By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 25, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS — Doug Martin moved forward as arms slapped his shoulder pads while he bumped off bodies, ducking and weaving until he broke free of all the people trying to get a piece of him Thursday night.

When he had reached the Bucs locker room, after running through the gauntlet of teammates, coaches and owners, the celebration — make that the coronation —began.

"He's special," tight end Dallas Clark said while nodding toward the rookie from Boise State. "He's only going to get better, and he is fun to block for, that's for sure."

Martin, drafted in the first round when the Bucs traded up to get him in April, burst onto the national stage by accounting for 214 total yards and two touchdowns in a 36-17 win over the Vikings.

He ran 29 times for 135 yards and a touchdown. He caught three passes for 79 yards, scoring on a 64-yard screen pass from Josh Freeman.

It was the first 100-yard rushing game for Martin, who matched Vikings Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson highlight for highlight in front of a national television audience on NFL Network.

Considering the short week, long flight and noisy Metrodome on Thursday, the Bucs could not have asked for a better performance.

"It was tough, but no one cares," Clark said. "This league isn't about excuses. It doesn't matter if we played Monday, the next day, in a pasture, a three-hour flight.

"I think the guys did a great job of handling the situation and showed great maturity. The guys moved on and didn't lie around and thinking about losing a tough one (to New Orleans) Sunday.

The Bucs (3-4) beat the Vikings for the sixth straight time and broke the Thursday night curse of road teams, who were 1-5 this season. It was the first loss at the Metrodome this season for the Vikings (5-3).

Martin, who had 253 yards from scrimmage in two previous games combined, got off to a fast start, bursting for a seasonlong 41-yard run in the first quarter. He helped the Bucs extend their lead to 27-10 on the opening drive of the second half by taking a screen pass in the left flat from Freeman, setting up blocks from center Jeremy Zuttah and receiver Tiquan Underwood to race 64 yards for a touchdown.

"The line did a good job of opening holes and sustaining their blocks," Martin said. "We just wanted to be more physical than the other team. If we do that, then the holes will open up and I can just do my job."

Freeman became the first quarterback in club history to record three touchdown passes for the third consecutive game.

"He hit a few runs again," Bucs coach Greg Schiano said of Martin. "He comes spitting out of there and that's what we believe he can do. He's just getting better and better. I think the game is starting to slow down for him a little bit."

Freeman hasn't slowed down, either. He passed for 262 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

When the Vikings drew within 30-17 midway through the third quarter, Freeman put together a 16-play, 87-yard drive to put the game away, going 4-of-4 passing to convert four third-down situations.

"He was unbelievable," Schiano said of Freeman. "He was (4-for-4) on third-down conversions and some of them were longer. They weren't your third and 2s. It was an excellent job by the offensive line and Josh sliding up in the pocket."

The Bucs defense may have allowed 123 yard rushing to Peterson, but it bottled up quarterback Christian Ponder, sacking him three times. Tampa Bay also forced two fumbles that led to 10 points.

But the night and the game belonged to Martin.

"The moment is never too big for Doug," Freeman said.

Times wires
Thursday, October 25, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — It was hot and humid, and his putts were lipping out. Tiger Woods felt like he had been run over halfway through his first round in Malaysia since winning the 1999 World Cup on the same course.

Only one way to fix that: The 14-time major winner sank five birdies on the back nine Thursday and finished with 5-under 66 to trail first-round leader Troy Matteson by three shots.

Matteson had eight birdies in his 63 to take a one-stroke lead over fellow Americans Jeff Overton, Brian Harman and Robert Garrigus.

After birdies at the third and fifth holes, Woods missed two short putts for par at the eighth and ninth and seemed frustrated, frequently wiping his face and neck with a white towel and glaring after the balls that didn't drop in.

Knowing it was going to take a total of around 20 under to win on the 6,909-yard Mines Resort and Golf Club course, Woods decided the only way to get into contention was be aggressive in the PGA and Asian tours co-sponsored event.

"It's a different type of mind-set," he said. "Going out there and shooting even par on that front nine, I just felt like I got run over."

Matteson had missed the cut in his past two PGA Tour starts and failed to break par in any of his past four competitive rounds. But he posted his lowest score since a 61 at the John Deere Classic in July, when he finished second after a playoff in his best result of the season.

He had birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 6 and 11 and finished with four straight, closing by holing his third shot from the greenside bunker on the par-4 18th.

"The pin is really tricky on 18. I knew I'd be doing good if I could leave myself 7 or 8 feet for par, and it bounced and slam-dunked in the hole," he said.

LPGA: Inbee Park of South Korea shot 7-under 65 for a two-stroke lead over local favorite Yani Tseng after the first round of the Taiwan Championship in Yang Mei. Tampa's Cindy LaCrosse was at 3-over 75 and Tampa resident Kristy McPherson at 4-over 76.

Times staff, wires
Thursday, October 25, 2012

TALLAHASSEE — After four practices, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said James Wilder Jr. and Devonta Freeman are ready to take over at tailback for leading rusher Chris Thompson, who is out for the season with a torn ACL.

"They've stepped up and know that they've got an opportunity and that our team needs them," Fisher said Thursday.

Wilder, a former Plant High standout, and Freeman will be co-starters for the first time Saturday against Duke.

Wilder and Freeman, both sophomores, this week have consistently picked up blitzes and made calls at the line like veteran backs do, Fisher said.

"They want to live up to the legacy of what Chris has left and knowing how well he was playing and the things he was doing for us, even without the ball," Fisher said. "They take great pride in that."

notable: The Seminoles are negotiating with a non-ACC team to set up a neutral-site game to begin the 2014 season, Fisher said. Playing a "significant opponent" could help strength of schedule, he said.

Coley Harvey, Orlando Sentinel

UF: Will UGA rush the field again?

GAINESVILLE — Two Gators had different reactions when Georgia FB Alexander Ogletree said on Twitter the Bulldogs should repeat their controversial 2007 rush of the field after their first touchdown Saturday.

"Think we should rush the field first touchdown … fans and all!" Ogletree posted.

In 2007, the Bulldogs rushed the field after scoring in the first quarter, resulting in two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a 42-30 victory.

Florida redshirt senior G James Wilson remembers that as "pretty upsetting." "I hope that they don't embarrass the game like that," he said.

Florida redshirt senior DT Omar Hunter said he wouldn't mind: "I would enjoy that. It would be fun. It's good for the game. I love it."

Times wires

USF: Good and bad news on grad rates

TAMPA — USF's athletic department showed improvement in Graduation Success Rates released by the NCAA, but the Bulls were worst in the Big East in football and overall scores. The numbers reflect rates for athletes who enrolled in 2005; USF has made significant progress in recent years in other academic metrics. Read more at tampabay.com/blogs/bulls.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

UM: Dispute over DE Cain's departure

CORAL GABLES — Backup DE Kelvin Cain quit the team by not showing up last week, a Hurricanes spokesman said. Cain's mother, Ursula, said he told her he did not quit and when he reported to the locker room, his locker was cleared out. The junior from Clovis, Calif., said Thursday he had an issue to resolve and hoped to rejoin the team soon.

Times wires

Times wires
Thursday, October 25, 2012

Boxing

Legendary trainer Steward Dies

Emanuel Steward proved rough and tough wasn't the only way to win in boxing. With a smile on his face and a soothing voice, he developed unique bonds in and out of the ring with a long line of champions that included Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis, Oscar De La Hoya and Wladimir Klitschko.

Steward, owner of the Kronk Gym in Detroit and a Hall of Fame trainer, died Thursday at a Chicago hospital. He was 68. No cause of death was given.

"I will miss our time together," Klitschko said. "The long talks about boxing, the world and life itself."

"He brought the very, very best out of me," Hearns once said.

Mr. Steward got boxing gloves as a Christmas present at age 8. He moved to Detroit just before becoming a teenager and trained as an amateur at Brewster Recreation Center. At age 18 he won the national Golden Gloves as a bantamweight.

Mr. Steward went on to work for Detroit Edison Co. and in 1971 accepted a part-time position as coach of the boxing program at the Kronk Recreation Center. Over the next 40 years, the signature red and gold trunks became well known.

"Lennox used to say when fighting as an amateur that everyone was afraid of the Kronk guys," Mr. Steward once said. "He saw the respect when they saw the colors."

Olympics

Tampa resident on bobsled team

Olympic sprinting gold medalist and Tampa resident Tianna Madison joined hurdler Lolo Jones as push athletes named to the U.S. bobsled team. Jones took up the sport three weeks ago as coach Todd Hays sought out track athletes for their explosiveness. Madison was part of the world-record-setting 400-meter relay team in London.

Gambling

25 indicted in $50M betting ring

Three owners of the Internet gambling website Pinnacle Sports were indicted, along with 22 others, on charges that they were part of a betting ring that took $50 million from people in the United States, prosecutors in New York said. Brandt England, George Molsbarger and Stanley Tomchin were charged with enterprise corruption, money laundering and conspiracy as arrests were made in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada and California. The Queens District Attorney's Office said the operation used computer servers in gambling-friendly countries to try to hide dealings with bettors in the United States.

ET CETERA

NHL: The deadline for playing a full, 82-game season arrived with no new talks between the league and its locked-out players.

Soccer: Manchester United, owned by the Bucs' Glazer family, bought out its sponsorship deal with express delivery firm DHL early in a bid to secure more cash for the rights to its training gear. United is in the second year of a four-year, $64 million deal, but the club believes the sponsorship is worth more after GM's Chevrolet division agreed to sponsor United's main shirts for $559 million over seven years.

Tennis: Serena Williams beat world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4 at the WTA Championships in Istanbul, improving to 11-1 overall against her. … Rafael Nadal pulled out of next month's World Tour Finals because of his left knee injury. … Margaret Osborne duPont, who won more than 30 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles, died in El Paso, Texas. She was 94.

Times wires

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 25, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — Commissioner Bud Selig backs the Rays' efforts to get a new stadium and remains troubled by the lack of attendance at the current one.

The Rays this season became the first team in major-league history to win 90 games and finish last in attendance, drawing 1,559,681 (a 19,255 average).

"I'll let you draw your own conclusion," Selig said Thursday. "I think it's a conclusion that's pretty obvious."

Speaking before Game 2 of the World Series, Selig said he planned to talk soon with principal owner Stuart Sternberg for an update on the stadium situation. St. Petersburg officials are expected to respond today to the team's request to amend its lease to allow talks with Pinellas and Hillsborough entities.

Selig has said he will defer to Sternberg on a course of action. When asked if Major League Baseball will continue to be patient with the slow pace of progress or if a clock is ticking, Selig said: "Well, that's a judgment call (Sternberg) and I will make at some point."

As for the tactics of St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster? "Usually I have sarcastic and nasty moments every 10 minutes, but the answer to that is I'll let Mr. Sternberg handle that," Selig said. "I think … he has made his feelings known, and I share those 100 percent, absolutely."

PANDA POWER: Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval remained the center of attention the day after hitting a Series-record-tying three homers in Wednesday's opener.

The reaction included 300 text messages and a Twitter mention from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. No word from Reggie Jackson or Albert Pujols, who, along with Babe Ruth, are the others to accomplish the feat.

"You know, I still can't believe it," Sandoval said. "So excited how the people watched, pay attention to all the things in the game. All my friends back home, family, just excited to be part of this."

PITCHING IN: Though Tigers RHP Justin Verlander worked only four innings in the opener, manager Jim Leyland said he'd given no consideration to bringing his ace back early to pitch Game 4 on Sunday. "He's coming back in Game 5, I hope," he said

ZIM GAME: After losing the opener, Leyland said his daily call from Rays senior adviser Don Zimmer, his close friend, was more lively than usual: "He was all over my (rear end)."

POMP: In dedicating Game 2 to military veterans, MLB honored four of its own who served: Jerry Coleman, Bobby Doerr, Tommy Lasorda and broadcaster Bob Wolff. … Matthew Morrison, star of TV's Glee, performed the anthem. … Actor Colin Hanks was in Giants gear.

MISCELLANY: Giants 2B Marco Scutaro's 11-game postseason hitting streak ended. … The Tigers were held to two hits. … The Giants are 8-1 this postseason when scoring first. … Game 1's TV ratings (7.6, 12 share, seen by 12.2 million) were record lows for an opener. The rating is the percentage of TV homes tuned in; share is the percentage of homes watching among those with TVs on. … Bryan Stow, the Giants fan brutally beaten at Dodger Stadium on opening day 2011, attended as a team guest.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

SEFFNER — For all the changes in Tampa Prep's volleyball program in recent years — from the kids to the coaches to the classifications — district titles remain the common denominator.

Emotionally charged against a gritty, defensive-minded Seffner Christian squad, the Terrapins prevailed in four games in Thursday night's Class 3A, District 8 final in the Crusaders' gym. The title is Tampa Prep's fifth in a row.

"We stayed focused, we had good energy tonight," said the Terrapins' Andrew Wilson, the program's third coach in as many seasons.

"We tend to come out flat and let teams get ahead. We had moments like that tonight, but we did a much better job of keeping up our emotion, keeping up our intensity and keeping focus."

Sparking Tampa Prep's attack was 6-foot-2 stalwart Katie Krueger, whose profusion of kills was complemented by junior Rachel Carr's solid play in the middle as the Terps won the first two games, 25-17 and 25-20.

Ally Parimore, a 5-foot-7 sophomore who had 28 kills in a semifinal win against Carrollwood Day, tallied 18 Thursday for SCA (17-10). The Crusaders won Game 3, 25-23, and took a 4-0 lead in the following game before surrendering 13 of the next 15 points en route to a 25-12 defeat.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 25, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO — The Tigers have to hope a day off and a 30-degree drop in temperature when the World Series resumes Saturday in Detroit can slow down the Giants.

Because the way the first two games have gone, everything looks like a San Francisco treat.

Consider some of the key elements that led to Thursday's 2-0 win that gave the Giants a commanding two-games-to-none lead:

• They decide to start Madison Bumgarner, who was so bad his first two postseason starts he was dropped from the San Francisco rotation, and the 23-year-old delivers seven solid innings, allowing two hits and striking out eight.

• Tigers third-base coach Gene Lamont tries to score king-sized Prince Fielder from first with no outs in the second when former Ray Delmon Young doubles into the leftfield corner, and the Giants execute perfectly and throw him out at the plate.

• A Gregor Blanco bunt rolls 40 feet up the third-base line and stops inches fair to load the bases in the seventh, then a Brandon Crawford double-play grounder scores the Giants' first run.

Of the 52 teams that have taken 2-0 Series leads, 41 have gone on to win the championship, including the past eight and 14 of the past 15, with the 1996 Braves (vs. the Yankees) the lone exception.

After being blown out 8-3 in the opener, the Tigers showed more competitiveness — and, in the case of starter Doug Fister, some distinct toughness — in Game 2 before 42,982 on another picture-perfect night at electric AT&T Park.

With one on and two outs in the second, Fister was struck on the right side of the head by a line drive off Blanco's bat, the ball caroming into shallow centerfield.

Catcher Gerald Laird ran to the mound and waved for assistance from the dugout, but Fister wasn't fazed and insisted to manager Jim Leyland and head athletic trainer Kevin Rand that he could stay in.

The Fox TV microphones picked up their brief conversation:

"You okay?" Rand asked.

"Yeah. Got it in the back of the head," Fister said.

Fister went down on one knee as he tried to avoid being hit but popped up to track the ball, which gave the Giants men on first and second as Buster Posey opened the inning with a single.

Fister made it tougher on himself by walking Crawford to load the bases but then escaped by retiring Bumgarner, who hit a looping liner to short.

From there, Fister was untouchable for a while, retiring 11 straight until Pablo Sandoval — the Game 1 star with three homers — singled with two outs in the sixth.

The game was scoreless into the seventh, when the Giants broke through.

Hunter Pence led off with a single to left that chased Fister. Brandon Belt worked a walk off rookie reliever Drew Smyly, then Blanco bounced a bunt that rolled about 40 feet down the third-base line and stopped, inches fair, to load the bases.

Crawford, the local kid who grew up watching the Giants, did just enough, bouncing a ball to second base, the run scoring as the Tigers turned a double play.

The Giants added a run in the eighth without — of course — even getting a hit. Angel Pagan walked then stole second with one out. The Tigers walked Sandoval intentionally, then Posey unintentionally, to load the bases, and Pence hit a sac fly to right.

The Tigers had a big — large, hefty, sizable, etc. — opportunity in the second when Fielder was hit by a pitch and Young followed with a double into the leftfield corner that momentarily eluded Blanco.

Fielder was waved around by Lamont, a somewhat questionable move with no outs, and seemed to slow the further he went. He was tagged out as he slid across the plate, Blanco relaying to second baseman Marco Scutaro, and catcher Posey doing a good job with a swipe tag on Fielder's backside.

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

World Series

Giants 2, Tigers 0

Game 1: Giants 8, Tigers 3

Thursday: Giants 2, Tigers 0

Saturday: at Detroit, 8:07

Sunday: at Detroit, 8:15

Monday: at Detroit, 8:07 *

Wednesday: at San Francisco, 8:07 *

Nov. 1: at San Francisco, 8:07 *

TV: Ch. 13 * if necessary

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, October 25, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS

All along it was supposed to be Doug Martin who was elusive. Not stardom.

He had been good. On the other hand, he had been a couple of yards short of great. He had been decent. Still, he hadn't been quite dynamic. He had been solid. In the search for the next Bucs running back, he had not been convincing.

Until now.

For Martin, and for the Tampa Bay Bucs, everything changed in Thursday night's win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Martin spun, and he slashed, and he somersaulted. He was evasive, he was elusive, and he was explosive. In short, he performed as if his first NFL prime-time game should have been called the Doug Martin Variety Show.

Martin had the first 100-yard day of his career in the Bucs' 36-17 victory. He carried the ball 29 times, more than any game this season, for 135 yards. He had a 41-yard run. He had a 64-yard catch in his 79 receiving yards. He had 214 yards total. Also, he introduced his nickname, "Muscle Hamster," to America.

Oh, so that's why the Bucs drafted Martin in the first round this year.

"It was a little frustrating," Martin said of the start to his season. "But you just have to be patient in this league. If you stick to your job, it'll come to you."

Patience works for Martin, and for those who watch him. This was the back the Bucs have expected all along, a guy who can keep the chain moving.

"Doug was awesome," said quarterback Josh Freeman. "Not only in the way he runs or the way he catches or the way he pass protects. It's in the way he prepares. The moment is never too big for Doug."

If Martin can make this kind of impact consistently, he promises to add another dimension to the Bucs' offensive attack. It would make Freeman better, and it would help the offensive line control play, and it would enable coach Greg Schiano to play the clock and field position the way he has wished to play them all along.

And when you get down to it, is excellence really too much to ask of a running back? Evidently not. If the Vikings' wonderful Adrian Peterson was the back everyone was talking about before the game, it was Martin they were talking about afterward.

To be fair, there hasn't been anything particularly disappointing about Martin's performance. It's just that a lot of people expected more. They expected, well, this. They expected another weapon in the arsenal.

Martin never has had the luxury of being a rookie. From the time he was drafted, he was supposed to make a difference. Along the way, there have been times Martin has been asked to do too much, and times he has been used too little. As the coaching staff has searched for answers for Freeman, and for the right side of the offensive line, and for tight end Dallas Clark, Martin has seemed to be wheel that didn't quite squeak.

Remember the Dallas game, when Martin ran 19 times and was held to 2 yards or less on 11 of those carries? After that, his carries were reduced from 21 times a game in the first three games to 12 times over the past three.

Who saw this coming? Going into Thursday night, Martin was 19th in the NFL in rushing. Counting quarterbacks and wide receivers, his 4.1 yards per carry was 111th in the league.

Still, there had been signs. Martin averaged 5.9 yards per run against the Chiefs (76 yards) and 5.3 against the Saints (85 yards). "He was this close," said wide receiver Mike Williams.

Give Martin credit for this: He continued a long line of Bucs running backs running past the Vikings. James Wilder had 219 yards rushing against them in '83, and Cadillac Williams had 148 against them in his debut in 2005. Warrick Dunn had 115 against them in '98, and Mike Alstott had 129 in '01, and Ricky Bell had 101 in '79.

Add Martin to the list. For most of the night, Minnesota gave the impression it was one big play, maybe two, from making it a game. And then Martin would make another play.

By the end of the night, you had finally seen what is special about Martin. He can slide to open space like Dunn, and he can pile up total yardage like Wilder. Who knows? A few more efforts like this one, he might be as popular as Alstott.

After this, Martin isn't just carrying the ball. He's carrying the possibilities.

Listen to Gary Shelton from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. weekdays on 98.7-FM the Fan.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, October 26, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS — Da'Quan Bowers' plans for a strong second season seemed to be derailed when he sustained a torn Achilles tendon in May.

But Thursday at the Metrodome, the defensive end returned to the field less than six months after the injury. Before the game, Bowers was activated from the physically unable to perform list after practicing with the team since last week.

He wasted no time in contributing, creating pressure as a third-down pass rusher on the right side in the Bucs' 36-17 victory against the Vikings.

Once Bowers began practicing Oct. 15, the club had a 21-day window in which to determine whether he was ready to be activated. Coaches and trainers needed only 10 days.

"It's been a lot of work by our trainers and our staff to make sure Da'Quan got back to full strength, and Da'Quan put in a lot of work," GM Mark Dominik said on the pregame show on WDAE-AM 620. "It's something we were hopeful would happen with his ability to heal quickly."

The Bucs released CB LeQuan Lewis to make room on the active roster.

Coach Greg Schiano said Bowers would be worked in slowly, which he was. On the snaps he played, Bowers looked confident and strong.

He had a fortuitous moment. When Vikings QB Christian Ponder mishandled a shotgun snap in the third quarter and had to fall on the ball, Bowers was there to pile on. The team was credited with a tackle for a loss.

Bowers' presence can't hurt, even in a limited capacity. The team's pass rush had fallen off since the loss of starting right end Adrian Clayborn. Bowers, previously a left end, seemed comfortable playing at right end. That's where Clayborn was off to a solid start, part of a line that had been pressuring quarterbacks through three games. Since Clayborn's injury, the Bucs have had to be creative. Thursday they had three sacks.

"I definitely think my presence was noticeable," Bowers said. "I was fortunate enough to help the team tonight. Under the circumstances, just getting thrown in the first, it worked out really well. Coach Schiano asked me how I felt. I told him, and we came up with the decision to go. I felt good about the decision. He totally left it up to me, and I felt I was more prepared this week than last week."

BUMPED UP: Rookie CB Leonard Johnson (Largo High) made his first career start as the Bucs opened the game in a nickel defense with three cornerbacks. Veteran Myron Lewis has struggled and was inactive; veteran Brandon McDonald, the cornerback in the previous two games, remained on the bench.

Johnson recorded a key pass deflection on a third-down play in the first quarter, ending a Vikings drive and helping set up the Bucs with good field position.

In the second quarter, on another third down, Johnson took a catch away from WR Percy Harvin, making what would've been an interception had Johnson's feet been in bounds. That play forced the Vikings to settle for a field goal.

Johnson capped his night with a fourth-quarter interception at the Bucs 8.

RETURN ISSUES, AGAIN: WR Roscoe Parrish could be on thin ice after a shaky performance. First, he muffed a punt in the first quarter and recovered it. But Parrish continued to struggle to handle punts throughout the night. Parrish is on the roster because the last two punt returners — Preston Parker and Jordan Shipley — were released, in large part because of their fumbles.

Miscellany: The Vikings put S Mistral Raymond, a former USF player, on the inactive list for the fifth straight game because of a right ankle injury.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, October 26, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS — Say this for the Bucs defense: You never know what you're going to get.

It might be the passive, coverage-heavy approach that failed in Sunday's 35-28 loss to the Saints.

Or, four days later, you might see an aggressive, in-your-face approach that succeeds, as in the 36-17 victory against the Vikings on Thursday.

The Bucs played defense with an edge, in terms of their scheme and the way players attacked ball carriers and the football. Press-man coverage, blitzes and lots of hands on footballs resulted in three sacks, seven tackles for loss and three turnovers.

It looked like the defensive football one would expect from a Greg Schiano-coached team.

"I think we definitely played with an edge," tackle Roy Miller said. "They say players mirror the image of their coach. Well, I think we definitely bring that attitude that (Schiano) brings, especially on defense."

That attitude manifested in tangible ways.

• The Bucs were stout against the run, allowing 76 yards on 20 carries outside of Adrian Peterson's 64-yard touchdown.

• Tampa Bay hit with force. It caused two fumbles, relentlessly attempting to strip ball carriers. Peterson and receiver Jerome Simpson were stripped by safety Ronde Barber and end Michael Bennett, respectively.

• And the Bucs weren't passive, instead going at the Vikings with an assortment of blitzes and twists.

"We just want to physically impose our will on the opponent," tackle Gerald McCoy said. "It was a physical performance. We played our brand of football."

The blitzes weren't new. But players have developed a trust level with Schiano so they can be successful with them.

"It was just a nasty mind-set," McCoy said. "Coach put us in position where a lot of people got one-on-ones. He told us, 'If I give you guys these blitzes, I'm trusting you to win (the matchups).' One thing he did promise was that nobody would be blocked by more than one person. So somebody had to win, and we did that."

Linebacker Mason Foster was successful with one blitz, sacking Christian Ponder.

The Bucs are beginning to believe their personnel is suited to this aggressive style, and they showed it multiple times.

"I feel like we have a lot of big, athletic, strong guys who play physical," Foster said. "So we're letting them … play loose and play physical. We love it."

Associated Press
Friday, October 26, 2012

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, October 26, 2012

TAMPA — Gabby Douglas may be the golden girl from the gold-medal-winning U.S. women's gymnastics team.

But McKayla Maroney is definitely the face of the "Fierce Five."

No matter how many unforgettable moments Maroney, 16, has experienced and stars she has met since the London Olympics, from presenting at the MTV Video Music Awards to guest-starring in the CW TV show Hart of Dixie, she can't escape the grimace seen around the world.

Maroney's disappointed expression while on the medal stand to receive a silver medal in the vault competition quickly became an Internet sensation with the meme "McKayla Maroney is not impressed." Talk-show hosts had fun with it and kids even are planning to wear "McKayla not impressed" costumes for Halloween.

"It's crazy. I get called out for being the 'unimpressed girl' all the time," Maroney said, smiling, while in Tampa this week to promote the Tour of Gymnastic Champions, which stops at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Sunday. "That has definitely changed my life a little bit. But I'm still the same girl."

At first, Maroney was a bit stung by the criticism. She said the look wasn't her being a poor sport, rather the shock of falling in an event she had been favored to win (she won the 2011 world championship) and the sadness of not hearing her country's national anthem.

But Maroney laughs about it now. She has gladly flashed her trademark expression on the Late Show with David Letterman and while posing for pictures with celebrities such as Patrick Dempsey and adoring fans along the 40-city gymnastics tour.

"I said, 'You need to embrace the face,' " said Jonathan Horton, one of the 2012 U.S. Olympic men on the tour. " 'You're a huge deal because of gymnastics and how incredible you are; now you're known for something kind of funny. I think people love that, they love the attitude.' "

Maroney would love to compete in Sunday's show, a mixture of gymnastics and dancing that features other members of the U.S. women's team as well as past and other 2012 Olympians. But she wears a walking boot on her right leg, the result of September surgery to repair a broken right toe. The injury had been aggravated during the Olympics, in which Maroney scored 16.233 on the vault during team competition to help lift the women to their first title since 1996.

She said she still hasn't watched the American broadcast of the events and they haven't completely hit her. "I don't think it'll ever sink in," she said.

Maroney also fractured her left fibia on an awkward landing rehearsing for a Sept. 9 tour show in Ontario, Calif. She decided to have both surgeries around the same time so she could heal and begin training for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. But Maroney rejoined the tour as soon as she could fly on an airplane. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said.

Maroney and her teammates have soaked in their newfound fame, appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, CNN and Good Morning America, and even helping Al Roker do the weather on the Today show. She has met music stars such as Taylor Swift, Rihanna and her favorite, Miley Cyrus.

The Orange County, Calif., native said throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at a Dodgers game, a perfect strike, was "one of the coolest things I've ever done. I'll never forget that."

Maroney, who has always dreamed of acting, made a guest appearance on Hart of Dixie and is scheduled for another. She hopes to make acting a second career. "That was really special," she said.

Maroney has enjoyed the camaraderie and connection she has shared with teammates (her "best friends") and fans while on the road. There's barely any downtime in a schedule that includes going to four cities in four nights this weekend, but she gets a brief taste of each town.

In Tampa on Wednesday, Maroney petted animals at Busch Gardens, fed penguins at the Florida Aquarium and watched runners at sunrise along Bayshore Boulevard.

But what Maroney has been most impressed with is the impact she can have on young fans.

"It's really special when I see them come up to me or look at me in that way that I used to look at (Nastia Liukin, the 2008 all-around gold medalist) and (Horton, 25, a two-time 2008 medalist) when they went to the Olympics and I hadn't been yet," Maroney said. "And that was my one and only dream I wished for my whole entire life on every single birthday cake, on every single shooting star. It's amazing; it really is."

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Friday, October 26, 2012

TAMPA — Donald Penn loves the spotlight. He is prideful and wants to be recognized among the best, something that's hard to do when no one's watching.

Thursday night, everyone was.

Penn, the Bucs' left tackle, wanted to live up to the moment against one of the game's best pass rushers, Vikings DE Jared Allen.

"I try to measure myself in these games," Penn said.

"A lot of people forget about me being in little ol' Tampa. They don't think of me as one of the premier tackles. But when I have a game like this, on national TV, that's when you have to come out and show it."

Things between Penn and Allen, a four-time All-Pro, got heated in the third quarter after a play. Fists were thrown by both. Penn struck Allen in the head, and the fight knocked off Allen's helmet. Allen's nose was bloodied because of the way his helmet came off, he said. Both players were flagged for personal fouls.

With the crowd erupting, the ninth-year player sacked Josh Freeman on the next play. But Penn, in his seventh season, said there were mitigating circumstances.

"He got a lucky one on me," Penn said. "That's all right. I got bumped by the (defensive tackle). And I told him that was a lucky one, too. But that happens. I'd rather take a victory than a shutout anyway."

Allen finished with one sack, his seventh of the season (tied for third in the league), four tackles and two quarterback hits.

Of the fracas, Penn said, "That's what I do. I play to the whistle. It got a little chippy. That's football. We shook hands after the game like we're supposed to, and we have mutual respect for each other. That's the game. I have tremendous respect for the guy. He's a great player. But he still got a lucky sack on me. It should've been a shutout."

For Allen's part, he said the fracas was little more than "two people competing."

BIG SHOT: CB Leonard Johnson's performance was one of the surprises of Thursday's game, and it could result in more playing time.

Johnson, an undrafted rookie out of Iowa State and a native of Clearwater, made his first start as a third cornerback and finished with an interception, two tackles and three pass deflections. The former Largo High standout almost had a second interception but couldn't keep both feet inbounds.

The opening for playing time came about because veteran Brandon McDonald was limited by an ankle injury. Coach Greg Schiano called on Johnson over 2010 third-round draft pick Myron Lewis. Color Schiano impressed.

"Leonard stepped up and, I thought, played well," he said. "That's encouraging. You get a free agent rookie who steps up and plays on the big stage, and it wasn't too big for him. We saw him do it in the preseason. But for him to do it in a regular-season game on the road, that's good stuff."

Johnson took it all in stride, reacting with his usual humility, even after holding his own against the likes of Vikings WR Percy Harvin.

"I've been playing my role, and I'll continue playing my role whether I'm (active or inactive)," he said. "Whatever the team needs me to do, that's what I'm here for. You have to perform or they'll bring you right back down (on game day)."

BENNETT OKAY: DE Michael Bennett went down with a right ankle injury in the fourth quarter, but he and Schiano said it won't sideline him. The weeknight game means he and the Bucs have nine days before going to Oakland for their Nov. 4 game.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @HolderStephen.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, October 26, 2012

It has been nearly an entire year now, but the memory of the 2011 Florida-Georgia game remains as fresh in Gators defensive tackle Dominique Easley's mind as if it was just last week. Maybe even just yesterday.

The Bulldogs rallied from a 14-point deficit, highlighted by two fourth-down touchdowns, for a 24-20 victory.

"We got our butts kicked, and it still hurts," Easley said this week.

Which is why portions of the Georgia game are among a handful Easley watches video of every night before he goes to sleep. And the junior is not alone.

"It's pretty much everybody," said junior defensive back Jaylen Watkins, whose pass-interference penalty on third and 10 gave Georgia a scoring opportunity in the third quarter. "We had a lot of regrets last year. We remember the feelings in the locker room we had last year. We don't want to be at that point this year."

For all this time, it has served as motivation to improve, and of late, a reminder of how far they've come. But when No. 3 Florida and No. 12 Georgia meet today in their annual rivalry at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, there will be much more on the line than just pride and revenge.

There's a championship at stake.

A win gives Florida (7-0, 6-0 SEC) its first East Division title since 2009 and a trip to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

"It's another big game, it's an SEC East game, and it's the Florida-Georgia game," UF sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel said. "You couldn't … ask for more. You come to Florida to play in games like this."

For Georgia, a victory keeps the Bulldogs in contention for the SEC title.

"The guys are ready," said Aaron Murray, a former Plant High quarterback who is coming off a career-high 427 passing yards against Kentucky but has not led a victory over a top-10 opponent in his three years at Georgia.

"I don't think it matters heading into this game which team is ranked what. There are so many emotions no matter what. I think we'll probably play harder than we have all year. It's a fun game, and I love being a part of it."

Although both Georgia coach Mark Richt and Florida coach Will Muschamp insisted they would keep things on an even keel for their respective teams, each said it was impossible to downplay the significance.

"Usually, there's not a whole lot that has to be said or done," Richt said. "I think our guys understand how important this game is. I don't think we're going to have to figure out how to motivate anybody. It's a big game; no one's going to be able to act like it's not."

Georgia entered the week with a bit of controversy after safety Shawn Williams called his defense "soft." But the players insist they are prepared for the challenge this week, and there is no dissension among them.

Georgia linebacker Amarlo Herrera said practices this week included more full contact, more live periods and game situations.

"We're all pumped up," Herrera said. "It's now or never for us. We have to get everything together and play a complete game for this week and for the rest of the season or else we won't be able to accomplish our goals."

Muschamp knows the history of this game well. He grew up a Gator fan and played in the game for Georgia from 1991 to 1994. He knows what's at stake for the Gators and just how high emotions will run on both sides.

"Obviously you look at the tradition through the years, Georgia back when Coach (Vince) Dooley was there had a great run," Muschamp said. "And then you look when Coach (Steve) Spurrier was here, we had a great run. We're looking to try to get on another run. I can tell you that. It's a great environment. The stadium is 50-50. … When you come across that bridge there on the St. Johns River, if your blood's not boiling, something's wrong with you. I can assure you of that."

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

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Friday, October 26, 2012

No. 3 Florida vs. No. 12 Georgia, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 10, 620-AM

The two meet annually, but this year the border war has great significance for the Gators (7-0, 6-0 SEC) — win and the SEC East title is theirs. Georgia (6-1, 4-1) is looking to win consecutive games in the series for the first time since 1987-89. Since then, Florida has won 18 of the past 22 meetings. The man who will lead Georgia's effort to derail Florida is QB Aaron Murray, a Tampa native and Plant High alumnus. Florida brings the nation's No. 3 defense into the game to square off against the SEC's second-best total offense — led by Murray who is tied for third in passing in the league. Even though Florida RB Mike Gillislee didn't rush for a ton of yards last week, the Gators are still relying heavily on the run, which has been an issue for the Bulldogs who are allowing 167.9 yards per game (10th in the SEC). Murray's passing ability hurt the Gators last season, (two TDs), and although Florida's secondary is much improved, it can expect to be tested again this year. Georgia is fourth in the nation in yards per offensive play (7.17) and leads the SEC in touchdown efficiency in the red zone (21 of 27).

Watch out for …

The Jacksonville weather. With Hurricane Sandy on the move, forecasts call for winds that could be anywhere from 18-25 mph. That could have a significant affect on both teams, particularly in the kicking game.

Antonya English, Times staff writer

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, October 26, 2012

DETROIT — The glint is back in Aubrey Huff's eyes. The smile — and, more important, the smirk — on his face. The smart-aleck and sarcasm in his words.

"Maybe," he says, "all the stress of the six years of losing in Tampa finally caught up to me"

He laughs as he says that, which is a good sign, too.

That's because a few months ago, there was no joking for the former Ray.

An overwhelming panic attack hit him early one April morning in a New York hotel room, an experience that would disrupt his season with the Giants and change his life.

If it first didn't end it.

"I thought I was dying," he said. "I really did."

Huff overcame the shortness of breath, the racing heart and mind, and abruptly left the team, flying home to Tampa under the guise of a family emergency. After another episode the next day, he eventually made his way back, launching a months-long odyssey of therapy and treatment that he says now has him feeling under control again.

"The days are getting shorter and shorter where I'm freaking out," Huff said. "I'm just worried about living day by day, and being positive, and having as much fun as you can. You're not guaranteed another day in this life, so just enjoy it. I started thinking about how much God's blessed my career and my family."

That's quite a different soundtrack for Huff, 35, who was usually known for belligerent attitude, a steady stream of putdowns and a large frat-boy personality, highlighted by a starring role in the Giants' 2010 championship run modeling a red rally thong.

He's still not sure exactly what happened that April morning, just that it was a confluence of issues: Serious problems in his marriage to Baubi (who had filed for divorce in January), poor play that endangered his role on the team, an embarrassing misplay when forced to play second base for the first time that cost the Giants a game on national TV, his usual uneasiness about being in New York.

"Everything was happening so fast," Huff said. "There was a lot of stuff that kind of just hit me at once. You get to the point where your mind can only take so much, and you just kind of lose it a little bit."

He returned to San Francisco a week later, and started seeing a therapist, who identified his core issue as "future-tripping" — that Huff was thinking too much about too many things that might happen.

For the first month they talked almost every day, then a couple times a week, then once and now Huff said he's gone a month without. He also started taking some anti-anxiety medication but quit after a few weeks because he didn't like the zombie-like feeling it gave him, so he decided instead to focus on positive thinking. "It's been good," Huff said.

Though Giants officials and teammates weren't privy to all the details, they said they were glad Huff sought treatment and persevered through his problems.

"I know this been a difficult year for him," manager Bruce Bochy said. "I think he's in a better place than he was."

"I think some guys now are finally saying, you know what, I'm not going to sit there and "tough-guy" it all the time and say I'm too good for that. Instead they say I've got to get some help," reliever Jeremy Affeldt said.

"I feel like he's doing a lot better now. ... He got some help he needed rather than going the other way, not saying anything, and getting into a situation you don't want to be in in your mind."

The anxiety issues weren't Huff's only problem, as he completes a two-year, $22 million contract. He ended up being sidelined for close to three months with a freak injury — spraining his right knee jumping over the dugout railing to celebrate Matt Cain's perfect game.

By the time he was fully healthy in September, he'd lost his part-time duty at first base and in leftfield and was reduced to pinch-hitting, and just thankful to even be on the playoffs and World Series roster. His season stats: .192 with 1 homer and 7 RBIs in 52 games (15 starts).

Which leads to his next dilemma. He seems to have the anxiety under control, and his marriage was reconstructed, with Baubi and their two boys a big part of his recovery. But he doesn't want his career, which started with the Rays in 2000, to end like this.

"This year would be a tough year to go out on personally," he said. "I'm in the World Series and it's great to be here, but I feel like I'd like to go out on a little higher note."

He'll be a free agent when the Giants decline his $10 million option, and though he first says it would have to be the "right situation" — competitive team, comfortable city — he admits he badly wants one more chance.

"I definitely do want to play. I'm sure something will be out there," he said. "Maybe I could sign a one-year deal and pitch-hit and play a little first base for the Rays next year. You can throw that out there if you want."

Now that sounds like the old Huff.

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

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Friday, October 26, 2012

USF vs. Syracuse, 7 p.m. Saturday, 98.7-FM, 1010-AM

If there's a team USF (2-5, 0-3 Big East) would want to try to end a five-game losing streak against, it might be Syracuse (3-4, 2-1), as the Bulls are 6-1 all-time against the Orange. USF's only Big East win in its last 12 conference games was last year at the Carrier Dome. The conference records can be a little deceiving, as the three teams USF lost to are a combined 8-1 in the Big East, while Syracuse's two wins are against Pittsburgh and Connecticut, which are a combined 0-6.

Watch out for …

Can USF get its first interception of 2012? The Bulls haven't been able to pick off any passes from Syracuse senior Ryan Nassib in two previous games against him. Turnover margin isn't a strength for either team, so takeaways might be easier to come by for USF's defense, which forced a fumble against Louisville for its first takeaway in five games. Syracuse's potent passing attack has two dangerous receivers in Alec Lemon and Marcus Sales, so USF's cornerbacks will be tested.

Greg Auman, Times staff writer

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, October 26, 2012

BRANDON — Poor Tom Pyatt.

The Lightning forward's first one-way contract — two years, $1.2 million — was set to kick in this season. He bought his first house in his native Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he said he will be next week to get the keys.

So, forgive Pyatt's gallows humor when he heard the NHL on Friday canceled games through Nov. 30.

"I guess," Pyatt, 25, said, smiling, as he walked out of the Ice Sports Forum after a skate, "I should look for a job."

Games previously were canceled from the season's scheduled start, Oct. 11, through Nov. 1. But the league and its locked out (and unpaid) players haven't met formally since Oct. 18 in their attempt to forge a collective bargaining agreement. The league also turned down a players association invitation on Tuesday to restart negotiations because it said there was nothing new to talk about.

With no meetings scheduled, the league dropped the hammer, increasing the number of canceled games to 326, 26.5 percent of the season. The Lightning, which lost 12 games Friday, has lost 23.

"The message from the owners seems to be: If you don't give us exactly what we want, there is no point in talking," union executive director Don Fehr said in a statement. "They have shown they are very good at delivering deadlines and demands, but we need a willing partner to negotiate."

The trick is getting to a 50-50 split in league revenue. Owners want it immediately. Players, who last season received 57 percent of a record $3.3 billion in revenue, want it phased in. They also want current contracts honored.

That is a big deal. An immediate 50-50 split means a 12 percent pay cut for players, who took a 24 percent cut after the 2004-05 lockout.

"We're telling everybody we're going to 50 percent, let's share the responsibility to get there," wing Marty St. Louis said. "(The owners) don't want that. Again, they want to hit us, 24 percent last time and now 12 percent. Doing that when the game has grown most, it's tough to take.

"Nobody is crying poor here, and I think it's hard for the fans to understand that. It's about when there is a problem, (the players) have to fix it all the time. (The owners) don't want to take responsibility, too."

With a full 82-game schedule apparently off the table after the league's refusal Tuesday to restart negotiations, pressure points might be cancellation of the Jan. 1 Winter Classic and Jan. 27 All-Star Game.

"The National Hockey League deeply regrets having to take this action," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement about Friday's developments. "We remain committed to achieving an agreement that is fair for the players and clubs."

For now, though, Lightning defenseman Eric Brewer said, "This is not good for the game. It's not good for the fans."

And not good for Tom Pyatt.

NOTES: Vlad Namestnikov, drafted 27th overall in 2011 and now with AHL Syracuse, has a shoulder injury that could keep him out four to six weeks, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said. … Goalie Mathieu Garon is in Canada playing exhibition games organized in part by Flyers and former Tampa Bay defenseman Bruno Gervais.

By Bryan Burns, Times Correspondent
Friday, October 26, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — When Jeff Attinella starred in goal for Countryside High, he helped lead the Cougars to a state championship in 2006.

After four years as the goalkeeper at USF — three of them as a starter — Attinella had guided the Bulls to four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament while earning first-team All-American status as a junior.

In his second professional season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Attinella was selected to the NASL Best XI all-star team and placed second in the voting for the league's MVP award.

And, tonight, Attinella will start in goal for the Rowdies as they go for a second NASL Soccer Bowl Trophy to place alongside the one the team won in 1975 in its inaugural season.

Wherever Attinella goes it seems, success follows quickly.

Thing is, he hasn't had to go very far to find success.

"To be able to say that everything that I've gotten and everything that has happened for me has happened in (Tampa Bay) has just been great," said Attinella, who also played youth soccer locally with the Clearwater Chargers and credits Chargers goalkeeper coach, former Rowdie Kevin Clinton, for his success.

Attinella is as local as a local product can get. Every significant soccer moment in the 24-year-old Clearwater native's career has come while wearing the jersey of a Tampa Bay area team.

He's also a proud supporter of the area's other professional franchises.

A self-proclaimed diehard Tampa Bay Rays fan, Attinella has a hidden tattoo on the inside of his lower lip to prove it, the result of a middle-school pact with his brother to get ink if the team ever made the World Series.

Attinella has held season tickets for the Rays, Buccaneers and Lightning. He watched from the Tropicana Field stands as Evan Longoria homered twice in the 2008 ALDS against Chicago. He was there a couple weeks later too, going delirious (and, no doubt, regretting that earlier bet) when the Rays won the pennant by beating Boston in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Now, Attinella will get to experience the other side of that fandom.

"We definitely have an uphill battle but to give people that type of memory and give myself a memory and something this (area) will never forget and say that I was an actual physical part of it, not just in the stands, would be huge," he said. "It was my goal when I signed here to win a championship and win a championship in Tampa. Hopefully I can do my part … and the boys can get it done."

Last year, Attinella was forced into a starting role four games into his rookie season after incumbent goalie Daryl Sattler sustained a season-ending knee injury. That blow could have derailed the Rowdies' season; instead Attinella blossomed, recording five shutouts and a league-high 128 saves while leading the Rowdies to a third-place finish.

"I know in preseason, (coach) Ricky (Hill) kind of looked at it like we have two starting goalkeepers," Rowdies owner and president Andrew Nestor said. "When Daryl went down, we felt pretty confident that Jeff would do well, and, thankfully, he followed through on that. ... (A quality goalkeeper) is not easy to find once the season has started."

In his second pro season, Attinella has established himself as a NASL superstar, edging his predecessor Sattler, now at San Antonio, for the league's top keeper distinction. He recorded 11 clean sheets in league action while playing every minute for the Rowdies.

"He's been awesome for us, Rowdies defender and team captain Frankie Sanfilippo said. "You can definitely tell from last year to this year he's made a huge difference."

The Rowdies must overcome a two-goal deficit in tonight's second leg of the NASL Soccer Bowl Finals, a product of a 2-0 loss to Finals' opponent Minnesota in last Saturday's first leg. Attinella, who signed a two-year term with the Rowdies before the 2011 season, will no longer be under contract following the match. The Rowdies front office and coaching staff have expressed a strong desire to hold onto him.

The team — and the Tampa Bay area — may no longer be big enough, though, to contain Attinella.

"If I'm awarded the opportunity (to move up) at the end of the season, it is going to be bittersweet because I love it here," Attinella said. "This is where I'm from. This is where I live."

Times staff, wires
Friday, October 26, 2012

N.C. Central at Bethune-Cookman, 4

This is a battle between the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference co-leaders with each team coming in 5-2 overall, 4-0 in the league. The winner is in the driver's seat for a spot in the Division I-AA playoffs.

Troy at Florida Atlantic, 5

Troy (4-3, 3-2 Sun Belt) holds an 8-1 series advantage over the Owls (1-6, 0-4), who are hosting homecoming.

Florida International vs. Western Kentucky, 6

Louisiana-Monroe ended the Hilltoppers' four-game winning streak last week, dropping Western Kentucky to 5-2 overall, 2-1 in the Sun Belt. The host Panthers are struggling at 1-7, 0-4 in the league.

UCF at Marshall, 8, CBS Sports Network, 1350-AM

The Knights (5-2, 3-0 C-USA) lead the league in total defense, scoring defense, pass defense and passing efficiency defense. They also allow the fewest third-down conversions. Marshall (3-4, 2-1) ranks fourth in Division I-A, averaging 568.4 yards per game. UCF sophomore QB Blake Bortles has not thrown an interception in the past four games and has a streak of 147 consecutive pass attempts without a pick. Marshall sophomore QB Rakeem Cato averages 378.7 passing yards per game.

Times staff, wires