New Hampshire Ends UCA’s Season
CONWAY, Arkansas – The team that was known for protecting the football turned it over four times Saturday afternoon. The team that did not allows sacks gave up five on Saturday. And the team that accumulated twice the offensive yardage did not win on the scoreboard.The opportunistic New Hampshire Wildcats took advantage of all those uncharacteristic issues in beating No. 4 seed Central Arkansas 21-15 in the second round of the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs at First Security Field at Estes Stadium.The Bears (10-2), who entered the game off a first-round bye and riding a 10-game winning streak, nearly doubled the Wildcats (9-4) in total offensive yardage (434 to 216), but forced only one interception. UCA senior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand was also sacked five times after the Bears’ offensive line had allowed just six total sacks in the first 11 games of the season. But the Wildcats, who entered the game 1-4 on the road this season, did enough to win in their 14th straight appearance in the playoffs, the longest active streak in FCS. UCA was making its second straight appearance and fourth overall since moving to Division I in 2006.Still, the Southland Conference champion Bears got the ball back with 3:24 left on the clock at their own 18, trailing 21-15. Hildebrand, who completed 27 of 40 passes for a career-high 361 yards in his final game, moved UCA down the field and into UNH territory with a pair of completions to senior Roman Gordon and another to junior Lester Wells. With the clock winding down, sophomore Carlos Blackmon broke off a 14-yard run and got out of bounds just across midfield, to stop the clock.After a one-yard run by Hildebrand, he was sacked from behind by UNH linebacker Jared Kuehl on second down and fumbled at the UNH 37. Kuehl fell on the ball at the Wildcats’ 31 and the visitors ran out the clock to advance to the FCS third round, where they will face South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D. on Saturday.”They were good,’ said UCA head coach Steve Campbell, who had the Bears in the second round of the FCS playoffs for the second consecutive year. “I don’t know if that was surprising. I was hoping that they weren’t as good as what they are. Now I can see why they played (No. 1 and defending national champion) James Madison within 21 (points). “You were hoping the statistics were lying, but they’re good. And we made some mistakes. We had some opportunities. They make you take the long haul. You have to long haul them or home run then, and we hit two home runs, but we just couldn’t put it together long enough and to sustain and to score after a long drive. We moved the ball but we didn’t convert on some things. “We had some turnovers that we hadn’t been having. But when people are good on defense, they’re good at creating turnovers.’ The Bears opened the scoring with one of those home runs, a 74-yard touchdown pass from Hildebrand to junior running back Cedric Battle, capping a three-play, 85-yard drive at the 10:37 mark of the first quarter. The only other first-half score was a 10-yard pass from UNH quarterback Trevor Knight to Evan Gray with 4:01 left in the half. Knight would eventually leave the game with an injury after completing 8 of 14 passes for just 47 yards. His replacement, redshirt freshman Christian Lupoli, was more than adequate, finishing 8 of 10 for 63 yards and a touchdown, a 9-yard strike to Malik Love with 7:19 left to play that gave UNH a 21-9 lead.The Wildcats broke the halftime tie with a 56-yard interception return by redshirt freshman safety Evan Horn at the 7:31 mark of the third period, the first pick six against the Bears this season. UCA punter Patrick Ponder then pinned the Wildcats down at the 2 and two plays later a bad snap to Lupoli resulted in a safety when he was tackled in the end zone by UCA safety George Odum, making it 14-9.The Wildcats held the Bears to just 73 yards rushing, more than 100 yards under their average of 207 yards per game, which ranks second in the SLC. Blackman led the Bears with 68 yards on 11 carries to account for most of those yards. Gordon, a senior from Fort Worth, Texas, caught a career-high nine passes for 65 yards. Battle, from Wichita Falls, Texas, finished with three receptions for a career-high 154 yards and two touchdowns.”I thought our guys played hard, but we didn’t play well enough to beat a really good team,’ said Campbell. “I had no familiarity with that conference, but those guys are good. That’s a good football team. You got to take your hat off to them. They were really good up front (on defense). I thought their inside guys were really good, and I thought those ends were good. I was hoping that the linebackers weren’t as good as what they looked like at times on film. But they were good.’The Bears went undefeated in the Southland Conference for the first time, going 9-0 and earning the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs and the No. 4 national seed, which gave them a first-round bye last weekend. The Bears finished with 10 victories for the third time in the NCAA Division I era, and for the second straight year under Campbell. “Our kids played hard and I know they wanted to win,’ said Campbell. “We just did some things that aren’t going to help you beat a team that’s been there 14 years in a row. These guys led us to a great, great deal and I’ll forever be proud of them. Leading us to a home seed and an undefeated Southland Conference championship. Nobody can take that away from us. These guys had a great senior year. We’re disappointed we didn’t win, and we congratulate them. “I wish I had prepared them better, wish we had played a little better. This one will sting but we’ll learn from it. But these seniors, shoot, they’ve done an outstanding job. I want to win a championship, these young men want to win a championship more than anything. But the lessons that you learn, the values, the work ethic, all that… I don’t need a ring on my finger, and they don’t, to know, they ain’t got nothing on you. And that’s what I want them to know. “It’s about showing up every day and doing the very best that you can. And we wanted to win. And sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t. But that don’t change who you are. You’re a champion, win, lose or draw. Be a champion. Don’t let the circumstances control or define.’Hildebrand finishes as the No. 2 career passer at UCA with 8,025 yards. Senior safety/linebacker George Odum finished with a game-high 14 tackles, putting him fourth all-time at UCA with 352 stops. Senior linebacker James Graves had 11 tackles, while senior tackle Eric Jackson finished up with 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, giving him 18.5 tackles for loss for the season and 11 sacks, which ties with teammate Chris Terrell and several others as the fourth-best in school history in a single season.
McNeese (308, +24) and Lamar (311, +27) will get their days started at 8:45 a.m. while UIW (314, +30) and Stephen F. Austin (318, +34) will lead off the groups for the second consecutive day at 8 a.m. HBU’s sophomore Alisa Chong tops the player leaderboard after being the only one to shoot an even par on the day. She tallied 16 pars and a birdie. Teammate junior Kaity Cummings trails by two shots and is third heading into tomorrow. UCA freshman Geraldine Wong carded the lone eagle of the round and will tee off with Chong at 10:51 a.m. CT Tuesday. The two teams will begin their day at 10:15 a.m. HBU led all teams in pars with 56 while Lamar recorded the most birdies for the round at 13. The opening hole, a 426-yard, par 4, provided the most trouble for the day with only 12 competitors recording an even par or better. The No. 11 hole was the friendliest for the field with the teams combining to shoot a .05-under average for today. Tournament Page MONGTOMGERY, Texas – Defending tournament champion Houston Baptist leads the field after day one of the 2018 Southland Conference Women’s Golf Championship at Woodforest Golf Club in Montgomery, Texas.
The Huskies (297, +13) hold a two-stroke advantage over Central Arkansas (299, +15), the top ranked team heading into the tournament. Separated by just one shot, Sam Houston State (305, +21) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (306, +22) will tee off at 9:30 a.m. Bearkat sophomore Tori Gatling leads her team after shooting a 75 in the first round. She will pair with the Islanders sophomore Autumn Bynum, who is tied for fourth individually after scoring a 74.
TWO-TIME BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT CHAMP ROY H BACK TO DEFEND TITLE IN SATURDAY’S GRADE II, $200,000 PALOS VERDES STAKES AT SIX FURLONGSSPECIAL EARLY FIRST POST TIME FOR 10-RACE CARD SET AT 12 NOONARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2019)–Two-time Breeders’ Cup Champ and reigning Eclipse Award Sprinter Roy H heads a field of six older horses as he defends his title in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes going six furlongs.Trained by Peter Miller and owned by Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen, Roy H has been idle since taking his second consecutive Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. A 7-year-old gelding by More Than Ready, Roy H was arguably the most impressive winner on Breeders’ Cup Classic Day, as he won by 3 ¼ lengths while posting a lofty 111 Beyer Speed figure–matching his career best figure achieved in winning the 2017 Sprint at Del Mar. A winner of last year’s Palos Verdes, he’s bidding for his third consecutive win under Florida-based Paco Lopez.West Point Thoroughbreds’ Kanthaka, who was likely in need of his most recent start, a ninth place finish behind highly regarded McKinzie in the Grade I Malibu Stakes here Dec. 26, appears to be the likely second choice in what will be the 66thrunning of the prestigious Palos Verdes.ROY HOwner: Rockingham Ranch & David Bernsen, LLCTrainer: Peter MillerA win machine by any accounting, Roy H has four wins and a second place finish from six starts at The Great Race Place, with his most recent local win a facile 2 ¾ length score in the Grade I Santa Anita Sprint Championship two starts back on Oct. 6. With “bigger fish to fry” in the months ahead, the Palos Verdes is likely a tune up for Roy H, who now has an overall mark of 22-9-5-2 and earnings of $3,019,765.KANTHAKAOwner: West Point ThoroughbredsTrainer: Jerry HollendorferThird to McKinzie four starts back in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes here on March 10, this 4-year-old colt by Jimmy Creed was subsequently well beaten in the Grade II Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland April 7. Subsequent to that, he cut back in distance to seven furlongs and rallied to take the Grade III Lazaro Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita May 12 and was then idle prior to finishing six lengths behind McKinzie in the seven furlong Malibu Dec. 26. With a recent race to his credit, Kanthaka, who will be handled by leading man Flavien Prat, should be set to bring his best in the Palos Verdes.ST. JOE BAYOwner: Hronis Racing, LLCTrainer: John SadlerThis venerable 7-year-old Florida-bred gelding will be making his 35th career start and has to be accorded a puncher’s chance. Fresh off a gutty head victory in a five furlong classified allowance at Los Alamitos Dec. 14, he was haltered by Sadler for $62,500 on May 28 and has been a gem of consistency in five subsequent starts. With wet weather forecast through Thursday, St. Joe Bay would appreciate any sort of off track, as he posted a 1 ¾ length win in the Grade III Midnight Lute Stakes here over a sloppy surface in December, 2016. Look for him to press the early issue on Saturday as he shoots for his fourth win in 13 local tries. With an overall mark of 34-6-7-6, he has earnings of $610,515.THE GRADE II PALOS VERDES STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDERRace 9 of 10 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT Touched by Autism–Geovanni Franco–120Distinctive B–Drayden Van Dyke–120Kanthaka–Flavien Prat–122St. Joe Bay–Tyler Baze–120Conquest Tsunami–Joel Rosario–120Awesome Anywhere–Mike Smith–120Roy H–Paco Lopez–124Special early first post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 12 noon.For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626)574-RACE.
FAVORED PSYCHO DAR PREVAILS BY A NECK IN $67,000 SANTA ANITA ALLOWANCE FEATURE AS MALDONADO & MIYADI TEAM FOR FIVE FURLONG TURF TRIUMPH IN 56.19 ARCADIA, Calif. (June 7, 2019)–Favored Psycho Dar broke running and never looked back as he took Friday’s $67,000 Santa Anita allowance feature by a neck under Edwin Maldonado. A 4-year-old California-bred gelding by Storm Wolf, Psycho Dar, who is trained by Steve Miyadi, got five furlongs on turf in 56.19.“We were just hoping for a good break,” said Maldonado, who is known for his prowess with front-runners and was aboard Psycho Dar for the first time today. “Going five eighths, you ride all the way, you don’t stop.”Breaking from post positon two in a field of nine California-bred or sired horses three and up, Psycho Dar enjoyed a 1 ½ length advantage turning for home and held off the late charge of longshot Portando for the win.Most recently second, beaten a nose under identical circumstances on May 17, Psycho Dar, who is out of the Maria’s Mon mare Stormin Mon, was off at 7-5 and paid $4.80, $3.00 and $2.40.Owned by Amber Sandoval, Psycho Dar picked up $40,200 for the win, increasing his earnings to $166,896. Winless, with two seconds and as many thirds from six turf tries coming in, he’s now 13-3-2-4 overall.Ridden by Ruben Fuentes, Portando, who broke alertly from the far outside, was attentive to the pace while a close fourth heading into the far turn, kept to his task in game fashion and finished three quarters of a length clear of Three Ay Em. Off at 14-1, Portando paid $10.40 and $6.40.With Rafael Bejarano up, Three Ay Em had two horses beat three furlongs from home and outran early pace factor Grinning Tiger by a head for third money. Off at 11-1, Three Ay Em paid $5.60 to show.Fractions on the race were 20.89 and 44.01.
But much like Spurs’ performance on the pitch, the “fight”, if it can even be called that, failed to ever really get going.The fans appear to dance around each other for a while, thankfully never actually even attempting to land a blow.And a hilarious clip has now circulated online of the “clash” sped up… to the theme of Benny Hill.The warring supporters fail to get within a meter of each other – and social media users were quick to mock the exchange.One wrote: “No people were injured during the filming of this p*** poor attempt at football violence.”While another asked: “Does anyone even throw a punch?! Muppets!”CHELSEA NEWS LIVE: Follow for all the latest on the BluesAnd another jokingly likened it to the hokey cokey: “You put your left arm left arm out and you shake it all about”.Another user commented: “State of these clowns, man.””Wait another 3 hours and someone might even throw a punch,” another added.2 Olivier Giroud’s first-half strike sent the Blues on their way to victoryCredit: EPAMOST READ IN FOOTBALLTHROUGH ITRobbie Keane reveals Claudine’s father was ’50-50′ in coronavirus battleTOP SELLERGavin Whelan has gone from League of Ireland to David Beckham’s InstagramPicturedAN EYEFULMeet Playboy model and football agent Anamaria Prodan bidding to buy her own clubI SAW ROORodallega saw Rooney ‘drinking like madman’ & Gerrard ‘on bar dancing shirtless’ExclusiveRIYAD RAIDMan City’s Riyad Mahrez has three luxury watches stolen in £500,000 raidNEXT STEPJonny Hayes set to move to English Championship having been let go by CelticREF RELEASEDChampions League ref Vincic released by cops after arrest in prostitution raidKEANE DEALEx Man United youth ace David Jones says Roy Keane negotiated a contract for himThe exchange was hardly akin to Tyson Fury’s amazing seventh round KO of Deontay Wilder last night – but Chelsea supporters won’t care, with their team having seemingly knocked Spurs out of the top four race.Goals from Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso steered the Blues to victory – despite Antonio Rudiger’s late own goal attempting to set up a grandstand finish.Jose Mourinho’s feeble side failed to muster another blow, however, with Frank Lampard extending his record to 3-0 over his former manager.2 Frank Lampard extended his record to 3-0 over his former managerCredit: Getty Images – GettyMauro Icardi’s model wife Wanda looks amazing as she takes part in some seriously sexy shoots A VIDEO has surfaced of Chelsea and Tottenham fans “clashing” outside Stamford Bridge after Saturday’s derby between theLondon rivals.Footage shows groups of the clubs’ supporters threatening to fight in the affluent area of England’s capital.Chelsea vs Spurs… with Benny Hill pic.twitter.com/KtMM0jdILb— 🅆🄴🅂🅃 🄷🄰🄼 🄰🅁🅃 (@AngelicUpstarta) February 23, 2020
While controversial teammate Andrew Fifita has been listed among the candidates for one of the two front-row spots, Barba’s name is nowhere to be seen on the fullback options.Instead voters are given the choice between David Peachey, Rick Bourke, Mick Mullane, Jonathan Docking, Preston Campbell and Michael Gordon.Barba scored the Sharks’ first try in their breakthrough grand final win last month, capping his best season in the NRL since winning the Dally M at the Bulldogs in 2012.But a positive drugs test just four days after the win over Melbourne resulted in the troubled fullback asking the Sharks for a release and his career is now in limbo.That he is not in contention for the club’s best-ever team is a clear indication Cronulla are distancing themselves from the fallen No.1.Barba would arguably challenge Peachey as the best fullback to pull on a Cronulla jersey .He is certainly in the top six – and Sharkies fans agree.One wrote: “Peachey all day but it is a shame that our premiership winning fullback doesn’t get recognition, possibly when he needs it most.”Another added: “Ridiculous that you cannot vote for Ben Barba. When this disciplinary issue is forgotten he will be remembered as an electric player who scored a try in a Grand Final.
A few minutes into the opening half the Gurias were the first to score and they continued to add points to go into the half time break with a lead of 18 points to TNA Lions’ 6 points.Just 3 minutes to halftime, one passage of play saw one of the smartest efforts and the funniest attempt to convert.Watson Boas stabbed a low kick on the fifth tackle and John Ragi raced through the tired Lions’ defence to ground the ball.Then Lions won a penalty and kicker Enoch Sine had to re-set the ball for kicking 3 times as the wind pushed it over time after time. Sine finally had a quick stab at the ball and the simple kick missed.The second half was a one sided affair with the Gurias flogging the Lions and piling on more tries to beat the Lions.The man of the match award went to the Gurias prop forward Tuvi Lepan.Full time score Agmark Gurias 34 TNA 6. Photos: Chris Jerry (left) and Emmanuel John leave the field happy after their team demolished th Lions 34-6. Other photos show the match in progress.
Papua New Guinea Billiards and Snooker Association vice president John Chan said the response had been overwhelming with players travelling in from Kavieng and Alotau to participate.He said the 48 players had been divided into eight groups of six and a new champion will be known when the finals are played on Sunday.“Nominations including those from outside of Port Moresby have exceeded our expectations,” Chan said.He said last year’s minor tiitle or B Grade winner Emmanuel Kapi and runner up Toua Simoi had been promoted to A Grade and the hunt for a new champion was on.“The quality of players who have nominated is high and any one of the 48 have a chance of taking out the minor title,” Chan said.He said a briefing will be held tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5pm at the Lamana Q Club to finalise registration and a draw done.He said the round robin group matches will start after briefing at the four venues – Laguna Hotel, Lamana Q Club, Dragons Den and Aviat Club. The top 16 and quarter finals will be played on Saturday with the semi finals and grand final to be played at the Dragon’s Den on Sunday.The winner of the minor title will join the A Graders for a shot at the major title when it starts on Independence Day next Wednesday September 16.Chan said players will be travelling in from Kavieng, Alotau, Lae and Madang to participate.“Forty players will be taking part for the major title and we expect confirmation including those travelling into Port Moresby by the end of this week,” Chan said.He said defending champion Djorne Fong is already in Port Moresby and a good tussle against current Alotau and Kavieng Open champion Marcus Ng and Port Moresby Open winner Ralph Kaina will be on.Chan said the BSP men’s titles will coincide with PNG’s 40th Independence anniversary. He is grateful to Sports and National Events Minister Justin Tkatchenko for the use of the anniversary logo.“I extend our gratitude to Minister Tkatchenko for the use of the 40th anniversary logo on the uniforms which will be significant to the players during the prestigious event on the PNGBSA calendar,” he said.Tournament director is Richard Whitchurch and he will assisted by Jon Cavanagh, Ida Keni and Joey Chan.Chan thanked BSP for their continued support for the 13th consecutive year, platinum sponsors The National,and 6 mile Bookmakers, gold sponsors Grafitti Signs, Hodava Hotel, Pacific MMI, ATMI Engineering Services, Landmark Tours, Street Scene and silver sponsors Ning Agencies for supporting the 2015 BSP Men’s National Snooker Titles.He also thanked the management and staff of Laguna Hotel, Lamana Q Club, Dragon’s Den and Aviat Club for the use of their facilities during the 2015 BSP Men’s National Snooker Titles.
Madang Soccer Association president Ray Romo, in a meeting with the local organising committee and chairman of Momase Soccer Federation, Sigi Beche, reiterated that MSA will do everything possible to make this tournament a success.“As the president of one of the oldest associations in the country, my executives and I are ready to host the tournament on our grounds. At the same time, we will provide necessary support to the local organising committee in whatever way we can.“We are a team and the love of soccer is our most important priority. This tournament is our time to showcase our love for soccer and welcome the visiting teams with open arms,” Romo said.MSA will field a team while its sister associations, affiliated to MSA, such as Sumgilbar, Karkar, Middle Ramu and Bogia, will come with a team as well.Romo said MSA will support the organising committee to provide fixtures, referees, prepare grounds and help in security for the duration of the game.“Madang people are soccer lovers and so far, they are gearing up to welcome the visiting teams from within Momase and watch them.“We are challenging the teams from Morobe, East Sepik and Sandaun to prepare well and come to Madang because Team Madang is ready to challenge them on home soil,” Romo said.Teams who are yet to pay their registration must do so before the due date on July 29 and email the deposit butt to MSA, advises the president.Meanwhile, local organising committee chairman John Maripal said so far, 23 teams have lodged in their interest but are yet to pay their registration fee of K500.He said fees can be deposited into the Madang Soccer Association account, account number 1000 1729 87, BSP Madang branch. Email the deposit butt to bestacup116@gmail.com.Maripal can also be contacted on 7216 0785.The official draw will be released on August 4th once all the teams are finalised.Maripal says Madang is prepared to welcome all the visiting teams next month.(MSA president Ray Romo)
The Minister for Sports, Justin Tkatchenko, proudly announced this on behalf of the Hockey Federation yesterday at the Sir John Guise stadium Hockey Pavilion.Tkatchenko thanked the hockey federation for bidding to host the event, announcing that it is another milestone event for sports in the country.“2018 will be a big year for sports in PNG as we will be hosting a number of international sporting events.“We will be hosting the U15 Oceania basketball championships, the U18 Oceania youth hockey qualifiers, the Oceania swimming championships and of course, the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia,” Tkatchenko said.The championship will be in April of 2018 however, the actual timing will be determined by the OHF Competition Committee in consultation with PNGHF.(File picture)
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