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  • Georgia, Clemson tops college football victors and vanquished as playoff bracket takes shape

    Georgia, Clemson tops college football victors and vanquished as playoff bracket takes shape

    The College Football Playoff bracket is becoming clearer, yet it’s not without significant potential disputes.

    Top-ranked Oregon, fifth-seeded Georgia, tenth-seeded Boise State, thirteenth-seeded Arizona State, and seventeenth-seeded Clemson all triumphed in their conference championship clashes to secure spots in the 12-team playoff. The attention now turns to the selection committee’s contentious decision regarding the final at-large bid—either No. 7 SMU or No. 11 Alabama.

    In the SEC, the inaugural overtime in the 33-year history of the championship game concluded with the Bulldogs defeating No. 2 Texas 22-19 thanks to Trevor Etienne’s 4-yard touchdown run in the final moments of the first extra frame.

    Georgia running back Trevor Etienne (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown against Texas during the second half in the 2024 SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

    Backup quarterback Gunner Stockton took over for an injured Carson Beck at halftime, propelling Georgia to four scoring drives, including in overtime. This second victory over Texas this season will propel the Bulldogs into the quarterfinals, leaving the Longhorns seeking an at-large playoff spot.

    In the Big Ten, Oregon bested Penn State 45-37, concluding the season as the only unbeaten team in the Bowl Subdivision. The Ducks will head into the playoff as the top seed, while the Nittany Lions are expected to secure the No. 5 seed, setting up a first-round clash with Clemson.

    Thanks to a 56-yard field goal just before time elapsed, the Tigers’ 34-31 win over SMU will force the selection committee to choose between the Mustangs and Alabama. Despite Alabama’s victories against Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, and LSU, the Mustangs’ narrow loss in a Power Four conference championship game complicates their potential exit from the playoff contention, especially given they began three spots ahead of Alabama.

    With outcomes from Friday night included, here are the highlights of the winners and losers from conference championship weekend:

    Winners

    Georgia

    While not flawless, Georgia proved capable of defeating Texas for a second time; they may not reflect the powerhouse they once were, but their strategy includes a robust running game—backs Etienne and Nate Frazier combined for 141 yards on 6.4 yards per carry—and a defense that significantly recovered from last week’s rivalry win against Georgia Tech. This victory positions the Bulldogs among the top two seeds in the bracket and as favorites for a third national championship in four years.

    LESSER SIGNIFICANCE: Conference champions diminished in expanded playoff landscape

    Clemson – and SMU

    Clemson’s victory places them as the No. 12 seed in the playoff. Their mere presence in the playoff is puzzling—even though they haven’t appeared among the best nationally—demonstrating how significant conference championship games can remain in the era of the 12-team playoff. While they are not guaranteed a playoff spot, SMU appears set to surpass No. 11 Alabama, closely trailing Clemson as the last at-large team in the playoff. The Mustangs hold two losses against ranked opponents, six wins against bowl eligible teams, and only two Power Four victories by narrow margins. Moreover, they were one of two Power Four teams, alongside Oregon, to finish their conference slate unbeaten.

    Oregon

    No previously undisputed No. 1 team has faced such oversight as the unbeaten Ducks. Newly inducted into the Big Ten, Oregon scored at least 30 points in every league contest save one and stands as the playoff favorite to be the first national champion in the 12-team setup. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel solidified his Heisman Trophy candidacy with 283 passing yards and four touchdowns, while receiver Tez Johnson recorded 11 catches for 181 yards, and running back Jordan James contributed with 87 yards and two touchdowns as Oregon overwhelmed a defense which entered the weekend ranked fourth in average yards allowed. The Ducks are precisely what their record suggests: the premier team in the nation.

    Gunner Stockton

    To be clear: if Beck is fit for postseason play, there’s absolutely no quarterback controversy at Georgia. Nevertheless, Stockton deserves recognition for emerging to energize this offense and for absorbing a heavy hit near the end of a scramble in overtime that positioned the Bulldogs for the decisive score. (We can overlook the critical interception with under three minutes left in regulation that allowed Texas to force overtime.) The redshirt sophomore completed 12 of 16 attempts, amassed 79 total yards of offense, and led a comeback effort in the second half. Under the circumstances, he couldn’t have asked for more.

    Arizona State

    Arizona State made a surprising ascent to the pinnacle of the Big 12 by defeating No. 16 Iowa State 45-19 to secure a playoff position. Running back Cam Skattebo continued to impress with 208 total yards and three touchdowns, and quarterback Sam Leavitt played nearly faultless football with 219 passing yards and three touchdowns without any interceptions. Although the seeding remains uncertain, the Sun Devils are likely to hit the road for the opening round. After only three wins last season, Arizona State has now charged into the postseason with six consecutive victories, three of which were against ranked teams, and eight wins in their last nine matches overall.

    Boise State

    The Broncos triumphed over No. 19 UNLV 21-7 on Friday night, claiming the Mountain West title and securing the Group of Five spot in the playoff. Boise limited the Rebels to just 3.9 yards per play when excluding an 86-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter by UNLV senior Kylin James. In his last showcase before next week’s Heisman announcement, Boise running back Ashton Jeanty tallied 205 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries, culminating in a total of 2,497 rushing yards for the season—ranking him fourth in single-season FBS history. What remains is to determine if Boise State is among the top four conference champions, granting them an opening-round bye into the quarterfinals. This seems a very probable assumption based on their recent rankings.

    Rich Rodriguez

    The former West Virginia, Michigan, and Arizona coach led the Gamecocks’ successful transition from the Championship Subdivision, culminating in a 52-14 victory over Western Kentucky to clinch the Conference USA title in his third season. JSU amassed 386 rushing yards on 56 carries, averaged 11.7 yards per pass attempt, controlled the clock, and finished plus-two in turnovers—a clear strategy for a dominant win. This performance came just one week after the Gamecocks suffered a 19-17 defeat to the Hilltoppers; in retrospect, it appears Rodriguez and his offense intentionally played conservatively. His success at Jacksonville State has revitalized Rodriguez’s reputation and positions him as a strong candidate for the vacancy at West Virginia.

    Ohio

    Ohio triumphed over Miami (Ohio) 38-3 in the MAC championship game, securing the program’s first conference title since 1968. After a lackluster performance averaging 3.8 yards per play in a regular-season loss to the RedHawks, Ohio exploded for 467 yards at 6.4 yards per play, with all five touchdown drives spanning at least 75 yards. Following three wins in his inaugural season, fourth-year head coach and longtime Frank Solich assistant Tim Albin becomes the first coach in Ohio history to win 10 games in three consecutive seasons.

    Marshall

    Marshall triumphed over Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3 to take the Sun Belt title, marking the program’s first conference championship since winning Conference USA in 2014. After conceding a total of 68 points over the past two weeks, the Thundering Herd restricted the Ragin’ Cajuns to merely 256 yards, 4.2 yards per play, and just two third-down conversions. Despite early-season losses to Virginia Tech and Ohio State in September, the Herd has only suffered one additional loss since, marking a significant season of achievement under coach Charles Huff.

    Losers

    Texas

    Another defeat against Georgia reignites the ongoing discourse regarding the quality of opponents Texas faced to reach the playoff. The Longhorns’ top win was against four-loss Texas A&M just last Saturday, followed by wins over Florida and Michigan. This does not necessarily indicate that Texas is fated for an early playoff exit—this team has displayed championship potential against a less-than-challenging schedule. However, concerns linger regarding Ewers’ performance, the offensive line’s struggles, and a winless record against playoff contenders. Texas will have to demonstrate their capabilities later this month.

    Iowa State

    Iowa State’s fluctuating run defense faltered once more, costing the Cyclones the Big 12 championship and a playoff contention spot. Arizona State became the fifth team overall and the third in the last five games to rush for a minimum of 200 yards against Matt Campbell’s squad. Furthermore, the 26-point defeat marked Iowa State’s first loss by more than 10 points since the 2022 season finale against TCU, where they lost 62-14.

    Tulane

    In a close upset, No. 23 Army defeated Tulane 35-14, marking the program’s first conference championship as they tallied a combined 284 rushing yards and five touchdowns from running back Kanye Udoh and quarterback Bryson Daily. With Navy as their rival in the final regular-season game followed by a bowl compeition, the Black Knights are poised to surpass their record for most wins in a single season set in 2018. For Tulane, this lopsided defeat follows a painful loss to Memphis, dimming the positive momentum from coach Jon Sumrall’s inaugural season.

  • Fresh moves and elevated achievements for Secret Garden halfpipe champions Maddie Mastro and Yuto Totsuka

    Fresh moves and elevated achievements for Secret Garden halfpipe champions Maddie Mastro and Yuto Totsuka

    In the men’s event, it came as no shock that Yuto Totsuka, 23, managed to kick off the 2024/25 FIS Snowboard World Cup halfpipe season with a win, considering he was already at the forefront of the men’s category in World Cup podium finishes.

    Nonetheless, the manner in which Totsuka secured his eighth World Cup triumph will be remembered for years, as he executed what could be deemed the most technically sophisticated top-to-bottom run in World Cup history.

    He commenced with a switch backside double 1260 Weddle, then transitioned into a cab double 1440 Weddle, followed by a frontside double 1260 frontside grab, a backside double 1260 Weddle, and concluded with an enormous frontside triple 1440 frontside grab in the final moments of the Secret Garden pipe. 

    It was, in essence, a remarkable performance, awarding Totsuka a score of 95.50 and a clear victory.

  • Baseball summary

    Baseball summary

    The Pisgah baseball squad fell just short in a Class 3A Area 14 matchup on Thursday, but their chances for the playoffs remain alive.

    After suffering a setback in Game 1 against Sylvania on Tuesday, losing 5-3, Pisgah bounced back to take Game 2 on Thursday with a score of 7-4 before ultimately being defeated 13-9 in the decisive game of the series, which does not factor into the area standings.

    Pisgah (6-9, 2-2) still has an opportunity to reach the playoffs if they sweep their upcoming area series against North Sand Mountain, coupled with Plainview and Sylvania failing to split their first two games in their series.

    In Thursday’s victory, Kade Griffith recorded two hits in three at-bats, driving in three runs and crossing home plate twice for Pisgah. Kristian Wheeler also contributed with two hits in three at-bats and two runs scored, while Houston Bell added two hits in four at-bats with an RBI. The Eagles had additional single hits from Wyatt Whisenant, Ryley McBride, and Ryan Evans.

    Whisenant earned the win from the pitching mound, surrendering four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks, while striking out five in a complete-game performance.

    In the tiebreaker game held Thursday night, Malachi Griggs put in a stellar performance with three hits in four at-bats, including two doubles, two RBIs, and one run scored for Pisgah. McBride also excelled with two hits in four at-bats, two RBIs, and one run, while Evans had two hits and scored twice. Whisenant contributed with a single, two walks, and three runs scored. The Eagles received one hit each from Wheeler, Centers, and Griffith.

    On Tuesday, Pisgah faced a 5-3 loss to the Rams in Game 1 of the series, despite a strong pitching showing from Griggs, who notched 11 strikeouts while allowing five runs (four of which were unearned) on five hits and three walks. The Eagles managed only two hits, one from Evans and another from Wheeler.

    Sardis 7-10, North Jackson 5-3 — Sardis achieved a clean sweep over North Jackson in a Class 4A Area 13 series.

    In the opening game of the series on Wednesday, the Chiefs fell 7-6. Sardis clinched the victory with two runs in the bottom of the seventh after North Jackson had jumped ahead with three runs in the top of the seventh, thanks to Jordan Eakin’s two-run double and John Matthews’ RBI hit.

    The Chiefs received a double and two RBIs from Beau Matthews, along with a double from Brandon Poole and singles from Carter Gass and Matt Loyd, while Jody Moore recorded three walks. Starting pitcher John Matthews logged 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven for the Chiefs.

    On Thursday, North Jackson (7-5, 0-2) fell behind early, trailing 5-1 by the top of the second inning as Sardis (5-6, 2-0) completed the series sweep.

    Moore contributed with an RBI double for the Chiefs, and Gass, Beau Matthews, and Jordan Cooper added one hit each, while Eakin finished with two RBIs.

    Cedar Bluff 10-16, Woodville 0-5 — Cedar Bluff (11-3, 6-0) achieved a series sweep against Woodville (6-8, 2-2) in Class 1A Area 14.

    The Panthers faced a setback in Game 1 of the series on Tuesday, managing only a single hit by Christian Franks.

    In Game 2 on Thursday at WHS, Woodville managed to close Cedar Bluff’s lead from 8-1 to 8-6 during the third inning, but the visiting Tigers responded with four runs during the fourth and sixth innings, sealing the victory.

    Cam Talley had a notable performance with two hits and two RBIs for Woodville, while Matt Sears contributed one hit and two RBIs. Franks, Nick Baker, and Dalton Talley each secured one hit, and Talley, Josh Drawbaugh, and Nathan Gardner all recorded walks.

     

  • Lady Jackets shut out Manvel, lose to Pearland in 22

    Lady Jackets shut out Manvel, lose to Pearland in 22

    In their District 22-5A Softball matches last week, the Alvin Lady Yellowjackets faced some challenges in the field.

    Despite three fielding errors, the Lady Jackets managed to run-rule Manvel 8-0 in six innings on Thursday night; however, falling to defending champions Pearland 7-1 the following day due to seven errors proved costly for the Alvin team.

    Kaitlin Males secured the victory for the Lady Jackets (12-4, 2-1 in district) against Manvel, allowing four hits throughout her complete game effort.

    Kinsey Nichols crossed home plate on a wild pitch from Jordan Franks in the first inning to set the tone for Alvin on Thursday, while Males escaped a jam in the second inning with two runners in scoring position by striking out Alyssa Villanueva.

    Kelsey Barba and Marisa Sosa capitalized on Manvel’s mistakes, both scoring during the lower half of that inning, giving the Lady Jackets a 3-0 advantage. Sosa later drove in Vanessa Segura with a hit in the fourth inning, and Bailey Thomas also raced home when the ball got past the Manvel center fielder. Thomas made it around to third on the play and then scored on Nichols’ ground ball, stretching the lead to 6-0.

    The Lady Jackets sealed the game in the sixth inning, with Sosa scoring on a wild pitch and Alyssa Moscot providing a walk-off sacrifice fly to bring in Norwood (2-for-4).

    Additional hits for the Lady Jackets in the game came from Nichols, Barba, Thomas, Sosa, and Alisea Balderaz.

    Franks had two hits for the Lady Mavs, while Baylee Allender and Cecity Macias contributed one hit each.

    In the matchup with Pearland, the Lady Jackets took an early 1-0 lead thanks to Balderaz’s RBI single that brought in Nichols (2-for-3) from second base.

    Later, the Lady Jackets loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning against winning pitcher Alyssa Denham but had a runner thrown out at home while trying to score from third on a wild pitch, setting off a downward spiral for the team.

    Pearland took advantage of an error by Alvin and Lindsey Stewart’s bunt single to take control in the third inning. Rylie Spell and Kristen Cuyos both drove in runs with singles, with Spell, Pearland’s designated player, giving the Lady Jackets trouble all night, finishing 4-for-4 with three RBIs.

    Payton Norwood reached second on a lead-off walk and Balderaz’s sacrifice in the bottom half of the inning. However, Denham got Moskot to pop out and induced an inning-ending grounder from Amy Alexander. Spell extended the lead for the Lady Oilers in the fifth with a two-run double, followed by Cuyos’ groundout driving in another run, putting the score at 5-1.

    The Lady Jackets faced Dobie late Monday night at the Pasadena Sports Complex, with results pending at press time. Alvin’s next home game is set for March 18 against South Houston at 6 p.m.

    Meanwhile, Manvel’s upcoming game is on March 18 against Sam Rayburn in Pasadena at 6 p.m.

  • ACC Baseball takes exclusive control of the Region XIV South Zone

    ACC Baseball takes exclusive control of the Region XIV South Zone

    By Stephen Collins

    Sports Editor

    Alvin Community College took charge in the Region XIV Red Zone Baseball Conference standing by winning three out of four games against Galveston College at Phillips Field over the weekend.

    This four-game matchup saw the Red Zone Co-Leaders compete, with the Whitecaps narrowly defeating Alvin 3-1 on Thursday, as Galveston’s Guillaume Blanchette bested the Dolphins’ sophomore pitcher Bryson Mitchell.

    Mitchell was taking the mound for the first time since achieving a perfect game against Blinn the prior weekend.

    Nonetheless, Alvin (16-5 overall, 10-2 in conference) bounced back with a 6-5 victory in the second game, which was halted late Thursday due to darkness.

    When action resumed on Friday, Cameron Cooper delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning.

    The Dolphins went on to sweep the doubleheader on Saturday, winning 3-1 and 6-4.

    Consecutive no-out singles from Austin Finnigan, Cooper, and Lewis Guilbeau set up Jack Kaiser’s RBI grounder and a run scored by Cooper on Rick Normura’s infield hit, giving ACC a 2-0 edge.

    Dolphins’ starting pitcher and winning player Nick Hernandez (complete game, seven strikeouts) appeared to evade a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the third, as the infield umpire initially ruled the Whitecaps’ runner out at first for an inning-ending double play.

    However, the home plate umpire later reversed the call, allowing Galveston to score its first run, but Hernandez limited the damage to that sole score, with the Dolphins responding in the fourth on Michael Page’s sacrifice fly.

    Romeo Cortina contributed two RBIs for ACC in the series-deciding game, while Normura recorded two hits.

    Alvin also mounted a comeback, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth to edge Chicago South Suburban 6-5 in a non-conference match on Friday.

    The Dolphins will host Wharton County next, playing on Thursday at noon, followed by two games at Wharton on March 15, starting at 2 p.m.

    Lady Dolphins split with Blinn, San Jac – The ACC Softball team split their doubleheaders against Blinn College and San Jacinto South over the weekend.

    The Lady Dolphins fell 8-3 in their first game against Blinn on Friday in Brenham, but secured a 4-3 victory in the second game.

    Bianca Barrera (Alvin High School) and Caitlyn Gunn each had three hits in that match, supporting winning pitcher Monica Montelongo. Alvin and San Jac faced off with 3-2 results on Saturday at Ruth Ryan Field, where the Lady Dolphins again won the second game.

    The Lady Dolphins came back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring two runs in the sixth and then clinching the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh inning.

    Montelongo grabbed the win in the circle, and Gunn contributed an RBI. Former Alvin Lady Yellowjacket Karri Smith, who recently earned Region XIV Pitcher of the Week accolades, was the winning pitcher for the Lady Coyotes in the first game.

    The Lady Dolphins will host Coastal Bend for a Wednesday doubleheader, starting with the first game at 1 p.m.

  • Softball Review

    Softball Review

    The North Jackson softball squad bounced back from an early setback to secure their eighth victory of the season on Thursday evening.

    North Jackson (8-5) tallied a run in the second inning and added two more in the fourth, ultimately winning 3-1 against the visiting Sylvania at Bridgeport Park.

    Haley Atkins contributed with a hit and an RBI for the Chiefs, while Jennifer Waldrop, Kaley Cagle, Beth Lusk, and Makenzie Peacock each recorded one hit. 

    Cagle delivered a complete game, allowing only four hits to earn the victory in the circle, striking out five batters.

    Woodville 17, Valley Head 2 — At Woodville, six Panthers each logged two hits, leading Woodville to a comfortable victory in the Class 1A Area 14 on Thursday.

    Lissa Meeks went 2-for-3 with four RBIs for Woodville (9-9, 2-0), while Krislon Thompson was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and Krysten Jones matched that with 2-for-2 and three RBIs as well. Chasity Miotke also shined, going 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs, while Bri Houk was 2-for-2 and Victoria Bremer finished 2-for-3 with one RBI.

    Thompson was the winning pitcher, surrendering just one hit over three innings, with five strikeouts to her credit.

    Section 7, Collinsville 5 — At Section, a surge of four runs in the fifth inning lifted the Lions past Collinsville on Thursday.

    Jacey Gilbert recorded two hits and one RBI for Section, and Jordan Davis went 2-for-3 with a triple. Rose Wilbourn contributed a double and two RBIs, while Cera Gifford and MiKayla Thomas also added a double and one RBI each. Nip McAllister contributed with another RBI.

    Deanna Sprouse pitched a full game to secure the win.

    Pisgah 6, Geraldine 0 — At Geraldine, the No. 1-ranked Pisgah achieved its 10th consecutive victory, improving to 3-0 in Class 3A Area 13 with a win over the Bulldogs on Thursday.

    Lillie McCrary was impressive, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a triple, while Megan Smith also shone with 2-for-4 and two RBIs. Hannahstaysia Weaver chipped in with a double and a single, and Baylee Rogers, Aylssa Clayton, Quincey Nance, and Scarlette Hester each had one hit; Clayton and Rogers each logged an RBI.

    Smith tallied 10 strikeouts while yielding five hits and two walks to earn the win in the circle.

    Ider 7, NSM 1 — At Higdon, the visiting Class 2A No. 3-ranked Ider jumped to an early lead with three runs in the first inning, delivering a setback to North Sand Mountain in a Class 2A Area 14 matchup on Wednesday afternoon.

    NSM responded in the bottom of the first when Courtney Bolton hit a leadoff home run. However, the Bison could manage only four hits afterward. Bolton and Savannah Guffey both finished 2-for-3, while Sam Dickerson went 1-for-3. Kaycee McBryar was tagged with the loss in the circle despite giving up only one earned run, finishing with four strikeouts.

  • Chris Spielman

    Chris Spielman

    In 1984, Chris Spielman became a trailblazer as the inaugural high school athlete to grace a Wheaties box, even before his collegiate journey commenced at Ohio State. This accolade came after a nationwide contest aimed at celebrating local champions, buoyed by significant backing from his hometown of Massillon, Ohio. His portrayal reflected a quintessential 1980s vibe, signaling the start of an exceptional football career. Following this pivotal moment, Spielman emerged as a prominent linebacker for the Buckeyes, garnering All-American accolades and establishing records that cemented his legacy as a titan in college football.

    By the Numbers

    • 546 total tackles throughout his four-year tenure at Ohio State.
    • 29 tackles in a single game against Michigan (1986) – a record for Ohio State.

    Yes, But

    Although Spielman’s appearance on the Wheaties box was revolutionary, it underscores an era when college athletes had fewer avenues for gaining national recognition outside of athletics compared to today’s competitors who utilize Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements.

    State of Play

    • Spielman’s recognition on Wheaties occurred before the advent of the contemporary collegiate sports environment where athletes can earn from endorsements.
    • His legacy still impacts modern athletes as they explore similar pathways for visibility and sponsorship.

    What’s Next

    With the allowance for college athletes to profit from their likenesses, upcoming stars may not only replicate Spielman’s gridiron achievements but also pursue marketing and endorsement deals much earlier in their careers.

    Bottom Line

    Chris Spielman’s historic Wheaties box appearance represented a notable cultural transformation in college sports, previewing the present scenario where athletes can align their sports endeavors with commercial opportunities, fundamentally altering how athletic stars are cultivated and honored.

  • Michigan State basketball overwhelms Nebraska, 89

    Michigan State basketball overwhelms Nebraska, 89

    EAST LANSING — There comes a moment when an amalgamation of skill and prospect transforms into something more concrete. Michigan State basketball may have reached that pivotal moment.

    With a combination of precision and grit, of play-making and resilience, of ferocious offense and stifling defense, the 25th-ranked Spartans overcame Nebraska on Saturday afternoon, 89-52, at Breslin Center. It was one of the most systematic and forceful performances of basketball that Tom Izzo has witnessed in recent years — and possibly one of the most well-rounded displays in his 30-year tenure.

    “I need to be cautious about how I phrase this, but I’ll say it anyway,” Izzo remarked. “For 26, (27, 28) years of my career here, what truly made you happy? Winning. … I believe this team derives happiness from winning.”

    All 10 rotation players contributed with at least four points and secured a minimum of two rebounds, spearheaded by 18 points from Jaden Akins and 16 from Jase Richardson. The support extended further, with Jaxon Kohler hauling down 12 of MSU’s commanding 48 rebounds compared to Nebraska’s 19.Michigan State's Jaden Akins celebrates after a Nebraska turnover during the second half on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.FOOTBALL: The freshmen poised to leave their mark for Spartans in 2025

    Xavier Booker registered 11 points and six rebounds. Kohler, Tre Holloman, and Coen Carr each added eight points. The Spartans shot an impressive 22-for-23 at the charity stripe and held a 17-3 advantage in second-chance points along with an 18-7 lead on fast breaks. Jeremy Fears Jr. dished out eight assists as MSU recorded 20 assists on 29 successful shots.

    “It’s just about us hitting our rhythm, honestly,” Richardson stated. “It’s a lengthy season. It’s not a sprint, but a marathon. Ultimately, we want to be the top team in March. So, it’s about us finding our groove right now, and I believe the combinations we used tonight were phenomenal.”After starting the previous season with two conference defeats, the Spartans (8-2, 2-0 Big Ten) kicked off this season with consecutive Big Ten triumphs for the first time since 2021-22. They will not play again until Dec. 17 when they face Oakland at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit (7 p.m., ESPN2). They won’t resume Big Ten competition until Jan. 3 against Ohio State, following two remaining nonconference home matchups against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 21 and Western Michigan on Dec. 30. Andrew Morgan contributed 14 points and Brice Williams scored 11 for Nebraska (6-2, 0-1), which struggled with a shooting percentage of just 33.3% overall and 28.6% in the second half as MSU widened the gap.”Coach Izzo has his squad playing with considerable confidence at this moment,” remarked Huskers coach Fred Hoiberg. “Their physicality was overwhelming for us tonight, and that was crucial. They dominated us on the boards.”No fear for FearsThe momentum MSU generated in Minnesota on Wednesday, leading to an 18-point victory to start Big Ten play, transitioned smoothly into Saturday’s game.Fears sustained the impressive ball movement and court awareness he and the Spartans have demonstrated recently, setting up Holloman for a 3-pointer to kick things off and finding Szymon Zapala for a layup after the big man’s tap-out rebound preserved possession. This initiated a 7-0 run in the first 2½ minutes. The Huskers responded and equalized at 11-all, but MSU then launched a 24-11 surge over nearly nine minutes that featured two separate 9-0 runs. Akins ignited the first run with a 3-pointer and two free throws, while the second was sparked by a remarkable assist from Fears on an alley-oop to Carr that both astonished and energized the Breslin crowd when they processed what transpired.Michigan State's Jaxon Kohler, center, helps Jeremy Fears Jr., left, up off the floor after Fears' scored and drew a Nebraska foul during the second half on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. At right is MSU's Szymon Zapala.DOG-GONE IT: Michigan’s State’s ‘Zeke’ gets his own bobblehead. Yes, fur real

    Richardson tallied seven of his nine first-half points in a brief span, with a pair of free throws at 3:29 before halftime extending the Spartans’ lead to 15. But Nebraska answered with a 9-0 run of their own. Williams’ follow-up 3-pointer, after it appeared MSU had secured a stop, led Izzo to call a timeout with 1:15 remaining in the period.

    Out of it, Kohler managed a tip-in basket, and then Fears located the junior center once more for a layup just before the halftime buzzer to place the Spartans ahead, 41-31. Akins and Richardson each netted nine points, while Kohler and Carr both put up six. MSU commanded a 24-10 advantage on the boards and a 20-10 scoring margin in the paint, which included 10 second-chance points against Williams’ sole 3 for Nebraska. The Spartans also went a perfect 12-for-12 at the free throw line and registered nine assists on their 13 baskets, with six of those assists coming from Fears.”Coaches emphasize passing, promoting movement, and ensuring everyone gets touches,” Fears stated. “When the ball shifts side to side, clearly good things unfold.”

    Second-half domination

    Izzo expressed his dissatisfaction after MSU’s victory at Minnesota due to his team’s inability to deliver a decisive blow upon gaining a double-digit lead.

    Three days later, he got that — and more.

    The Spartans overwhelmed the Cornhuskers with a suffocating second-half defensive effort, combined with excellent ball movement and precise shooting, both from long range and in the paint. As clichéd as it is to say, it was an absolute team performance.

    Akins knocked down a 3-pointer to ignite a dominating run that MSU has not seen in years, a staggering 25-1 stretch that dueled across nearly eight minutes early in the second half. Akins sank another 3 during that span, but seven different players contributed points during that run.

    “You are aware of the recipe against Michigan State. It’s akin to playing Nebraska football from back in the day. You know what they are going to do; now, stop it,” declared Hoiberg, whose son Jack played for Izzo and the Spartans. “Michigan State will play fast and crash the boards. At times, you just have to go out and win the war, win the battle.”

    Defensively, the Spartans kept the Cornhuskers without a field goal for an 8:36 stretch — 12 consecutive missed attempts — turning a 10-point lead with 18:37 remaining into a 68-34 rout, highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers from Holloman and Booker midway through the final chapter.

    “We analyzed the Minnesota game and previous contests, where we entered the second half but didn’t maintain our performance,” Izzo remarked. “We aimed to avoid exchanging baskets (against Nebraska). There were moments when that was a critical battle cry from the team — not the coach — which is signaling progress toward the right direction.”

    Booker tallied all 11 of his points in the second half as the Spartans shot 61.5% and drained 6 of 11 from beyond the arc following halftime.

    “If this team hits their shots,” Hoiberg remarked concerning MSU, “they could be incredibly dangerous.”

    Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.

     Subscribe to the “Spartan Speak” podcast for new episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

  • Wrestling claims the weekend with two wins against Pennsylvania and VMI

    Wrestling claims the weekend with two wins against Pennsylvania and VMI

    Following a two-week hiatus from competition due to a setback against No. 8 Michigan, the Virginia wrestling squad returned to the mat for duals on Friday and Saturday. The Cavaliers (4-1, 0-0 ACC) kicked things off at home with a 25-11 victory over Pennsylvania before making a short trip to Lexington, Va., on Saturday where they triumphed over VMI 40-3. These two victories renewed Virginia’s momentum, demonstrating noticeable improvement this season.

    Friday against Pennsylvania

    The Cavaliers began strong against the Quakers (0-2, 0-0 Ivy), with junior Nick Hamilton, ranked 15th in the 165 lbs category, securing a 7-3 decision to put Virginia ahead first. However, Pennsylvania answered back as senior Nick Icontrera, the highest-ranked wrestler in the matchup at No. 6, earned a 6-3 victory. 

    After that, it was all Cavaliers. Graduate Justin Phillips achieved a 7-0 win to set Virginia back on track. Freshman Max Shulaw continued the streak with a dominant 10-0 major decision against Quaker freshman Jackson Zimmerman. Senior Gabe Christenson kept his stellar performance going with a tech fall victory. Suddenly, Virginia held a significant 15-3 advantage. 

    The dual became more competitive after the initial success, with Pennsylvania sophomore Max Gallagher winning by tech fall over junior Keyveon Roller. The Cavaliers responded effectively as sophomore Gable Porter clinched the next match with a 5-0 decision. But the Quakers countered again when sophomore Evan Mougalian secured a 9-6 decision win against junior Kyren Butler. With only two matches remaining, Virginia led 18-11. Both teams were still in contention for the win. 

    Nevertheless, the Cavaliers had the Gioffre brothers still to compete. Juniors Jack and Michael Gioffre were the final two wrestlers for Virginia, and they delivered. The duo won collectively with a score of 15-5, as Jack Gioffre triumphed over ranked freshman Cross Wasilewski and Michael Gioffre achieved a major decision victory against freshman Paul Ognissanti. The brothers secured the dual victory for the Cavaliers with a final score of 25-11. 

    This win over the Quakers provided an excellent start to the weekend for Virginia and propelled them into their second dual with great momentum. Coach Steve Garland appreciated the team’s performance against a strong competitor.

    “We’ve been analyzing film and observing all their wrestlers, and they are formidable across the board,” Garland remarked. “To execute the way we did, to secure the matches we won and manage some upsets on paper [was tremendous].”

    Saturday against VMI

    The Cavaliers picked up right where they left off against the Keydets (4-2, 0-0 Southern). Hamilton commenced the day with a 12-5 decision win over junior Ryan Vigil. Senior Rocco Contino extended the Cavaliers’ lead with an early pin of freshman Logan Chambers. 

    Although the Keydets marked their presence when junior Braxton Lewis won 9-8 against junior Griffin Gammell, Virginia responded with Shulaw achieving his second major win of the day by injury default in the second period. This gave the Cavaliers a commanding 15-3 lead after just four matches. 

    The victories kept accumulating as the dual progressed. Christenson secured an 11-3 major decision win, soon followed by another major decision victory from Roller. Another victory, via regular decision, from Porter expanded the lead to 26-3, effectively clinching the dual for Virginia. 

    To add further insult to VMI’s situation, Butler triumphed by a 22-6 tech fall, pushing the lead to 31-3. The Gioffre brothers were next, and they replicated their Friday performances. Jack Gioffre achieved a 9-3 decision win, while Michael Gioffre concluded the dual with a pin of sophomore Eric Doran just a minute in, finalizing the score at 40-3. 

    With another successful weekend behind them, Virginia appears much stronger than last season, showcasing depth with significant wins across the board. As conference play approaches in a few weeks, the Cavaliers will strive to keep their momentum for a successful run in the ACC. Securing multiple bonus-point victories will be beneficial, highlighting Virginia’s resilience in wearing down opponents. 

    The Cavaliers will return to the mat later this month at the Sheridan Tournament in Bethlehem, Pa. The tournament is set to begin on Dec. 20, marking Virginia’s first tournament since Nov. 2. 

  • Oscoda softball defeated by Pinny in semifinals

    Oscoda softball defeated by Pinny in semifinals

    OSCODA – The Oscoda softball squad’s journey came to a close in the Division III Standish-Sterling district on Saturday, June 3. The Owls faced off against the eventual district champions, Pinconning, in the semi-finals and lost the match with a score of 0-10 after five innings. No further details were shared. 

    On Tuesday, May 30, the Owls ended the regular season with a home North Star League doubleheader against AuGres, achieving a 7-6 thrilling walk-off victory in the first game but losing 5-16 in the second, resulting in a split for the day. 

    Pitcher Lexy Johnson secured the win in the first game, finishing six innings, allowing six runs on nine hits, while striking out five batters. 

    The Lady Wolverines jumped ahead with four runs in the top of the first inning, but Johnson and the Owls managed to limit their scoring after that, leading to a tie at 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

     

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