Times wires
Wednesday, October 31, 2012

MIAMI — Bright lights, prime time, Thursday night. It's been a winning formula for Virginia Tech and Miami. This time, it'll only work for one of those clubs.

The Hokies and Hurricanes meet in Miami tonight, and though neither is ranked — at least one has been in 12 of their most recent meetings — it's still an important game for both. The winner will possibly become the ACC Coastal Division favorite. The loser will be 4-5 and need two wins for bowl eligibility.

"Everything in the ACC is still available for both of us," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "Starting off, at this time of year you want to be playing for something, and both of us certainly are."

The division is jammed at the top. Duke is 3-2 in league play, as is North Carolina and Miami. The Tar Heels aren't eligible for postseason play, and the Hurricanes, still under NCAA investigation, would in theory have the option of self-imposing a postseason ban for the second straight year because of what may loom when that inquiry ends. And Virginia Tech has already beaten Duke, giving the Hokies (4-4, 2-2) a tiebreaker edge if needed.

"We know this division has gone through Blacksburg, and we've never won the division," Miami coach Al Golden said. "So clearly, if you want to have an opportunity, you have to beat Virginia Tech. They're the reigning champion, so I think everything starts and stops right there."

It's an unusual time for both teams. The Hokies went 6-0 in road games last year (losing two neutral-site contests) but are winless in four games played away from Lane Stadium this year. Miami went 0-for-October, losing to Notre Dame, North Carolina and Florida State, by a combined score of 92-37.

"We need to put it together, put our run game and our pass game together in the same night," Miami offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said. "I just feel like we're due for one of those type of games."

Thursdays have been good for both squads. Miami is 15-3 on that day of the week, Virginia Tech 19-5.

Ex-LSU QB back in jail: Jordan Jefferson, the former LSU quarterback who was cut by the Bucs after a tryout, reported to a Louisiana jail after a judge revoked his bond in a 2011 simple battery case. Jefferson was arrested last week on marijuana possession charges. He had been free on $5,000 bond in the days since his arrest.

Auburn QB change: Freshman Jonathan Wallace, the UCF commitment who switched to Auburn on signing day, will start for the Tigers against New Mexico State this week. Wallace completed 6 of 9 for 122 yards and two scores and had 71 yards rushing in relief Saturday against Texas A&M.

BC-Ohio State series: The Eagles and Buckeyes have scheduled a home-and-home series to be played Sept. 19, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio, and Sept. 18, 2021, in Chestnut Hill.

Minn. State-Makato: Coach Todd Hoffner, accused of making pornographic videos of his children, told a judge the images show a skit his children came up with while in the bathtub and asked him to record. Hoffner asked a judge at a hearing to dismiss the felony charges after the university found the images on his work-issued cellphone. He has been on leave since he was escorted off the practice field in August. The judge, who has not yet seen the video, didn't immediately rule on the motion to dismiss. Hoffner, who maintains his innocence, has not yet entered a plea. No new hearing date has been set.

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Thursday, November 1, 2012

Recreation notebook

Sunday marked the 18th annual Halloween tournament at Spring Hill Lanes, with the duo of Shannon and Phil LaRiviere emerging as champions in a 26-entry field.

The format called for the partners to roll three games, with each tandem dropping their worst, or "scariest," combined game score. The handicap was based on 90 percent of a 220 average for all U.S. Bowling Congress-sanctioned bowlers or those who have league averages at Spring Hill.

The LaRivieres totaled 978, with games of 399 and 411 added to a 168 handicap. The daughter-father team dropped the scores they threw in the first game and kept the second and third. Shannon tossed her first 600 series in the tournament, helping the duo win $170 in prize money.

Second place went to Jon Frankel and Jarrod Maupin (950). Frankel and Maupin dropped their second game after rolling 356 and 368 in the first and third games, respectively, to go with the tandem's 226 handicap. For the runner-up effort, they earned $90.

The final team to cash in was the couple of Nikki and Derek LaRiviere (936). The husband and wife scored well in the second and third games after a slow start, with scores of 379 and 343 added to their 214 handicap. A check for $52 was awarded to the team.

WEST HERNANDO SENIOR SOFTBALL: The West Hernando Athletic Club for Seniors is well into its season, with Suncoast Orthopedic (13-2) leading the standings by five games over Minerva's Hair Salon (7-6).

The WHACS league plays every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at Veterans Memorial Park in Spring Hill. The six-team league includes only male players, 55 and older. Currently in third place is C's Pub (7-8). Rookies Sports Bar/Master Auto (6-8), American Legion Post 186 (5-9) and Economy Insurance Mart (4-9) round out the standings.

New players are always welcome. Just show up at the softball field during the games and speak with league officials or call Ray Krisa at (352) 596-0575.

TOYS FOR TOTS GOLF TOURNAMENT: Marine Corps League Detachment 708 will have its Toys for Tots of Hernando County golf tournament Nov. 17 at Hernando Oaks Country Club, Brooksville.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament will consist of 18 holes of golf in a four-person scramble format. Also included with the $75 fee is lunch, dinner coupons provided by Texas Roadhouse, gift bags and prizes. Prizes will be awarded for the longest drive and closest-to-the-pin.

Toys for Tots supports needy children of Hernando County, providing them with Christmas gifts when their parents are unable to afford them.

For information, call Keith Ball at (727) 465-4815, Linda Black at (352) 596-2225 or Woody Marr at (352) 585-0975, or visit mcl708.org to register.

ROTARY GOLF TOURNAMENT: The Brooksville Rotary Club will have its 35th annual golf tournament Nov. 14 at Brooksville Country Club at Majestic Oaks.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start. Players, hole sponsors and raffle items are needed. The cost is $75 per golfer, which includes dinner, greens fees and cart. Sponsorships start at $150.

Play will be limited to the first 120 entries. Golfers can make their own foursomes or be teamed up by event officials. Registration and sponsorship information is available at brooksvillerotary.com. Proceeds will go toward the charities the club works with and local scholarships.

For information, call Rob Rogoski at (352) 799-6974.

SMART START BASEBALL: The Brooksville Parks and Recreation Department is holding its Smart Start Baseball program, starting Nov. 8 at the Jerome Brown Community Center.

Smart Start teaches youth ages 3 to 5 the basic motor skills necessary to play organized baseball while they work one-on-one and spend time with their parents. The program focuses on teaching children skills in throwing, catching, batting, running and agility without the pressure of competition or the fear of getting injured.

The cost is $60 per child. The group will meet every Thursday for six weeks until Dec. 13 from either 11 a.m. to noon or from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

For information, contact Tiffany Taylor at (352) 540-3838 or ttaylor@cityofbrooksville.us.

VETERANS DAY GOLF: Toscana Crossing Golf Club, north of Weeki Wachee, will have a Salute to Veterans Picnic and Golf Scramble on Nov. 10.

The event will begin with a golf scramble at 10 a.m. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. The entry fee is $10 for those who plan to walk the course and $14 for those who want to use a cart. Sign-ups can be taken in the pro shop.

The picnic and barbecue will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Heather Community Center. The cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child, which includes hamburgers, hot dogs, refreshments, shuffleboard, bocce ball, horseshoes, and other food and games. Tickets are available at the community center.

For information, send email to ToscanaCrossing@tampabay.rr.com.

FIREARMS CLASSES: The Hernando Sportsman's Club, on U.S. 19 north of Weeki Wachee, is offering firearms safety classes.

The next two class dates will be on Wednesday and Nov. 17. All classes run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The course covers lessons about the basics of firearm safety around the home and the fundamentals of pistol shooting. The class includes practice time on the range. Completion of the class provides the required documentation to apply for a Florida concealed carry permit.

Preregistration is required; the fee is $60 per person.

Call (352) 597-9931 or visit hernandosportsmansclub.com for information.

JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS: Ace Performance Tennis is holding registration and open play for the Fall/Winter U.S. Tennis Association Junior Team Tennis season on Nov. 20 at Nature Coast Technical High School, south of Brooksville.

Sign-ups for the 12-and-younger division will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Registration for the 13-to-18 division will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Fees are $60 per player.

Registration forms are available on the website. Players must be USTA members to participate in the sectional tournament in January.

Visit louisedowney.usptapro.com or call Louise or John Downey at (352) 666-0658 for information.

ALZHEIMER'S GOLF BENEFIT: The Alzheimer's Family Organization will have its 12th annual Charity Golf Tournament on Nov. 10 at Seven Springs Country Club in New Port Richey.

Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. The event will consist of 18 holes of golf in a four-person scramble format. Also included with the $80 fee is breakfast provided by IHOP, lunch provided by Argento's Italian Bistro, goody bags, raffles and door prizes.

Prizes will be awarded for the top three teams, the longest drive, closest-to-the-pin and a hole-in-one. A new car and other prizes will be provided by Ed Morse Auto Plaza. Players will also have a chance to win $5,000 or a Woody driver, sponsored by the National Cremation and Burial Society. Full Circle Financial will sponsor a putting contest for a chance to win $10,000.

The Alzheimer's Family Organization serves Citrus, Hernando, northern Hillsborough, Lake, Pasco, northern Pinellas and Sumter counties.

For information, contact community service coordinator Kathy Montero at (727) 848-8888, toll-free 1-888-496-8004 or kathy@alzheimersfamily.org.

Contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a last-minute deal before this afternoon's trade deadline, sending troubled cornerback Aqib Talib to the Patriots, the team announced.

The Bucs received New England's 2013 fourth-round pick, giving up Talib and one of their seventh-round selections next year. There are no conditions attached.

Talib is currently serving a suspension for a violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. He is scheduled to be reinstated on Monday, after serving the fourth and final game of the suspension. The NFL's trade deadline was moved from Tuesday to today at 4 p.m. after Hurricane Sandy impacted several teams' operations.

Why did the Bucs do this deal? General manager said there were multiple reasons.

"The thing that you have to keep in mind as an organization is your body of work is what it is," he said. "(Talib) played well here for us. But at the same point, he's got eight games left on his contract and his contract is going to expire. We have to look at everything when we make these decision and each player's individual case."

The Bucs likely weren't going to re-sign Talib after his rookie contract expired at the end of this season.

To that end, the Bucs seemed determined to make a move.

"There were a lot of conversations all day long," Dominik said. "I've been on my phone non-stop. The good thing about this trade is it provides us another fourth-round pick. The fourth round has been good to us. That's where we got Mike Williams. That's where, last year, we used that pick to get up and get not only Doug Martin but Lavonte David. The fourth round has been good to us. Now we have two of them."

After Talib's suspension was announced, Schiano said the team intended to keep Talib on the roster after his return despite his history of issues that includes two arrests.

"There are a lot of things that go into the decision, and I can just tell our fans and all the people who care about this, we're going to do what's best for the organization which is going to be what's best for everybody. So you've got to just trust us on this one," Schiano said last month.

"There are no absolutes for any of us in this world. I may not be here when he comes back. How do you know? That's the plan, yes. And we're going to move forward at that point. But like I say all the time to our team, things change day to day, week to week, month to month guys. I can't tell you exactly how things are going to be a month from now. I hope that we've won a bunch of games in a row. That's one thing I hope. But again, the plan is to have him back here with us."

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 1, 2012

TAMPA — Bucs coach Greg Schiano has said he believes rookie RB Doug Martin has a chance to be a special player.

The rest of the league is starting to notice.

Martin, coming off last week's breakout performance against the Vikings, was named the NFL's offensive rookie of the month on Thursday. His 155.7 yards from scrimmage per game led the league, 26.1 more than Vikings star RB Adrian Peterson, who was second.

"I'm really excited," said Martin, a first-round pick out of Boise State. "It's an honor."

Against Minnesota, Martin racked up 214 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown off a screen pass. He became the first rookie in the past 25 seasons to rush for at least 135 yards (135) with 75-plus receiving yards (79). The Oakland, Calif., native received congratulory calls from family and friends around the country but kept it in perspective.

"I was pretty mellow about it," Martin said. "My mom called me, like 'Wow!' I was like 'Yeah, all right.' She said, 'What's wrong with you?' I said, 'It's one game. We've got the rest of the season to go.' "

Martin credited the offensive line as well as FB Erik Lorig but acknowledged the season-ending toe injury to All-Pro LG Carl Nicks will be a tough loss.

He is looking forward to Sunday's game at the Raiders, having lived in Oakland for five years. He never went to any games as he didn't watch too much football until he played in high school but has heard stories about fans in the "Black Hole."

"It's a homecoming," Martin said. "I've got about 60-plus people going to this game. It's going to be really exciting."

Wright update: CB Eric Wright, limited with an Achilles injury this week, will play against Oakland, defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said. Wright, who is expected to start, suffered the injury against the Vikings. There remains no update on a potential suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Line shuffle: Schiano said he's still deciding on Nicks' replacement. He added one possibility is moving Jeremy Zuttah from center to left guard and recently benched right guard Ted Larsen to center.

"When you start moving people around, there's a lot of pluses and minuses to it," Schiano said. "But at the end of the day, our main goal is to get the best five guys out there on the field."

GOING WEST: In recent years under former coach Raheem Morris, the Bucs typically left for games on the west coast on Friday, giving them extra time to acclimate. Schiano considered that but decided to leave Saturday, keeping with the "normal routine" for road games.

FREEING UP: The Bucs love the fact QB Josh Freeman has thrown for 1,010 yards in his past three games. But what makes coaches equally excited is his nine touchdowns and one interception.

Freeman, who threw 22 interceptions last season, cited his growth in the new offense.

"It's just continuing to work within the offense," he said. "Sometimes, a ball gets away from you or something. But the more comfortable you are with the offense, the less prone you are to making those errant throws or trying to fit a ball into a (small) window when you have another guy open."

The gradual improvement is evidenced by the numbers. Freeman had four interceptions through four games but has just one in the past three and none in the past two.

Times staff writer Stephen Holder contributed to this report.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, November 1, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — Don Zimmer is nearing 82 now and needs a hand more often than before, his wife Soot's responsibilities expanded to include managing his nightly home dialysis treatments.

But with the kidney and diabetes problems that put him in the hospital and kept him away from Tropicana Field much of last season under control, he's feeling better, good enough to sign on for a 10th season as the Rays senior advisor and 65th overall in pro baseball.

"I had a tough time for four-five months there," Zimmer said Thursday. "I feel a little stronger now, everything's working out pretty good cause I've got a helluva nurse. ... If I feel as good as I do now, I'll be there at every (home) game."

Technically, Zimmer's responsibilities are to assist the team during spring training and for pre-game work at home, but his role is much broader, more like a guru to the entire organization.

"Zim has been a valuable resource not only for our players and coaching staff, but for our front office as well," executive vice president Andrew Friedman said in a statement. "We are excited that he will be returning for another season in our uniform, and look forward to many more."

In other Rays news:

— Today is the deadline for the Rays, under the new MLB system, to make a one-year qualifying offer, at the set price of $13.3-million, to centerfielder B.J. Upton in order to get draft pick compensation assuming, as expected, he declines and signs elsewhere.

— Prospects SS Hak-Ju Lee and LHP C.J. Riefenhauser were chosen to play in Saturday's Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game, 8 p.m. on MLB Network.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, November 1, 2012

The tricky part was not in getting rid of Aqib Talib. Heck, a lot of us were prepared to do that some time ago.

For the Bucs, the tricky part was how smart they looked in doing it.

Bravo for the Bucs. They finally turned Talib into someone else's problem Thursday afternoon. Finally, they rid themselves of the headlines and the headaches and the hammerhead decisions that defined Talib's career. The next time Talib gets into a fight, or a cab, or a medicine cabinet, it will be some other team that gets burned.

And here's the best part.

The Bucs not only rid themselves of Talib, they received a fourth-round draft pick in return for their trouble.

Yeah, really.

For the Bucs, and for the rest of us, this was a result beyond belief. A great many of us were pleading for the Bucs to throw him away, and instead, they got something in return. No matter how big the disappointment is, the pawn shop is always a better deal than the garbage can. This way, at least the Bucs got some return.

The complete trade is this: The Patriots get Talib and a seventh-round pick, which is expected to be a bail bondsman. The Bucs get a fourth-round pick and a large slice of credibility back. All in all, it's a pretty good deal.

And now we know what Greg Schiano meant a few weeks ago when he said "Trust us.''

As it turns out, Schiano simply wasn't finishing his complete thought. What he probably meant was something like this:

"Trust us ... we know this guy isn't worth the headaches, and we'll take care of it.''

Or "Trust us ... we would love to release him today, but we think we can get something in return.''

Or "Trust us ... Talib is indeed out of chances, but we have a plan.''

Granted, part of that plan meant that the Bucs had to suffer some criticism until Thursday's trading deadline arrived. When the front office chose not to release Talib immediately after he tested positive for what he said was Adderall, there was a great deal of grumbling and, yes, much of it was in this column.

To a lot of people, it appeared the Bucs were once again paying too much attention to Talib's talent and not enough to his troubles. Face it: No one can say Talib didn't get plenty of chances over the years.

Even now, there will be those who regret the loss of Talib's skills over the last half of this season. Considering that the Bucs still play quarterbacks such as Matt Ryan (twice) and Peyton Manning and Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, the team could use all of the cornerbacks they can get.

If nothing else, this trade tells you that the Bucs had no intention of bringing back Talib for next year. That means Thursday was the team's last chance to get something for him.

The Patriots have a few quarterbacks in front of them, too, which is probably why they were willing to take the risk. Frankly, New England was one of the few franchises that could afford to take this kind of risk. If Talib runs into more problems, the Patriots can release him without a lot of regret. And if he doesn't, they have bolstered their secondary for the playoffs.

Here? It was past time for Talib to go. Every year, there was another problem, and another punishment, and another outcry from a public that likes it when its players represent more than football. Tampa Bay has seen too many community good guys — Lee Roy Selmon, Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, Mike Alstott — to endure the athletes who can't get out of the way of their own image.

In other words, the only time the Bucs will ever miss Talib is game day. And frankly, they may not miss him as much as you would think. This year, the Bucs are 1-3 with Talib and 2-1 without him. In 2010, they were 4-1 without him.

Is a fourth-round draft pick enough of a return? Maybe. The Bucs drafted wide receiver Mike Williams in the fourth round. Last year, they used a fourth-rounder to move up and draft linebacker Lavonte David.

In other words, the Bucs are better off without Talib. In the clubhouse. In the community. In next year's draft.

Even better than that? They look smart. They look decisive. They look intolerant without looking impatient.

Frankly, they look trustworthy.

That's something worth trading for, too.

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

Times wires
Friday, November 2, 2012

Cycling

armstrong sanctions get final okay

MONTREAL — The World Anti-Doping Agency accepted the decision that stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles, saying Friday it was the "right and proper sanction" for the disgraced American cyclist.

The sport's governing body last week also accepted the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's sanctions, wiping Armstrong's name from the Tour winners list, banning him for life and asking him to return millions of dollars in prize money. The world antidoping agency had 21 days to decide whether to appeal the decisions to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Meanwhile, Irish journalist and former Tour rider Paul Kimmage filed a criminal complaint against governing body leaders Pat McQuaid and Hein Verbruggen, accusing them of protecting Armstrong while he won numerous titles. Kimmage alleges defamation and fraud. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report on Armstrong's case included witness testimony that Armstrong said the governing body helped cover up his positive or suspicious doping tests in 1999 and 2001. McQuaid, the body's president, denied the allegations.

Tennis

Qualifier reaches Masters semifinals

Qualifier Jerzy Janowicz continued his unexpected run at the Paris Masters, advancing to the semifinals when dizzy, fatigued Janko Tipsarevic retired.

The 69th-ranked Janowicz, who previously ousted Andy Murray, was up 3-6, 6-1, 4-1 when eighth-seeded Tipsarevic motioned that he could not continue. Janowicz next plays Gilles Simon, who beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4.

Fourth-seeded David Ferrer beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 7-5 and faces Michael Llodra, who beat American Sam Querrey 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

Tournament of Champions: Nadia Petrova rallied to beat Tsvetana Pironkova 5-7, 6-1, 6-3, but both advanced out of group play in Sofia, Bulgaria. In today's semifinals, Petrova faces Roberta Vinci, and Pironkova plays Caroline Wozniacki.

Soccer

Los Angeles rallies in MLS playoff KO round

Mike Magee scored the tying goal in the 69th minute and Landon Donovan converted a penalty kick four minutes later as host Los Angeles beat Vancouver 2-1 in a Major League Soccer playoff knockout match late Thursday.

The Galaxy advanced to a two-game Western Conference semifinal series against San Jose beginning Sunday.

match-fixing: Zimbabwe's national team was disbanded amid a match-fixing scandal.

Et cetera

Speed skating: Heather Richardson won the women's 500- and 3,000-meter races at the U.S. single distance long track championships in West Allis, Wis., an event being used to qualify skaters for the U.S. World Cup team. Ocala's Brittany Bowe was third in the 500.

Times wires

Bryan Burns, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 2, 2012

TAMPA — The runnerup position in Class 3A, District 5 and a postseason berth were on the line in Friday night's matchup between Tampa Catholic and Berkeley Prep.

Only one team proved to be poised for the playoffs.

Tampa Catholic showcased a balanced offensive attack, moving the ball at will. And the Crusaders defense gave up yardage but held when it mattered.

The result? A 33-7 Tampa Catholic victory that puts the Crusaders back in the playoffs after missing out last season. TC has qualified for the postseason seven of the past eight years.

"Overall, it was a total team victory," Tampa Catholic coach Bob Henriquez said. "That's what we need at this point. It's good to be back in the playoffs."

TC (7-2, 2-1) scored on four straight possessions in the first half. T.J. Harrell capped a seven-play, 79-yard drive late in the first quarter with a 7-yard run for a 7-0 lead. Kenny Bryant outraced the Buccaneers defense 63 yards on the next possession to open up a 13-0 advantage.

"I got the handoff, and I saw nobody there," said Bryant, who finished with 126 yards on 13 carries. "I just cut up and was like, 'Nobody should catch me.' "

The next offensive play for Tampa Catholic also resulted in a touchdown after a 15-yard punt. From the Buccaneers' 32, Mitchell Norden faked a handoff on a zone-read play and ran untouched into the end zone.

"We put in a few wrinkles," Henriquez said. "This is a team, Berkeley, that is so disciplined. They scout you so well. … They're going to have all your tendencies down, so we threw a few curveballs tonight."

Berkeley Prep (6-3, 1-2) scored its only points on the opening drive of the second half, going 73 yards in 13 plays in 7:19 before Chris Williams plunged 3 yards into the end zone.

"We're going to make plays, we're going to give up plays but it's all about how you get back up," said Harrell, who forced two fumbles.

Berkeley Prep will miss the postseason for the first time since 2008.

Times wires
Friday, November 2, 2012

The USF women's soccer team lost to Georgetown in penalty kicks in the semifinals of the Big East tournament Friday in East Hartford, Conn. The teams were tied at 1 after regulation and overtime.

The Bulls (10-5-4), the No. 2 seed in the American Division, led until Georgetown's Daphne Corboz tied it with a rebound in the 84th minute. Junior forward Sharla Passariello put USF up in the 15th minute as the Bulls outshot the Hoyas 5-0 in the first half.

"I felt like we really dominated in the first half," USF coach Denise Schilte-Brown said. "In the second half I felt like Georgetown was quite direct and doing a little bit more to pin us in, and I think we could have handled it a little better.

"To give up the goal in the last five minutes is difficult, so I'm proud of how the girls responded in double overtime."

The Hoyas (15-2-3), ranked 13th in the coaches poll, won the shootout 5-4.

Georgetown faces Marquette, a 1-0 winner over Notre Dame, at noon Sunday for the title. The Bulls will wait for Monday's announcement to see if they earned an at-large spot in the 64-team NCAA Tournament (4:30 p.m., online at NCAA.com).

UF ADVANCES: Florida (16-4-1) defeated Missouri 3-0 in an SEC tournament semifinal at Orange Beach, Ala. Florida plays Auburn in Sunday's final. … Top-seeded Florida State fell to Virginia 4-2 in an ACC semifinal at Cary, N.C.

MEN'S SOCCER: Freshman Joe Swindell's goal gave No. 4 seed Eckerd (7-8-4) a 5-4 win in penalty kicks over top seed Lynn after 120 scoreless minutes in a Sunshine State Conference semifinal in Boca Raton. Eckerd plays Rollins in Sunday's final.

Football

PITTSBURGH — Three Pitt players, including starting running back Ray Graham, will play today against No. 4 Notre Dame despite being charged with simple assault and conspiracy in connection with an incident last month involving three other students. Graham, junior receiver Devin Street and redshirt freshman defensive back Lafayette Pitts deny they were involved in a confrontation with a student who told police he was hit in the head by a player. The players were not arrested but are to appear for a preliminary hearing Jan. 9 in municipal court.

OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes will host San Diego State on Sept. 7 to fill a vacancy left when Vanderbilt backed out of a game. Home games against Buffalo (now Aug. 31) and Florida A&M (Sept. 21) were moved as well.

TENNESSEE: Freshman cornerback Deion Bonner was the lone suspect listed by police in the theft of a fellow student's cell phone, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. No arrest had been made.

Basketball

texas tech: Junior forward Shauntal Nobles is out indefinitely with Guillain-Barre syndrome, coach Kristy Curry said. In Guillain-Barre syndrome, the immune system attacks the nervous system in the extremities.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Friday, November 2, 2012

TAMPA — It is the straightest branch on the route tree: a fade.

The receiver takes a simple outside release, leaving enough space between the defender and sideline for the quarterback to deliver the ball over the top. Before the defender can get his head around, the receiver leaps to snatch the ball at its highest point.

Late in the first half of the Bucs' 37-16 victory at Minnesota on Oct. 25, quarterback Josh Freeman surveyed the defense's alignment, saw Mike Williams in single coverage and gave the hand signal.

Williams exploded off the line past cornerback Josh Robinson. Freeman released the ball in a high arc before Williams was at top speed. He watched his receiver make the catch near the back of the end zone, unfold his body like a contortionist and stab both feet into the turf just inside the end line for a touchdown.

"The typical fan might just say, 'Throw it up.' And you're right: Throw it up," Bucs receivers coach P.J. Fleck said. "But the amount of time we spend on that route is incredible. The ball has to be in a certain location. The DBs are going to play in a different spot. Sometimes, they play over the top. Sometimes, they play behind you. Sometimes, you've got to back-shoulder it. And sometimes, it has to be over the top. And those decisions have to be made by the wideout and quarterback instantly.

"To see Josh and Mike and Vincent (Jackson) be on the same page, it really is a credit to them and the work ethic and the type of work they're putting on the practice field. Then at that point, it's athleticism. It really turns into a jump ball and body position, and Mike's athleticism takes over."

Every football team, from Pop Warner to the pros, uses the fade route. But for the Bucs this season, it has become a signature play.

In the fourth quarter against Minnesota, Williams beat cornerback A.J. Jefferson down the left sideline on a fade for a 34-yard completion. That set up Doug Martin's game-sealing 1-yard touchdown run.

Raiders coach Dennis Allen, whose team faces the Bucs today, spent last week watching video of Jackson and Williams. He concluded that even when well-defended, they are hard to stop. Jackson is second in the NFL at 21.6 yards per catch, Williams fifth at 17.4.

"When you look at their receivers, they're all big, tall, physical receivers," Allen said. "But … not only do they have great ball skills and the ability to catch the ball, they've got great body control.

"They can move and twist and get their body in position. And I think Mike Williams is as good as I've seen on the boundary being able to adjust to the ball, move his body and still be able to get his feet down. The toughest thing is you can be in great position to cover them and they still go up over top of you and make a play."

Jackson has the speed to blow by any defensive back and the size (6-5, 230 pounds) and strength to go up and get almost any ball thrown his way. Williams (6-2, 212) runs well enough, but he's too physical for most cornerbacks to handle in single coverage.

"He's better at it than anybody I've seen in this league," Bucs safety Ronde Barber said of Williams. And it's not like it happens once a week. It happens two or three times a week. It's natural. It's all him. You can't teach that."

Freeman has demonstrated a talent for executing the fade with the precision of a diamond cutter. It's the byproduct of countless patterns run by Jackson and Williams during the offseason.

"Those guys are where they need to be," Freeman said, "and I try to put the ball in the best position for them to make a play on it."

How many times have the Bucs run fade routes in practice since March?

"Hundreds. It could be thousands, especially with the work they did on their own," Fleck said.

"It's a tribute to them because it's easy to say you want to get better at something. But then to finally see some results from it and still be hungry says something."

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, November 2, 2012

Once again, he stands tall in the pocket.

Do you trust him to stay that way?

Once again, he looks like a man in control of the moment.

Do you think it will last?

Once again, Josh Freeman looks like a talented passer. Once again, he looks calm and strong and dangerous. Once again, he looks like an answer instead of another question.

Do you trust him yet?

For 3½ games now, Freeman has been excellent. He has thrown deep, and he has thrown accurately, and he has thrown efficiently. Finally, he has been the quarterback the fans have wanted to see, the quarterback the front office has expected him to be, the quarterback who may yet start a playoff game.

For 14 quarters, since halftime of the Washington game, it has been hard to ask for more of Freeman. Since then, he has thrown 10 touchdown passes to only one interception. He has thrown for 1,228 yards. He has had a rating of 116.0.

Are you convinced yet? And if not, how many more good outings will it take?

"He has played really well,'' said ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer, a former Bucs quarterback who works as hard on breaking down video and numbers as anyone. "I always look at the hard stuff; at the critical aspects of playing quarterback — what produces points and extends drives — and he's doing the hard stuff. At the same time, he's cleaned up some of the things that gave him problems last year.''

Want to hear an interesting statistic, courtesy of Dilfer's spreadsheets? If you weigh passes that are in the air for 21 yards or more — not catch-and-run plays, but actual down-the-field passes — Freeman has been particularly impressive. Across the NFL, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Eli Manning are tied for the second-most completions with 14. Freeman leads the league at 16, and his completion percentage is second only to Dolphins rookie Ryan Tannehill.

"We're talking about the accuracy of challenging throws,'' Dilfer said.

That said, everyone wants to see more out of Freeman, don't they? That's fair when you consider last year's performance. It's also fair when you considered the slow start Freeman got off to this season, when he and his new coaches seemed to struggle to adapt to each other.

In his first 14 quarters of the year — from the opener through a pedestrian first half against Washington — there were those who questioned whether Freeman would ever get back to his 2010 form. At the time, the fourth-year quarterback had passed for only 579 yards and had a rating of 66.9.

Starting in the second half of that game, however, Freeman has been sharp. He led the Bucs from 18 points down in that game to give them the lead. (The defense surrendered it late.) In the Saints game, he threw an apparent touchdown in the final seconds that would have tied it if Mike Williams had not been pushed out of the end zone.

In other words, the 24-year-old has been superb for a while now. It's that his past makes it awfully hard for some fans to say it out loud.

What's the difference? Perhaps it is newfound comfort in a new offense. Perhaps it is his new teammates such as Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin. Perhaps it is his mechanics, which, in turn, have bolstered his confidence.

"It shows up on tape,'' Dilfer said. "You see him more decisive. His eyes are in the right place. So are his feet.

"A quarterback's eyes are tied to his feet, which is one of the principles of quarterback play that I didn't figure out until it was too late. Last year, he was all over the place. I don't know the reason why, but they were never tied together.

"When you see a clearer picture, you become more decisive. He hasn't been awesome on third down, but he's been good. Stats don't tell you everything. He's been willing to punt. He hasn't tried to put on a `man cape.

"It's hard to reprogram yourself. It took him a few weeks to realize what he needed to do in this new offense. I saw the Dallas game (Sept. 23), and it looked like he was unsure of what he was seeing. It seemed as if the offense was throwing things against the wall to see what would stick, and he played that way.''

In the weeks since then, however, Freeman has been a very good quarterback. Once again, he has been accurate. Once again, he has become the player that teammates look toward in the tough moments. Williams, for instance, refers to Freeman as the "Truth.''

The truth about the Truth?

"I think he's a guy you build a team around,'' Dilfer said. "I don't like to use terms like 'franchise quarterback.' So much of that depends on the players around you. He's a guy you say, 'Okay, we have three more years to get completely built around him.' You have to get him to that point.

"There will be more rocky hills. He's going to have some stinkers. What I'm looking at is how he responds to those stinkers. He has proven he can have those great days. What you don't want is the low floor.''

For all quarterbacks, the relationship between him and his fans is a matter of trust. Everyone throws interceptions; the difference is how you feel about the next pass to come. Do you trust the player when the game is on the line? Do you believe there will be more good days than bad?

For Freeman, that, too, is a work in progress. He has enough ability. He has enough charisma.

Does he have an argument that will convince you he is here for a long time to come?

We'll find out Sunday. And on a few Sundays yet to come.

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

Tim Porson, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 2, 2012

HUDSON — Fivay's Tyler Degen brought everything he had Friday to keep his Falcons' playoff hopes alive.

The Falcons needed a win, and help from Anclote and Zephyrhills, to force a tiebreaker for district runnerup. They got everything they needed, starting with a 55-28 victory.

On their first offensive play after a Ridgewood penalty, Degen connected with Andrew Meyer for a 64-yard touchdown, giving the Falcons the 7-0 lead 24 seconds in. The duo capped off the Falcons' next drive from 4 yards out.

After another punt by the Rams (1-9, 1-6), running back Justin Erwin ran from the 1-yard line, making it 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. Degen did not let up. On the Falcons' first play of the second quarter, Degen and Meyer hooked up for the third time, this one from 59 yards.

The defense added a safety on the next play for a 30-0 lead.

Ridgewood got on the scoreboard when running back Elton Grigley went 35 yards. Fivay (6-3, 5-2) answered when Degen found Willis Reeves for the 17-yard catch and score.

Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 2, 2012

LUTZ — Kendall Pearcey accounted for 227 yards and four touchdowns, including the winner with 1:15 remaining, as Steinbrenner knocked Chamberlain out of the Class 7A, District 7 playoff picture.

The senior, in his final home game, ran it in from the 4 to cap a 75-yard, 12-play drive as the Warriors. Pearcey rushed for 120 yards, also scored on runs of 91 and 4 yards and caught four passes for 107 yards, including a 64-yard score.

"Probably the greatest win I've ever had in my career," Pearcey said. "We all played our hearts out. The crowd was into it. Just an amazing game."

Chamberlain reached the Steinbrenner 24 with five seconds left. But Dakarai Highsmith's pass sailed out of bounds. Highsmith had 194 (and two scores) of the Chiefs' 395 rushing yards. Nick McNeal added 150 (and a score).

Don Jensen, Times correspondent

Darek Sharp, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 2, 2012

LAND O'LAKES — River Ridge's mad scramble for a winning field goal ended with Kyle Forchion blocking it as Land O'Lakes won its home finale Friday night, 15-14.

Forchion's brother Justin had just sacked River Ridge's Josh Maisel for a 10-yard loss. Since the Royal Knights were out of timeouts they had to rush out the field-goal unit for a 48-yard attempt. James Garland's low try never had much of a chance.

"I thought they were just gonna go deep, honestly," Kyle Forchion said. "It didn't register for a few seconds what happened, that I blocked a field goal and it was over."

There was no scoring in the second half, where two turnovers undid River Ridge. James Pensyl of Land O'Lakes threw for 125 of his 154 yards in the first half, hitting on two long touchdowns to help overcome a 14-0 hole.

Land O'Lakes only ran four plays in the third quarter but kept its one-point lead thanks to Eddie Schiffer's interception as River Ridge was near the 20. Then midway through the fourth, using the legs of Justin Haystrand (111 yards), the Knights drove to the Gator 30. But he was stripped by Shaheed Salmon and Larenz Scroggins recovered with six minutes left.

After the Gators went three and out, Haystrand's 17-yard gain put the Knights in position to win. A fourth-down pass from Maisel to Chris Aldrich got them to the Gator 33 with a minute left. But the timeout they used to set up that play was their last.

The final margin came on a busted extra point. Land O'Lakes pulled within 14-6 on Pensyl's 42-yard strike to Issac Cabrera. There was a bad snap on the extra point but kicker Andrew Dowler chucked the ball forward and after two bobbles Liam Heaney caught it for two points.

"I yelled 'fire' like we're supposed to do on a bad play like that. Just as I was about to get hit I saw Liam," Dowler said.

Times wires
Friday, November 2, 2012

ORLANDO — The kind of team the Magic eventually wind up becoming this season is a long way from being determined.

But after a summer of massive changes from top to bottom, for one night at least, all the uncertainty about the franchise's long-term future was an afterthought.

On this night, the Magic was plenty happy with what it has.

Buoyed by Glen Davis' 29 points and 10 rebounds, and J.J. Redick's 21 points off the bench, the Magic sprinted out to an early lead and held off the Nuggets 102-89 Friday night.

Danilo Gallinari led the Nuggets with 23 points, with Ty Lawson chipping in 12. But Denver struggled offensively for the second straight game, unable to dig out of a 20-point first-half hole.

"Amazing, to get our first win in this fashion," said Magic guard Arron Afflalo, who was traded to Orlando during the summer as part of the Dwight Howard multi­team deal and finished with seven points against his former team. "Obviously Glen and J.J. stepped up, but it was just a real inspired team effort."

Afterward, the team presented Jacque Vaughn with the game ball to commemorate his first NBA victory as a head coach.

Friday marked the Magic's season opener and the first one in eight seasons without Howard, the all-star center who was traded to the Lakers.

"It's exciting, man, there's been a lot of change around here," Afflalo said. "The expectations haven't been too high, so for us to get off to this type of start is a good feeling, and we're going to continue to take it one game at a time."

Vaughn thanked his team in the locker room before the game for working so hard to this point.

"It was a good feeling," the rookie coach said after the game. "That's the progressive process that we're talking about, that it goes both ways. I'll give and tonight they gave as well."

Orlando did suffer a setback. Starting forward Hedo Turkoglu left the game in the third quarter with a broken left hand. Vaughn said he would be evaluated again today.

The Nuggets dropped to 0-2 on their season-opening three-game road trip. Much like its opening loss at Philadelphia earlier this week, Denver struggled shooting the ball and was stymied by an early deficit.

"The first half we weren't very good at either end of the court," Denver coach George Karl said. "In Philly, we didn't make shots, but we played great defense and stayed in the game because of that. The second half I thought we played with a lot of energy, and then you get down 20 points, that energy runs out of gas a little bit."

Orlando had stretches of offensive crispness both in transition and in the halfcourt, outscoring Denver 60-36 in the paint.

"I want to let everyone know I'm here," Davis said. "I'm here to seize the moment."

Turkoglu's injury means Vaughn will have to get creative to fill his slot in the starting lineup, with no true small forward healthy enough to immediately fill in. Rookie Maurice Harkless, who was acquired in the Howard deal, would seem to be the obvious candidate. But Vaughn said that he only recently was cleared for full-contact practice after sports hernia surgery. He is day to day.

DENVER (89): Gallinari 5-14 11-14 23, Faried 1-3 0-0 2, Koufos 3-6 1-3 7, Lawson 6-15 0-0 12, Iguodala 3-10 2-2 9, McGee 2-5 0-0 4, Brewer 3-9 0-0 8, Chandler 3-10 2-4 9, A.Miller 5-8 0-0 11, Fournier 0-2 0-0 0, Hamilton 1-2 2-4 4. Totals 32-84 18-27 89.

ORLANDO (102): Turkoglu 3-4 0-0 6, Davis 13-25 3-5 29, Vucevic 3-6 0-0 6, Nelson 2-9 4-4 9, Afflalo 3-13 1-2 7, Redick 7-11 4-5 21, McRoberts 4-4 1-2 9, Moore 6-10 0-0 13, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Nicholson 1-3 0-0 2, O'Quinn 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 42-86 13-18 102.

Denver 18 19 31 21— 89

Orlando 29 29 20 24— 102

3-Point Goals—Denver 7-26 (Brewer 2-6, Gallinari 2-9, A.Miller 1-1, Iguodala 1-2, Chandler 1-3, Fournier 0-2, Lawson 0-3), Orlando 5-15 (Redick 3-4, Moore 1-3, Nelson 1-4, Turkoglu 0-1, Afflalo 0-3). Rebounds—Denver 54 (Iguodala, Gallinari 8), Orlando 56 (Davis 10). Assists—Denver 22 (Lawson 7), Orlando 24 (Nelson 7). Total Fouls—Denver 17, Orlando 24. A—18,846.

Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 2, 2012

LITHIA — With a postseason berth on the line in front of a homecoming crowd, Will Worth did what he usually does when Newsome needs it most: put the Wolves on his back.

Worth ran for a pair of scores and threw another as Newsome (5-4) jumped to a 28-point lead and never looked back, securing a spot in the playoffs with a 40-7 thumping of Plant City on Friday.

"Will just has amazing character," coach Kenneth Hiscock said. "He's a true leader in every way."

Newsome, which started the season 0-3, returned to the playoffs after missing the postseason last year. With the victory, the Wolves secured the run-nerup spot in Class 7A, District 8 behind Durant.

"I told them before the game to get after it from Play One," Hiscock said. "That's exactly what they did. They knew what they had to do and responded well."

And it was Worth who lead the way. The senior quarterback/linebacker carried the ball 23 times for 121 yards to lead an impressive rushing attack.

"We did what we do best, which is grind it out," said Worth, who had rushing scores of 3 and 4 yards. "We played Newsome football."

Teammate John Hendricks rushed for 81 yards on 15 carries, including a 13-yard score on Newsome's first drive. Clint Carnell added 52 yards and had a 15-yard touchdown before exiting the game after aggravating a shoulder injury.

Worth also had a 10-yard TD pass to Tyler Dufrene, and Austin Cobb hit a pair of field goals (24, 35 yards).

Nick Rodriguez hit Joe Davis for a 22-yard TD pass for Plant City's (4-5) lone score.

Bradley Schenk, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 2, 2012

TRINITY — Hernando (6-4, 6-1) had already clinched a spot in the Class 6A playoffs coming into Friday night, but the Leopards didn't take their foot off the gas in a 27-3 victory over Mitchell.

The Leopards started strong, with Robert Hill Bronson scoring on a 9-yard run. Jeremiah Jackson added a nice 45-yard interception return to put the Leopards up 14-0 in the first quarter.

Mitchell (6-4, 3-4) avoided a shutout thanks to Taylor Schneider's 25-yard field goal.

Just before halftime it looked like Mitchell was going to score when Max Gebler extended the ball for the end zone but lost control and the Leopards recovered.

In the second half the Leopards' Tyrail Hawkins took off for a 60-yard touchdown run to make it 21-3. In the fourth Hernando's O'mar Hawkins blocked a punt then recovered it in the end zone to cap scoring.

Travis Puterbaugh, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 2, 2012

SEFFNER — Armwood overcame a late fourth-quarter deficit and narrowly avoided an upset in a 19-8 victory over King.

In the first half, the only score was Nick Feely's field goal with 28 seconds left for a 3-0 Hawks lead.

The second half was more exciting. After Feely extended the lead to 6-0, the Hawks forced a quick three and out. On the ensuing drive, King's Dezrick Ingram picked off Noah Johnson and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown. Leon McQuay III blocked the PAT to keep the score tied at 6.

After King registered a safety on Armwood's Alfonso Thornton to take an 8-6 lead midway through the fourth quarter, Thornton's 28-yard touchdown run with 5:10 left gave the Hawks a 12-8 lead. Byron Cowart's 40-yard fumble recovery for a TD iced the game.

Travis Puterbaugh, Times correspondent

David Rice, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 2, 2012

WESLEY CHAPEL — Freedom ended its season in posi­tive fashion by burying winless Wiregrass Ranch 41-0 on Friday.

The game got off to a sluggish start with a scoreless first quarter. But the Patriots (3-7) broke the deadlock in the second and didn't look back while alternating juniors Taylor King and D.J. Grant at quarterback.

"That was big for those guys because it gives them a sense of competition for next season," Freedom coach Tom Donohoe said. "The important thing is that we sent our seniors off on a high note; particularly on defense, where we have quite a few seniors.

"We finished with a better record than last year (2-8), and we'll look to build on that next season."

The Patriots scored their first touchdown on a 70-yard pass from Grant to Johnny Rodicio. They would immediately follow it up with another two touchdowns, a 30-yard interception return by senior Nate Godwin and 1-yard run by Anthony Hendry after recovering a fumbled kickoff.

Grant added another score to his total as both he and King finished with two touchdown passes.

The Bulls (0-9) were held to 1 rushing yard and 87 overall.

Samuel Henninger, Times Correspondent
Friday, November 2, 2012

LAND O'LAKES — Sunlake's seniors had a superb performance in their last home outing against Central (1-8, 1-6) on Friday night. After taking control of the game early, Sunlake finished strong to win 63-7.

The Seahawks (6-2, 4-2) went up 15-0 in the first quarter before their offense even took the field. On the third play from scrimmage for the Bears, Sunlake's Matt Watson returned a 20-yard interception for a touchdown. After Central went three and out, Eddie Burgos returned the punt 60 yards for a touchdown.

Sunlake's dominant defense forced six turnovers in the first half. The Seahawks recovered three forced fumbles and made three interceptions. The offense was also very productive; Sunlake went into halftime with a total of 174 yards and a 49-0 lead.

Burgos ran the ball 11 times to amass a total of 93 yards and two touchdowns. He also got into the end zone on a 60-yard punt return.

"We just come out here and work hard. It's just hard work, every day," Burgos said.

The Central offense was led by senior running back Quadavis Battle's 112 yards on 12 attempts. He also scored a 38-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter.