN2 |
| Minnesota at Cleveland | 1:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports North Bally Sports Great Lakes |
| Atlanta at Cinncinati | 1:10pm | Bally Sports South Bally Sports Ohio |
| Toronto at Texas | 2:35pm | Sportsnet Bally Sports Southwest |
| NY Yankees at Seattle | 4:10pm | Prime ROOT |
| LA Dodgers at Miami | 4:40pm | SNLA Bally Sports Florida |
| Boston at Tampa Bay | 6:50pm | NESN Bally Sports Sun |
| Arizona at Milwaukee | 7:15pm | FOX YurView Rockies.TV |
| Philadelphia at NY Mets | 7:15pm | FOX NBCS-PHI SNY |
| Pittsburgh at St. Louis | 7:15pm | ATTSN-PIT Bally Sports Midwest |
| Washington at Chi. Cubs | 7:40pm | MASN SNY |
| LA Angels at Houston | 8:10pm | Bally Sports West CHN |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| South Alabama at Appalachian State | 7:30pm | ESPN |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Chicago vs Connecticut | 7:00pm | The U NBCS-BOS |
| Atlanta vs New York | 7:00pm | NBATV PeachtreeTV My9 |
| Indiana vs Washington | 7:00pm | MNMT WTHR 13 |
| Los Angeles vs Minnesota | 8:00pm | Spectrum Bally Sports North Extra |
| Dallas vs Las Vegas | 10:00pm | SSSEN Bally Sports Southwest |
| Seattle vs Phoenix | 10:00pm | Prime-Seattle AFSN |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| ARCA: Bush’s Beans 200 | 5:00pm | FS1 |
| NASCAR Truck: UNOH 200 | 8:00pm | FS1 |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| DP World: BMW PGA Championship | 7:00am | GOLF |
| LPGA: Kroger Queen City Championship | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| UEFA Champions League: Crvena Zvezda vs Benfica | 12:45pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Champions League: Feyenoord vs Bayer Leverkusen | 12:45pm | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Leganés vs Athletic Club | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UEFA Champions League: Atalanta vs Arsenal | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Champions League: Monaco vs Barcelona | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Champions League: Atlético Madrid vs RB Leipzig | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| UEFA Champions League: Brest vs Sturm Graz | 3:00pm | Paramount+ |
| CONCACAF W Champions Cup: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs Monterrey | 7:00pm | CBSSN Fubo |
| CONCACAF W Champions Cup: América vs Santa Fe FC | 9:00pm | Paramount+ |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Seoul: WTA, Hua Hin: WTA & Hangzhou: ATP Early Rounds | 6:00am | TENNIS |