By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2011

BRANDON — About 1,400 people watched the Lightning practice and scrimmage Saturday. The team has said it is closing in on selling 11,000 full season tickets, more than double last season's 5,000.

In other words, owner Jeff Vinik is feeling pretty good about the direction of the organization.

"We have upward movement on the business side," he said. "Obviously, I'm thrilled by that."

Vinik, 52, also is becoming more comfortable in his role.

The second-year owner used to answer questions with talking points. Now he is more casual. He is interacting more with fans and answers their e-mails. At the Ice Sports Forum, he walked through the crowd shaking hands.

Vinik, who lives in Weston, Mass., also is closer to making Tampa his family's primary residence with a move to an 8,400-square-foot home in the Palma Ceia section of South Tampa scheduled for August, he said.

"I have confidence in this area as a sports market and a hockey market," said Vinik, who is financing a $35 million makeover of the St. Pete Times Forum.

"I'm very pleased with how the fans are responding. We have a plan to have a good team every year and an improving business. The fans are there. The excitement is there. We just have to have a world-class organization and the plan will be fully realized."

SCRIMMAGE: Ryan Shannon, Tom Pyatt and Richard Panik scored for the Blue team in a 3-1 victory over the White in a scrimmage of two 30-minute halves with running time. Mike Angelidis scored for the White.

"Very high pace," coach Guy Boucher said. "It was higher than last year. Obviously, we're bringing guys here that have our identity and drafting guys who have our identity. It shows."

SLOW MOVING: Instead of power plays, teams received penalty shots. The shooters, who took off from the center red line, were chased by opponents, who started behind at the blue line. It was a bit embarrassing, then, when F Mattias Ritola was caught by D Radko Gudas, who disrupted Ritola's shot.

"Everything matters here," Gudas said of winning a job.

Even so, Boucher said of Ritola, "He's a line in advance. He shouldn't get caught."

MEDICAL MATTERS: D Charles Landry was helped off the ice after Panik elbowed him in the head during what was supposed to be a noncontact drill. … G Dustin Tokarski practiced but said he still is limited by a slow-healing abdominal injury.

ODDS AND ENDS: GM Steve Yzerman was in Farmington Hills, Mich., for the funeral for Brad McCrimmon, a former Red Wings teammate who coached the KHL's Lokomotiv team wiped out in a plane crash Sept. 7. … Forwards Steven Stamkos, Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier will play their first scrimmages today.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2011

John Lynch was one of the hardest hitters in Bucs history. A third-round draft pick in 1993 out of Stanford, Lynch spent 11 seasons with the Bucs. The safety earned five trips to the Pro Bowl and helped the Bucs to victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. He then moved to Denver, playing in four more Pro Bowls before leaving the game in 2008.

He traded in his helmet and pads for headphones and a microphone. Since the end of the 2008 season, Lynch, 39, has worked for Fox as an NFL game analyst. He will call today's Bucs-Vikings game along with broadcast partner Dick Stockton.

Lynch spoke on the phone from his suburban Denver home last week on everything from breaking down his work week to ex-Bucs in the booth:

How much have you enjoyed broadcasting?

I've really enjoyed it. My last year in the league (in 2008), I was with Denver, and then I went to camp with New England; I didn't jump into (broadcasting) full throttle. I wanted to make sure playing was out of my system first. I love the game, and I love to share my passion for the game and the knowledge I've accrued over 15 years. But, you know, every time I'm in the booth, I still wish I could be on the field.

Is announcing harder than you thought or easier?

Much harder. My first time up in the booth, I wasn't sure what to look at. Do I look at the field? Do I look at the monitor? … I adapted fairly quickly. (Fox NFL producer) Ed Goren said he believes being an analyst for the NFL and football is the toughest job in sports. You have 14, 15 seconds to make a strong point, talk about what just happened or what is about to happen. You have to be concise because the next play is starting.

You played for a long time. Is it difficult to be critical, especially because there are some guys still playing whom you used to play with?

I haven't really struggled with that. I sometimes had a problem when I played with something an announcer said, but the only time it bothered me was when the guy hadn't done his prep and was completely wrong. That's why I take on this job responsibly. I study hard and make informed, educated comments. There are certain things I won't hesitate to criticize, such as lack of effort. There are guys who dream of playing in this league, and if you're fortunate enough to make it and you don't put in the effort? That's unacceptable.

What's your typical week like?

Early on, I didn't like watching myself on TV. Then Ed Goren said, "Hey, you watched game film from the previous game when you played, right?" I said, "Yeah." And he said, "Why don't you watch your games now then?" So flying back home Sunday night, I now watch the game I just called and listen to how I did. On Monday, I get the game films from the teams I'm going to call the next week, and I study those. I still have lots of connections in the league, so during the week, I talk to a lot of people. Then we arrive in the town of the game we're calling on Friday, go to practice, talk to people there. Saturday, the visiting team comes in and we meet with them, and then Sunday, it's game time. Then it starts all over again. … I probably look at more game film now than when I was a player.

Really?

Yeah. When I played, I just look at the other team's offense and our defense. But now I'm looking at four sides — both teams' offenses and defenses.

What are you looking for?

I'm looking, mostly, at how I would attack these guys. What do they like to do in certain situations? What works? What doesn't work?

How exciting is it when you see something on film and then it happens in a game that you're calling?

That's the thing that is so gratifying — seeing something come to fruition. It's great when a team is running the ball and you see the other team's safety cheating and you say, "Don't be surprised if they throw the ball over the top here." And then it happens. That's the best.

So there's you and Jon Gruden and Warren Sapp and Keyshawn Johnson and Trent Dilfer. What is it with all the former Bucs in broadcasting?

(Laughs) I know, it's unbelievable. And there's Herm Edwards and Tony Dungy. Hey, we had a smart, entertaining group that was never really quiet. We still debate football all the time.

You call Bucs preseason games, so you follow them. Did you see a 10-win season coming last year?

I think most people were saying two or three wins. I thought it was an eight-win team. So I can't say I saw 10 wins coming, but I thought they were getting better. I think Raheem Morris did a marvelous job of coaching. … I will toot my own horn and say that I saw the value of Josh Freeman. I said all along this was a big-time quarterback. He got the chance and proved he was a franchise quarterback.

What did you see in him?

What didn't I see? I remember some people questioning the Bucs taking him in the draft. But not me. First off, he walks into a room and he looks like a defensive lineman. But aside from the physical traits, he has a maturity about him. He's an intelligent kid. You can feel his presence. You can sense how important the game is to him, and it shows in his work habits. He's a special player.

What were your thoughts on the Bucs' opening-game loss?

Well, I think this is a team that sorely needed an offseason. Week 1, they looked like a young football team that needed all the reps they can get. The preseason wasn't as impressive as you would like to have seen, and it carried over to Week 1. This is a team that is not clicking on all cylinders. They didn't run the ball effectively, and Josh didn't seem sharp. You can't ease into this thing.

How much of a concern should that loss be?

Well, a lot of teams are going through this. A lot of teams missed not working out in the offseason. Then you take a veteran team like New England. Those guys have been together for years, playing the same system, and they look great. Younger teams need to adjust still. That's what the Bucs need to do.

Times wires
Saturday, September 17, 2011

PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Lexi Thompson positioned herself Saturday for a historic victory.

Thompson shot 5-under 67 to retain the lead in the Navistar Classic and, with a five-stroke advantage, gave herself a good shot at becoming the youngest player to win an LPGA tournament.

Thompson, 16, was at 15-under 201 heading into the final round at the Robert Trent Jones Trail's Capitol Hill complex.

"I always go into every tournament wanting to win," Thompson said. "I'm at 15 (under), so my goal is to take it one shot at a time and try to get it to 20."

Paula Creamer set the age record for a multiple-round tournament when she won the 2005 Sybase Classic at 18 years, 9 months, 17 days. Marlene Hagge was 18 years, 14 days old when she won the single-round Sarasota Open in 1952.

Thompson, who led by two after the second round, had four consecutive birdies on Nos. 6-9 and six overall. She bogeyed the par-4 18th.

"It's incredible," said Juli Inkster, a Hall of Famer with 31 career victories, who said she started playing when she was 15. "They're just starting younger, and they're just so much better."

Meena Lee (69) was second. Tiffany Joh (65), Karen Stupples (68) and Becky Morgan (72) were third at 8-under 208. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome (69) was at 5 under and Tampa resident Kristy McPherson (74) at 3 over.

If Thompson wins, she will not receive automatic tour membership because of her age. She would have to petition the LPGA for an exemption of its 18-year-old age requirement.

The LPGA already granted her petition for qualifying school, and she won the first stage by 10 shots in July.

PGA: Justin Rose pulled away with 2-under 69 to take a four-shot lead at 13-under 200 in the BMW Championship at Lemont, Ill. He was four shots ahead of John Senden (70) in the third of the four tour FedEx Cup playoff events. Mark Wilson started the third round tied for the lead but had 77 and was at 5 under.

champions: Michael Allen shot 4-under 68 to open a one-stroke lead over John Cook (67) and Jay Don Blake (67) after two rounds of the Songdo IBD Championship at Incheon, South Korea.

By Antonya English, Times Sports Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Florida's pregame and postgame messages over the weekend were delivered by some pretty impressive former Gators.

Former quarterback and 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel spoke to the team on Friday night at its hotel, delivering a powerful message as he recovers from Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare nerve disorder.

"What an amazing man he is," coach Will Muschamp said. "He's a lot better person than he was a football player."

In the postgame locker room, the Gators heard from former All-America RB Emmitt Smith.

"When you have a guy like that that's played and had the success that he's had, when he talks, people listen," Muschamp said. "They will listen to his message. And his message was simple: 'You guys have got a good football team. You play with a tremendous passion and energy. You play with enthusiasm. You play together. You play as a team.'

"And all the things you talk to your team about, he reiterates when he stands up and talks to them. It was a great message."

Smith was in Gainesville on Saturday to promote his new book, Game On: Find Your Purpose — Pursue Your Dream. He had a two-hour signing at the University Book Store, then was recognized on the field before the game.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer was among the Gators' biggest cheerleaders from the sideline during the game and later spent time reminiscing with Florida offensive line coach Frank Verducci, who was the offensive line coach at Dallas the season Smith broke the NFL career rushing record.

RECORD DAY: RB Chris Rainey put himself in the Florida record book. His blocked punt early in the second quarter was the fifth of his career, setting a school record. The Lakeland native was tied with Tim Paulk (1987-91), Sam McCorkle (1992-95) and Carlos Dunlap (2007-09).

STURGIS, GOOD: Florida K Caleb Sturgis admits he's a little torn about his current streak.

On the one hand, it means the Gators aren't scoring touchdowns in the red zone. On the other, it means his team has confidence in him — and he's coming through.

Sturgis connected on a career-high four field goals Saturday and is 9-for-9 on the season.

"I'm happy to be back playing again and happy that I'm helping the team," said Sturgis, who missed the final nine games of last season with a back injury. "I'm always cheering for the offense to score, but I'm glad to help the team out if I'm needed."

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com. Follow her coverage at gators.tampabay.com.

By Eduardo A. Encina, Laura Keeley and Joey Knight, Times Staff Writers
Saturday, September 17, 2011

What we learned

1. Tommy Eveld will start at quarterback for Jesuit's next game. On the same night, Eveld won the job by performance and default. Not only was Eveld solid (12-for-24, 145 yards) in the Tigers' 21-7 triumph against Robinson, but classmate Aaron Paulsen, the starter for the first two games, sustained what appears to be a serious right knee injury while playing wideout in the second period. Paulsen said late Friday that he will have an MRI exam on the knee.

2. When Hillsborough doesn't turn the ball over, it's a pretty tough team to beat. In last week's "emotional" 36-6 loss to rival Plant (Earl Garcia's words, not ours), Hillsborough turned the ball over four times, twice deep in its own end. This past week against Newsome, which beat Tampa Bay Tech and lost by one point to Jefferson, the Terriers avoided shooting themselves in the foot. In fact, they forced two turnovers of their own. The result: a 35-28 win in which Hillsborough gained 383 total yards of offense. If the rest of the district of doom (6A-8) was hoping the Terriers would continue to slide after the Plant loss, well, that's not going to happen.

3. Plant can still pull them out. How's that song that Plant's band plays ad nauseam after leaving yet another opponent frustrated go? All they do is win? It wasn't pretty (four Plant turnovers) and didn't play out like a typical Panthers win, but their 12-7 triumph over Bergen Catholic of Oradell, N.J., showed Plant could win a slobberknocker. The Crusaders still had a chance to win on the final play and then coach Robert Weiner whips out some South Tampa magic dust and goes home riding into the sunset. The way Plant grinded this one out makes us pretty excited about that Oct. 28 game in Seffner.

Looking ahead:

Jefferson (1-1) at Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward (3-0): The reigning Class 3A state champion of Florida takes on the reigning Ohio Division 1 state champion. St. Edward, though, is ranked No. 9 in the country by MaxPreps, whereas Jefferson is ranked No. 63 in the state of Florida. This could be rough for the Dragons.

Sickles (2-0) at King (1-2): If Sickles wants to be considered a serious contender for the district runnerup position in 6A-8, the Gryphons need to beat King while it's down. The Lions defense has allowed an average of 36.5 points in its past two games, both losses.

Brandon (2-0) at Durant (1-1): District 6A-8 may be considered a bear, but with Newsome, Plant City, Brandon and Durant all in 7A-8, this district isn't any slouch either. Neither Brandon nor Durant can afford to take an early loss in what looks to be a dogfight for the top two slots.

By the numbers

46.7 Points per game averaged by Cambridge Christian through three games

2003 The last time Alonso began a season 3-0

2008 The last year Newsome lost to a team that didn't make the playoffs. A favorable omen for Jefferson and Hillsborough?

235 Total penalty yards by Plant and Bergen Catholic in the Panthers' 12-7 win at Manatee

36 Points scored by Leto in its 13-point loss Friday to Riverview

14 Total points scored by the Falcons in all of 2010

Game balls

RB Nelson Agholor, Berkeley Prep: Had 212 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a 42-7 win over Naples Golden Gate.

RB Anthony Brown, Hillsborough: Ran around, through and over the Newsome defense, finishing with 179 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in a 35-28 win.

C Cameron Dees, Armwood: Coach Sean Callahan said the center deserves a game ball for his effort in a 40-7 romp of TBT. We'll take his word for it.

QB Curtis Finch, Steinbrenner: Was efficient and made the most of his passing opportunities, going 7-for-10 for 117 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-0 win against Strawberry Crest.

RB Tyrell Garner, Brandon: Ran for 336 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries in a 29-22 win over Freedom.

RB Jeremiah Green, Hillsborough: He averaged the highest number of yards per carry (14.6) for Hillsborough in its 35-28 win. He finished with 102 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries.

Jesuit D-line: While we're lauding linemen, we'll recognize Ike Edwards, Brad Smith, Vincent Jackson and Robby Garcia, who were in Robinson's backfield most of the night.

RB Steven Maines, Riverview: Reeled off runs of 80 and 96 yards en route to a 300-plus-yard effort in the Sharks' 49-36 triumph at Leto.

Plant defense: Give them all a game ball. They held a Bergen Catholic team from New Jersey that put up 41 on a nationally ranked opponent to a touchdown and forced four turnovers.

QB Michael Serra, Leto: Serra ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns. That means he scored more points in the Falcons' 49-36 loss to Riverview than the entire Leto team scored in 2010. For that, sir, you are awarded a game ball.

Audibles

"We're in the same situation we were in last year. We've been here before, now we've got to win a few more games and there are some quality teams down the line." — Mike DePue, Robinson coach, whose team also fell to Jesuit in the 2010 regular season but still reached the playoffs

"You want to say they're like Armwood because you can get the ball to the 10-yard line and then you can never score against them. That's what seemed to happen tonight. That's got to be partially on us, but mainly on them." — Robert Weiner, Plant coach, comparing Bergen Catholic's defense to Armwood.

By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State's top-20 defense struggled early against No. 1 Oklahoma.

After the Seminoles allowed only 84 yards the week before against Charleston Southern, FSU gave up almost that many on the Sooners' first drive Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium. Landry Jones' quarterback sneak capped off a 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to open the contest.

It was the first time a Noles opponent scored in the first half all season. Oklahoma had only three plays on that drive that didn't gain at least 3 yards — and one of those was a goal-line plunge by Jones.

Shaw hurt: FSU's receiving corps took a major blow early in the second quarter. Kenny Shaw caught a pass deep in Oklahoma territory, took two steps and was sandwiched by Oklahoma S Javon Harris and LB Tom Wort.

Shaw appeared to be moving his hands but lay on the field for almost 10 minutes before being carted off of the field. FSU officials said Shaw was conscious as he left the field and was taken to an area hospital for X-rays.

Harris was flagged for a personal foul on the play.

Receiver updates: WR Bert Reed was in uniform Saturday night after spraining his ankle in the second half of the Seminoles' win over Charleston Southern.

Reed entered the game with 148 career catches — tied with Greg Carr for fifth-most in school history. He warmed up with the team but did not catch a pass in the first quarter.

As expected, the Noles' receiving corps was still without Willie Haulstead (concussion), who was not in uniform.

Freshman Rashad Greene earned his first career start at receiver. The four-star recruit entered the game with three touchdowns on three catches through the first two games of his college career.

Reid, McCray hurt: CB Greg Reid returned from his suspension and reentered the starting lineup Saturday night.

But the Jim Thorpe Award preseason candidate got a rude welcome back. His leg landed awkwardly on the first drive of the game, and Reid limped off of the field. He returned later in the quarter.

DT Moses McCray, a former Hillsborough High star, also left with an apparent leg injury during the game's first drive.

Line flip-flop: FSU switched two offensive linemen in its starting lineup. Jacob Fahrenkrug moved from center to left guard, and Bryan Stork moved from left guard to center.

Stork had started both games of his sophomore season at guard, while Fahrenkrug had been the starting center for the first two contests.

O'Leary's big grabs: Highly regarded freshman TE Nick O'Leary matched his career total of two catches on FSU's first drive. His third-down catch kept the Noles' drive alive near midfield.

FSU ended the drive with a 53-yard field goal.

Times staff writer Matt Baker can be reached at mbaker@sptimes.com.

By Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State's top 20 defense struggled early against No. 1 Oklahoma.

After the No. 5 Seminoles allowed only 84 yards the week before against Charleston Southern, they gave up almost that many on the Sooners' first series Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium. QB Landry Jones' 1-yard sneak capped a 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to open the game.

It was the first time a Seminoles opponent scored in the first half this season. Oklahoma had only three plays on that drive that didn't gain at least 3 yards, and one of those was the goal-line plunge by Jones.

But twice in the second quarter the Sooners moved inside the FSU 5 only to see the Seminoles defense stiffen. The Sooners settled for field goals of 21 and 29 yards to build a 13-3 lead at halftime.

Shaw hurt: FSU's receiving corps took a major blow early in the second quarter. Kenny Shaw caught a pass deep in Oklahoma territory near the goal line, took two steps and was sandwiched by S Javon Harris and LB Tom Wort.

Shaw appeared to be moving his hands but lay on the field for almost 10 minutes before being carted off. FSU officials said Shaw was conscious as he left the field, and he was taken to an area hospital for X-rays.

Harris was flagged for a personal foul on the play.

Receiver updates: WR Bert Reed was in uniform Saturday after spraining his ankle in the second half last week of the Seminoles' win over Charleston Southern.

Reed entered the game with 148 career catches, tied with Greg Carr for fifth most in school history. He warmed up with the team but did not catch a pass in the first quarter.

As expected, the Seminoles were still without Willie Haulstead (concussion), who was not in uniform.

Freshman Rashad Greene earned his first career start at receiver. The four-star recruit entered the game with three touchdowns on three catches through the first two games of his college career.

Reid, McCray hurt: CB Greg Reid returned from his suspension and re-entered the starting lineup.

But the Jim Thorpe Award preseason candidate got a rude welcome. His leg landed awkwardly on the first drive of the game, and Reid limped off of the field. He returned later in the quarter.

DT Moses McCray, a former Hillsborough High standout, also left with an apparent leg injury during the first drive.

Line flip-flop: FSU switched two offensive linemen in its starting lineup. Jacob Fahrenkrug moved from center to left guard, and Bryan Stork moved from left guard to center. Stork had started both games of his sophomore season at guard, while Fahrenkrug had been the starting center for the first two contests.

O'Leary's big grabs: Highly regarded freshman TE Nick O'Leary matched his career total of two catches on FSU's first drive. His third-down catch kept the drive alive near midfield. FSU ended the drive with a 53-yard field goal.

Matt Baker can be reached at mbaker@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Saturday, September 17, 2011

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — One of these days, West Virginia will put together two good halves in the same afternoon.

For now, one outstanding half per game is good enough.

Geno Smith threw for a career-high 388 yards and the 18th-ranked Mountaineers withstood a furious comeback by Maryland to pull out a 37-31 victory Saturday.

One week earlier, West Virginia trailed Norfolk State at halftime before pulling away. The Mountaineers addressed that and used what they learned to build a 27-10 lead at the break against the stunned Terrapins.

The margin swelled to 24 points before Maryland rallied to within 34-31 with 10:29 left.

"We kind of let off the gas, not intentionally, but I just think we came out fired up," Smith said. "We didn't put together four solid quarters. … We need to come back and show more effort and play harder."

Smith directed a 14-play, 65-yard drive that produced a field goal with 4:42 left, leaving the Terrapins no choice but to score a touchdown.

Maryland moved to the West Virginia 35 before Eain Smith intercepted a Danny O'Brien pass with 1:13 remaining to hand coach Randy Edsall his first defeat at Maryland.

"I thought we made too many errors," the former Connecticut coach said of the Terrapins' three turnovers and seven penalties. "…We didn't get it done because West Virginia is a good team and we made some mistakes."

Both teams used no-huddle offenses with uncanny efficiency. West Virginia gained 480 yards, and Maryland amassed 477.

The Terrapins scored three straight touchdowns to cut the gap to 34-31, thrilling the sellout crowd of 53,627.

"They played harder than we did for the majority of the second half," West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. "They got some momentum, and it's a game of momentum."

IOWA 31, PITTSBURGH 27: With all hope apparently lost, the Hawkeyes turned to James Vandenberg and asked the junior to start chucking it.

Vandenberg responded by engineering the biggest comeback in Iowa history. He threw three touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the host Hawkeyes rallied from a 17-point deficit with just more than 12 minutes left to stun the Panthers.

Vandenberg threw for 399 yards — 162 in the fourth quarter — and completed a rally with a 22-yard touchdown to Kevonte Martin-Manley with 2:51 left.

Iowa's Micah Hyde picked off Tino Sunseri with 1:41 left, ending Pittsburgh's last chance.

"We're just not mature right now to be able to close it out like we needed to," first-year Pittsburgh coach Todd Graham said. "I'm hurting for them, hurting for those seniors. That one hurt a bunch."

CINCINNATI 59, AKRON 14: Zach Collaros threw for a touchdown and ran for another and the defense returned three turnovers for scores in the first half for the host Bearcats, who led 49-0 at halftime and got a chance to rest their starters the rest of the way. The Zips have been outscored 142-17 in three games, losing to Ohio State, Temple and Cincinnati.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Saturday, September 17, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Faster and faster, the yard lines flash past, like the road stripes disappearing beneath a street racer. Quicker and quicker he moves, as if his world is in fast forward which, of courses, it is.

Up ahead, there is an end zone.

Beyond it, there is stardom.

Somewhere on the other side, there may even be redemption for Chris Rainey.

He is the finest player on the Florida Gators' roster, and perhaps in the Southeastern Conference, and perhaps in the nation. Whatever you have thought of Rainey, and whatever you may still think, there is magic in his feet and wonder in his hands.

Time will tell if Rainey can outrun a bad reputation, or if he can catch up to a second look. For now, what we know is that the Tennessee Vols cannot keep up with him. Three weeks into a season, and no one else in college football can, either.

For now, however, the fans are chanting his name.

For now, they are cheering his effort.

For now, fans of the Florida Gators want to believe in second chances.

Rainey, the Gators' running back, was incredible in Saturday afternoon's 33-23 victory over Tennessee. He made every big play, every key play, as Florida won its first SEC game of the year. He stacked statistics like a Heisman Trophy candidate, and yes, if you judge off the season's first three weeks, he should be one.

He rushed for 108 yards against Tennessee.

He caught passes for 104, including the longest reception in Gators' history (83 yards) by a running back.

He blocked a punt.

He had 233 total yards.

He returned three punts for 23 yards.

Best of all, he managed not to text anyone.

Yes, that came up again. When a player messes up as badly as Rainey did last year — he sent a threatening text to his ex-girlfriend that included the now famous phrase "Time to Die" — it always does. When you consider the horrible history of violence against women, there should be a lot of yards between excellence and amnesia. You don't find forgiveness in an end zone.

Still, those who know Rainey a lot better than I do swear he is not a bad kid, just a kid who typed a dumb thing into his cell phone. Maybe that's true. He is a soft spoken man, one who tucks his beard, lowers his head and stares upward at you as he talks. He describes himself as a guy with a constant smile. He says he has matured in the last year. Maybe that's true, too. Still, people continue to raise their eyebrows when his name comes up.

"I don't care what people think," he said softly. "They don't know me."

On other hand, as long as the world has Rainey underneath a microscope, perhaps it should notice what a terrific player he is, too.

For instance, did you check him out in the middle of the second quarter when he caught a short pass from John Brantley and turned it into an 83-yard touchdown? "I turned and saw the biggest hole I've ever seen in my life," Rainey said.

Did you see him in the fourth quarter, when Florida was trying to seal the victory? Rainey carried the ball seven straight times, and Florida moved from its 25 to the Tennessee 32. On one play, Rainey started to his right, broke a tackle by Curt Maggitt, ran left, broke another by Dontavis Sapp, then went 8 yards.

Keep this in mind. Going into Saturday's game, Rainey was the only player in the country who led his team in both rushing and receiving. Add in the punt returns, and punt block, and you can argue Rainey is the most versatile player in America.

"I don't know," Florida coach Will Muschamp said. "This guy works hard. He talks a lot, but he doesn't complain about anything. Playing football, playing at Florida, is important to him. Since I've been here, he's been everything you want in a football player and everything you want as a competitor."

For now, Florida fans want to believe in Rainey. These days, there is nothing so comforting as the ball in Rainey's hands. These days, he is the right kind of threat.

Time to fly.

Times wires
Saturday, September 17, 2011

OAKLAND, Calif. — In all his years during four managerial stops, Jim Leyland has never believed that chemistry can carry a club. He figures winning brings a team together.

Yet these resilient Tigers have their old-school skipper changing his tune ever so slightly. One glimpse of this group celebrating its AL Central crown might have done the trick: puffs of cigar smoke and swigs of champagne between the hugs, handshakes and cheers.

Detroit captured its first division title since 1987 with a 3-1 win at Oakland late Friday night, continuing a sensational September by securing a spot in October.

Nearly everyone on the roster has contributed. Friday's win was a good example, with role player Don Kelly hitting an RBI single and a solo homer.

"That's why you coach a team," Leyland said. "This is something Donnie Kelly will never forget. That's what makes it special to me. There's a guy a lot of people don't know about, don't talk about very much."

Leyland, 66, has received key contributions from regulars such as 1B Miguel Cabrera and closer Jose Valverde, reserves such as Kelly and new additions Delmon Young, the former Ray, and RHP Doug Fister.

To think this team was eight games back and four below .500 in early May.

"At that point in the season we all believed we were a very talented team. Coming out of spring training this was one of our goals and we believed we'd be able to do this," said C Alex Avila, one of the team's breakout stars. "We thought we'd get there and win the games necessary to put us in this position. It's just a lot of fun to be on this ballclub right now. This is the first step."

ORIOLES: CF Adam Jones, who hasn't started a game since Friday because of pain in his right thumb, was scheduled to be examined by a hand specialist.

PHILLIES: Former Pasco High standout Domonic Brown was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The opening day rightfielder was demoted July 30.

RANGERS: Nelson Cruz started at DH, his first start since straining his left hamstring Aug. 28.

RED SOX: RHP Clay Buchholz, who hasn't pitched since June 17 because of a stress fracture in his lower back, threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session and could pitch a simulated game Monday.

TWINS: 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who hasn't played since Sept. 9 because of an oblique injury, was shut down for the season.

YANKEES: 3B Alex Rodriguez homered in his return to the lineup after missing six games with a sprained left thumb.

By Tyler Jett, Times Correspondent
Saturday, September 17, 2011

GAINESVILLE — On the first snap of the second half, in a game tighter than it should have been, Ronald Powell broke through.

Powell, a Florida sophomore linebacker/defensive end, rushed off the left edge. Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray rolled out, trying to avoid the heat.

Powell kept coming, so Bray took a step back and let the ball fly. Gators safety Josh Evans then watched the ball fall safely into his hands.

With UF up 16-7, coach Will Muschamp greeted Powell as he walked off the field, wrapping his arm around his player's helmet to give him a message.

"I want these guys to play well; I play through them," Muschamp said. "When you see a guy finally … get the pressure, get the caused interception, I'm excited for him."

Powell had been criticized by Muschamp and coordinator Dan Quinn for not pressuring the quarterback enough. While Muschamp's message was about pride for one specific player, the coach could have been talking about his entire defensive line.

In wins over Florida Atlantic and UAB, the Gators had two sacks total. But in Saturday's 33-23 victory, they finished with three sacks and six pressures, and two defensive linemen swatted passes at the line of scrimmage.

"We came out playing with a chip on our shoulder, knowing that we dictate the outcome of the game," said defensive tackle Jaye Howard, who had four tackles and combined with Powell on a sack. "People were doubting us, looking over us. We're playing with the best of them right now."

Florida's improved pass rush was key because of its opponent: Bray entered the game first in the SEC with 698 passing yards and seven touchdowns.

Against UF, Bray went 26-of-48 for 288 yards and three touchdowns, but he was forced into two interceptions, a number that would have been higher if four potential picks weren't dropped and another one wasn't called back on an interference call.

The Gators received an emotional boost from the return of sophomore defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, who was suspended for two games after the NCAA ruled he received impermissible benefits as a recruit. Floyd said it felt good getting back on the field, even better getting pressure.

"That's what a defensive lineman wants; we want to hit the quarterback, the pretty boys, the you-can't-touch-me guys," he said. "That's what defensive linemen want; we want quarterbacks."

Saturday, September 17, 2011

MIAMI — The sweet homecoming planned for UCF's South Florida players turned into a nightmare.

FIU capitalized on turnovers and gashed big holes through UCF's defensive line to claim a 17-10 win Saturday night. The game drew an announced crowd of 20,205, an FIU Stadium record.

The Knights (2-1) tumbled out of the national conversation, while the Panthers opened 3-0 for the first time their history.

FIU's speedy, fired-up lineup rattled the Knights, forcing them to cough up turnovers and rack up a string of costly penalties. And the Panthers rolled to the victory largely without star playmaker T.Y. Hilton.

FIU's Jack Griffin hit a 27-yard field goal with 3:19 left in the third quarter, extending what became a comfortable 17-7 lead with UCF's offense stuck in neutral. The kick capped a nine-play, 85-yard drive that lasted 3:19.

UCF showed signs of life late in the fourth quarter but couldn't claw its way to the end zone. Senior Nick Cattoi hit a 31-yard field goal to make the score 17-10.

It wasn't nearly enough to catch the Panthers. The tide turned against the Knights in the third quarter.

UCF junior cornerback Josh Robinson fumbled a punt deep in Knights territory, setting up an easy scoring drive.

FIU lost Hilton to what appeared to be an injured right hamstring with 5:47 left in the second quarter. He returned for two plays in the third quarter then sat out the rest of the game.

JU 37, CHARLESTON SO. 30: Quintin Davis caught a 42-yard touchdown from Josh McGregor with 4:20 left to lift the host Dolphins (1-2).

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2011

BOSTON — First, he had to breathe. Once Matt Moore got that under control, having walked the second and third batters he faced in the sixth inning of the most important game of the Rays' season, he was ready to move on to the next issue, which was getting outs.

The 22-year-old rookie, in his second big-league game, gathered himself in the charged, playoff-like atmosphere of Fenway Park and got the two he needed to escape that inning, then six more after that, playing a crucial role in a critical victory, a 4-3 thriller over the Red Sox.

"It's awesome," said Evan Longoria, who did his part with another key hit. "I gave him a big hug, and I said, 'That's impressive.' … That's a really big situation for him to come in and pitch like he did."

The win moved the Rays (84-67) back to within three games of the AL wild card-leading Red Sox, albeit with only 11 remaining, and an opportunity today to meet their goal of taking three of four in the series from the struggling Sox, who have lost eight of 10. Even better, they feel, with David Price on the mound against Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

"I like our chances," centerfielder B.J. Upton said. "Definitely, definitely like our chances."

Things didn't look nearly as promising as the Rays trudged out of Fenway on Friday night, frustrated that what they considered unfair umpiring led to a costly loss. That made Saturday's game essentially a must-win and, as at other points when their season seemed lost, they showed the resolve to find a way.

"Isn't it fantastic?" manager Joe Maddon said. "The intensity, all that stuff is where it needs to be. We're already playing playoff baseball and we're not even to the playoffs yet."

They scored first for the third straight game, with Ben Zobrist hitting a two-run homer off Jon Lester, and expanded the lead to 3-0 when Desmond Jennings made a heads-up play to score on a wild pitch in the third.

Jeff Niemann gave the Sox two runs back in their third, then Longoria's two-out single in the fifth gave the Rays the 4-2 lead that Maddon chose to put in Moore's hands, with, oh by the way, the heart of Boston's lineup coming up to start the sixth.

The decision wasn't necessarily spontaneous. Maddon acknowledged that he had been plotting this since Moore's debut — Wednesday in Baltimore, which was the first time he ever saw him throw — figuring the top prospect would play a key role over the weekend, and that Niemann would be the starter most likely in need of relief.

So even when Moore didn't start well — he got Dustin Pedroia on a groundout then walked Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz — Maddon didn't waver. He didn't even have any of the other nine relievers warming up.

"My thought was that he had the best stuff to get through that moment, and it was up to him to throw a strike, and he did," Maddon said. "To go three innings right there in those circumstances, that's quite a testament to his makeup."

Moore tried to act like he was still pitching in Montgomery, Ala., or Durham, N.C. (though benefit­ting from the All-Star Futures Game experience in Phoenix), ignoring the familiar names and faces and focusing on the task.

"I just tried to really feel comfortable out there and control my breathing," he said. "It got easier."

He had trouble to start the seventh, allowing two singles, but kept the damage to one run, striking out Pedroia for the last one, then rolling through the eighth.

"When guys got on early, it wasn't like I said, 'Oh, crap,' " Moore explained. "It was, 'I've got to make some pitches, I'm going to make some pitches.' It was the mentality that I went with, and fortunately it worked out this time."

Maddon showed something, too: He clearly likes his new toy.

"He's kind of like the wild card," Maddon said. "He's the joker right now, he's the wild card. Hopefully he is the wild card."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

Times wires
Saturday, September 17, 2011

Orioles 6, Angels 2

BALTIMORE — Los Angeles' shaky playoff hopes took another blow when Ervin Santana yielded five first-inning runs. Desperately needing a win to stay within striking distance of the first-place Rangers in the AL West and the Red Sox in the wild-card chase, the Angels fell flat for the second night in a row against the last-place Orioles. Baltimore rookie Zach Britton struck out a career-high seven in seven strong innings.

Times wires
Saturday, September 17, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Marcus Lattimore ran for a career-high 246 yards and three touchdowns to help No. 10 South Carolina hang on for a 24-21 victory over Navy on Saturday.

Lattimore carried 37 times to average 6.6 yards a carry. The Gamecocks ran 37 plays in the second half, and the sophomore had the ball on 26 of them.

The Midshipmen ran their option efficiently, rushing for 274 yards split among seven players.

After Lattimore was stopped for a loss for the first time in the game on a fourth down, Navy got the ball at its 6-yard line with 5:34 left. But Antonio Allen picked off a fourth-down pass with a minute to go to seal the Gamecocks win.

South Carolina was 1-2 as a top 10 team under coach Steve Spurrier.

Quarterback Stephen Garcia, a former Jefferson High standout, threw an interception on the Gamecocks' first possession of the third quarter.

Spurrier then turned the game over to his all-conference running back. Lattimore, who touched the ball on 41 of his team's 69 plays, also caught four passes for 25 yards.

Garcia finished 18-of-25 for 204 yards.

Fullback Alex Teich led the Midshipmen with 93 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Georgia, Murray roll

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia's largest margin of victory in 17 years gave the Bulldogs a needed lift after losses to two ranked teams.

Former Plant High standout Aaron Murray passed for three touchdowns and ran for a score — all in the first half — and Georgia routed Coastal Carolina 59-0.

It was Georgia's most lopsided win since beating Northeast Louisiana 70-6 in 1994.

"The guys did about as good as I could ask them to do," coach Mark Richt said.

Georgia regrouped after losing its first two games, to Boise State and South Carolina, that raised the pressure on Richt. The Bulldogs, who led 35-0 at halftime, won for the first time since beating Georgia Tech on Nov. 27.

"It's been too long," said cornerback Brandon Boykin, who helped the defense hold Coastal Carolina to seven first downs and 112 total yards.

Georgia needed the boost before starting a stretch of five straight SEC games.

Murray, who played only one series in the second half, went 18-of-26 for 188 yards with no interceptions. Backup Hutson Mason added a touchdown pass.

"(Saturday) was a great game and really got some guys fired up," Murray said. "I think we're ready to get back into SEC play and get going again. We have a lot of guys playing great football right now, and we think we can play with anyone."

Vandy 30, Mississippi 7: Larry Smith ran for a touchdown and Trey Wilson returned one of his two interceptions for a 52-yard score as the host Commodores scored 21 straight in the second quarter. It marked Vanderbilt's biggest margin of victory in an SEC game since beating Mississippi State 49-19 in 1971. The Commodores picked off five passes, all off Zack Stoudt, and outgained the Rebels 387-234 in total offense.

"I don't want anyone to feel like we think we have arrived because we haven't," Vanderbilt coach James Franklin said. "We have a long ways to go. … We believe in what we are doing. But we have a long ways to go."

Stoudt finished 13-of-26 for 139 yards and a touchdown with the five interceptions for the Rebels.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 17, 2011

TAMPA — For those scoring at home, the Marching 100 is Florida A&M's famous marching band, not the USF offense, which seemed to be only stopped by the halftime performance Saturday night.

The No. 20 Bulls (3-0) set all sorts of offensive records Saturday, jumping to a 49-14 halftime lead and cruising with backups to a 70-17 victory against the Division I-AA Rattlers before an announced crowd of 50,128 at Raymond James Stadium.

Quarterback B.J. Daniels was prolific again — after throwing for a career-best 359 yards last week against Ball State, he had 355 at halftime Saturday, including four touchdown passes and another on the ground.

And running back Darrell Scott had a breakout game, getting a 56-yard touchdown run and an 84-yard score on a screen pass on the way to a 197-yard first half.

The Bulls wound up with 745 total yards, a school and Big East mark.

To find a higher scoring total for the Bulls, you have to go all the way back to the first game in program history, an 80-3 win against Kentucky Wesleyan back in 1997.

The Bulls were so in control that coach Skip Holtz inserted his second-string offense in the first quarter, only to see backup Bobby Eveld hit as he threw, and Florida A&M returned the interception to the USF 7, setting up the first first-half points the Bulls allowed this season. The Rattlers added a second score, but that was little compared to the way the Bulls marched down the field.

One gripe in USF's first two wins was too often, they settled for field goals instead of touchdowns in the red zone; on this night kicker Maikon Bonani was limited to extra points (10).

It was the kind of game that left one to scramble through the record books. USF's record for total offense had been 580 yards (Liberty, 2001), and USF broke that on the opening drive of the second half, which ended with Scott's 30-yard touchdown.

The Big East record of 729 yards, set by Louisville in 2007, fell, too.

Daniels matched Matt Grothe's school record of 382 passing yards, completing 21-of-31, and receiver Sterling Griffin led the way with eight catches for 97 yards and a score. Scott finished with a career-best 146 yards, averaging 12.2 yards on his 12 carries. Eveld threw two interceptions but went 9-for-12 for 95 yards in relief.

The defense held Florida A&M to 132 yards and seven first downs in the first three quarters and just 10 first downs overall to USF's school-record 39.

USF has one more home tuneup on the schedule, hosting lowly UTEP next week, before opening Big East play Sept. 29 at Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh lost to Iowa on Saturday, solidifying USF's status as the top challenger to preseason favorite West Virginia.

That game picked up an added level of intrigue Saturday with news that Pittsburgh and Syracuse had applied to leave the Big East and join the ACC, a move that leaves the future of Big East football uncertain as college football's major conferences continue to reshuffle their lineups.

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com and at (813) 226-3346. Check out his blog at tampabay.com/blogs/bulls and follow him at Twitter.com/gregauman.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Players of the day

D.J. Grant, TE, Texas

The junior, who missed the past two seasons with knee injuries and had one catch in the first two games, caught his first three career TDs in a 49-20 win over UCLA.

Seth Doege, QB, Texas Tech

The junior was 40-of-44 for 401 yards and five TDs in a 59-13 win over New Mexico. His 90.9 percent completion rate set a I-A record for players attempting at least 40 passes.

Trent Steelman, QB, Army

The junior ran for three TDs for the second straight week, the final one a 1-yard winner with 2:49 left to beat Northwestern 21-14. He also scored from 1 and 17 yards.

Cincinnati's defense

The unit scored three TDs during the first half of a 59-14 win over Akron. Junior linebacker Maalik Bomar returned a fumble 54 yards. Senior cornerback Dominique Battle and junior cornerback Camerron Cheatham returned interceptions 36 and 53 yards, respectively.

Numbers of the day

768, 604 Total yards and rushing yards, respectively, for Georgia Tech in a 66-24 win over visiting Kansas. The 12.1-yard average on 50 carries surpassed the I-A record of 11.9 by Alabama in a 77-6 win over Virginia Tech on Oct. 27, 1973. The I-A record for total yards is 1,021 by Houston in a 95-21 win over SMU on Oct. 21, 1989. For rushing yards, it's 768 by Oklahoma in a 70-24 win over Kansas State on Oct. 15, 1988.

Stat of the day

14-of-18 Third-down conversions for Clemson in a 38-24 win over visiting Auburn. Two failures came on Clemson's first two series.

Under-the-radar game of the day

St. Francis (Pa.) 50, Morehead St. 49

Kyle Harbridge rushed for 348 yards, including a 10-yard TD with 1:28 left, as the host I-AA Red Flash rallied from a 49-31 third-quarter deficit. Harbridge, a junior, also ran for TDs of 94, 83 and 4 yards and caught a 28-yard TD.



Inconsistent kicker of the day

B oston College sopho­more Nate Freese made field goals of 43 and 47 yards.

He also sent an extra point off the right upright and a 23-yard field goal off the left upright with 43 seconds left to seal a 20-19 loss to visiting Duke. The missed field goal came after the Eagles, 0-3 for the first time since 1991, drove from their 21 to the Blue Devils 5 in just 1:41.

"I was trying to get the ball up," Freese said of the field goal. "I did that, but it caught the inside of my toe a little bit."

Boston College coach Frank Spaziani cited one of baseball's best closers ever in trying to console Freese.

"I told him what (Mariano) Rivera says," Spaziani said. " 'If you are going to be successful in sports, you have to have a short memory.' "

Duke can sympathize. Will Snyderwine missed a 28-yard field goal with 1:43 left in its 23-21 season-opening loss to I-AA Richmond.

"They feel horrible, and we're all singing and celebrating," said coach David Cutcliffe, whose team won an ACC opener for only the second time in the past 11 seasons. "But that's sports. I want to sing a lot more."

Punt of the day

Adam Pines, Indiana

Late in a 38-21 win over South Carolina State, the Hoosiers' Dusty Kiel was called for intentional grounding on first down. Even with the loss of down, it should have been second. But the sideline marker showed third. And after an incompletion, Pines, a junior, sent one 43 yards.

Coach of the day

James Franklin, Vanderbilt

By beating Mississippi 30-7, Franklin is the first Vandy coach to start 3-0 since E.H. Alley in 1943. He also is the second to win his SEC debut. Ray Morrison beat Mississippi State 14-9 in 1935.

Block of the day

Gabe Knapton, DE, Wyoming

The senior got his hand on an extra point with three seconds left to preserve a 28-27 win over host Bowling Green. The Cowboys are 3-0 for the first time since 1996.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Team of the day



Nebraska

The Cornhuskers have scored at least 40 in their first three games (40-7 over Chattanooga, 42-29 over Fresno State and 51-38 over Washington). The last time they did that? In 1995 (64-21 over Oklahoma State, 50-10 over Michigan State and 77-28 over Arizona State), which they capped by beating Florida for the national title.

Times wires
Saturday, September 17, 2011

Rangers 7, Mariners 6

SEATTLE — Josh Hamilton had four hits, including a homer, and drove in three runs to help Texas extend its AL West lead to 4½ games over Los Angeles. The Rangers offense picked up a struggling Colby Lewis and hit three homers in the third inning.

Times wires
Saturday, September 17, 2011

Phillies 9, Cardinals 2

PHILADELPHIA — Roy Oswalt pitched seven dominant innings, Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam and Philadelphia clinched its fifth straight National League East title. Players ran onto the field a bit faster than usual but simply exchanged handshakes, hugs and high-fives.

Times wires
Saturday, September 17, 2011

Brewers 10, Reds 1

CINCINNATI — Yovani Gallardo struck out a career-high 13 and Ryan Braun hit his third homer in two nights to help Milwaukee inch closer to an NL Central title. Yuniesky Betancourt also homered and Gallardo pulled off the rare feat of striking out four in one inning as the Brewers lowered their magic number to five.