Thema drucken
07.09.2019 04:27
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(STATS) -- Shortly after Youngstown State found out it was headed to the FCS playoffs for the first time in 10 years, safety LeRoy Alexander stepped to the podium and admitted his Penguins knew little about their opponent before earnestly offering one tidbit hed gleaned from an early scouting report on Samford.We hear they like to pass the ball.Rumor has it that its a dangerous time of year to be a turkey, too.Alexander and his teammates will find out rather quickly on Saturday that what they heard is true as 13th-ranked Youngstown State faces what should be a tough aerial test from Devlin Hodges and one of the nations most dangerous passing attacks.The Penguins (8-3, 6-2 Missouri Valley) were the subdivisions dynasty in the 1990s, winning four national championships in five title game appearances, but theyve made just one playoff appearance since Jim Tressel left for Ohio State in 2001.Its only taken Bo Pelini two years to get Youngstown State back in the 24-team field since returning to his hometown, and after finishing 5-6 in his first season, the Penguins are headed to the playoffs with a defense that hasnt given up more than 24 points to an FCS opponent this season.Pelini didnt stick around long enough at Nebraska to have to worry about any playoff scenarios, but after spending nine years as an NFL assistant prior to starting with the Cornhuskers, he has a pretty good feel for what to expect come Saturday.Its win or go home, Pelini said. Lets go. Lets see what youve got. Thats the kind of challenge you want.Its tough to say if 23rd-ranked Samford (7-4, 5-3 Southern) is the type of task theyll regret having to face for the right to meet third-seeded and second-ranked Jacksonville State. The Bulldogs led the FCS in pass completions (353) and completion percentage (71.3) and were second in attempts (495), with Hodges 33 touchdown passes ranking third nationally.The sophomore, who on Tuesday was named the SoCons offensive player of the year by both the coaches and media, threw for at least 280 yards and two TDs in every game but Samfords latest. And when JJ Jermans 28-yard field goal went through as time expired last Saturday, giving 5-6 East Tennessee State an unlikely 15-14 upset, it seemed like the Bulldogs regular-season finale would also be their 2016 finale.Samfords inclusion in the bracket even caught its coach off guard.(I was surprised) a little bit, Ill be honest with you, Chris Hatcher said. But after evaluating the situation on the way home (Saturday) night and seeing how the bubble teams fared, I really thought we had a chance.Our overall body of work throughout the course of the season -- the Central Arkansas game was a huge win, The Citadel game, how we played them on the road, how we played Mississippi State -- I think that was big for us. ... We were down and out, and all of the sudden, weve got new life about ourselves.The Bulldogs have to hope last week was a blip on the radar and that Hodges can bounce back against a Youngstown State defense that thrives on getting to the quarterback. The Penguins led the FCS with 40 sacks as defensive ends Derek Rivers and Avery Moss registered 10 apiece.It seems unlikely theyll be able to cause that much damage in the backfield considering Samfords offense is built upon Hodges getting the ball out quick to FCS receptions leader Karel Hamilton, Kelvin McKnight and Emmanuel Obajimi, but 18 of the 23 sacks Samford suffered came in its six road games.Youngstown State went 6-0 at home and hasnt lost there since Nov. 14, 2015, when it blew a two-touchdown fourth-quarter lead to eventual national champion North Dakota State.One thing seems certain Saturday: the Penguins owning time of possession. They finished sixth in the FCS, holding the ball for 33:41 per game behind a ground game centered around seniors Martin Ruiz and Jody Webb. Samford was 124th of 125 teams, possessing it for just 24:54 per contest.Youngstown State had five drives that took four plays or fewer while racking up a 2016 FCS record 572 yards on the ground in last Saturdays 65-20 pounding of Missouri State, while Samford comes in as an 8 1/2-point underdog thats dropped three of four.To Hatcher, though, the ETSU loss could be more of a wake-up call than a warning.I hope its gonna be a big positive for us, he said. Now our guys know what its like to have their season over, and now we have a chance to play some more football.Theres nothing like practicing on Thanksgiving morning. Vladimir Konstantinov Jersey . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. Detroit Red Wings Jerseys . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. http://www.redwingshockeyauthentic.com/luke-glendening-jersey/ . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Niklas Kronwall Jersey . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Alex Delvecchio Jersey . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. WASHINGTON -- Scott Brooks is still getting to know Bradley Beal and the rest of the Washington Wizards. The teams new coach likes what he sees out of his shooting guard.In the last two games, Beal has scored 76 points -- and 30 or more in consecutive games for the first time in his five-year career.Beal had a career-high 42 points and John Wall shook off an awful shooting night with seven key points down the stretch as the Wizards beat the Phoenix Suns 106-101 on Monday night.Beal, who scored 34 points in Saturdays loss to Miami, had nine in the first quarter, seven in the second, 12 in the third and 14 in the fourth. He shot 14 for 22 and hit five of his 10 3-point attempts.He can be one of the best two-way players in the league, and my job is to continue to push him to strive for greatness, Brooks said.It takes a lot of energy. It takes a lot of inner drive and determination, but I think he has the ability to be that player.Beal said hes simplified his approach.Not thinking, not worrying about if I miss or if I make it. I just have the same mentality that its on to the next shot. That shots over, Beal said.Devin Booker had 30 points and Eric Bledsoe scored 29 for Phoenix (4-11), which has lost five of six. Booker and Bledsoe scored 18 of the teams 21 points in the fourth quarter.The Wizards improved to 4-10. All four of their wins have come at home.BEST FOR LASTWall, who also scored 34 points on Saturday, finished with 18 this time. He shot just 6 for 24 but converted a three-point play with 1:08 remaining to give Washington a 102-101 lead. Wall added a jumper with 38.11 seconds to go and two free throws with 21.dddddddddddd2 seconds left.I think I just impacted the game other ways, he said.Wall had a season-high 15 assists and added three blocked shots.ON GUARDThe Suns were impressed with Beals performance.I didnt defend him, so I dont know what was so tough, but he played really determined tonight, coach Earl Watson said.Beal and Wall combined to score 23 of the Wizards 31 fourth-quarter points.You need to shut them down, make somebody else do it, and we didnt do that today, Booker said.TIP-INSSuns: F T.J. Warren (illness) missed his second straight game. C Tyson Chandler (personal reasons) sat out for the third consecutive game. ... G Leandro Barbosa became the 11th player in franchise history to appear in 500 games.Wizards: Recalled F Danuel House Jr. from Delaware of the D-League. ... Brooks said C Ian Mahinmi, who has yet to play this season due to knee surgery, is progressing well. Brooks wasnt sure, however, when Mahinmi will be ready to play. I like what he did yesterday in practice. He really moved very well. Obviously, hes a little rusty and conditioning is going to be a factor early on, Brooks said.PORTER HURTWashingtons Otto Porter left with about 7 minutes to play in the third quarter and did not return. Porter, who finished with nine points, was diagnosed with inflammation in his right hip. Brooks said Porter was day to day.UP NEXTSuns: Visit Orlando on Wednesday.Wizards: Visit Orlando on Friday. ' ' ' |
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