WPPA/T102 Sports - Saturday, 9/23/06

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK FOUR

Pottsville 38 Muhlenburg 42 Northwest 42
Exeter 7 Blue Mountain 14 Nativity 10

Shenandoah Valley 55 Schuylkill Haven 35 Tamaqua 25
Minersville 21 North Schuylkill 6 Mahanoy Area 7

Marian 13 Jim Thorpe 35 Tri Valley 32
Halifax 10 Panther Valley 8 Newport 6

Millersburg 40 Pine Grove 56 Mount Carmel 27
Williams Valley 28 Upper Dauphin 13 Shamokin 12

Southern Columbia 28 Selinsgrove 34 Hazelton 35
Lewisburg 3 Milton 19 Tunkhannock 7

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - There's no confusion among Ohio State's players. Anything they've accomplished up to now doesn't mean a whole lot. Defensive tackle David Patterson says the "real season" starts with today's Big Ten opener between the top-ranked Buckeyes and Number 24 Penn State. The Buckeyes haven't lost since falling 17-to-10 at Penn State a year ago. That defeat and Penn State's last-play loss to Michigan ended up leaving the teams tied for the conference title. Wide receiver Ted Ginn (gihn) says Ohio State is eager to play the co-champions. Penn State linebacker Dan Connor says the game in Columbus is one that can really help the Nittany Lions along, here in the early part of the season -- and put them on the map.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Eagles running back Brian Westbrook returned to practice yesterday, increasing his chances of playing against the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, wide receiver Donte' Stallworth missed practice with a hamstring injury, but he's listed as probable for tomorrow's game. Westbrook missed two practices this week because of swelling in his knee. He also sat out two practices last week, but played in Philadelphia's overtime loss to the New York Giants. Westbrook rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown, and caught seven passes for 56 yards against New York. But he also had a critical fumble in the fourth quarter. Stallworth has emerged as Donovan McNabb's primary target since arriving in a trade with New Orleans last month. He has eleven catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Cornerback Lito Sheppard will miss his second straight game with a sprained ankle, while backup cornerback Rod Hood is doubtful with a heel strain. The Eagles have already lost star defensive end Jevon Kearse to a season-ending knee injury.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Jeff Garcia won a playoff game, went to three Pro Bowls and posted big numbers in five seasons with San Francisco. Unlike Joe Montana and Steve Young, though, Garcia couldn't lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl victory. For the first time since leaving the 49ers after the 2003 season, Garcia is returning to San Francisco. Tomorrow, he'll be wearing a Philadelphia Eagles uniform and standing on the sideline as the backup to Donovan McNabb. Garcia embraced the challenge of following Montana and Young when he signed with the 49ers in 1999. He says his biggest regret is not leaving with a championship ring. Montana won four, while Young won one.

VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) - Philadelphia Flyers center Peter Forsberg is expected to play in today's preseason game against Ottawa. That would be his first game since he had surgery in May to repair ligament damage in his right ankle. Forsberg is scheduled to skate with his linemates from last season, Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble. Forsberg says he feels pretty good so far. In May, the 33-year-old Swede thought he would have to have surgery on both ankles, which would have meant missing nearly half the season. But it turns out the left one did not need surgery, so the schedule was moved up.

UNDATED (AP) - Strong, but not strong enough. Chris Young came within two outs of pitching the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres' 38-season history. But Pittsburgh's Joe Randa ruined the bid with a two-run home run with one out in the ninth in the Padres' 6-to-2 win. Young went eight and two-thirds innings before giving way to Cla (clay) Meredith, who got the final out. Young is 11-and-5 with the win. Both the Padres and Dodgers won, leaving San Diego with a half-game lead in the West. The Dodgers have a half-game lead over Philadelphia in the wild-card.

In the rest of the N-L:
-- The L-A Dodgers kept pace with San Diego by blanking Arizona, 2-to-0. J.D. Drew broke a scoreless duel with a seventh-inning home run. Derek Lowe won his 15th game.
-- Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's National League home run record with his 733rd homer. Bonds' three-run homer in the sixth inning came in Milwaukee's 13-to-12 win over San Francisco. The Giants slugger has 25 homers this season and is 22 homers shy of Aaron's all-time record of 755.
-- Ryan Howard hit his major league-leading 58th homer and the Philadelphia Phillies continued their playoff push by beating Florida, 5-to-2. Howard is trying to become the sixth player to ever reach 60 homers. The Phils have nine games left.
-- Washington nipped the New York Mets, 3-to-2. The Nationals' Alfonso Soriano became the first major leaguer to hit at least 40 home runs, steal at least 40 bases and hit at least 40 doubles in a season.
-- Houston beat St. Louis, 6-to-5. Craig Biggio's two-out R-B-I single capped Houston's two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. The Cards' magic number for clinching the Central remains five.
-- Edwin Encarnacion (EHN'-kar-nay-see-ohn) hit a two-run homer and the Cincinnati Reds opened their final home series of the season with a rain-shortened 4-to-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
-- Colorado rocked Atlanta, 6-to-4. Todd Helton had a two-run double.

Over in the American League, Sean Casey hit a two-run homer and the Detroit Tigers beat Kansas City 7-to-3 to take a one and a-half-game lead over Minnesota in the A-L Central. The Twins lost in Baltimore and probably wish the Tigers did not have five games left with Kansas City. Detroit is 12-and-1 this season against the Royals.

In the rest of the A-L:
-- Oakland reduced its magic number for clinching the West to two by nipping the L-A Angels, 5-to-4 in 12 innings. Marco Scutaro drove in the winning run with a single.
-- Richie Sexson hit two long homers and the Seattle Mariners scored six runs in the second inning to beat the Chicago White Sox, 11-to-6. That sends the defending World Series champions closer to playoff elimination. The White Sox have lost seven of eight games.
-- Brian Roberts homered and drove in three runs and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Minnesota Twins, 7-to-3. Daniel Cabrera took a four-hitter into the seventh inning and improved his record to 8-and-10.
-- The New York Yankees kept rolling in pursuit of the best record in the American League and homefield advantage in the playoffs by beating Tampa Bay, 4-to-1 for their 93rd win of the season. Robinson Cano KUH'-noh) and Aaron Guiel homered.
-- Boston slapped Toronto, 7-to-1. Mike Lowell homered and Julian Tavares pitched his first complete game in six years.
-- Texas trounced Cleveland, 12-to-4. Mark Teixeira (tuh-SHER'-uh) and Michael Young each drove in four runs.

TORONTO (AP) - Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay will miss the rest of the season because of a strained right forearm. He says the forearm has bothered him all season but this was the best and smartest thing to do. The 2003 Cy Young Award winner is 16-and-5 with an E-R-A of three-point-19 in 220 innings.
Elsewhere:
-- Boston center fielder Coco Crisp will have season-ending surgery on his left index finger Monday. Crisp hit .264 with eight home runs and 36 R-B-I's in 105 games. Boston acquired Crisp from Cleveland in the offseason to replace Johnny Damon, who signed with the New York Yankees.
-- Kansas City Royals manager Buddy Bell had his tonsils removed and now awaits biopsy results on a growth that was detected in the area. Bell is expected to be released tomorrow and the final result of the biopsy will be Monday or Tuesday. Bench coach Billy Doran has been named interim manager of the Royals.

STRAFFAN, Ireland (AP) - Europe has taken the lead in three of the four matches at the Ryder Cup today and threatens to turn a slim lead into a large one. Play began with three beautiful approach shots by Darren Clarke and more stellar play from Sergio Garcia. The Europeans brought a 5-3 advantage into the morning better-ball matches in this, their quest to win the cup for the third straight time. Clarke is coming back after an emotional win on opening day, and hit approaches to inside five feet on numbers 4, 5 and 11 for birdies. He and Lee Westwood held a 3-up lead through eight holes over Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods, who continued to struggle.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Eric Axley shot a bogey-free 7-under 63 for a share of the second-round lead with D.A. Points in the Texas Open. Both are seeking their first P-G-A Tour victory. Points had a 66 to match Axley at 9-under 131 on the LaCantera Golf Club's Resort Course. Paul Goydos was another stroke back after a 63.

DANVILLE, Calif. (AP) - Karrie Webb moved into contention for her fourth L-P-G-A Tour victory of the year with a 2-under 70 for a share of the second-round lead with Jeong Jang in the Longs Drugs Challenge. Jang followed her course-record 64 on Thursday with a 73 to match Webb at 7-under 137. Lorie Kane, Stacy Prammanasudh (PRAH'-man-uh-sood) and Maria Hjorth (yort) are one shot back.

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Jeff Gordon has his first pole in more than a year. He qualified first for Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Dover International Speedway. He had gone 47 races without a pole – the longest drought of his career. Scott Riggs will join Gordon on the front row. Gordon is fourth in the Nextel Cup points standings heading into the second race of NASCAR's ten-driver Chase for the Championship. Other than Gordon, it wasn't a strong qualifying effort for the other nine drivers in the Chase. Series leader Kevin Harvick will start 25th. Matt Kenseth enters third and will start third. Kyle Busch, last of the ten in the Chase standings, starts way back in the 27-hole.

UNDATED (AP) - Terrell (TEHR'-ihl) Owens says he "definitely" plans on playing October eighth when the Dallas Cowboys meet Philadelphia. That date's been marked on his calendar since the schedule was released. The Eagles are the team that dumped him in the middle of last season in a swirl of controversy. Owens broke the bone attached to his right ring finger early in last Sunday night's outing against Washington and everyone is very pleased with how the injury is healing. In fact, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells says his team's prized off-season acquisition may be back in time for next week's game against Tennessee. Dallas is off this week.

In other N-F-L news:
-- Rams defensive end Anthony Hargrove missed a second straight practice. He also was a no-show for a scheduled meeting with coach Scott Linehan Thursday evening. The coach says Hargrove will be fined and will not play this weekend, although he stopped short of calling it a suspension.
-- Panthers All-Pro receiver Steve Smith practiced for the second straight day and coach John Fox says Smith's participation at Tampa Bay on Sunday will be a game-time decision. The N-F-L's top pass catcher in 2005 is recovering from a strained right hamstring that kept him out of the club's first two games – both of them losses.
-- Colts coach Tony Dungy says the team likely will sign kicker Martin (mahr-TEEN') Gramatica for Sunday's game against Jacksonville as a possible replacement for Adam Vinatieri (vihn-uh-tee-AYR'-ee), who is nursing a groin injury and has not practiced all week. It would be Gramatica's second stint with the Colts and his third with Dungy, who coached Gramatica at Tampa Bay before he became the Colts coach in 2002.
-- New York Jets wide receiver Laveranues (luh-VUR'-nee-uhs) Coles remains questionable for Sunday's game against Buffalo. Coles was limited again in practice because of an unspecified calf injury. The veteran wideout is tied for second in the A-F-C with 14 catches and leads the league with 253 receiving yards.
-- Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander practiced Friday for the first time this week and coach Mike Holmgren says he'll start Sunday against the New York Giants. Alexander has been bothered by a sore left foot he injured in the season opener against Detroit.

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Tech's leading scorer last season will miss most of preseason basketball practice. Anthony Morrow is expected to be out six to eight weeks due to a stress fracture in his back and the Yellow Jackets are hoping six-foot-five junior guard will be fully recovered in time for the November Tenth opener against Elon.

MOSCOW (AP) - Marat Safin (mah-RAHT' SAH'-fihn) defeated Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-3, 7-6, and ail Youzhny (mee-KAYL' YOOS'-nee) followed with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory over James Blake to give Russia a 2-to-0 lead in the best-of-five Davis Cup semifinals. Russia can clinch a finals berth with a win in today's doubles. Bob and Mike Bryan, the world's top doubles team, will play for the United States. The last time the United States came back from a 2-to-0 Davis Cup deficit was in 1934 against Australia.

Top-25 college football schedule

Today
( 1) Ohio State vs. (24) Penn State, 3:30 p.m.
( 2) Auburn vs. Buffalo, 2:30 p.m.
( 3) Southern Cal at Arizona, 8 p.m.
( 4) West Virginia at East Carolina, 4:30 p.m.
( 5) Florida vs. Kentucky, 7:45 p.m.
( 6) Michigan vs. Wisconsin, Noon
( 7) Texas vs. Iowa State, 3:30 p.m.
( 8) Louisville at Kansas State, Noon
( 9) Georgia vs. Colorado, 12:30 p.m.
(10) LSU vs. Tulane, 8 p.m.
(11) Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati, Noon
(12) Notre Dame at Michigan State, 8 p.m.
(14) Iowa at Illinois, 12:10 p.m.
(15) Tennessee vs. Marshall, 4 p.m.
(17) Oklahoma vs. Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m.
(18) Florida State vs. Rice, 3:30 p.m.
(19) Clemson vs. North carolina, Noon
(20) Boston College at North Carolina State, 8 p.m.
(21) California vs. (22) Arizona State, 3:30 p.m.
(23) Nebraska vs. Troy, 7 p.m.
(25) Boise State vs. Hawaii, 8 p.m.

Today's pitching probables and records (all times EDT)

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Seattle Mariners (Felix Hernandez 11-14) at Chicago White Sox (Mark Buehrle 12-13), 1:15 p.m.
Los Angeles Angels (John Lackey 11-11) at Oakland Athletics (Joe Blanton 16-11), 4:05 p.m.
Boston Red Sox (Devern Hansack 0-0) at Toronto Blue Jays (A-J Burnett 8-8), 4:07 p.m.
Minnesota Twins (Scott Baker 5-8) at Baltimore Orioles (Eric Bedard 15-9), 4:35 p.m.
Detroit Tigers (Kenny Rogers 16-6) at Kansas City Royals (Mark Redman 10-9), 7:10 p.m.
New York Yankees (Randy Johnson 17-10) at Tampa Bay Devil Rays (Jay Howell 0-3), 7:15 p.m.
Cleveland Indians (Brian Slocum 0-0) at Texas Rangers (Vicente Padilla 14-9), 8:05 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Washington Nationals (Mike O'Connor 3-7) at New York Mets (John Maine 5-5), 1:20 p.m.
Florida Marlins (Brian Moehler 7-9) at Philadelphia Phillies (Jon Lieber 8-10), 1:20 p.m.
Chicago Cubs (Carlos Zambrano 15-6) at Cincinnati Reds (Kyle Lohse 4-9), 6:10 p.m.
St. Louis Cardinals (Dennys Reyes 5-7) at Houston Astros (Roy Oswalt 14-8), 7:05 p.m.
San Francisco Giants (Noah Lowry 7-10) at Milwaukee Brewers (Chris Capuano 11-11), 7:05 p.m.
Atlanta Braves (Kyle Davies 3-5) at Colorado Rockies (Jeff Francis 12-11), 8:05 p.m.
Pittsburgh Pirates (Zach Duke 10-13) at San Diego Padres (Jake Peavy 9-14), 10:05 p.m.
Arizona Diamondbacks (Miguel Batista 10-7) at Los Angeles Dodgers (Brad Penny 16-8), 10:10 p.m.

Here are the latest scores from yesterday's sports events:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Final Baltimore 7 Minnesota 3
Final Boston 7 Toronto 1
Final N-Y Yankees 4 Tampa Bay 1
Final Detroit 7 Kansas City 3
Final Texas 12 Cleveland 4
Final Seattle 11 Chi White Sox 6
Final Oakland 5 L.A. Angels 4, 12 Innings

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Final Philadelphia 5 Florida 2
Final Houston 6 St. Louis 5
Final Cincinnati 4 Chi Cubs 2, 4 1/2 Innings, Rain
Final Washington 3 N-Y Mets 2
Final Colorado 6 Atlanta 4
Final Milwaukee 13 San Francisco 12
Final San Diego 6 Pittsburgh 2
Final L.A. Dodgers 2 Arizona 0

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PRESEASON

Final Boston 5 N-Y Islanders 1
Final Chicago 5 Columbus 2
Final Nashville 5 Carolina 4
Final Buffalo 4 Ottawa 3
Final Toronto 5 Montreal 1
Final OT Detroit 5 Tampa Bay 4
Final OT Washington 5 Pittsburgh 4
Final Dallas 3 Phoenix 1
Final Anaheim 5 Vancouver 1

N-F-L schedule (all times EDT)

Sunday's Games
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Jets at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
Washington Redskins at Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, 4:05 p.m.
N.Y. Giants at Seattle Seahawks, 4:15 p.m.
St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals, 4:15 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers, 4:15 p.m.
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m.
Open: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys

Monday Night Game
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints, 8:30 p.m.