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Stephen A. Smith opens up to The Post on 'crazy' role in 'Law & Order'

Stephen A. Smith is a “different animal” when it comes to his acting career. That’s something the ESPN personality heard many times over the years from his colleagues, and it has served as fuel for his goal of making it to primetime television, Smith said in an interview with The Post on Monday. Smith, who’s […]

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1 month ago

May 6, 2025

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Stephen A. Smith opens up to The Post on 'crazy' role in 'Law & Order'

Stephen A. Smith is a “different animal” when it comes to his acting career.

That’s something the ESPN personality heard many times over the years from his colleagues, and it has served as fuel for his goal of making it to primetime television, Smith said in an interview with The Post on Monday.

Smith, who’s known for his loud, theatrical personality as a sports analyst across multiple shows at ESPN, will have a guest star role on “Law & Order,” airing Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

“I’ve always been told and all my colleagues always say, ‘When the lights come on, he’s a different animal. He’s ready,’” Smith, 57, said. “So, I take pride in that. And the lights come on, it’s showtime and it’s time to step up and produce, and that’s what I pride myself on being able to do.”

It might be difficult to grasp another version of Smith, who became a household name by being himself in front of the camera.

In the episode entitled “Tough Love,” Smith plays Ted Hunter, an outspoken sports agent who is stabbed to death, leaving a trail of suspects who wanted him gone.

“It was crazy to say the least,” Smith said of playing the character. “I mean, from the standpoint of knowing who [sports agents] are and how they can be as professionals, I get that because I’ve been in sports journalism for over 30 years, so in that regard, that’s fine.

“But it’s still a challenge when you have to go in front of the cameras on a set and act the role and step out of character and be something that you’re not.”

The most fascinating part of all is that Smith has never taken a single acting class or sought any type of formal training.

Smith explained that he was approached by Pam Wechsler, a writer for “Law & Order,” about a guest star role on the show — just as he was for his role on “General Hospital,” which is ABC’s longest-running soap opera.

“We were both in LA, said she was a fan and that many of her colleagues were fans and they wanted to know if I would be interested in appearing on ‘Law & Order,’” Smith recalled of his conversation with Wechsler. “And I said, ‘The ‘Law & Order’? Are you kidding me? Prime time? Are you kidding me? Absolutely!’ So, I jumped at it and that’s how it happened. I was ecstatic.”

Smith made his acting debut on “General Hospital,” with a short cameo appearance as a television reporter on Feb. 2, 2007.

Later in 2007, he was in the Chris Rock motion picture, “I Think I Love My Wife.”

Smith returned to “General Hospital” in April 2016 as Brick, a surveillance expert for the Mob, and has continued to make regular appearances on the soap opera since then — and most recently April 28.

This is just the beginning for Smith’s acting career, and he said he won’t stop until he lands more roles on primetime television and in movies.

However, giving up his job with ESPN to become a full-time actor is where he draws the line.

“It would have to be the right opportunity, of course,” Smith said of future acting roles. “I mean, I have a day job that pays me pretty well, so I don’t really need the work.”

Smith signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with ESPN in March, according to The Athletic.

“If I’m gonna do it, it has to be the kind of [role] that I want,” Smith said. “I want to be in the movies. I want to be on primetime television. I want to be on epic shows like ‘Law & Order,’ I want to work with great actors and great directors and stuff like that. It’s certainly something that I aspire to do. There’s no doubt about that.”

“If the right opportunity presents itself, of course I’d be willing to do it and sacrifice the time necessary in order to do it well because I’m not interested in doing anything half-ass. That would basically be my approach, but it’s not going to be something that’s going to compel me to give up my day job — that I’m not going to do.

“I wouldn’t do that to become a full-time actor. That’s not what I would do, not after what I’ve been blessed to accomplish and I’m on throughout my career over the last 30 years. I’ll continue doing this for as long as I can.”

Smith credited “General Hospital” star Maurice Bernard, who’s played Sonny Corinthos on the soap since 1993, along with producer Frank Valentini, for taking him under their wing in Hollywood.

He also attributed longtime “General Hospital” stars, Laura Wright, who plays Carly Corinthos, and Steve Burton, who plays Jason Morgan, for “teaching me about the profession.”

“I remember when Maurice Bernard told me one time [on set], ‘This is who I need you to be at this moment.’ And when I went and taped the scene for ‘Law & Order,’ I was like, ‘This is who I need to be in this moment right here. This is what it calls for,’” Smith said. “And I knew it instinctually because of the things that they taught me over the years, and I’m incredibly grateful to them, and they’re all my friends and we communicate all the time.”

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Heptathlon And Decathlon Rankings, 2025 NCAA Track and Field Championships

The 2025 NCAA Track and Field National Championships are arriving quickly and the fields are set. Two groups of athletes will be competing in both track and field events, the Heptathletes and Decathletes. See who the top competitors in each event are, ranked based on their best performance of the season. With no Leo Neugebauer […]

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4 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

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See who the top competitors in each event are, ranked based on their best performance of the season. With no Leo Neugebauer in the men’s field, a new champion will be crowned, looking to break his record of total points scored.

Women’s Heptathlon

Sofia Iakushina – Texas A&M – 6260 pts
Pippi Lotta Enok – Oklahoma – 6258 pts
Jadin O’Brien – Notre Dame – 6231 pts
Annika Williams – Oregon – 5914 pts
Lucie Kienast – Illinois – 5851 pts
Sydney Johnson – UCLA – 5820 pts
Sofia Cosculluela – Washington – 5817 pts
Izzy Goudros – Harvard – 5807 pts
Alaina Brady – Notre Dame – 5751 pts
Melissa Wullschleger – Illinois – 5749 pts

Men’s Decathlon

Till Steinforth – Nebraska – 8265 pts
Peyton Bair – Mississippi State – 8111 pts
Brad Thomas – UC Santa Barbara – 8108 pts
Jaden Roskelley – BYU – 8000 pts
Paul Kallenberg – Louisville – 7944 pts
Marcus Weaver – Arkansas – 7940 pts
Ryan Gregory – Long Beach State – 7898 pts
Abraham Vogelsang – Iowa – 7874 pts
Ben Barton – BYU – 7865 pts
Maxwell Forte – Duke – 7853 pts

About Hayward Field

Hayward Field, which was built in 1919, is no stranger to top-tier track and field events, including the Diamond League and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

The venue is named after Bill Hayward, who ran the University of Oregon track and field program from 1904 to 1947. Though it originally was intended for Ducks football, many additions and renovations over the century have helped it become a premier destination.

In September 2023, the venue became the first facility outside of Zurich or Brussels to host the two-day season-ending Wanda Diamond League Final, where the year’s 32 overall champions were crowned.

What Schools Won The Team Titles At The 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s And Women’s Outdoor Track And Field Championships?

The Arkansas women took home the outdoor team title in 2024, sweeping the indoor and outdoor championships for the 2023-2024 season.

Florida, led by legendary head coach Mike Holloway, secured the men’s title in 2024, giving the Gators three consecutive outdoor men’s titles. Florida became the first team to three-peat since Texas A&M (2009-2011).

What Schools Have Won The Most Titles At The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track And Field Championships?

The NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships first was held in 1921.

USC owns the most men’s titles with 25, while Arkansas is the only other program with 10 or more (10).

The NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships first was held in 1982.

LSU has won the most women’s titles with 14. The next-closest is Texas with five.

From FloTrack YouTube

Check out these potential future collegiate stars: Incredible Finish In 8-Year-Old 4×1 National Championship

FloTrack Is The Streaming Home For Many Track And Field Meets Each Year

Don’t miss all the track and field season action streaming on FloTrack. Check out the FloTrack schedule for more events.

FloTrack Archived Footage

Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Join The Track & Field Conversation On Social

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Meadville boys volleyball team beats Shaler in PIAA Class 2A semifinal

Tymir Phillips part of Meadville boys volleyball team’s PIAA semi win Meadville’s Tymir Phillips, District 10’s new Class 3A long jump titlist, helped the Bulldogs’ boys volleyball team reach the PIAA Class 2A final. NOTE: This story will be updated. SHARON — For the fifth time in six years, Meadville’s boys volleyball team will compete […]

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5 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

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NOTE: This story will be updated.

SHARON — For the fifth time in six years, Meadville’s boys volleyball team will compete in a PIAA Class 2A championship match.

The Bulldogs resumed their dynasty-level run with a sweep of Shaler Tuesday, June 10 at Sharon High School’s gymnasium. They topped the Titans 25-20, 25-15, 25-19 in a state semifinal between district champions that went into their first serve with a combined record of 35-1.

The match also pitted the PIAA’s 2024 winners aside the Tigers’ net. Meadville won the 2A final at Penn State University’s Rec Hall, which preceded the Titans’ win in the 3A final.

Shaler reverted to 2A status for the PIAA’s current enrollment cycle, which is why it couldn’t repeat at that level.

The 2A state final on Saturday, June 14 will be a familiar scenario for most of Meadville’s current players. Rec Hall is where they helped defeat Manheim Central for the program’s third overall state championship.

Meadville (18-0) and Manheim Central (22-0) will meet there for an 11 a.m. rematch. Manheim Central guaranteed that with its three-set victory vs. District 3 rival York Suburban in June 10’s other state semifinal.

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.

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Bainbridge lacrosse caps successful spring season with state title

The Spartans won three playoff games, including a 23-5 victory over Selah in the Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association 2A championship. Bainbridge High School’s boys lacrosse program used to win state titles on a regular basis. The Spartans’ most recent championship victory could be a sign that the team is back to being a […]

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33 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

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The Spartans won three playoff games, including a 23-5 victory over Selah in the Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association 2A championship.

Bainbridge High School’s boys lacrosse program used to win state titles on a regular basis. The Spartans’ most recent championship victory could be a sign that the team is back to being a perennial contender.

Last month in the Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association Class 2A title game against Selah at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, senior attack Henry Moreshead scored seven goals and freshman attack Caston Rosenfeld added five goals to lead the Spartans to a 23-5 victory over Selah. It was the program’s first title-game victory since 2007. Bainbridge, which finished with a 12-5 overall record, posted playoff wins against Bellingham (16-11) and Orting (15-8) in order to reach the championship contest.

Joining Moreshead in earning Region 3 All-Metro first-team honors this season were junior midfielder Aaron Lolley, junior face-off specialist Noah Weiss, junior defenders Quentin Faust and Hugh Fields, and senior defender Dylan Jones. Lolley also earned USA Lacrosse High School All-American status.

The championship victory was the latest in a long list of accolades for Bainbridge head coach Jack Visco, who eclipsed 300 career wins this spring. Visco joined the Spartans’ staff in 2003, leading the team to an undefeated record and a state title, the school’s ninth in a span of 10 seasons at the time (the team placed second to Visco’s Mercer Island team in 2001).

Bainbridge and Mercer Island continued to battle for state supremacy early in Visco’s career with Bainbridge. Mercer Island topped the Spartans in the 2004 title game. Bainbridge earned revenge in 2007, knocking off Mercer Island 9-7 for the championship. The last time the two teams met for the state title, in 2011, Mercer Island came away with a 5-3 win.

Lacrosse is one of several sports Bainbridge students participate in that are considered “club” sports. Others include water polo, mountain biking, rowing sailing and ultimate frisbee. Club sports are not overseen or sponsored by Bainbridge Island School District, nor are they sanctioned by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the state’s governing body for high school athletics in sports such as football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball and track and field.

The WIAA considered amendments to add boys and girls lacrosse as officially-sanctioned sports several times in the past, starting in 1999 and most recently in 2011, but member schools voted down those measures.

Spartans rank high in Scholastic Cup standings

In addition to boys lacrosse, Bainbridge High School’s successful year in sports included the girls and boys swim/dive teams capturing state titles in the fall and winter, followed by the baseball team winning it all in the spring. There were numerous other league and district titles claimed by the Spartans, who rank second on the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Class 2A Scholastic Cup list for 2024-25. Sehome is first with 1,535 points, followed by Bainbridge (1,289).

The Scholastic Cup recognizes schools’ athletic and academic performances over the course of the academic year.

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Women’s Soccer Announces Schedule for 2025 Season

Story Links BUY TICKETS HERE! 503 GAMES PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots Women’s Soccer announced on Tuesday their schedule for the 2025 fall season. The schedule features matchups against four teams who qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season, […]

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49 minutes ago

June 11, 2025

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PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots Women’s Soccer announced on Tuesday their schedule for the 2025 fall season. The schedule features matchups against four teams who qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season, a WCC schedule that brings in conference newcomer Seattle University and a high-quality matchups against some of the best teams in the nation.

The schedule also features the return of Portland’s 503 deal. For select games this season, fans can purchase tickets online for $5 with free parking and a special $3 food item. Three women’s soccer games this year will be 503 games this season.

“Our Fall 2025 schedule reflects our commitment to competing at the highest level,” Portland Head Coach Michelle French said. “Each match is an opportunity to test ourselves, stay true to our identity and pursue excellence as a program.”

The Pilots will play the British Columbia Thunderbirds in an exhibition on Aug. 8 at Merlo Field before officially opening the season against the Oregon Ducks on the road on Aug. 17. The Ducks went 5-11-2 overall and 1-8-2 in their first year in the Big Ten. The Pilots and Ducks last played in 2022 to a 1-1 draw at Merlo Field.

The first two home games come the following week, with the Pilots hosting the Cal State Fullerton Titans on Aug. 21 and the Long Beach State Beach on Aug. 24. The Titans went 6-9-4 and 4-3-3 in Big West play while the Beach went 6-9-3 and 3-5-2 in the Big West. The Pilots have not played the Beach ever as a program and are 4-0-0 all-time against the Titans, last playing in 2007. Portland’s matchup against the Beach is also the first 503 game of the year for the Pilots.

A challenging week follows, with the Pilots taking on the USC Trojans down in Los Angeles on Aug. 28 before returning home to host the UCLA Bruins on Sept. 4 at Merlo. Both teams made the NCAA Tournament last season, with USC finishing 18-1-4 overall and 10-0-1 in the Big Ten to earn a No. 1 seed in the tournament last year. They advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinal before falling to Wake Forest. The Bruins were a No. 2 seed in the tournament, posting a 17-4-3 overall record and 8-1-2 in Big Ten play. UCLA fell in the second round of the tournament to Virginia Tech. The Pilots and Trojans played last season, with Portland falling 2-1, while the Pilots and Bruins played last in 2009 to a 2-1 Bruins victory in LA.

Portland hosts the CSUN Matadors – who went 5-11-3 last season and 3-4-3 in the Big West – on Sept. 7 before taking on their crosstown rivals in the Portland State Vikings at Hillsboro Stadium on Sept. 13. The Vikings were 4-9-5 overall last season and 2-3-3 against Big Sky opponents, with the Pilots having won all eight matches against the Vikings, including their most recent showdown in 2017.

The next NCAA Tournament team for Portland, the Utah State Aggies, follows soon after. The Aggies, who were a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament after going 18-1-5 and 7-1-3 in Mountain West play, come to Portland on Sept. 20. The Pilots then open conference play against the Santa Clara Broncos on Sept. 24 at Merlo Field, hosting the reigning WCC champs at Merlo Field. The Broncos went 13-4-4 overall and 6-1-3 against WCC opponents. The game against the Broncos will be a 503 game as well.

Portland hits the road for their next two conference contests, taking on the Pacific Tigers in Stockton on Sept. 28 and the Oregon State Beavers on Oct. 4 in Corvallis. The Tigers finished last in the WCC with a 2-17-1 overall record and an 0-10 conference finish while the Beavers were tied for fifth with a 7-9-2 overall record and a 5-3-2 WCC finish. The Pilots beat both teams at Merlo Field last season.

Portland’s return home will see them face a pair of California teams, hosting the San Diego Toreros on Oct. 8 and the San Francisco Dons on Oct. 11. Both teams were tied for ninth in the WCC last season with a 1-7-2 conference record, with the Toreros finishing 3-11-5 overall and the Dons 5-11-2. The matchup against the Toreros will be AVID night for Portland, a partnership with several schools in Oregon bringing in students from middle through high school from Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) programs at their respective schools. In the matchup against the Dons, the Pilots will host their Oktoberfest night as well as the annual wiener dog race.

The Pilots hit the road soon after to play the Saint Mary’s Gaels in Moraga on Oct. 18, a team that finished tied for seventh with the Pilots at 4-3-3 in WCC play and 7-7-4 overall. The Pilots beat the Gaels last season 3-1 at home. The Pilots officially welcome the Seattle U Redhawks to the WCC on Oct. 22, visiting Seattle. Seattle U finished 10-3-6 with a 4-1-2 WAC record, their third straight year of 10 wins or more. The Pilots beat the Redhawks 1-0 in 2023 the last time the two teams met.

Portland returns home to host the Washington State Cougars on Oct. 25 and the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Oct. 31. The Cougars and Zags finished fifth and fourth respectively in the WCC last year, with Washington State going 8-5-6 overall and 5-2-3 in WCC play and Gonzaga finishing 10-7-2 and 6-3-1 against conference opponents. The Pilots tied the Cougars last year and fell to Gonzaga on the road.

Portland finishes the 2025 regular season on the road, heading to Southern California to face the Pepperdine Waves on Nov. 5 and the LMU Lions on Nov. 8. The Waves tied the Broncos with a 6-1-3 record in WCC play and 12-4-5 record overall, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament as a 7-seed. LMU finished in a tie for fifth at 5-3-2 in conference play and 11-5-2 overall. Portland fell 2-0 to Pepperdine and tied LMU 2-2 at home.

The Pilots finished 9-5-6 overall last season, making it four years in a row they’ve posted a record with at least nine wins. This is the first time they’ve maintained a stretch with at least that many wins in a season since between 2010 and 2013. The Pilots finished seventh in the revamped WCC.

Tickets for the 2025 season are live now, with season tickets, flex packs and single-game tickets available at PortlandPilots.com/SOCCERTIX2025. You can click the URL or check out the link in the right-hand column to get yours today. You can buy tickets for 503 games at PortlandPilots.com/503.

Below is the full schedule for the 2025 fall season.

2025 Fall Schedule

Aug. 8 vs. British Columbia (Exh.), TBA

Aug. 17 at Oregon, 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 21 vs. Cal State Fullerton, 7 p.m.

Aug. 24 vs. Long Beach State, 1 p.m.

Aug. 28 at USC, 7 p.m.

Sept. 4 vs. UCLA, 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 vs. CSUN, 1 p.m.

Sept. 13 at Portland State, 6 p.m.

Sept. 20 vs. Utah State, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24 vs. Santa Clara*, 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 vs. Pacific*, 12 p.m.

Oc. 4 at Oregon State*, 12 p.m.

Oct. 8 vs. San Diego*, 5 p.m.

Oct. 11 vs. San Francisco*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18 at Saint Mary’s*, 3 p.m.

Oct. 22 at Seattle U*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 vs. Washington State*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 31 vs. Gonzaga*, 7 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Pepperdine*, 3 p.m.

Nov. 9 vs. LMU*, 1 p.m.

*Indicates WCC match

Bold indicates home match

All times are PST

All game times and dates are subject to change

Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. For group and fan experience package information, email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.

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Fans interested in making a contribution to University of Portland Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift helps our over 300 student-athletes compete at the highest level – on and off the field – in the rapidly changing world of intercollegiate athletics. All gifts to Pilot Athletics are 100% tax deductible.

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MW Track & Field Student-Athletes Set To Compete At NCAA Outdoor Championships – Mountain West Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Mountain West student-athletes will compete in this week’s 2025 NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon after qualifying at the NCAA West Preliminaries in College Station, Texas, May 28-June 1. The national meet begins Wednesday, June 11 and concludes on Saturday, June 14. The Mountain West has a total of 30 individual representatives with […]

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1 hour ago

June 11, 2025

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Mountain West student-athletes will compete in this week’s 2025 NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon after qualifying at the NCAA West Preliminaries in College Station, Texas, May 28-June 1. The national meet begins Wednesday, June 11 and concludes on Saturday, June 14.

The Mountain West has a total of 30 individual representatives with 11 competing in a combined 13 events on the men’s side and 19 in 21 events on the women’s. The Conference sent one relay team to nationals with the New Mexico women’s 4×400-meter squad heading to Eugene.

New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel will be looking to defend his NCAA title in the 10,000-meter race, while Wyoming’s Daniel Reynolds will eye an outdoor hammer throw title after winning the 2025 NCAA Indoor Weight Throw Championship in March.

The entire list of qualifiers at the NCAA Championships is below, and fans can watch the event with a subscription to ESPN+.

2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Qualifiers
School	Name	Event
Air Force	Brayden Richards	Decathlon
Air Force	Texas Tanner	Hammer Throw, Discus
Boise State	Hanna Ackermann	3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Boise State	Landon Helms	Decathlon
Boise State	Kaiya Robertson	1,500 Meters
Colorado State	Kajsa Borrman	Hammer Throw
Colorado State	Klaire Kovatch	Discus
Colorado State	Mya Lesnar	Shot Put
Fresno State	Cierra Jackson	Shot Put, Discus
Fresno State	Ella Spaulding	Heptathlon
Nevada	Lilly Urban	Javelin
New Mexico	Rebecca Grieve	Women’s 4×400-Meter Relay
New Mexico	Lou-Anne Pouzancre Hoyer	Women’s 4×400-Meter Relay
New Mexico	Hanna Kiess	Women’s 4×400-Meter Relay
New Mexico	Ishmael Kipkurui	5,000 Meters; 10,000 Meters
New Mexico	Mathew Kosgei	3,000-Meter Steeplechase
New Mexico	Pamela Kosgei	5,000 Meters, 10,000 Meters
New Mexico	Marion Jepngetich	5,000 Meters
New Mexico	Sophia McDonell	3,000-Meter Steeplechase
New Mexico	Sofia Pineda	Women’s 4×400-Meter Relay
New Mexico	Judy Rono	1,500 Meters
New Mexico	Habtom Samuel	5,000 Meters; 10,000 Meters
San Diego State	Shaquena Foote	400 Meters
San José State	Katharina Graman	Triple Jump
San José State	Sky Hagan	100-Meter Hurdles
San José State	Simone Johnson	Triple Jump
San José State	Emilia Sjostrand	Triple Jump
San José State	Cameron Tarver	200 Meters
UNLV	Krishna Jayasankar	Discus
Utah State	Logan Hammer	Pole Vault
Utah State	Shelby Jensen	3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Wyoming	Ryker Holtzen	3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Wyoming	Daniel Reynolds	Shot Put; Hammer Throw
Wyoming	Jacob White	5,000 Meters

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Central rallies to force fifth set but falls in quarterfinal – Twin Cities

St. Paul Central earned the first point in state boys volleyball tournament history, but Rogers earned the first win. In a thriller. The Royals let a two-set lead get away but used a fifth-set surge before hanging on for a 25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 15-13 win Tuesday in a quarterfinal at the University of St. […]

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1 hour ago

June 11, 2025

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St. Paul Central earned the first point in state boys volleyball tournament history, but Rogers earned the first win.

In a thriller.

The Royals let a two-set lead get away but used a fifth-set surge before hanging on for a 25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 15-13 win Tuesday in a quarterfinal at the University of St. Thomas.

“We came in with the mindset of we’re going to do what we do and play hard and try to get this out in three or four, but St. Paul Central said otherwise,” Rogers coach Jarol Torres said. “That was a very tough team, and a great showing by them. They definitely challenged us.”

The third-seeded Royals, who will get No. 2 Eastview in a Wednesday 3 p.m. semifinal, lost their season opener but has won 26 straight since — 19 by sweep.

But the sixth seed from the St. Paul City Conference had something to prove against a suburban school.

“We just kept fighting for each other, fighting for our fans, fighting for St. Paul City. We’re representing not only us but all of the conference,” said Marcus Ivy.

Josiah Walker had 24 kills, and Colson Pearce 11 for the Minutemen (21-6). Gus Walz had 52 assists with his dad, Gov. Tim Walz, watching.

“(Walker) is a beast,” Ivy said. “He’s MVP of the St. Paul conference. He’s a machine. He’s one of the best outside hitters in the state, and he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves because he’s from the City.”

Down two sets, a kill from Walker capped a 6-1 run to put St. Paul Central up 20-17 in set three. Overcoming four late unforced errors, a kill by Pearce got the Minutemen within a game.

A Rogers service error, kill by Walker and block by Ivy were the final three Minutemen points in set four.

“I feel like in the third and fourth set, when they got ahead, we just stopped believing,” said Grant Anderson, who had 15 kills for Rogers. “Jarol was telling us we’ve got to believe: ‘We came all this way; you can’t just give up now.’ That was the biggest difference between our play in the third and fourth and fifth set.”

Central grabbed a 6-4 led in the deciding set, but the Royals scored six of the next seven points to make it 10-7.

“Although it stinks, and I wanted it for them so badly, a lot of teams can’t be down two sets and push it to five and then only lose by two,” Central coach Georgia Tilton said. “The message is although we lost, you are all resilient human beings who have a lot to be grateful for, and it doesn’t take away from anything they’ve done thus far.”