Sports category, Page 704
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang’s record-setting game was ‘pretty cool’
Alex Letang didn’t necessarily get to see his father, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, make history on Wednesday night. But he certainly had quite a reaction Thursday morning. “He goes to bed before the end of the game,” Kris Letang said of his adolescent son. “The first thing he did,...
Thomas Castellanos’ 2 fourth-quarter TDs lift BC over No. 17 SMU in Fenway Bowl
BOSTON — Thomas Castellanos had two fourth-quarter touchdown runs and Boston College beat No. 17 SMU, 23-14, on Thursday in the Fenway Bowl at the home of the Boston Red Sox, snapping the Mustangs’ nine-game winning streak. Castellanos rushed for 155 yards and completed 11-of-18 passes for 102 yards. Ky...
Mark Madden: Hines Ward had intangibles, but his stats just aren’t Hall of Fame worthy
Hines Ward, in his eighth year of eligibility, will once again not make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s not yet even been a finalist. This isn’t an outrage, nor would it be outrageous if Ward made it. The former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout defines being borderline. Three receivers are...
Penn State edge rusher Adisa Isaac declares for the NFL Draft
ATLANTA — On Wednesday night, Adisa Isaac declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. On Thursday morning, the star Penn State defensive end explained why. “There’s been a lot of thoughts with family and with coaches. I felt like it was time,” Isaac said, two days before the Peach Bowl. “I...
Tim Benz: Tristan Jarry’s ‘key saves at key times’ turned a potential shootout into a Penguins rout
It’s not often a goaltender’s shutout gets lost in the mix during a hockey game. But given how the Penguins’ 7-0 romp over the New York Islanders took place Wednesday, you can see how Tristan Jarry’s name may have been buried a bit in the headlines. • The Penguins managed...
U mad, bro?: Readers want more rah, rah, rah for Steelers, their defense, Mike Tomlin
According to Steelers fans in my email, I completely messed up by forgetting to wish for something I sorely needed at Christmas: a pair of Black and Gold pom-poms. Because based on the tone of some of the interactions I got this week, you’d prefer I cheerlead instead of giving...
First Call: James Harrison, Hines Ward snubbed for Hall of Fame again; did Mason Rudolph jab Big Ben?
Thursday’s “First Call” has some unfortunate news for Steelers Super Bowl heroes James Harrison and Hines Ward. There are some key injury updates for the Seahawks as they prepare to play the Steelers on Sunday. Ex-Steeler Devin Bush could start against his old club. Mason Rudolph appears to take a...
Oklahoma State receivers torch short-handed Texas A&M in Texas Bowl
HOUSTON — Rashod Owens had a career-high 164 yards receiving with two touchdowns and Brennan Presley tied a school record with 16 receptions and had 152 yards receiving in No. 22 Oklahoma State’s 31-23 victory over Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night. Ollie Gordon II, the Doak...
Behind 6 TD passes from new starter Miller Moss, USC beats Louisville in Holiday Bowl
SAN DIEGO — With Caleb Williams watching from the sideline, Miller Moss threw a Holiday Bowl-record six touchdown passes in his first college start and Southern California ended a frustrating season by beating No. 16 Louisville, 42-28, Wednesday night. Moss took full advantage of the opportunity he was given when...
Lincoln Park steps into spotlight, tops North Catholic at Pittsburgh Holiday Hoops Classic
In the finale of a festive day at the Pittsburgh Holiday Hoops Classic inside PPG Paints Arena, the Lincoln Park Leopards dominated the North Catholic Trojans en route to a 72-58 win. Coming home from a national tournament in Oregon that saw Lincoln Park go 2-2, the Leopards were in...
Minor league report: Penguins dropped by BearsVideo
Goaltender Magnus Hellberg made 33 saves on 36 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-1 road loss to the rival Hershey Bears at the Giant Center in Hershey on Wednesday. The result dropped Hellberg’s record to 5-5-0 while forward Austin Rueschhoff scored the lone goal for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (15-11-3-0). Highlights:...
Mike Collodi resigns as Mt. Lebanon football coach after 1 season
Less than a year after becoming Mt. Lebanon’s football coach, Mike Collodi is reluctantly stepping down. He resigned Wednesday after one season, largely, he said, because he saw no path to a teaching job in the district. “When I took the program over, I had a vision of how to...
Defenseman Kris Letang has historic night as Penguins rout Islanders
The Pittsburgh Penguins emerged from the NHL’s three-day break for the holidays with a rollicking 7-0 triumph against the normally defensively stout New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Wednesday. Penguins defenseman Kris Letang spearheaded the onslaught with six assists and became the first defenseman in the history of the...
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent has arthroscopic knee surgery, out for at least 2 months
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent will be out for at least two more months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The Lakers announced Vincent had the surgery Wednesday. He will be re-evaluated by team doctors in eight weeks. Vincent has appeared in only...
Logan Golle’s buzzer-beater lifts Allderdice past Fox Chapel in PPG Paints Arena thriller
Less than two seconds hung on the scoreboard as Allderdice set up for an inbounds play and one final heave. Not only did the Dragons get the pass to their streaking star, but Logan Golle rose up to hit a deep prayer that rattled around the rim and left the...
Garrett Greene helps West Virginia beat North Carolina 30-10 in the Duke’s Mayo BowlVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Garrett Greene threw for 204 yards and a touchdown, Beanie Bishop Jr. returned a punt 78 yards for a score and West Virginia closed a season in which it exceeded expectations with a 30-10 victory over North Carolina on Wednesday night in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Traylon...
Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander suspended 1 game for actions during coin toss at Carolina
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been suspended by the team for Sunday night’s must-win showdown against Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings. The decision stems from, but wasn’t limited to, Alexander appointing himself a captain for the Packers’ 33-30 Christmas Eve win at Carolina....
Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates headline 15-player finalists for Pro Football Hall of FameVideo
First-time candidates Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates joined nine returning finalists who advanced to the final stage of voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. Peppers and Gates were announced Wednesday as finalists in their first year of eligibility. They will be joined on the 15-player...
Broncos bench QB Russell Wilson and will turn to Jarrett Stidham, AP source saysVideo
The Denver Broncos are benching quarterback Russell Wilson in a move that could have major ramifications for his future and theirs. Although the move keeps open the team’s options next year and, ultimately, could save the Broncos $37 million, coach Sean Payton on Wednesday called the switch to journeyman Jarrett...
Joe Flacco faces Jets, his former team, with chance to push surging Browns into AFC playoffsVideo
CLEVELAND — Joe Flacco’s short stint with the Cleveland Browns has been stunning, storybook, almost unbelievable. Like everyone else, the New York Jets have watched him from afar and maybe wondered what might have been. On Thursday night, Flacco, who in just over a month has revived his career while...
Injured safety Minkah Fitzpatrick sits out practice again for Steelers
The practice week didn’t get off to a good start for free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who did not participate Wednesday as the Pittsburgh Steelers began on-field preparations for their game Sunday at Seattle. Fitzpatrick missed the Steelers’ 34-11 victory against Cincinnati with a knee injury he sustained a week earlier...
Drones leads Virginia Tech to 41-20 win over No. 23 Tulane in Military Bowl
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Kyron Drones ran for 176 yards and a touchdown and also threw for two TDs as Virginia Tech withstood a second-half downpour to beat No. 23 Tulane 41-20 in the Military Bowl on Wednesday. Drones fumbled three times in the slippery conditions, but the Hokies (7-6) lost...
Until Steelers came calling in spring, Mason Rudolph was serious about changing career fields
Mason Rudolph wasn’t kidding when he said he was ready to pursue a career in commercial real estate if he hadn’t gotten a spot on an NFL roster this season. Rudolph made the revelation after he led the Steelers to a 34-11 victory last Saturday against Cincinnati in his first...
Dodgers announce signing of Yoshinobu Yamamoto to 12-year, $325 million deal
LOS ANGELES — It’s official: Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a Dodger. The team announced the signing of the Japanese right-hander to a 12-year, $325-million contract on Wednesday. Two weeks after securing two-way star Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700-million deal, the Dodgers beat out at least a dozen other clubs that...
Kenny Pickett believes he’s physically ready to return but defers to Steelers’ trainers, coaches
Three-and-a-half weeks after undergoing ankle surgery, Kenny Pickett’s right foot has — to a degree — returned to normal. Now, it’s the festering feeling of anxiousness and anticipation that seems to be hindering the Pittsburgh Steelers second-year quarterback. “It’s obvious,” Pickett said Wednesday. “Any competitor wants to get in there...
