Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

Track and field

'Still the best': Bolt outruns Dix in 200 final

DAEGU, South Korea — Even with the 200 meters already won, Usain Bolt gritted his teeth and dipped his 6-foot-5 frame at the line. He proved his point.

The Jamaican might have clowned around early and renewed antics afterward, but for 19.40 seconds Saturday at the world championships, he was all business.

"I am still the best," he said. "It was beautiful."

It wasn't near his world record of 19.19, but it was the fourth fastest in history.

American and former Florida State standout Walter Dix took silver, finishing 0.30 seconds behind.

"He ran great," said Dix, who won silver in the 100.

Bolt said he's nowhere near his record form of two years ago at the worlds. He expects that to change for next year's London Games.

"I have to come to the Olympics and do my extreme best and blow the peoples' minds," he said.

Meanwhile, the Americans hauled in five medals to increase their total to 21, four more than Russia.

Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross led the 1,600-meter team to gold. Danielle Carruthers and Dawn Harper took silver and bronze in the 100 hurdles, and Matthew Centrowitz finished third in the 1,500 meters.

Boxing

Pacquiao vows to batter Marquez

Manny Pacquiao vowed to remove any doubt about his superiority over Mexican challenger Juan Manuel Marquez when they meet again in November.

Marquez insists he won the previous fights: a draw in 2004 and Pacquiao's split-decision win in 2008.

WBO welterweight champion Pacquiao said Marquez, 37, has no chance of beating him when they meet Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.

"I won't let that happen," said Pacquiao, 32. "And I have to train hard for this fight and to give my best and to give a good show. This is the fight that will answer all the questions."

Soccer

Victory celebration in a changed Libya

Hundreds of joyful Libyans cheered and fired off celebratory gunshots in Tripoli's main square after the national team won in its first match since rebels toppled Moammar Gadhafi's regime and forced the longtime leader into hiding.

The Libyan team won its African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Mozambique 1-0.

"First there was our great victory over despotism and now in soccer," said Abdel-Wahab Shoush, 52, who watched on a giant screen because the game was in Egypt. The win gives Libya six points and second place in its group to qualify for the event that opens Jan. 21.

Meanwhile, defending champ and seven-time winner Egypt failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1978 after a 2-1 loss to host Sierra Leone.

U.S. stumbles: Rodney Wallace scored in the 65th minute to lead Costa Rica to a 1-0 win over the United States late Friday in Carson, Calif., giving Jurgen Klinsmann a loss in his second match as U.S. coach.

Et cetera

Horses: Havre de Grace defeated males in her first attempt in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. … Quiet Giant won the $250,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Cycling: Estonian Rein Taaramae won the 14th stage of the Spanish Vuelta, and Bradley Wiggins extended his overall lead to seven seconds. Taaramae finished the 109.2-mile run from Astorga to La Farrapona in 4 hours, 39 minutes, 1 second.

Times wires

Saturday, September 3, 2011

34

0

Sept. 17

vs.

Oklahoma

TBA

Sept. 10

vs.

Charleston Southern

6 p.m.

Saturday

FSU 34, Louisiana- Monroe 0

(1-0, 0-0)

Oct. 15

at

Duke

TBA

Oct. 8

at

Wake Forest

TBA

Sept. 24

at

Clemson

TBA

Nov. 3

at

Boston College

8 p.m., ESPN

Oct.. 29

vs.

N.C. State

TBA

Oct. 22

vs.

Maryland

TBA

Nov. 26

at

Florida

TBA

Nov. 19

vs.

Virginia

TBA

Nov. 12

vs.

Miami

TBA

Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

NEW YORK — What started out as a breeze turned into something much more difficult for Serena Williams on Saturday.

Williams won her third-round match at the U.S. Open, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) over fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka, but not before losing her first four match points and getting pushed to the limit in the second set.

Williams, seeded 28th because she hasn't played much the past year because of injuries, won the first set in 28 minutes and looked every bit the favorite in the remaining field. But Azarenka broke serve to tie the second set at 5. They went to a tiebreaker, and neither led by more than two points in a back-and-forth thriller that included six winners and an ace, an electric conclusion to a match that started out as a snoozer.

"I think I played really well," Williams said. "I was doing the right things out there and just need to try and keep doing those things. (Azarenka) was dictating the points in the second set, but I kind of allowed her to do that a little bit."

In the day's late match, top seed Novak Djokovic improved to 60-2 in 2011 by beating Nikolay Davydenko 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the fourth round.

No. 3 Roger Federer defeated 27th-seeded Marin Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to make it to the round of 16 for the 30th straight time in a Grand Slam tournament, and top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki rolled through her third straight match, 6-2, 6-4 over Vania King.

Eighth-seeded Mardy Fish needed a pair of tiebreakers to beat Kevin Anderson 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3).

Federer fought off the range of his 6-foot-6 opponent and dealt with an unpredictable wind on the show court to win his 225th match at a major, second best behind Jimmy Connors. Federer needs to win the Open to extend his streak to nine straight years with a major championship.

"I'm on track because I'm in the tournament," Federer said. "That's the most important at the end of the day. I seriously don't care how I'm playing."

Like Federer, it took Wozniacki time to figure out the breezes on a warm, windy day in New York. She has lost a total of 12 games over her first three matches.

"To be honest, I felt like I was playing with her," King said. "But she isn't No. 1 without a good reason. She is used to winning. She has that confidence."

Fish said the value of him not dropping a set against Anderson was huge.

"Mentally, physically, everything," he said. "You know, I'm 29. I don't wake up in the morning feeling like I'm 20."

Seeded players Tomas Berdych and Marcel Granollers quit during third-round matches because of injuries, raising the total retirements in men's and women's singles to a record 14, more than for any entire Grand Slam tournament in the Open era, which began in 1968.

The previous record was 12 at Wimbledon in 2008, the International Tennis Federation said.

There also have been two walkovers at the Open.

Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera hit a game-ending solo homer in the ninth inning, capping a stirring Detroit rally and lifting the Tigers to a 9-8 win over the White Sox on Saturday.

Detroit trailed 8-1 in the fifth and 8-6 heading into the ninth, but former Durant standout Ryan Raburn tied it with a two-run shot off Sergio Santos, and Cabrera won it one out later. Santos hadn't allowed a run in his previous 30 road games dating to last season.

Detroit leads third-place Chicago by 7½ games in the AL Central.

The game was delayed 36 minutes in the eighth by rain.

Alexei Ramirez's three-run homer highlighted a five-run fourth for the White Sox. Alejandro De Aza and Brent Morel hit back-to-back homers in the fifth off Brad Penny.

The Tigers began their comeback with three runs in the fifth on an RBI triple by Austin Jackson and a two-run homer by former Ray Delmon Young. Wilson Betemit's solo shot in the seventh made it 8-5.

Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

Red Sox 12, Rangers 7

BOSTON — Former Ray Carl Crawford hit a grand slam during an eight-run fourth inning, and the Red Sox snapped a two-game skid. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a two-run homer during the big inning, which featured eight hits as the Red Sox sent 13 batters to the plate.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 3, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Ben Zobrist wasn't in the lineup Saturday and could be out again today due to a nagging neck injury, but it isn't considered serious.

Zobrist said his neck stiffened up the past few days, likely due to overswinging, leading to him getting pinch-hit for in the ninth inning of Friday's 3-2 loss to Baltimore. He felt he needed just one day off and was available as a pinch-hitter, but manager Joe Maddon said they might hold him out today, too.

"I'm fine," Zobrist said. "I just kind of needed a day off anyway, I think."

Zobrist, one of the team's top hitters, said he first noticed it after he swung and "felt it grab a little bit."

"I'm just overswinging probably and that's kind of been common with me," he said. "If I do a little bit too much, that's probably what happens. Just take a day off and go from there."

A neck issue hampered Zobrist last season, but he said this one is not as bad.

"No major concerns," Maddon said. "It bothers him with his swing, something that's reminiscent from last year, although not nearly as impactful as it was last year."

NOT DONE YET: The Rays have been careful in monitoring and managing the innings of rookie RHP Jeremy Hellickson.

But Maddon said they want to also make sure to stretch Hellickson out so that he can handle a bigger jump in his workload next year. Hellickson, who has logged 155⅓ innings, is expecting to be done after making the 20 percent jump from last year's 154, which likely will be around 180 innings.

Hellickson said he feels "night and day" better than he did at this point last season.

"The more innings I throw this year, the easier it'll be next year," he said. "I feel great right now, arm feels good, body feels good. … Actually, my fastball felt as good as it has all year last game. When your fastball feels like it did last game, you're more confident in everything."

JUST LIKE JONNY: INF Sean Rodriguez got hit by his 14th pitch in the first inning Friday night, tying Jonny Gomes (2005) for the single-season club record. And Maddon said there are some similarities between the players.

"The biggest thing is, there are certain guys who are not afraid to get hit by the ball, and they're definitely willing to take a base or get on base," Maddon said. "And Jonny was like that, Sean is like that. … There are certain guys, they're not going to give in, getting hit by the pitch there is not such a bad idea. There's pitches I'm sure (Rodriguez) could have gotten away from that he chose not to."

With Rodriguez and Gomes, Maddon says, "They like to play the game hard, they got a little bit of football mentality with the way they play."

IN CLOSING: RHP Kyle Farns­worth earned his 50th career save Saturday night, appearing in a save situation for the first time since Aug. 19.

Twenty-three of those have come with the Rays this season, and Maddon said the veteran has exceeded expectations.

"I think he's been pretty darn impressive," Maddon said. "I really love having him around. … If you take care of him, you can get 30-plus saves out of him, you can get probably 60 innings out of him if you do everything right with him."

Maddon said the confidence Farnsworth has built through the year could serve him well moving into next season. The team holds a $3.3 million option for next season (or a $650,000 buyout).

"What he's done in the past and what he's doing right now are two totally different things," Maddon said. "I had never really seen it, and maybe the industry has not. He's not been this level of consistent to the industry, either."

MISCELLANY: Rodriguez and C Kelly Shoppach will sign autographs along the rightfield wall from noon-12:30 today. … OF Matt Joyce has five RBIs in his past seven games.

By Bryan Burns and Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writers
Saturday, September 3, 2011

This season was supposed to be about five teams — Admiral Farragut, Countryside, East Lake, Lakewood and Largo — that had a legitimate chance to make a deep a run in the playoffs. But if we learned anything from the results of the opening week, it is to expect the unexpected. The Packers started with a 21-13 loss to Bradenton Southeast. The Eagles were taken to overtime before pulling out a 23-20 win against Clearwater Central Catholic. The Spartans received a huge scare against Seminole, 28-21. The only teams that cruised were the Cougars (35-17) and the Blue Jackets (42-13). A recap of Week 1:

Super seven

1. Countryside (1-0)

QB Gray Crow shows off his big-strike capability in a convincing win over Boca Ciega.

2. East Lake (1-0)

After sweating it out 23-20 against CCC, the Eagles have to figure out how to sustain drives if they want to beat Countryside this week.

3. Largo (0-1)

Sure, the Packers lost, but they played tough against Bradenton Southeast, ranked No. 5 in 5A.

4. Lakewood (1-0)

What was supposed to be the biggest mismatch of the week turned out to be anything but as the Spartans had to rally with two fourth-quarter scores to beat Seminole.

5. Gibbs (1-0)

New coach Antonio Knox made his debut with win over St. Petersburg, which was riding a 14-game regular-season win streak that dated to 2009.

6. Tarpon Springs (1-0)

Much-needed 37-14 win for the beleaguered Spongers, who get huge production in the passing game against Dunedin.

7. Clearwater Central Cath. (0-1)

Though they lost, the Marauders gained a measure of respect by taking East Lake to overtime and having a chance to win.

Knocking on the door: Admiral Farragut (1-0), Palm Harbor University (1-0), Pinellas Park (1-0)

Coaching debuts

There were six coaches who made their debut at new schools this week. They fared quite well, going 4-2.

Steve Dudley, St. Petersburg Catholic: Playing on the road, the Barons struggle in a 35-21 loss to Sarasota Out-of-Door.

Mike Jalazo, Northeast: After not winning on the field last year as coach at Leto, Jalazo gets off to a better start with his new team as the Vikings withstand a rally to beat Dixie Hollins 24-23.

Bill Jones, Canterbury: The Crusaders play an overmatched opponent as RB Brent O'Neal runs wild in 51-22 victory over Temple Christian.

Antonio Knox, Gibbs: Had the biggest eye-opener with 12-5 win against neighboring rival St. Petersburg.

Matt Lepain, Palm Harbor University: Counting preseason games, Lepain still is undefeated as his Hurricanes roll in 26-14 victory over Clearwater.

Max Smith, Dunedin: Could be a long season for Smith, whose Falcons lost 37-14 to Tarpon Springs.

Performers of the week

RB Tramaine Batten, Dunedin: Batten averaged over 12 yards a carry in the Falcons' 37-14 loss to Tarpon Springs. The junior had 158 yards on 13 rushes and added three catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.

WR Vinny Capabianca, IRC: He got the Golden Eagles off to a fast start with kickoff return for a score, as well as two touchdown receptions, in 54-0 win against Zion Lutheran Christian.

QB Gray Crow, Countryside: Crow eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark, completing 10 of 20 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. The Miami commitment had scoring tosses of 69 and 55 yards in a 35-17 win over Boca Ciega.

QB Tracy Johnson, Lakewood: Johnson engineered the Spartans' 28-21 comeback effort against an upstart Seminole squad. The junior connected on three touchdown passes, threw for 212 yards and added a 5-yard TD run.

WR Kenyatta Merriex, Tarpon Springs: Merriex had perhaps his best night as a Sponger, catching nine passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-14 win over Dunedin.

RB Brent O'Neal, Canterbury: O'Neal touched the ball only 11 times but gained 170 yards and scored five touchdowns in the Crusaders' 51-22 victory over Temple Christian.

QB Billy Pavlock, Palm Harbor University: The senior accounted for three touchdowns in a 26-14 win over Clearwater. Pavlock was 6-for-11 with two touchdowns throwing and added a 20-yard run for a score.

RB Emmanuel Stewart, Gibbs: The junior had 150 yards rushing, including an 80-yard run for a touchdown in a 12-5 win over St. Petersburg.

RB Jarvis Stewart, Largo: The sophomore overcame a knee injury to rush for 165 yards and a touchdown in a 21-13 loss to Bradenton Southeast.

QB Robert Yarbrough, Clearwater: Yarbrough had 235 yards of total offense in the Tornadoes' 26-14 loss to PHU. He scored both of Clearwater's touchdowns – one rushing, one passing – and had 69 yards on the ground.

FB Ryan Yates, Countryside: Yates was instrumental in Countryside's 35-17 win over Boca Ciega. The junior had a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, caught a 55-yard touchdown pass in the third, then shook off multiple would-be tacklers on a 36-yard, fourth-down TD run in the fourth to seal it.

Offensive player of the week

QB Louis Pappas, Tarpon Springs: The senior was 14-for-20 passing and tossed three touchdowns in the Spongers' 23-point victory over Dunedin. Pappas threw a 47-yard scoring strike to Kenyatta Merriex in the second quarter to give the Spongers a 24-7 lead going into halftime. Pappas hooked up with Merriex again in the fourth quarter, this time for a 43-yard TD, and then he added a 21-yard TD pass to Dondre Daley. Pappas had 291 yards total through the air. On the ground, he gained 46 yards and scored from 4 yards out in the first quarter.

Defensive player of the week

LB Derek Sanson, Keswick Christian: The Crusaders only gave up one score defensively in a 17-14 victory over Landmark Christian, and Sanson, the son of coach Rick Sanson, highlighted their effort on that side of the ball. Sanson, a senior, recovered two fumbles and forced another to keep the Crusaders in front of Landmark the entire game. And when Landmark pulled to within three points on a returned fumble recovery for a touchdown and had a chance to win with one final drive, Sanson and the rest of his defensive mates prevented the Patriots from gaining even one first down to hold on.

By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 3, 2011

TARPON SPRINGS — Success has been relatively easy to come by in recent weeks for Clearwater Central Catholic junior golfer Ryan Orr.

Before Saturday's East Lake Invitational at Wentworth Golf Club, Orr won the Sam Parks Junior Invitational at Belleair, placed third at the Ryan Wells Memorial Junior Golf Classic at Innisbrook and came in second at the Premier Junior Tour 2011 Major Championship at the University of Florida in consecutive weeks.

Orr continued his torrid play at the East Lake Invitational, the kickoff to the high school golf season. Orr overcame some of the area's tightest fairways and a water-logged course to fire 1-over 72 and win the individual title by one stroke.

Jesuit's Lucas Trim and Fort Myers' John Lowrey tied for second.

"The course was so tight, but I hit fairways and I made a lot of putts," Orr said. "That's what it comes down to, making putts on the green. Fairways and putts, that's pretty much all I did today."

Orr recorded three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Behind Trim's 73 and Brian Lanoue's 6-over 77, Jesuit defended the tournament team title it won last year. The Tigers (320) edged second-place Palm Harbor University by two strokes and third-place East Lake by six.

A year ago, Jesuit head coach George LaPenna didn't give his inexperienced team much chance of winning and was surprised when they won by 11 strokes. With four of his top-five golfers returning this year, LaPenna was much more confident.

"Two years ago, we played here, and we were really young, mostly freshman. We finished way down, around 11th," LaPenna said. "Last year, I didn't think we had made that much progress. We didn't have tournament experience. For them to come through, that just stunned me. This year, we have a more balanced team.

PHU was led by Colby Norris' 78 and East Lake's Zack Wood shot 77.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 3, 2011

Rays vs. Orioles

When/where: 1:40 today; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Promotion: Evan Longoria cereal bowl to the first 10,000 kids

Starting pitchers:

Rays:

RH Jeremy Hellickson (11-10, 3.01)

Orioles:

RH Jeremy Guthrie (6-16, 4.42)

Watch for …

Jeremy the kid: Hellickson has lost his past two starts but has been pitching well, allowing two earned runs or fewer in his past three. He is 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Orioles.

Good Guthrie: Guthrie is coming off back-to-back strong starts, giving up four earned runs over 13 innings. He is 6-9 with a 4.18 ERA in 19 career appearances (17 starts) against Tampa Bay.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Guthrie

Evan Longoria 10-for-32, HR

Matt Joyce 8-for-23, HR

Ben Zobrist 10-for-29

Orioles vs. Hellickson

Vlad Guerrero 1-for-5

Nick Markakis 3-for-14, HR

Matt Wieters 2-for-7

On deck

Monday: vs. Rangers, 1:10, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (13-10, 2.84); Rangers — Scott Feldman (1-0, 2.86)

Tuesday: vs Rangers, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (9-6, 3.69); Rangers — C.J. Wilson (14-6, 3.28)

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Guest of the day

Ben Zobrist said he was honored that 12-year-old Tampa native Parker Lentini picked meeting him as his wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. And after eating lunch and playing catch with Lentini on Saturday afternoon at the Trop, Zobrist was impressed by how the seventh-grader with systemic juvenile arthritis carried himself — and threw. "He said I can be a pitcher 'cause I can throw, but I can't catch," Lentini quipped. Lentini was also invited by manager Joe Maddon to take the first few questions of his pregame media session (for the record, Lentini is against the six-man rotation, wants a more stable lineup and believes the Rays can still make the playoffs). Smiled Lentini: "Best day ever."

A gentle giant

With Bucs legend Lee Roy Selmon still in the hospital following a stroke, manager Joe Maddon fondly remembered the time he invited the Hall of Famer to visit his team during the 2008 season. Maddon said the former NFL great gave a "soft-spoken" speech in the clubhouse that "had a lot of clout." "Outstanding, what a great guy," Maddon said. "We all pretty much pale in comparison. … He's a gentleman, he's soft-spoken, gentle, kind, you can't even imagine him being this violent football player."

Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

ATLANTA — Kellen Moore and the BCS Busters from Boise State are off and running again.

Moore threw three touchdowns as the No. 5 Broncos beat No. 19 Georgia 35-21 Saturday.

Moore, the nation's top-rated passer last season, carved up Georgia's defense after a sluggish start. He went 28-of-34 for 261 yards, his first touchdown — a 17-yarder to Matt Miller — giving him 100 for his career.

In the past three seasons, the Broncos have started with wins against Oregon, Virginia Tech and now Georgia. It went 14-0 in 2009, though it went to the Fiesta Bowl instead of the BCS title game. Last season, an overtime loss to Nevada kept them from a BCS game.

After a 12-yard touchdown to Kyle Efaw gave Boise State a 14-7 lead at halftime, Moore got the ball to start the second half and directed a drive that broke Georgia's back. Completing seven straight passes covering 69 yards, he set up Doug Martin's 7-yard touchdown run.

Late in the third, Chris Potter brought a punt back 49 yards to the Georgia 28. A face mask gave Boise State another first down. And Moore threaded a 3-yard touchdown to Tyler Shoemaker for a three-touchdown lead.

The red-clad Bulldog fans began heading for the exits, leaving a small contingent of blue-clad fans who made the long trip from Idaho.

Aaron Murray took a beating at quarterback and, appropriately enough, took the last of his six sacks on Georgia's final offensive play. He finished 16-of-29 for 236 yards, one interception and two touchdowns, including a 36-yarder to fellow Plant High alum Orson Charles.

Boise State lost to Georgia 48-13 in Athens in 2005. But the programs have gone in opposite directions since that season, when the Bulldogs won their second SEC title under coach Mark Richt. Georgia hasn't won another title, dropping to 6-7 last season.

The Broncos, meanwhile, have outgrown being America's Cinderella team, qualifying for major bowls two of the past five years.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 3, 2011

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — In 123 years of football, Notre Dame had never encountered a lightning delay like the Fighting Irish went through — twice, amazingly — with nearly three hours of delays and two stadium evacuations in Saturday night's game.

But fledgling USF, opening just its 15th season, went through exactly that only three weeks ago in Vero Beach.

Severe lightning prompted Notre Dame officials to evacuate Notre Dame Stadium, with a capacity crowd of 80,795 leaving for the shelter of nearby buildings including the Joyce Center basketball arena next door. Both teams were sequestered to their locker rooms.

After extensive rains and continued lightning the teams returned to the field at around 7:25 p.m., more than two hours after the first half ended. Then, with 4:21 left in the game and Notre Dame trying to rally, another weather delay suspended play for 43 minutes. By the time the game resumed, the broadcast had moved from NBC to Versus, which NBC owns.

Somehow, the Bulls had been there before, having had their first scrimmage of the preseason stopped twice by lightning as the team trained Aug. 13, something Holtz reminded his players of as they waited in the locker room.

"That was the first thing I said to them … 'Hey, we've been here before,' " Holtz said. "So an experience like that — you can't prepare for what either team had to go through today."

Notre Dame had momentum after the first break, changing quarterbacks to Tommy Rees and dominating the third quarter. But on the first play after the second break, S Jerrell Young intercepted Rees, the fifth and final Fighting Irish turnover.

WELCOME BACK: Sophomore WR Sterling Griffin played for the first time since the 2009 season and had a breakout game, doubling his personal best with eight catches and resetting his personal high of 75 receiving yards. Griffin missed the 2010 season after an ankle injury.

"It meant a lot to me, and meant a lot to my teammates," said Griffin, who returned healthy in spring and earned back a starting job with a strong preseason camp.

THIS AND THAT: DT Elkino Watson was the only true freshman to play, debuting on USF's second drive. Four Bulls made their first career starts — G Danous Estenor, OT Quinterrius Eatmon, RB Demetris Murray and DT Keith McCaskill … USF debuted its new green helmets, wearing white jerseys and green pants. … Holtz's mother, Beth, was recognized on the field during the game as a cancer survivor and in thanks for all of the Holtz family's contributions to Notre Dame. Holtz's father, Lou, didn't attend and was in Connecticut for his role as an ESPN analyst. "They told him he wouldn't have to be on the air when the game was on, so for eight hours," Skip joked. "They probably thought that was a three-hour commitment when they made that to him."

Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

BLACKSBURG, Va. — David Wilson was kidding last week when, after learning he would get the ball on Virginia Tech's first offensive play, he said the team wouldn't need a second.

Turned out, he was right.

Wilson ran 20 yards almost untouched for a touchdown on Virginia Tech's first offensive play, giving the No. 13 Hokies a quick lead on their way to a 66-13 victory over Appalachian State.

"He told me I was getting the first carry and I told him I didn't have to hear the second play because I was taking it to the grid," Wilson said of running backs coach Shane Beamer.

"But I didn't think that would really happen."

The touchdown was the junior's first of three in the first half in his first game as the Hokies' starting tailback. He finished with 162 yards on 16 carries.

"That's the way to start the season off," he said.

Logan Thomas also was efficient in his first game as Tech's quarterback, throwing the first two touchdowns of his career, and the Hokies defense shut down the Mountaineers.

Appalachian State was outgained 291-61 in the first half before both teams began substituting freely.

The Hokies honored coach Frank Beamer before the game for entering his 25th season as head coach then announced at halftime he had signed a contract extension through 2016. They then got him his first season-opening victory in four years.

"A few more days like this and I'll have a few more years after that," Beamer said.

N'WESTERN 24, BC 17: The Wildcats didn't miss Dan Persa much. They had a backup quarterback who was able to put up some big numbers, too.

Second-stringer Kain Colter threw for 197 yards and ran for 71 with a touchdown to lead visiting Northwestern in the season opener for both teams.

"We expected to beat them. This is a senior-led football team," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald told his team in the locker room in a postgame speech that could be heard in the hallway. "We've got a long way to go, lots of work to do. We let a team hang around that shouldn't have hung around with us."

Northwestern won for the first time since Persa, touted as a Heisman Trophy contender, ruptured his Achilles tendon Nov. 13.

UNC 42, JAMES MADISON 10: Bryn Renner threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns in his first start for the host Tar Heels, giving Everett Withers a successful debut as interim coach. Renner tied a school record with 14 consecutive completions.

CLEMSON 43, TROY 19: Tajh Boyd was 20-for-30 for 264 yards and three touchdowns in his debut as starter for the host Tigers. Boyd had a shaky first half running offensive coordinator Chad Morris' faster new spread set but came back out and led two third-quarter touchdown drives.

N.C. STATE 30, LIBERTY 18: T.J. Graham returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown, James Washington rushed for two scores and the host Wolfpack pulled away.

UVA 40, WILLIAM & MARY 3: Kevin Parks rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns and Robert Randolph kicked four field goals to lead the host Cavaliers.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 3, 2011

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After a two-hour lightning delay — the first of two weather delays in the game — No. 16 Notre Dame had seized momentum from USF on Saturday, outgaining the Bulls 159-48 in the third quarter and cutting their lead to 16-7.

But after a 30-yard missed field goal, USF got the ball at its 20-yard line late in the quarter, and quarterback B.J. Daniels and running back Demetris Murray gave the Bulls what they needed: a long drive that ended with USF's first offensive touchdown of the game and a 23-7 lead.

"I joked with Coach (Skip) Holtz back in Vero Beach (in preseason camp) that field goals didn't count," said Daniels, who went 18-for-30 for 128 yards in USF's 23-20 win and rushed for 37 despite being slowed by cramps and a hamstring injury in the second half. "We've got to score touchdowns, and that was a drive that we needed to get the ball in the end zone."

USF hadn't had a drive longer than 45 yards in the game, but Daniels led it on a 14-play, 80-yard march that ended with him lobbing a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Evan Landi.

The drive allowed USF to keep its defense and the suddenly clicking Irish offense off the field for more than five minutes.

On the drive's second play, Daniels hit his longest pass of the game, 18 yards on second and 16 to receiver A.J. Love, a sixth-year senior playing for the first time in 20 months after missing last season with a knee injury.

Five plays later, facing third and 10, and having gone 1-for-11 on third-down conversions for the game, Daniels found tight end Andreas Shields for a 12-yard gain to the Notre Dame 30.

Then Murray, who started the game at running back but had just two carries for 5 yards in the first three quarters, found momentum, rushing four times for 28 yards, the last time for 12 yards to the 2.

But the Bulls' drive nearly stalled again. They were flagged for sending 12 men onto the field after a timeout, so instead of third and goal from the 1, it was from the 6. But Daniels' pass into the end zone drew an interference flag on cornerback Gary Gray, setting USF up on the 1.

On the next play, Daniels hesitated, then lobbed a pass straight ahead that Landi caught around a Notre Dame defender as he fell backward for the score.

"It wasn't the look we anticipated," Landi said. "B.J. made a beautiful throw, and all I had to do was catch it, to be honest. I think me and B.J., we kind of click a lot, so I knew where he was going to put it."

Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — On a day usually marked by disappointment, the Giants had one of the early feel-good stories of the NFL season. They gave cancer survivor Mark Herzlich a job, at least for now.

The young man no one wanted to take a gamble on in the draft because of his bout with a rare form of bone cancer is now a member of the Giants.

"Well it is 6:03 pm an I am still a Giant God Is Good," Herz­lich tweeted after no one asked him to turn in his playbook.

How long Herzlich stays with the team remains to seen, but the Boston College linebacker who was signed as a free agent can say he made the final cut.

"Herzlich didn't bat an eye the whole camp," coach Tom Coughlin said. "Physically, he did everything you asked and more. I saw him improve literally week by week."

Herzlich, 23, of Wayne, Pa., had six tackles, a sack, an interception and forced fumble in the preseason and looked good on special teams — a weakness for the Giants in recent seasons.

Meanwhile, the best competition was at punter, and Steve Weatherford edged Matt Dodge. The team placed Sage Rosenfels, last year's backup quarterback, on injured reserve, giving the job to David Carr, and receiver Michael Clayton, a first-round pick of the Bucs in 2004, had his contract terminated.

Saints lose top rusher: The Saints put Chris Ivory, last season's leading rusher, on the physically unable to perform list. Ivory, who had 716 yards rushing and five touchdowns in 2010, has yet to recover from offseason foot surgery or sports hernia surgery. He'll be out at least six weeks.

Bears really cut Taylor: Running back Chester Taylor was officially let go, bringing an expected end to a wild chain of events. The Bears terminated the veteran's contract after it appeared he had been on the way out for a while. He did not play in the third preseason game at Tennessee and left team headquarters thinking he had been released after a meeting with coach Lovie Smith on Monday. He was back practicing the next day and started the finale against the Browns on Thursday but struggled with 27 yards on 10 attempts.

Benson out of jail: Bengals running back Cedric Benson was released from a Texas jail after serving five days of a 20-day sentence for two misdemeanor assault charges. He was arrested in 2010 for punching a bar employee and arrested in July for punching a former roommate.

Trades: The Jets sent defensive back Dwight Lowery to the Jaguars for an undisclosed conditional draft choice and acquired guard Caleb Schlauderaff from the Packers for an undisclosed conditional draft choice. … The Titans traded a future draft pick to the Packers for fullback Quinn Johnson.

Bengals: Right guard Bobbie Williams was suspended for the first four games because he violated the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. … Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones (neck) and linebacker Keith Rivers (right wrist) went on injured lists, sidelining them for at least the first six weeks.

Bills: Six-year veteran offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner was among the cuts despite saying last week that he had assurances from the coaching staff that he would make the team.

Broncos: Cornerback Perrish Cox, who is facing a sexual assault trial this year, was let go. He started nine times as a rookie last season.

Chiefs: Starting tight end Tony Moeaki (knee) went on season-ending injured reserve after he was hurt Thursday in the final preseason game.

Colts: Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, who made the Pro Bowls with the Bears from 2005 to 2007, was released.

Dolphins: Two-time Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson had his contract terminated. He signed last week after sitting out most of last season because of off-the-field missteps.

Lions: Nick Harris was released, leaving undrafted rookie Ryan Donahue on the roster to replace the team's punter since 2003.

Patriots: Two-time Pro Bowl safety Brandon Meriweather and running back Sammy Morris, a 12-year veteran, were released. … Running back Kevin Faulk went on the physically unable to perform list.

Rams: Defensive end George Selvie, a former USF standout, was released.

Ravens: Linebacker Tavares Gooden, a former third-round pick from Miami, was let go.

Seahawks: Defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson (knee), a former Buc, went on season-ending injured reserve.

Steelers: Former Bucs tight end John Gilmore, signed as a free agent last month, was waived after being beaten out by undrafted rookie Weslye Saunders.

Texans: Linebacker Mister Alexander, a rookie out of Florida State, was released.

Titans: Fullback Ahmard Hall said his suspension for using performance-enhancing substances is the result of a stimulant he took to stay awake on a drive from Nashville to Texas in February. He will sit out four games without pay and return to the active roster Oct. 3.

Vikings: Former Bucs defensive end Stylez G. White, who signed less than two weeks ago, was released.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 3, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Three weeks before the season began, Florida senior receiver/running back Chris Rainey said he felt a sense of urgency he'd never experienced. After three years of an up-and-down career, including last season's five-game suspension, Rainey said he was still in search of redemption and felt like he has a lot to prove.

He set out to prove himself in a big way Saturday night.

Rainey became only the third player in the nation since 1996 to have a rushing, receiving and a special teams touchdown in one game, helping the Gators to a 41-3 victory over Florida Atlantic in front of 88,708 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the head coaching debut of Will Muschamp.

Rainey scored on a 14-yard pass from quarterback John Brantley with 2:41 remaining in the first quarter, a 14-yard run with 8:34 left in the second quarter and on a 22-yard return after Solomon Patton blocked FAU punter Mickey Groody's kick in the third quarter.

"I thank God all the time that I'm still here," Rainey said. "I stayed here one more year, and that's the best thing that ever happened to me. It's a pro offense, I'm made for it."

When Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis talked about Rainey and teammate Jeff Demps earlier in the week, he said he'd never had a tandem with the speed these two possess, and he planned to take full advantage.

Rainey and Demps combined for 184 yards on 23 carries, nine receptions for 88 yards and four touchdowns, part of 468 total yards for the Gators.

Demps scored on a 35-yard run in the second quarter and a 20-yard run in the fourth, and had his fifth career 100-plus-yard game (105).

"That's exactly what we wanted to do, we wanted to come out hard, really physical and try to set the tone of the game," Demps said. "And I think we did a good job of that, coming out running this fast-paced offense."

The Gators (1-0) didn't need to get too fancy against an undermanned FAU (0-1) team, but UF did show enough to give fans hope.

Florida led 24-3 at halftime, aided by 264 yards of total offense, including 160 rushing.

Brantley, who was much maligned last season, was steady in his pro-style debut, going 21-for-30 for 229 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, one coming in the end zone with 2:50 left in the third quarter as UF was driving for another score.

FAU's lone score came after an interception thrown by UF freshman quarterback Jeff Driskel, who entered with 6:04 remaining before the half.

The Gators defense, which entered the week still in search of starters for some key positions, held FAU to 137 total yards, just 30 rushing.

What it all ultimately means when the Gators face tougher opponents remains to be seen. Even Muschamp conceded that.

"I think we need to be realistic here," the first-year head coach said. "We'll face better opponents through the season. But for a first ball game, we need to make some improvements, and if we need to make some adjustments from a personnel standpoint after we watch the film we'll certainly do that. And as we roll through this season we're going to get to know our team a lot better. We didn't face as much adversity as maybe we would have hoped for in the game as far as being in some situations where our backs were against the wall. But I'm very pleased with the attitude and the effort of our players."

Times staff, wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

CARY, N.C. — Missing three starters, including leading goal scorer Mike Ambersley, FC Tampa Bay was shut out by NASL-leading Carolina 2-0 Saturday night.

Tampa Bay (9-8-7), which was outshot 20-7, held on to third place in the standings with 34 points, three ahead of Fort Lauderdale. It can clinch a playoff spot with a win Tuesday at Minnesota.

Six of the eight teams make the playoffs. Carolina (17-4-3) has already clinched a spot.

The teams played most of the second half with 10 players each after Carolina forward Etienne Barbara, the league's leading goal scorer with 20, and Tampa Bay defender Andres Arango were sent off on red cards in the 50th minute.

Carolina forward Pablo Campos scored both goals, in the 19th minute on a corner kick and in the 38th minute when he converted a pass from midfielder Brian Farber.

Ambersley (11 goals) sat out after receiving his fifth yellow card Aug. 27 against Fort Lauderdale. He had been the only player to appear in Tampa Bay's first 23 matches. The other starters out were injured, midfielder Pascal Millien and defender JP Rodrigues.

Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

Players of the day

Emory Blake, wr, Auburn

The junior caught three passes for 95 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown, and recovered the onside kick that set up the winning touchdown in a 42-38 win over Utah State.

Jake Stoneburner, TE, Ohio state

The junior became the first Buckeyes tight end to catch three touchdowns, his scores of 28, 11 and 2 yards leading a 42-0 win over Akron.

Ray Graham, RB, Pittsburgh

The junior ran for 201 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-16 win over Buffalo.

Celebration of the day

Auburn fans

Hundreds headed to Toomer's Corner after the 42-38 win over Utah State and, following tradition, heaved toilet paper into the branches of the two ailing oak trees. Alabama fan Harvey Updyke is awaiting trial for poisoning them. "The trees represent so much more than a tradition," said Emily Curry, 23, an Auburn graduate. "It's the Auburn family and the bond that we have." Police officers were stationed nearby. And signs asked fans to keep off the soil. Auburn horticulturist Gary Keever said a crew would pick off the toilet paper by hand this morning to avoid further damage instead of using water hoses like in the past.

Quarterback of the day

Case Keenum, Houston

A year ago against UCLA, Keenum tore his right ACL in a 31-13 loss to UCLA. Granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA, he returned Saturday … against UCLA. Keenum went 30-of-40 for two scores in the 38-34 win. And his 310 yards left him 3,176 shy of Timmy Chang's I-A record.

Under-the-radar game of the day

Lindenwood 22, Northern Colo. 20

James Neal made a 21-yard field goal as time expired, giving the visiting Lions, an NAIA team from St. Charles, Mo., a victory over the I-AA Bears.



Memorial of the day

A labama's 48-7 win over Kent State marked the first game since a tornado destroyed thousands of homes and killed 50 people in Tuscaloosa on April 27. "We were trying to … bring joy back to the town," Tide running back Trent Richardson said. Before the game, the 101,821-seat Bryant-Denny Stadium observed a moment of silence. At halftime, Alabama's band performed a tribute. Several Kent State players visited Tuscaloosa in July to aid in the relief. And Tide fans applauded as the Golden Flashes took the field. "That was real classy," quarterback Spencer Keith said. Fans in the uppermost seats could see twisted trees and mangled homes in the distance. "We were really pleased to get back to football," Tide offensive lineman Barrett Jones said, "what this town is famous for."

Quote of the day

"I wouldn't classify them as an elite team."

DeAndre Presley, Appalachian State QB on Virginia Tech, which beat his I-AA team 66-13

Coaches of the day

Joe Paterno, Penn State

The 84-year-old began his 45th season in charge of the Nittany Lions in the press box. The 41-7 win over Indiana State came about three weeks after he sustained right shoulder and pelvis injuries on a collision during practice. "I really probably could have (coached on the sideline). The doctors were afraid I wouldn't get out of the way; maybe something fluky would happen."

Paul Pasqualoni, Connecticut

The first-year Huskies coach won his 108th Big East game, 35-3 over Fordham, tying the conference record of Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer. Pasqualoni, 108-59-1, won 107 at Syracuse from 1991-2004.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Teams of the day

Michigan

The host Wolverines won Brady Hoke's coaching debut, 34-10 over Western Michigan in a game stopped with 1:27 left in the third due to lightning. Michigan's previous coach, Rich Rodriguez, lost his debut, 25-23 at home to Utah.

Duke

The host Blue Devils lost 23-21 to Richmond, their third consecutive loss to the I-AA program.

Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

Royals 5, Indians 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Luke Hochevar pitched eight three-hit innings, and Kansas City dropped Cleveland to 61/2 games back of first-place Detroit in the AL Central. Hochevar improved to 5-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 10 starts since the All-Star break. Jeff Francoeur's two-run double in the first inning was his 44th of the season, tying the club record for an outfielder set by Jermaine Dye in 1999. The start of the game was delayed 20 minutes by rain.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 3, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Florida DT Sharrif Floyd, who was expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday night, was held out after being declared ineligible. UF athletic officials said Floyd will not play until he is cleared by the NCAA.

"We have declared Sharrif Floyd ineligible and he is not eligible to compete until his eligibility is reinstated by the NCAA," the Florida athletic department said in a statement. "We have been, and will continue to work with the NCAA until this matter is resolved. This is an issue that is not related to sports agents, University of Florida boosters or his recruitment to Florida. We will not have any additional comment on this matter until it is resolved."

LEGENDS AND ALL-STARS: Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden made a rare appearance in Gainesville to join with Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger to promote the Inaugural Battle of Florida North vs. South Collegiate All-Star Football Game.

The game is 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at Florida Atlantic University Stadium and will air live on Fox College Sports. Co-founder Brian McNeely said there is a five-year contract to host the game, which will include NFL draft-eligible players who were either born in or played high school football in Florida.

"When I came to Florida State 36 years ago, we only had three (Division) I-A schools here," Bowden said as stood inside the O'Connell Center at a dais with the UF logo. "Now we've got, what, seven? Seven I-A schools. So there's a lot of boys, there's plenty of boys that would like an opportunity to get into the NFL that are not going to get there, or not going to be invited early. So I think this game will give those boys a chance to play another game and I'm sure somebody will sparkle and do real well and get themselves a contract out of it."

Bowden said he's enjoying his time away from the game, adding he didn't realize how much stress he was under until he wasn't coaching anymore. He did not stay for the UF game, saying, "They'd shoot me up there (Tallahassee) if I stay and watch this game."

His best quip was about the USF-Notre Dame game: "I get fired for losing to South Florida and they still keep their job."

AREA CONNECTION: Three area players started on the Gators' offensive line. Matt Patchan (Armwood) returned after missing all of last season with a wrist injury, joined by Jon Halapio (St. Petersburg Catholic) and Chaz Green (Tampa Catholic).

ONE FOR THE TEAM: First-year SEC director of officials Steve Shaw thought he had thrown his last flag — at least on the field. But Shaw took teamwork to new heights Saturday. When referee Hubert Owens became ill and was unable to work, SEC officials didn't have enough time to find a substitute because of the short notice and the number of league games being played on Saturday. So Shaw, who was already planning to attend, worked in his place.

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Saturday, September 3, 2011

Nationals 8, Mets 7

WASHINGTON — Ryan Zimmerman's short fly ball with one out in the ninth inning dropped into rightfield for a single, driving in two to rally Washington. With the Nationals trailing 7-6 and the bases loaded, Zimmerman dumped a pitch into right that skipped past a diving Lucas Duda.