College category, Page 56
Navy long-snapper, Penn-Trafford grad Michael Pifer garners attention, honors former POW
There’s something about being a long-snapper that just fits for Michael Pifer. The precision. The repetition. The search for perfection with every special teams snap. An added perk is anonymity. That is, until a mistake is made. “There’s so much repetition, but you’re trying to find little flaws and correct...
Louisiana Tech shuts out Miami in Independence BowlVideo
SHREVEPORT, La. — That “bridge to 2020,” to which Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz referred heading into the Independence Bowl, hopefully, for the Hurricanes’ sake, has been obliterated and is under construction. Diaz thought the Hurricanes had “one more really good performance” in them, but reality said the opposite Thursday...
Quarterbacks for Clemson, Ohio State are ‘future of the NFL’Video
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence went to high school about 20 miles from each other in the suburbs northwest of Atlanta. They have worked out since middle school with the same quarterback trainer, a former Pac-12 QB and full-time firefighter who is more respected than known in...
Sooners count on experience, speed to put brakes on LSU’s top-rated offenseVideo
ATLANTA — Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray knows the Sooners defense is preparing for its toughest challenge of the season and believes experience on the national stage will be a big factor. No. 1 LSU (13-0) enters the College Football Playoff semifinal in Saturday’s Peach Bowl leading the nation in yards...
No. 1 LSU could be without top rusher for semifinal vs. OklahomaVideo
ATLANTA — Top-ranked LSU’s leading rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire is off crutches but still might miss Saturday’s Peach Bowl playoff semifinal against No. 4 Oklahoma. The Sooners, meanwhile, will be missing starting defensive end Ronnie Perkins and two backups because of suspensions. Edwards-Helaire suffered a hamstring injury in practice last week....
Gonzaga becomes season’s 6th team to hit No. 1 in AP Top 25
Gonzaga is the latest No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll that has had no stability on the top line. The Bulldogs moved up a spot to take over for Kansas, which lasted only a week at No. 1 before losing at now-No. 10 Villanova....
Pine-Richland product, ex-Pitt QB Ben DiNucci leads James Madison to FCS title gameVideo
HARRISONBURG, Va. — Ben DiNucci and James Madison didn’t want to leave anything to chance. A week after their high-scoring offense was limited to 17 points, the Dukes got that on their first three possession Saturday night in a 30-14 victory against Weber State that puts them in the Football...
Stanford sweeps Wisconsin in Pittsburgh to win NCAA women’s volleyball titleVideo
The NCAA women’s volleyball world had no answer for Stanford outside hitter Kathryn Plummer. Now, it won’t need one. Plummer finished off her Cardinal career Saturday night, hammering 22 kills to lead Stanford past Wisconsin, 25-16, 25-17, 25-20, in the championship match. The championship was the second straight for Plummer...
North Central (Ill.) routs Wisconsin-Whitewater to win Division III titleVideo
SHENENDOAH, Texas (AP) — North Central of Illinois made the most of its first trip to the NCAA Division III championship game, starting fast and never looking back. Ethan Greenfield ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns, Broc Rutter threw for 263 yards and two scores and North Central routed...
Stawovy, Gabauer trying to boost fortunes of West Virginia Wesleyan women’s basketball
Though they are the same age, attended high school 11 miles apart and sometimes competed against each other, Brittany Stawovy (Greensburg Central Catholic) and Abi Gabauer (Norwin) were acquainted only by reputation. That doesn’t mean they didn’t develop a bit of a rivalry. “We used to read about each other...
Penn Hills grad Stephens hoping JUCO route leads to more Division-I basketball opportunities
During his senior season, Daivon Stephens led the Penn Hills boys basketball team to the 2018 WPIAL Class 6A title, the program’s first title since 2003. Stephens’ performance earned him an offer from Eastern Michigan, where he later committed to attend last season. After getting minimal playing time at Eastern...
Penn Hills grad Hollis Mathis makes impact as freshman at William & Mary
Heading into his freshman season at William & Mary, Hollis Mathis wasn’t sure how his game would translate to the collegiate level. A record-setting season provided answers to his doubts. Mathis, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound quarterback, threw for 976 yards and four touchdowns for William & Mary (5-7, 3-5) this season....
Defending champ Stanford, Wisconsin reach NCAA volleyball finals
Kathryn Plummer had 26 kills and defending champion Stanford swept Minnesota, 25-19, 25-22, 25-22, on Thursday night to reach the NCAA women’s volleyball final. Stanford (29-4) will face Wisconsin on Saturday night, seeking its third title in four years and ninth overall. The Cardinal also beat the Gophers (27-6) in...
LSU’s offense, Georgia’s defense makes SEC title game contrast in stylesVideo
ATLANTA — LSU is perfectly comfortable in an offensive shootout, throwing caution to the wind and lighting up the scoreboard with big play after big play. Georgia would prefer a defensive quagmire, the sort of knock-‘em-back stalemate that puts a premium on old-school concepts like field position and turnovers. In...
Clemson wants to prove its playoff-worthy in ACC title gameVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is happy his players finally can prove they are a championship-caliber team. The third-ranked Tigers (12-0, No. 3 CFP) take on No. 22 Virginia (9-3, No. 23 CFP) for the ACC championship Saturday night, knowing a win cements their fifth consecutive appearance in...
All eyes on No. 5 Utah in Pac-12 title game against OregonVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Pac-12 championship game largely has been an afterthought for the rest of the country the past two seasons with the conference mostly out of contention when it comes to the all-important College Football Playoff. That will be far from the case this year when there...
Ohio State QB Justin Fields will go ’60 minutes’ in Big Ten championship gameVideo
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The first real hero moment for Justin Fields came in the third quarter last Saturday, a display of toughness destined to live in the lore of the Ohio State-Michigan game. The first-year starter who had led the Buckeyes to a perfect record went down and couldn’t get...
Similar paths for coaches at Clemson, VirginiaVideo
CLEMSON, S.C. — Bronco Mendenhall only had said a few words and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney realized the new Virginia coach was more than a colleague. This was someone who understood how to lead a team to success. Mendenhall and the 22nd-ranked Cavaliers (9-3, No. 23 College Football Playoff) will square...
Clemson’s Travis Etienne earns ACC player of year honorVideo
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Clemson running back Travis Etienne once again is the ACC’s player of the year, and North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell is the league’s top rookie. The ACC on Wednesday announced its individual awards as determined by a panel of 46 media members and 14 coaches. Etienne also...
Former role players in SEC title game spotlight for GeorgiaVideo
ATHENS, Ga. — Tyler Simmons’ role as the senior leader of No. 4 Georgia’s wide receivers has never been more important. The Bulldogs lost top receiver Lawrence Cager after ankle surgery. The depth at the position took another blow when freshman George Pickens, who shares the team lead in receptions...
Don’t overlook Clemson, Virginia defenses in ACC championship gameVideo
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The offenses deservedly are getting a lot of attention heading into Saturday night’s clash between Clemson and Virginia in the ACC championship game. But the defenses shouldn’t be overlooked. They are among the conference’s best and will play a role in who walks off the field with...
Undersized Marquette star Markus Howard finds ways to dominate
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Markus Howard continues to find ways to dominate basketball games despite his undersized stature. The 5-foot-11 Marquette preseason All-American and reigning Big East player of the year leads the nation in scoring at 26 points a game. “We need Markus to be the player and...
Louisville is new No. 1 in AP poll; unranked Michigan goes to No. 4
Louisville is the latest No. 1 following an unexpected loss by Duke. Michigan has matched a record by debuting at No. 4. A season of parity is taking a toll in the AP Top 25. Louisville became the fourth team in five weeks to claim the top spot, receiving 48...
Ohio State beats Michigan for record run
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ohio State has turned what is known as The Game into Its Game, making one of the greatest rivalries in sports a one-sided series with little suspense. Chasing a national championship, not simply beating the Wolverines, is how the Buckeyes measure a successful season. And under...
Franklin Regional grad Todd Summers catching on with Villanova football
His first reception for Franklin Regional went for a touchdown. So did his first two at Villanova. Todd Summers knows a few things about making a strong initial impression, but those events pale in comparison to what first-year Villanova offensive coordinator Chris Boden thought when he first saw the redshirt...
