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After missing UF game, kicker Colton Boomer will transfer from UCF

Sun, 10/06/2024 - 18:02

UCF kicker Colton Boomer has announced he intends to use the NCAA’s redshirt rule and enter the transfer portal.

Boomer became the sixth player in the past week to opt out of the season and transfer. He announced his decision on social media Sunday night, a day after the Knights lost at Florida.

In a post on X, Boomer wrote: “To the UCF Fans – I love you guys so much. Kicking Bombs together has been on of the greatest privileges of my life. I always tried to make you proud and I gave you my all. From my first game at FAU, to Boise, to Norman, and to that last extra point at TCU, I will always be a Knight at heart. The Bounce House Boom will always be a blessing!”

pic.twitter.com/Mz61fm0Bcs

— Colton Boomer (@BoomerColton) October 6, 2024

Boomer, who signed out of Lake Mary High, appeared in 29 games at UCF, connecting on 30 of 42 field goals (71.4%) and 109 of 113 extra points (96.5%). This season, Boomer was 3 for 6 on field goals but missed his final three kicks — two were blocked during the Knights’ 35-34 win at TCU on Sept. 14.

Boomer had a stellar freshman season, connecting on 14 of 15 field goals (93.3%) and 97.7% extra points (42 of 43).

However, he struggled with an injury during his sophomore season and his accuracy dipped. Boomer connected on13 of 21 field goals (62%) and 48 of 50 extra points (96%). Those struggles led to Boomer seeing a sports psychologist to build his confidence.

He didn’t travel to Gainesville for Saturday’s showdown with Florida, opening the door for redshirt freshman Grant Reddick to assume kicking duties. Reddick connected on a pair of field goals in the 24-13 loss.

Coach Gus Malzahn said Boomer was dealing with an ankle injury and had hoped to have him back.

“He’s been fighting through and just got to the point where he couldn’t do it, so Grant got in there,” Malzahn said Saturday night.

Boomer becomes the latest UCF player to utilize the redshirt rule, which permits a player to keep a year of eligibility if he doesn’t play more than four games in a season. Receiver Xavier Townsend, offensive tackle Wes Dorsey, edge rusher Kaven Call and safeties William Wells and Bryon Threats also opted out.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Florida at Tennessee

When: 7, Saturday, Neyland Stadium

TV: ESPN

Chris Perkins: Finally! The finesse Dolphins ran the ball, got physical with Patriots, and won

Sun, 10/06/2024 - 16:52

Sometimes old-fashioned muscle and physicality are needed to win NFL games, even in this current highfalutin passing era. And sometimes, we’ve now learned, the Miami Dolphins can play that style of football.

We saw a new, angry side of the Dolphins’ in Sunday’s 15-10 victory at the New England Patriots.

We saw coach Mike McDaniel’s good-natured, mild-mannered team dig deep to re-discover its animalistic nature.

This is significant.

The Dolphins (2-3) used a gutty, fourth-quarter, 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that was fueled by 10 punishing carries for 60 image-changing yards to take control of Sunday’s game against the hapless Patriots.

The Dolphins showed they can play aggressive, big-boy football, the type that wins rugged road games in December and January. And they put the winning points on the board with a touchdown run by their Pro Bowl fullback.

“For a two-yard run to cap a statement drive,” said fullback Alec Ingold, who scored that touchdown after some gritty blocking to clear paths for running backs Jaylen Wright (13 carries, 86 yards) and Raheem Mostert (19 carries, 80 yards), “is something we needed desperately.”

And actually, it was a three-yard touchdown run, but we’re not going to let facts get in the way of a good quote.

The bottom line is the Dolphins showed us something significant Sunday.

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The finesse, pretty-boy Miami Dolphins, who rely on timing and speed to win in an aggressive, violent sport, showed that they can revert to that old-school violent style.

The Dolphins, I’m told, had a few players-only meetings in the past two or three weeks as they sought to end their three-game losing streak.

It turns out all they needed to do was get mean.

All they needed to do is play the type of big-boy football that McDaniel indicated they might play with his calls during training camp.

The Dolphins, who rushed for a season-best 193 yards on 41 clock-controlling, tone-setting carries, took it tight to the Patriots in the fourth quarter, the most important time of the game.

“We were just going straight downhill at the defense,” quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley said, “and it showed they couldn’t hold up.”

We don’t hear this often from the Dolphins.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Dave Hyde and David Furones break down Miami’s comeback win over Patriots | VIDEO

This is the team that safety Jordan Poyer said has a reputation around the league for folding when you hit them in the mouth.

This is the place that veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell said has a reputation around the league for being “easy” because it has casual practice habits.

This isn’t a tough team.

We know that.

But now we also know it’s a team that can play tough football from time to time.

We now know that if opponents want to sit in that two-deep safety defense with a seven-man front, the Dolphins are committed to pounding the ball down after down after down.

And they can win in that fashion.

They did this, mind you, with running back De’Von Achane sidelined in the first quarter with a concussion and veteran running back Jeff Wilson Jr. inactive.

Here’s something else the Dolphins showed Sunday — the run game can win games for them.

You know how I like to repeat my favorite numbers.

The Dolphins were 1-6 vs. playoff opponents last season. They rushed for more than 100 yards in four of those seven games — Buffalo twice, Kansas City in Germany and at Baltimore. The Dolphins lost each of them.

Why?

Many of those teams sat in two-deep safety looks knowing the only way the Dolphins could win was with big plays in the passing game. They knew the Dolphins would get impatient with the run when it didn’t yield instant results. 

The Dolphins showed Sunday they’re patient enough to keep pounding away with the run.

And it can lead to a victory.

Now, let’s not read too much into this win.

The Dolphins had to get the benefit of a (correct) replay call to end their three-game losing streak and show that the run game really can lead to a victory. That was the call that showed Patriots wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk had one foot out of the back of the end zone on a play that was originally ruled a touchdown.

Who cares?

The Dolphins played big-boy football on Sunday and they won.

If they can do that again (and again and again), this seemingly innocuous win over the Patriots will be declared a landmark victory because it’ll show the finesse Dolphins can play big-boy football, and win.

Dave Hyde: Ugly, sloppy, mistake-filled — and a Miami Dolphins win thanks to late drive

Sun, 10/06/2024 - 16:28

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.  — The long way back, if this somehow becomes that, started with a 21-yard pass to Tyreek Hill.

“I saw him break open, and I went to him,” Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley said after a 15-10 win over the New England Patriots.

The long way back, if this final drive was proof of a better team and not perfume covering obvious problems, ended with fullback Alec Ingold scoring their lone touchdown on a simple handoff from the 3-yard line.

“That play might be the Day One install for every offense in America,” Ingold said.

It was such a long day’s journey continuing this season’s chronic weirdness and whack-a-mole problems that when the Dolphins turned into a football team for one drive — one game-winning, season-saving, 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive — the actual question wasn’t so much where this win takes them.

It’s what it blocked for now: A fourth-consecutive loss for a team whose season would have effectively ended.

“It’s been 24 days since the Buffalo game,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of that first loss. “In the NFL losing streaks are real. They’re not fun.”

The Dolphins should not just be pointing at that final-minutes, run-intensive drive after this one. They should be carrying around the NFL schedule-makers on their shoulders. They were fortunate to be playing one of the few teams looking appreciably worse than they are.

New England is so bad they don’t want to play their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, for fear of him getting hit too much.

New England is so bad they don’t want to play their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye, for fear of him getting hit too much. They’re not especially bright, either, as rookie coach Jerod Mayo had the Patriots only run the ball 19 times despite averaging 7.9 yards per carry. Instead, career reserve quarterback Jacoby Brissett, threw 34 passes while averaging a measly 4.7 yards a throw.

Again: 7.9 yards a carry? If, like Mike McDaniel said, the Dolphins defense is the “strength of the team,” that’s an equal indictment of the offense. And the special teams? It a punt blocked and saw center Blake Ferguson roll a field-goal snap back like he was lawn bowling to negate a scoring chance.

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“Just not my best work,” he said.

The regular center, Aaron Brewer, whistled a shotgun snap by a surprised Huntley for a 22-yard loss. That negated a rare scoring chance.

“He thought he heard (the snap cadence),” McDaniel said. “So he snapped it, which is why it was a gigantic negative.”

Then there were the penalties that are part of this season’s fabric. The first holding penalty by guard Liam Eichenberg stalled a promising opening drive into a field goal. Two more holding penalties came on the winning drive, including another by Eichenberg, meaning the 80-yard drive actually went 100 yards.

There also were three more pre-snap penalties, though two were declined. The larger point: Little is getting cleaned up on this team. Big mistake. Small mistakes. Now special-team mistakes.

A question: Is anyone going to be held accountable around this team?

“A lot of stuff went wrong,” Calais Campbell said. “Like, man, that was a pretty ugly game, especially in the first half. But one thing we didn’t do is we didn’t flinch. We didn’t relax. We just stayed hungry, kept fighting, kept believing and found a way.”

Dolphins Deep Dive: Dave Hyde and David Furones break down Miami’s comeback win over Patriots | VIDEO

Huntley is more comfortable at quarterback as Sunday showed everywhere but on the scoreboard. That wasn’t his fault in many cases. He got the big pass to Hill on scoring final drive. McDaniel then smartly went into run-game mode against a tiring New England defense.

The final 52 yards of that drive were on carries by Jaylen Wright and Raheem Mostert. This offense ran for 193 yards on Sunday. That’s how you help Huntley, who completed 13-of-18 passes for 194 yards.

“That’s something that I think when you are talking about your football team and the types of games you want to win, you know, that’s very similar to November, December football where certain weeks you have to strap up and be able to win the line of scrimmage and do it down in and down out,” McDaniel said. “I think that’s a huge piece of the puzzle to me.”

We’ll see coming up if being physical is a piece to the season or just bailed them out Sunday. They can’t win with mistakes like this. But they won Sunday. They can’t sustain a season with this kind of special teams. But they resuscitated this one for now.

For once this team won by grit, not glitz. Those 80 yards were perfume in covering up a lot of Sunday problems. The question becomes if that drive was proof of a better team lurking in there.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Dave Hyde and David Furones break down Miami’s comeback win over Patriots | VIDEO

Sun, 10/06/2024 - 14:55

In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Dave Hyde and David Furones discuss Miami ending its three-game losing streak with its victory at Gillette Stadium over the Patriots and what the Dolphins need to focus on to improve during their bye week.

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Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 15-10 victory at the New England Patriots

Sun, 10/06/2024 - 13:49

The Miami Dolphins went to New England with a chance to turn things around early in this season. They got that process started with a 15-10 victory, but it wasn’t comforting as they held on until the very last play of the game.

The Dolphins (2-3) had a sloppy performance before finding their footing in the fourth quarter with a physical drive that could help them establish an identity other than being a cutesy, finesse passing team.

One thing that became apparent Sunday is that coach Mike McDaniel, however, needs to work on team discipline. The Dolphins were ragged all day and appeared as though they hadn’t been well-coached or well-prepared for this game.

But whatever.

The Dolphins ended their three-game losing streak and enter their bye week with a much-needed victory over the Patriots, who hurt themselves badly with 12 penalties for 105 yards.

Here are some more takeaways from Sunday’s victory:

McDaniel game plan/offense still inadequate

Coach McDaniel made the game plan easier for quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley (18 of 31, 194 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, 63.1 passer rating) this week by giving him more timing routes and easy throws. It didn’t help much.

There were dropped passes, poorly-placed throws, a few protection errors and very little help from the run game early.

As a result, Huntley didn’t have a productive game and McDaniel appears unable to run an offense for any quarterback except Tua Tagovailoa, who is sidelined with a concussion.

And the receivers don’t seem capable of working with another quarterback, and they haven’t been sharp all season.

In fact, the Dolphins’ entire plan at backup quarterback comes into question once again. 

Why wasn’t Skylar Thompson better prepared at Seattle?

Why was Mike White released?

Why didn’t the Dolphins have a No. 3 quarterback months ago instead of weeks ago?

The entire plan for offense and quarterback seems suspect. — Chris Perkins

Related Articles Dolphins find run game

The Dolphins rushed for a season-best 193 yards on a season-best 41 carries Sunday, including scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter on a bruising 15-play, 80-yard drive that was fueled by the run.

Offensive coordinator Frank Smith said this past week that playing with a deficit makes it tough to maintain a consistent run game.

Well, the Dolphins kept the game close Sunday and stayed committed to the run game and it paid off big time in the end.

Running backs Jaylen Wright (13 carries, 86 yards) and Raheem Mostert (19 carries, 80 yards) did good work while running back De’Von Achane (concussion) was sidelined and veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. was inactive.

A top of the hat also goes to fullback Alec Ingold for doing dirty work as a blocker and scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard run.

Achane gets rocked, examined for concussion

Achane, in a move that surprised no one, was ruled out with a concussion in the first quarter. Achane (three carries, 18 yards), who is listed at 5 foot 9, 188 pounds, missed six games last season with various injuries.

One issue last season was Achane got rag-dolled (tackled roughly) quite a few times. To that end, he added muscle in the offseason. 

The issue Sunday was a big hit. But the fact remains Achane has been injury prone. And, for that matter, so, too, is Mostert, the starter, and Wilson.

Rookie Jaylen Wright seems the best bet to stay healthy at running back.

Special teams starts ugly

It’s fair to wonder why special teams coordinator Danny Crossman is still employed. 

Special teams, in the first half alone, had a missed field goal attempt, a bad snap on a field goal attempt, a blocked punt and an illegal block penalty that was declined. They cleaned up their act in the second half, however.

Still, you’ll recall last week special teams had that punt return play in which linebacker Duke Riley touched a loose ball because he thought someone on the Titans punt team touched it first. Riley was mistaken and it almost resulted in a turnover.

The unit also had a penalty on an onside kick/punt for kicking the ball out of the landing zone.

The Dolphins had one of the league’s lowest-rated special teams units last season and it’s continuing this season.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Dave Hyde and David Furones break down Miami’s comeback win over Patriots | VIDEO

Hill gets decent numbers, but not great numbers

New England had cornerback Christian Gonzalez shadowed wide receiver Tyreek Hill most of the game and was successful, especially when Hill was on the outside (as opposed to in the slot).

Hill ended with 69 yards on six receptions and nine targets.

Hill had season bests against Jacksonville in receptions (seven), yards (130) and targets (12). 

Still, the Dolphins won and might have found another way to win.

Gonzalez meets the challenge

Gonzalez was a pain in the neck for the Dolphins, making plays vs. Hill, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jaylen Waddle.

Gonzalez, the Patriots’ 2023 first-round pick from Oregon, had an interception against Beckham that led to New England’s first touchdown.

He almost had an interception in the end zone defending Hill in the third quarter. Hill had to knock the ball out of Gonzalez’s hands.

Gonzalez had a key stop against Waddle on third-and-13. He held Waddle to an 11-yard gain. The Dolphins kicked a field goal to cut their deficit to 10-9.

Gonzalez had the best day of any cornerback against the Dolphins this season.

OBJ effect is meaningless

Beckham (no receptions, two targets) didn’t have an impact on the game. He was the target on Huntley’s interception. On that play Gonzalez jumped the route and slipped in front of Beckham on a short slant pattern.

Beckham, who was activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list Saturday after being sidelined by a knee injury, was getting his first taste of action in a Dolphins uniform Sunday.

Run defense gashed again

New England (19 carries, 151 yards) became the fifth team to rush for at least 100 yards against the Dolphins, meaning every opponent has rushed for at least 100 yards against the Dolphins.

The Dolphins began play Sunday 19th in run defense, allowing 119.5 yards per game.

The effect of that is that quarterbacks such as New England’s Jacoby Brissett or Tennessee’s Mason Rudolph don’t have to do much because the ground game takes a load off their shoulders.

The Dolphins are hoping to rely on a similar formula to help quarterback Huntley.

Penalties improve for Dolphins

Penalties were better for the Dolphins on Sunday, but they were still a small factor.

The Dolphins finished with six penalties for 54 yards. The Dolphins had an illegal shift and an illegal crack-back block penalties declined.

The Dolphins began play Sunday tied for fourth in penalties (37), and third in penalty yards (336).

Tight end Julian Hill, who has been a habitual offender, had a holding call that negated a 33-yard run by Wright in the fourth quarter. Instead of facing first down at the New England 18-yard line the Dolphins faced second down on their own 43-yard line.

Miami overcame the issue, but it must watch those penalties.

Huntley performs better

Huntley was so-so on Sunday, and had a woeful passer rating.

Huntley, who has been with the team for a little more than three weeks, did well on some timing passes but overall he still looks out of sync with Hill and Waddle, which is understandable.

Their speed and the timing of the Dolphins offense takes months to get a comfortable feeling.

Huntley had more success finding tight end Jonnu Smith (five receptions, 62 yards). He was Miami’s second-leading receiver after Hill.

Overall, Huntley looked better at New England than a week ago against Tennessee. But his comfort level remains a work in progress.

Replay magic for South Florida football teams

Replays have worked in favor of the Dolphins and No. 6 University of Miami in recent games. The Dolphins got the benefit of replay in Sunday’s win at New England when replay showed Patriots wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk’s apparent 12-yard touchdown reception with 1:08 remaining and the Dolphins clinging to that five-point lead was no good. Polk got one foot down in the back of the end zone and the toe of his other foot down. But the heel landed out of the back of the end zone so the call was reversed.

In then-8th-ranked UM’s dramatic come-from-behind 39-38 win at Cal late Saturday night/early Sunday morning, replay determined there was no targeting call in the fourth quarter against Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe when he hit Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza on a scramble. The penalty would have given Cal a first down and the chance to run out the clock. Instead, UM got the ball back and completed its comeback.

Against Virginia Tech, then-7th-ranked UM got the benefit of replay when it correctly negated a what was ruled Hokies touchdown reception on a 30-yard Hail Mary pass on the game’s final play that would have delivered an amazing victory for Virginia Tech. Instead, the amazing 38-34 victory went to the Canes.

The last time the Dolphins won two consecutive games in Foxborough …

… Tom Brady hadn’t made his first NFL start yet. On Christmas Eve of 2000, Olindo Mare made a 49-yard field goal with nine seconds left to give Miami the AFC East title. That came after a crazy 31-30 win in 1999 when, after a scoring-opening pick-six, Dan Marino, in his final season, exited the game and laid it in the hands of Damon Huard. Huard then threw his own interception for a touchdown and the Patriots led 14-0. However, the Dolphins defense strangled the Patriots, holding them to a mere 46 yards rushing on 3.3 yards per carry and quarterback Drew Bledsoe to a below 50% completion rate and 225 yards passing. Huard was under siege as well, getting sacked nine times for 53 yards. But he hung in there, running for 54 yards and sprinkling some big plays in the passing game, hitting on a 69-yard touchdown toss to Tony Martin and, trailing 30-25 with 2:10 left, creating an incredible, utterly incongruous connection with fullback Stanley Pritchett. On that final possession, Huard connected with the burly Pritchett six times for 33 yards, including the drive’s final 5 yards for the winning touchdown with 23 seconds left. — Steve Svekis

Dolphins’ rush game hit numbers it hadn’t seen in almost a year

The last time Miami had as many as 193 rushing yards in a game was against the New York Giants on Oct. 8, 2023 (222). And the most recent instance of multiple players having at least 80 rushing yards (Jaylen Wright had 86 and Raheem Mostert had 80 on Sunday) was Sept. 24, 2023 in that famous 350-rushing-yard performance against the Denver Broncos, when De’Von Achane blazed for 203 and Mostert grabbed 82.

What a debacle the special teams have been

It is easy to fixate on the cavalcade of ineptitude in Massachusetts, with the missed 41-yard field goal attempt, the blocked punt, the botched field goal snap and the false start preceding that awful snap, but I still think about the escape from disaster six days ago against the Titans, when Duke Riley, trying his best Leon Lett impression, attempted to grab the partially blocked punt. Review showed that a Titan touched the ball an instant sooner, it wasn’t because Riley wasn’t TRYING to grab it. The coaching not instructing players on a concept as basic as that is as problematic as any of the physical travesties.

In each game this season, the Dolphins have trailed in the fourth quarter

And they have trailed by at least a touchdown in the second half of each (17-7 to the Jaguars, 31-10 to the Bills, 24-3 in Seattle, 31-12 to the Titans and 10-3 against the Patriots), as well. Hard way to build a winning record.

The true restrictor plate on this season has been the humongous leap of negative-yardage plays since McDaniel’s debut

In Mike McDaniel’s first season, the Dolphins offense established a club best since 1994 with only 37 plays for loss of yardage on runs and receptions (2.18 per game). After the Patriots game, with less than 30% of the season played, the Dolphins have seen 26 such disastrous plays, or 5.20 per game. Entering Week 5, the Dolphins’ 24 such TFLs against led the NFL, with the Rams second-worst with 19. Including sacks (Miami had been sacked 13 times in the first quartet of contests), the Dolphins had an NFL-worst 37 TFLs after the first four games, with the Rams and Bears at 32. Miami is now at 42 overall after five games.

Illegal contact penalties have taken a nosedive

The two-deep-safety look has gotten recent heavy criticism for taking away big plays in the passing game. Part of that sag-back trend may have further evidence when one looks at the steep drop off the cliff of the automatic-first-down illegal contact penalty. This year, through the Thursday night opener to Week 5, the league had seen that flag thrown 11 times in the 65 games, putting the NFL on pace for 46 of those flags in 2024. In 2023, there were 90 illegal contact penalties. The Dolphins had not committed the penalty in the first four games, but had one in their favor, in Seattle.

On deck: Indianapolis Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Sunday, Oct. 20, 1 p.m.

In what is likely the final game before the return of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins will either go up against Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson for the first time in franchise history, or against Joe Flacco for the 11th time. If it is the latter scenario, the Dolphins would become the first non-AFC North foe that the longtime Ravens signal-caller has made more than 10 starts against (he currently also has 10 starts against the Texans and Patriots, and the Colts play Houston the week after the Dolphins matchup). … The last time the Dolphins and Colts played a game that ended up with a margin wider than one score was in Peyton Manning’s first career start, when Terrell Buckley grabbed a pick-six and the Dolphins won that 1998 season opener 24-15. … The Colts represent the team the Dolphins are the most games over .500 against (20) in team history, with a 48-28 record. The opponent against whom the Dolphins are next-most games over .500 is the Bengals (18-8).

Dave Hyde: Dolphins’ one drive, special-team follies, ugly plays all around — 10 thoughts on 15-10 win over Patriots

Sun, 10/06/2024 - 13:12

FOXBOROUGH — Well, there weren’t many surprises when the league’s two worst offenses got together. Not much offense, either.

The Dolphins won’t apologize about his 15-10 win, though. They’re 2-3. They get to the bye week. They kept some life in this season despite playing a game they won’t frame for its beauty.

Here are 10 thoughts on the game:

1. Non-play of the day: Ja’Lynn Polk’s 12-yard touchdown catch with 1:03 left was over-ruled on replay. He didn’t get his heel down in the back of the end zone. New England had driven from its own 30-yard line in the final minutes and looked to have gone ahead on that second-down play. On third down, Brissett threw incomplete. And on fourth down, after a false start just to keep it in line with the day’s theme of questionable play, Brissett again threw incomplete into the end zone to effectively end the game. New England scrambled on a desperate final drive that ended at the Dolphins’ 36-yard line

2. Drive of the day: The Dolphins went 15 plays and 80 yards to take the lead with 4:24 to play on Alec Ingold’s 2-yard touchdown. The numbers of that drive don’t reflect the two holding penalties that the offense overcame to, again, reflect the theme of this game. This was a run-oriented drive as the final 52 yards came on the ground on six plays. With De’Vone Achane out with a concussion earlier in the game, rookie Jaylen Wright and Raheem Mostert made their mark. Wright had 13 carries for 86 yards (6.6-yard average) and Mostert had 19 carries for 80 yards (4.2 average). This touchdown was the Dolphins’ fifth of the season.

2. How Ugly was It, Part I: The entire special teams joined the run of bad plays with as bad a first half as you could have. A missed 41-yard field goal by Jason Sanders (after he made a 54-yarder). A blocked punt against Jake Bailey. Then came the worst moment when center Blake Ferguson’s snap on a 51-yard field goal rolled across the field to the holder, Bailey. There was no way to set the ball, much less kick it, before New England was on top of them.

3. Quote of the day: “I’m not going to lie here, this is a tough football game to watch.” – former New England tight end Rob Gronkowski at halftime on Fox Sports

4. How Ugly Was It, Part II. Here’s how four straight, second-quarter plays went for the Dolphins:

*Second-and-10 at own 32: Center Aaron Brewer called for holding.

*Second-and-20 at 22: Huntley to Hill for 4 yards (Hill penalty for illegal shift declined).

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*Third-and-16 at 26: Huntley to Waddle for 5 yards (Washington penalty for illegal blindside block declined).

*Fourth-and-16: Patriots block Bailey punt and recover at Miami 23.

And …. on that ensuing possession, the Patriots missed a 33-yard field goal. That’s how this game went.

5. Here’s the odd part: Tyler Huntley looked better compared to last week. No, it didn’t reflect on the scoreboard too much, in part because of drives like that fourth-quarter one where Liam Eichenberg and Julian Hill were penalized for holding (the drive kept alive by a New England pass interference — it was that kind of day, folks). Part of the closer-to-serviceable offense was a running game that had 26 carries for 118 yards (4.5 average) through three quarters. Part of it had to be Huntley’s level of comfort after a third week in the system (and second getting a starter’s practice reps). Huntley completed 18 of 31 passes for 194 yards and an interception. Not great at all. But the offense had drives of 58, 57, 47 and 38 yards to show they did assemble some offense. You wonder what might have happened if they’d brought Huntley in when they did Tim Boyle. Yes, they would have had to put Huntley on the active squad immediately since they signed him off Baltimore’s practice squad. So what? This again has the look of a team not valuing the backup quarterback situation enough. No, they couldn’t have known Skylar Thompson would get hurt after looking so bad against Seattle. But the comfort level of Huntley on Sunday was clear, even if the score didn’t look like it.

6. Stat of the game: The teams were a combined 6-21 on third-down conversions. The Dolphins were 2 for 10. New England was 4 for 12. Much of that was because the first- and second-down plays put these offenses in bad situations.

7. After watching New England, it’s curious they don’t want to play rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Jacoby Brissett is taking a beating and that’s the obvious reason. New England employed six offensive linemen and a tight end in Sunday’s second half to try to lessen the Dolphins’ pressure. It helped a little. But there’s no downfield passing threat. Some of that’s because he holds the ball too long.

8. How Ugly Was It, Part III. What was the worst penalty?

*The Patriots had 12 men on the field during a punt on fourth-and-1 to give the Dolphins a first down in the first quarter.

*On second-and-18 in the third quarter, Jalen Ramsey blitzed and needlessly flicked Jacoby Brissett’s facemask after the Patriots quarterback threw a 6-yard completion. So, instead of third-and-12, the Patriots got 15 yards and a first-down en route to a field-goal drive.

*New England defensive end Keion White was penalized for a horse-collar tackle and roughing the passer on the same Dolphins’ third-quarter drive

*The Patriots center Nick Leverett moved the ball for a 5-yard penalty in the second quarter.

9. Quick Hits:

*The first pass thrown to Odell Beckham as a Dolphin was intercepted by Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

*The Dolphins had two illegal shift penalties in the first half that were declined, meaning they haven’t solved their league-leading 20 pre-snap penalties.

*Sunday’s game was for a second-place tie with the New York Jets in the AFC East. For whatever that means.

10. Next week: Bye week. There was a concern when the schedule came out of this bye week coming too early in the season. No more. This isn’t about he team. It’s about the fans and those of us writing. We could use a week off. The Dolphins next play at Indianapolis.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Dave Hyde and David Furones break down Miami’s comeback win over Patriots | VIDEO

Dolphins narrowly escape New England with ugly win over Patriots

Sun, 10/06/2024 - 13:10

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Miami Dolphins are in survival mode, and survive is exactly what they did Sunday.

Playing their third of four games quarterback Tua Tagovailoa must miss while on injured reserve recovering from a concussion and on the verge of having the 2024 season fall apart before his return, the Dolphins pieced together an ugly 15-10 win against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Miami (2-3) snapped its three-game losing streak ahead of the team’s bye week with the road win within the AFC East against the similarly reeling Patriots (1-4).

“In the NFL, losing streaks are real. They’re not fun,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “For the team to have to find a way to overcome a lot of sloppiness that wasn’t to do with intent or preparation, but things that we have to clean up in our game and to be able to still find a way it, feels great.”

A Dolphins offense that had appeared inept for the past three games and much of Sunday put together a 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that consumed 7:36. Capping it with a 3-yard scoring plunge from fullback Alec Ingold, the Dolphins took their 15-10 lead with 4:24 remaining after a failed 2-point conversion.

“Credit to the offensive line. I didn’t have to do anything,” Ingold said. “For a (3)-yard run to cap a statement drive is something that we needed desperately.”

The Patriots momentarily thought they took the lead with about a minute left — on a pass from quarterback Jacoby Brissett to wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk over the middle — but Polk was called out of bounds upon review as his heel landed past the end line after initially landing inbound with his toes.

“It was a heartbreaker,” Dolphins edge defender Emmanuel Ogbah said of his initial thought upon seeing the ball caught in the end zone. “As soon as I saw it, I was like, ‘Damn, we gave up one.’ But we got hope again. I was glad it was an incomplete pass.”

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New England’s fourth-down pass to the end zone then fell incomplete for the late turnover on downs. The Patriots still had one last chance, but they ran out of time after using timeouts on defense.

Even as second-year running back De’Von Achane exited in the first quarter with a concussion, the Dolphins got their run game going Sunday, amassing a season-high 193 yards on the ground.

Rookie Jaylen Wright rushed for 86 yards on 13 carries and several key runs on Miami’s fourth-quarter scoring drive, and veteran Raheem Mostert, in his first game back since missing three with an ailing chest, compiled 80 yards on 19 attempts.

“I just feel like it all came together in the second half,” Wright said. “We were getting good movement thanks to the offensive line and getting it up to the second or third level. It opens things up to produce great runs.”

Quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley, making his second start for the Dolphins, was smoother with his operation of the offense than in last Monday night’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. He went 18 of 31 for 194 yards and was intercepted once.

“We needed it,” Huntley, a Hallandale High alum, said of the victory. “The city needed it, our team needed it, everybody in the locker room needed it. And that’s what we came out here to do, and we got it.”

A second start in the Miami offense for Huntley proved to offer better results. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill said Huntley was making sure to over communicate in the huddle with clarity and got the play calls in quickly.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Dave Hyde and David Furones break down Miami’s comeback win over Patriots | VIDEO

As Hill led Miami with six receptions for 69 yards, the team opened up its package for tight end Jonnu Smith for the first time as he had five catches for 62 yards. Jaylen Waddle had four receptions for 46 yards.

The Dolphins suffered through an abundance of issues offensively early, but their first half was also marred by an array of special teams miscues.

Kicker Jason Sanders missed a 41-yard field goal off an upright. A punt was blocked by Patriots special teams ace Brenden Schooler, who also blocked a field goal against Miami in the same building last year. Late in the first half, long snapper Blake Ferguson rolled a groundball of a snap back to holder/punter Jake Bailey, eliminating any possibility of getting the attempt off.

“Very critically,” McDaniel said of how he will evaluate his special teams unit over the bye week.

The Dolphins were fortunate the blocked punt, which took place on their side of the field, didn’t end in Patriots points, as New England’s Joey Slye missed a short try.

But they also had a snap mishap on offense late in the half that took them out of field goal range, leading to a punt. Center Aaron Brewer airmailed a premature snap before Huntley was ready for it as the quarterback was still communicating to his backs.

“A lot of stuff went wrong,” said defensive tackle Calais Campbell. “That was a pretty ugly ballgame, especially in the first half, but one thing we didn’t do is we didn’t flinch.”

With all that went awry, the Dolphins actually held a lead within a game for the first time this season when their opening drive resulted in Sanders’ 54-yard field goal.

That lead was short-lived as, later in the opening period, Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rumbled for a 33-yard touchdown run in which he got to the outside off the edge and broke tackles of safeties Marcus Maye and Jevon Holland, the latter of which later left with a hand injury.

The touchdown was set up by New England field position granted to the team by a Huntley interception. Stellar Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez undercut a route by new Dolphins addition Odell Beckham Jr., and the former Pro Bowl wide receiver’s first target with Miami resulted in a turnover.

That 7-3 score held through the rest of the first half. The two teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter. First, the one for the Patriots was aided by a personal foul penalty by Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who made contact with Brissett’s head by swooping past him with his hand up on a pass rush. New England defensive end Keion White had a pair of personal-foul penalties go against him to assist Miami to get those 3 points back.

The Dolphins got the score to within one, 10-9, late in the third on a third Sanders field goal, from 47 yards out. Wright went for a 17-yard run, and Hill gained 16 yards on the following play early in the series before an 11-yard Waddle reception on third-and-long got Miami into makeable range for the kick.

As the Dolphins lost edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips for the season this past week and still don’t have Bradley Chubb back off the physically-unable-to-perform list, they got sacks Sunday from Ogbah and Zach Sieler.

The Miami defense was soft against the run Sunday, allowing 151 yards on the ground. Brissett, a Dwyer High grad, was 18 of 34 for 160 yards without a touchdown or interception.

The Dolphins now have their bye before returning to action Oct. 20 at the Indianapolis Colts (2-3).

Today in History: October 6, Pope John Paul II visits the White House

Sun, 10/06/2024 - 01:00

Today is Sunday, Oct. 6, the 280th day of 2024. There are 86 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Oct. 6, 1979, Pope John Paul II, on a weeklong U.S. tour, became the first pontiff to visit the White House, where he was received by President Jimmy Carter.

Also on this date:

In 1927, the era of talking pictures arrived with the opening of “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson, a feature film containing both silent and sound-synchronized sequences.

In 1973, war erupted in the Middle East as Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during the Yom Kippur holiday, starting a nearly three-week conflict that would become known as the Yom Kippur War.

In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford, in his second presidential debate with Democrat Jimmy Carter, asserted that there was “no Soviet domination of eastern Europe.”

In 1981, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was shot to death by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad while reviewing a military parade.

In 2007, British adventurer Jason Lewis completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe, spanning 13 years and 46,000 miles (74,000 kilometers).

In 2010, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay tossed just the second postseason no-hitter in MLB history, blanking the Cincinnati Reds 4-0.

In 2014, the Supreme Court unexpectedly cleared the way for a dramatic expansion of gay marriage in the United States as it rejected appeals from five states seeking to preserve their bans, effectively making such marriages legal in 30 states.

In 2018, in the narrowest Senate confirmation of a Supreme Court justice in nearly a century and a half, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed by a 50-48 vote; he was sworn in hours later.

Today’s Birthdays:
  • Actor Britt Ekland is 82.
  • Irish politician Gerry Adams is 76.
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy is 69.
  • Bowler Walter Ray Williams Jr. is 65.
  • Actor Elisabeth Shue is 61.
  • House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., is 59.
  • Actor Emily Mortimer is 53.
  • Basketball Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo is 51.
  • Actor Ioan Gruffudd (YOH’-ihn GRIH’-fihth) is 51.
  • Actor Jeremy Sisto is 50.
  • Football Hall of Famer Richard Seymour is 45.
  • NFL quarterback Trevor Lawrence is 25.
  • Social media personality Addison Rae is 24.
  • Basketball player Bronny James is 20.

No. 8 Hurricanes climb out of 20-point hole in final 11 minutes, stun Cal to go to 6-0

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 23:32

BERKELEY, Calif. — The Hurricanes were left for dead.

Trailing by 20 points in the fourth quarter and by as much as 35-10 earlier in the game, it looked like their undefeated season was due to end.

Tell that to Cam Ward.

The Miami transfer orchestrated three touchdown drives, putting the No. 8 Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0 ACC) a hair ahead of Cal (3-2, 0-2 ACC) with a 39-38 win at California Memorial Stadium.

“It’s the best example of resiliency and toughness and just no-quit mentally that I’ve ever been fortunate enough to be a part of,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said.

Ward tossed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Horton to cut the deficit to two touchdowns. He scrambled for a 24-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game. He found Elijah Arroyo for a 5-yard touchdown with 26 seconds left to put Miami ahead, giving the Hurricanes the victory. Linebacker Francisco Mauigoa sealed the game with a fourth-down interception.

“We did it, man,” Mauigoa said. “These guys fought all the way. Nobody stopped swinging. Everybodu just kept going. This is a good team win, and there’s a lot to learn from it.”

Cal hosted ESPN’s College GameDay, amping the crowd for Saturday’s game. Miami appeared to dampen Cal’s excitement early, as Mark Fletcher Jr. put the Hurricanes on a board with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, which opened the scoring Saturday night.

After a three-and-out on its first drive, Cal struck back with a 57-yard touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza — a Miami Columbus High grad whose father was a high-school teammate of Mario Cristobal’s — to tight end Jack Endries.

The Golden Bears swung the momentum in their favor after stopping the Hurricanes on a fourth-and-2 play where a pass to Elijah Arroyo came up short. On Cal’s first play of the subsequent drive, Mendoza hit Trond Grizzel for a 51-yard pass that put the Bears at the Miami 5. Two plays later, star running back Jaydn Ott got around the edge of Miami’s defense and put Cal up 14-7 early in the second quarter. The Golden Bears didn’t surrender the lead from there until the waning seconds.

After Andy Borregales kicked a 46-yard field goal to cut Cal’s lead to four, the Golden Bears jumped out to a double-digit lead. Cal had fourth-and-short in its own territory. Miami sold out to stop the run, but Mendoza swung a pass to Ott for a 66-yard touchdown to put the Bears ahead 21-10 with eight minutes left in the first half.

The Hurricanes struggled to get any momentum, with several ill-timed drops and a long Cam Ward sack sabotaging drives. Ward’s first drive of the second half went even more poorly: After the Hurricanes forced a three-and-out on the Bears’ first drive, Ward escaped the pocket and floated a pick-six to Cal’s Nohl Williams. The interception and score put the Hurricanes in an 18-point hole early in the second half.

“We did a lot of routine things wrong today,” Cristobal said, “and we dropped a lot of routine passes. We had some routine reads that weren’t followed through on.”

After Cal escaped a third-and-15 deep in its own territory with a 56-yard pass, backup quarterback Chandler Rogers scored on a 7-yard run to put the Golden Bears up 35-10 and seemingly deliver the knockout punch.

Miami got another score on the board late in the third quarter when Damien Martinez punched in a 1-yard touchdown, and Ward found Isaiah Horton for a fourth-quarter touchdown. It looked like it might be too little and too late, but then the Hurricanes mounted a comeback for the ages.

Miami nearly lost its shot at a comeback late in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe leveled Mendoza on a third-down scramble. Mendoza was short of the line, but the play was reviewed for targeting. If Bissainthe was called for targeting, Cal would likely be able to seal its win.

The call stood, and the Golden Bears punted to the Hurricanes. On the first play of Miami’s drive, Ward hit veteran receiver Xavier Restrepo for a 77-yard pass. On the next play, a completion to Isaiah Horton, the Hurricanes were flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that backed Miami up from the Bears’ 10 to their 25.

Four plays later, Ward tossed the game-winning, 5-yard touchdown to Arroyo to complete the comeback.

Five takeaways 1. UM defense gives up big plays

Missed tackles were Miami’s defensive issue against Virginia Tech last week. This week, it was explosive plays.

The Hurricanes entered the game 29th in the nation with opponents notching 15 plays of 20 yards or more. Cal did not get the memo, as the Bears had passing plays of 51, 57 and 66 yards on the first half, scoring on two of them. They had another 56-yard pass play in the third quarter.

“That’s a good offense,” Mauigoa said. “Cal came prepared. hey had the bye week, so they had everything in their playbook. I think they really took advantage of what we kind of lacked on. We’re going to do better and we’re going to prepare for those.”

2. Cam Ward regresses — but shows why he’s a star

Ward has been excellent for the Hurricanes in their first five games. Game 6 was his worst by far, at least at first.

Ward finished the game 35 of 53 for 437 yards and two touchdowns. Some of his incompletions came on deep pass attempts when other players were open for shorter passes.

His wide receivers did not help him, as they dropped multiple catchable balls. But Ward’s worst decision of the night sapped any momentum Miami had to start the second half, throwing across his body and floating a pick-six to a Bears defender.

“I did it before and made the play,” Ward said. “I did it actually, tonight, too. Live by the sword, die by the sword. I just threw it too high. I knew as soon as it left my hand (that) I floated it. Just got to drill it on him.”

But like last week against Virginia Tech, the veteran quarterback stepped up when it mattered most. Ward threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone. He led the Hurricanes on late scoring drives to cut their deficit and get Miami back into the game. He orchestrated the comeback and improbably led Miami to its sixth straight win.

“Whenever 1 has the ball in his hands, we’re never in a bad spot,” wide receiver Xavier Restrepo said.

3. Hurricane’s pass-defense issues crop up

Miami’s defense excelled at stopping the run on Saturday, holding Cal to X rushing yards. Midway through the third quarter, the Bears had just 6 rushing yards.

But Cal lit Miami’s secondary up. Mendoza completed 11 of 18 passes for 285 yards, hitting big plays repeatedly and bailing his team out of several poor field positions.

4. Bain returns

Miami got one of its best players back from injury for Saturday’s game. Defensive lineman Rueben Bain, who played just three plays in UM’s season opener, returned for this week’s game.

Bain had a tackle for loss on Miami’s first defensive play.

5. Restrepo moves up all-time list

Hurricanes standout Xavier Restrepo continued his climb up Miami’s all-time receiving yard list.

The fifth-year senior finished the game with 163 yards. Restrepo now has 2,302 career receiving yards. He moved past Travis Benjamin, Mike Harley Jr., Leonard Hankerson, Stacy Coley and Lamar Thomas to climb into fourth place in UM history.

After beating UCF, here’s hoping Gators coach Billy Napier saves his job | Commentary

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 22:21

The torches were lit, the pitchforks were out and everybody was ready to fire Billy Napier if his Florida Gators lost to UCF on Saturday night.

How about if we switch the narrative in the wake of UF’s comfortable 24-13 victory over the Knights?

Would it be so far-fetched to say that beating UCF could be the beginning of Napier actually saving his job?

You heard me.

Could Billy Napier somehow, some way be back as Florida’s coach next season?

Obviously, you have to see how the rest of this season plays out, but why not at least consider it?

Hey, you never know what might happen. After all, Vanderbilt, which was 0-60 lifetime against top 5 opponents, beat No. 1-ranked Alabama. And Arkansas, whose coach Sam Pittman was on the hotseat before the season, beat No. 4 Tennessee.

Gators fans get hyped in the stands during the second half as they watch their team dominate UCF on Saturday night. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

“Your season can change in a matter of weeks,” Florida defensive end Tyreak Sapp said. “As we’ve seen tonight, things have transpired in college football that you wouldn’t even fathom would happen. It gives us confidence and an understanding that we have things to work on, but we can actually get these things done. We’re not outmanned, we’re not outgunned and these teams aren’t actually 1,000 times a thousand times better than us.”

I’m not saying beating UCF is any great accomplishment, but Napier’s team is still playing hard for him despite all of the noxious negativity that has surrounded his job security since before the season even started.

Florida’s maligned defense, which came into the game ranked 110th against the run, sacked UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson five times and held UCF’s vaunted running game to just 108 yards — the third-lowest total in Malzahn’s four seasons at UCF.

It should tell you something about Napier that his players aren’t quitting on him, opting out and entering the transfer portal. UCF had five players, including starting wide receiver and punt returner Xavier Townsend, opt out before the game to enter the portal and take advantage of the NCAA’s redshirt rule. It allows them to play up to four regular-season games in a season without counting toward their four years of eligibility.

Meanwhile, the Gators had no opt-outs. Nada. None. You would think with Napier potentially being a lame-duck coach that his players would be abandoning ship by the dozens.

“We’re never going to quit on each other because we’re all we’ve got right now,” quarterback Graham Mertz said. “It’s all the people in this building and no one’s quitting.”

Said Napier: “I think we’ve got a hungry team. I think we have a good group of players who don’t want to be a distraction. They’re here to work and improve.”

Would it be so crazy if Florida decides to keep Napier? I don’t think so.

Florida’s Montrell Johnson, who averaged 5.4 yards a carry Saturday, dives into the end zone to score a TD vs. UCF. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

In fact, I would love to see it.

The way the Gators hire coaches, there are no guarantees that the next guy is going to suddenly turn the program into instant champions. Quite frankly, UF has done a lousy job of hiring coaches over the last 15 years. It started with legendary former athletic director Jeremy Foley, who hired Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain and continued with current AD Scott Stricklin, who hired Dan Mullen and Napier.

The Gators have tried every strategy imaginable when it comes to hiring coaches. They’ve hired unproven ones (Muschamp). They’ve hired proven ones (Mullen). They’ve hired coaches who won at lower-level programs (McElwain and Napier).

Why not try a different strategy? Why not stick with a coach for a change and weather the bad times? If the Gators had stuck with Muschamp 10 years ago after he went 7-5, they’d likely be in a whole lot better situation right now. Instead, they fired Muschamp, fired McElwain after three seasons, fired Mullen after four seasons and are on the verge of firing Napier after three seasons.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said a million times: Instead of taking that $30 million and flushing it down the toilet to buy out Napier and his staff, why not put all of that money in a big, fat NIL kitty and go buy Napier the best roster in college football and see if he can win with it next season. If not, then you fire him with one fewer year remaining on his contract.

Besides, who is UF going to hire if they fire Napier?

Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss? He got beat by Kentucky last week.

Eli Drinkwitz of Missouri? He got crushed by Texas A&M on Saturday,

By the way, you also can cross Malzahn off of Florida’s potential list of Napier replacements. It’s starting to look like his Knights fattened up on cupcakes, cream puffs and MoonPies early in the season and made us think they were better than they actually are. After the two blowout wins to start against lower-echelon New Hampshire and Sam Houston, the Knights had to rally from 21 points in the third quarter to barely beat below-average TCU in the final seconds.

In the last two games, Malzahn has been outcoached by Colorado’s Deion Sanders and Napier.

In a world where college football spins at a relentless pace, perhaps it’s time for the Gators to take a breath, slow down, stay the course and stick with Billy Napier.

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on X (formerly Twitter) @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9:30 a.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen

 

FSU quarterback Brock Glenn looks better but stumbles in start against Clemson

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 21:19

TALLAHASSEE — Cade Klubnik had 235 passing yards and threw touchdown passes to Antonio Williams and T.J. Moore as No. 15 Clemson jumped to an early lead and cruised past Florida State 29-13 on Saturday night.

Phil Mafah ran for 136 yards on 20 carries as Clemson (4-1, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) was in control from the start, taking a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. The Tigers finished with 265 rushing yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

Klubnik completed 19 of 33 passes, including a 57-yard touchdown to Williams. The junior quarterback also had 62 rushing yards.

Coach Dabo Swinney picked up his 174th win at Clemson, breaking the record for victories at an ACC school — a mark held by Florida State’s Bobby Bowden.

Brock Glenn completed 23 of 41 passes for 228 yards and touchdowns to Amaree Williams and Ja’Khi Douglas for Florida State (1-5, 1-4). A redshirt freshman who was making his third career start, Glenn completed more passes than he had in his previous two starts plus mop-up time.

The Tigers racked up 500 offensive yards, controlling the line of scrimmage for large portions of the game. Clemson has won its last four games in Tallahassee, a streak that dates to 2016.

The Seminoles didn’t have any rushing yardage through three quarters, finishing with 22 yards on 23 carries and lacking balance to support a redshirt freshman quarterback.

Up next …

FSU at Duke

When: 7, Oct. 18, Wallace Wade Stadium

TV: ESPN2

 

 

Daily Horoscope for October 06, 2024

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 21:00
General Daily Insight for October 06, 2024

Making decisions might be more of a challenge at present. Intellectual Mercury squares passionate Mars at 2:37 am EDT, setting off an internal war between logic and instinct. We must strike a balance to move forward. The emotional Moon then faces off against unpredictable Uranus, inviting surprises that can hit all of our nerves if we’re not grounded. Later, the confident Sun struggles to understand serious Saturn, creating more conflicting desires for solitude versus spending time with others. Search for a happy medium.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

One of your peers might inspire you to step out of your current comfort zone. You could be shocked by the way that they (purposefully or accidentally) entice you toward a new way of life, a different career, or even a unique way of expressing yourself. This fresh perspective will probably be difficult to process in one day, so be patient with yourself. It’s okay to let yourself unravel things slowly rather than convincing yourself that you must understand it right away. Baby steps!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

What you say you want and what you’ve actually been consistently doing may be working against each other. Bad habits could be snapping at your ankles or weighing down your steps, distracting you from the necessary everyday tasks your ultimate goal requires. Sitting around hoping that something useful will happen can almost guarantee that your ambitions will remain pipe dreams, while allowing yourself to be distracted by habits will also waste your energy and slow your progress. Find the right pace.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You might struggle to get your feelings across to others today. There could be something in the back of your mind that is preoccupying your thoughts, and the people around you may not be aware of this. Your desire to express how you’re feeling might be at war with your desire to work through your problems on your own to avoid embarrassment — this can lead you to not work through them at all. Don’t let your inner conflict leave you with choice paralysis!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Controlling your impulses could be tough in this moment. There may be a choice presented to you that encourages you to jump into action without hesitation, but waiting to make this choice might genuinely be the better option. Just because someone else is pushing you to make this decision doesn’t mean that you have to follow their lead! Odds are, they may want something from you. Don’t let your impulsiveness overpower that small voice inside you, because your intuition knows the way.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You’re combining the best parts of logical reasoning and heartfelt emotion. You’re motivated to figure out the best way to consistently incorporate both creativity and logic into your day-to-day life. Maybe you’re asking your boss how you can make your work more fun and encouraging while keeping it informative and beneficial to the company. On the other hand, perhaps you’re trying to make your home more beautiful as well as more functional. Let a little bit of both worlds influence your decision-making process.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Your heart may want you to go out, against your mind’s argument for staying in. A friend group or your family could be trying to spend time with you, which you might want, but that might set you back in terms of achieving your goals by interrupting your plans for the day. Try to strike a balance, maybe by going out for a while, but coming back early to finish up your work. All work and no play is no good — and vice versa.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

The responsibilities that you set up for yourself could be dragging you down at the moment. You may want to live your best individual life, or there could be sudden plans that you want to join in on, but you’ve already promised to assist someone else or to work on other things. Instead of shirking your responsibilities, make an effort to fulfill them before running off to stir up some fun. The more dependable you are today, the more it should benefit you later.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

When did you last listen to your heart? Other people may let you down today — perhaps a peer shocks with you information that leaves you questioning however you felt before. It’s important to make sure that you don’t react overemotionally. Take some time to sit with yourself and process how you are feeling about this surprise, regardless of the details. After you’ve worked through your feelings, you might want to have a conversation with the person who stunned you in this way.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Protection might be your first instinct, but vulnerability could take you much further. Stepping up to the plate can be intimidating, especially if you’ve struck out in the past, but you have to keep swinging at the goals that are close to your heart or you’ll never hit a home run. Not every single person around you will understand your process — they may not understand your feelings when you make them known, either. Still, you’re not alone. Keeping your heart open is vital.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You might feel trapped or pulled in two directions at once. Maybe someone special in your life wants to spend time with you and get to know you on a deeper level, but you simultaneously have responsibilities that are demanding your attention and focus. Regardless, now is not a good time to make risky decisions. If another person in your midst is also taking such risks, both of you acting recklessly could result in disaster. Stay steady now to build a stable future.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Past experience tells you to keep going with what you’ve been doing, while your instinct tells you to move beyond it. It might be that you are working tirelessly toward accomplishing your goals — but you’re working harder, not smarter. While this may initially seem like too difficult of a problem to out-think, you have the creative mindset that it takes to break out of any box and elevate your whole process. Seek out ways of maximizing your returns for your efforts.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

You didn’t sign up for this emotional rollercoaster, but here it is! Maybe you’re on top of the world one moment without a care in the world, but the next, a surprise influx of information could convince you to get serious ASAP. Instead of letting this surprising information throw you off your rhythm, remind yourself that you can handle anything! Going into it with this mindset sets you up for success and lessens your overall stress. Whatever will be, will be.

Pictures: UF dominates UCF

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 20:58
Show Caption1 of 33

UCF defensive back Ladarius Tennison (13) leaps over UF quarterback Graham Mertz (bottom) during the UCF at Florida college football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville on Saturday, October 5, 2024. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

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Chaminade-Madonna goes deep down the QB depth chart, roars by host Monarch with St. Thomas Aquinas on deck

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 20:50

COCONUT CREEK — Chaminade-Madonna senior Jaquari Lewis stepped in at quarterback for the first time in his high school career and accounted for three touchdowns as the visiting Lions scored 23 points in the second quarter and pulled away for a 37-8 victory against Monarch on Saturday night.

After starting the season with two losses, Chaminade-Madonna (5-2) is on a five-game winning streak entering a matchup against St. Thomas Aquinas.

“I just like the fact that we have been through so much adversity this year,” Chaminade-Madonna coach Dameon Jones said. “We are just built for it. We have a great group of coaches and kids.”

Chaminade-Madonna is playing without sophomore quarterback Tyler Chance and senior quarterback Preston Wright due to injuries.

Lewis, normally a running back for the Lions, stepped up as the signal-caller with two rushing touchdowns while passing for another score.

“I had to put the team on my back,” Lewis said. “The team depended on me to help win the game so I did what I was supposed to do.”

Senior Camari Hall also rushed for two touchdowns in the victory.

The Lions defense held the Knights without a touchdown through the first three quarters of the contest.

“That was the kind of the game plan to come in and lean on the run game and play defense and we did that,” Jones said. “Since the third game of the season, the defense has been getting better.”

The Lions recovered after a slow start on offense while playing through heavy rain in the first quarter. Sophomore wide receiver James Klaiss Jr. started at quarterback and was replaced by Lewis in the second quarter.

Chaminade-Madonna lost a fumble at its 22 on the Lions’ first play.

Monarch, however, failed to capitalize on the ensuing possession after an incomplete pass on fourth-and-1 at the Lions’ 4.

Monarch opened the scoring on defense with a safety and had a 2-0 advantage at the end of the first.

Sophomore Angelo Smith recorded an interception on the first play of the second quarter for the Lions.

Lewis sparked the offense after the rain stopped on their next series. Lewis rushed for a 1-yard touchdown as the Lions jumped ahead 7-2 with 6:49 left in the second quarter.

Junior RJ Alphonse recorded a sack in the end zone for a safety to extend the lead.

Lewis connected with junior wide receiver Jasen Lopez for a 16-yard touchdown to push the lead to 16-2.

Hall bounced out to the left and rushed for a 9-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 23-2 entering halftime.

Lewis rushed up the middle for a touchdown to make it 30-2 in the third quarter.

Senior Bre’lan Mareus had an interception late in the third for the Knights.

Junior quarterback Florentino Lopez fired a 25-yard scoring pass to junior wide receiver Jabari Brady to cut the deficit to 30-8 in the fourth quarter.

The Lions answered back on the ensuing possession as Hall rushed down the right sideline for a 37-yard touchdown.

UCF reeling after another blowout loss, this time to Gators

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 20:13

GAINESVILLE — UCF coach Gus Malzahn called last week’s loss to Colorado a missed opportunity.

The Knights’ 24-13 loss to Florida on Saturday seemed nothing short of a major setback.

Two weeks ago, UCF was considered a possible Big 12 contender, but the Knights faced some harsh realities following back-to-back losses.

“It’s two games. That’s how you look at it,” Malzahn said of the losing streak. “We feel like crap right now. We did last week. I expect us to play better, but we have got to solve it.”

UCF has lost nine of its last 15 games by an average of 11 points.

Following a 6-7 season in 2023, Malzahn did some soul-searching regarding the program. He overhauled the strength and conditioning program, added Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. and brought in close to 50 new players through high school recruiting and the transfer portal.

Yet, the Knights find themselves in the same predicament they were in last year: 3-2 and mired in a two-game losing streak. Last season, things spiraled with UCF losing five straight games before rebounding to win two of its final three games to become bowl eligible.

The players, at least, believe this team is better than last season at this point.

“We need an emphasis on not having that type of slide we had last year that put us behind the eight ball, especially in conference,” said receiver Trent Whittemore, who finished with two catches for 34 yards.

“I would say we have better skill players, but skills don’t mean anything if we don’t put into work and come together as a team,” said fifth-year safety Quadric Bullard. “All the skill set that we have means nothing if we don’t come together as a family.”

To make matters worse, the remainder of the schedule has gotten more challenging than initially thought.

Cincinnati, Iowa State, BYU, Arizona, Arizona State, West Virginia and Utah entered this week of play a combined 25-7.

UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson, who had minus-18 yards on the ground, tries to escape the Florida defense Saturday. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

UCF’s chances of winning the Big 12 Championship plummeted from nearly 30% to 6% in ESPN’s Football Power Index following the loss to Colorado. The Knights also saw their chances of qualifying for the 12-team College Football Playoff drop to 5.7%.

The loss to Florida pretty much ended any hopes of a playoff run.

To make matters worse, several players, including starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend, safeties Bryon Threats and William Wells, defensive end Kaven Call and offensive tackle Wes Dorsey, chose to redshirt this week with the intent to enter the transfer portal.

Kicker Colton Boomer was absent with an ankle injury, forcing redshirt freshman Grant Reddick into service. Boomer had connected on 3 of 6 field goal attempts but failed to connect on his last three kicks, two of which were blocked.

None of it seemed to matter Saturday as Florida jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before building up a 24-3 lead at halftime.

After being held to a season-low 177 rushing yards last week, UCF was again unable to get anything going against a Gators defense that ranked 109th in rushing defense in the FBS. The Knights managed just 108 rushing yards, with running back RJ Harvey (75 yards, TD) held to less than 100 yards for the second consecutive game.

Once again, UCF’s defense couldn’t put much pressure on the quarterback, either, as the Knights failed to register a sack.  The team entered this weekend’s game ranked last in the FBS with 3 sacks.

While the Knights were 3 for 3 in the red zone, they found themselves with just 13 points.

Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com

UF stifles UCF behind inspired defense in highly anticipated meeting

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 20:12

GAINESVILLE — Florida won a game it couldn’t afford to lose while UCF failed to capitalize on an opportunity years in the making.

The Gators’ 24-13 win Saturday night let them preserve supremacy over at least one in-state team from a major conference. The Knights hoped the game would allow them to force the Big Three of UF, Miami and FSU to make room for them.

Instead, Gus Malzahn’s team followed a disappointing 48-21 home loss against Colorado with a no-show in the Swamp. Meanwhile, UF played with newfound energy and defensive intensity coach Billy Napier talked about during a bye week.

“The kids showed up with a mentality tonight,” Napier said. “I’m very thankful for them to take that momentum and play the way that we would want them to play and the way they want to play.”

The Gators (3-2) scored on their opening possession and built a 24-3 halftime lead behind strong quarterback play and offensive balance against a suspect UCF defense. But Florida’s ability to stifle the Knights’ attack ultimately delivered Napier a much-needed win.

Florida quarterback Graham Mertz throws against UCF at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday night. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

UCF (3-2) entered second nationally with an average of 326 rushing yards, but managed just 29 on 18 carries during the opening 30 minutes. The Knights converted just 1 of 7 on third down a week after going 6 of 18.

But an ill-advised fourth-down call by Malzahn shifted the momentum in Florida’s favor.

Following a three-and-out by the Gators, the Knights, trailing 7-3, looked to make a statement by converting on 4th-and-1 from their own 43. UF, led by tackle Caleb Banks, stuffed quarterback KJ Jefferson on a keeper.

“It was huge,” veteran end Tyreak Sapp said. “. We understood that they were gonna go for it. We understood  exactly what they wanted to do.”

True freshman DJ Lagway then came in to replace veteran Graham Mertz. On second down, Lagway threw a strike in the seam to Chimere Dike to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Ja’Kobi Jackson on the next play, giving the Gators a 14-3 lead.

Defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp celebrates after sacking UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson during the Gators’ win against UCF.  (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida opened as 1-point favorites but were as many as 2.5-point underdogs before the line settled at minus-1.5 points by kickoff. A nice UCF contingent made the trip from Orlando to see whether the Knights could win during their third trip to Gainesville, where they lost during previous trips in 1999 and 2006.

Chants of “UCF! UCF! UCF!” followed immediately after the national anthem.

Prior to kickoff, UF unveiled a new lights show before the team exited the huddle to the welcoming roar of an announced crowd of 90,369. 

UF opened with a 15-play, 75-yard drive featuring four third-down conversions and ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mertz to Elijhah Badger. Mertz finished 19 of 23 for 179 yards and a score while Lagway was 4 of 4 for 50 yards and has not thrown an incompletion in two games.

Receiver Elijhah Badger catches a touchdown against UCF on Saturday night at the Swamp. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

UCF answered with a 27-yard field goal by backup kicker Grant Reddick, in place of injured starter Colton Boomer. But the Knights would not score again until a 37-yard field goal by Reddick made it 24-6.

Once the Gators seized momentum, they played with a level of energy unseen all season. They finished with a season-high 5 sacks.

“Defense did a fantastic job tonight,” Mertz said. “It was fun to watch. You get a little bit of time just look up at the Jumbotron and see them do all their celebrations. They’re having fun. So it’s good.”

Napier, long criticized his lack of energy on the sideline, displayed plenty of passion himself. After a questionable roughing the kicker call on Banks, Napier chased down officials and had to be restrained by director of football operations Joshua Thompson.

“Probably need to show a little bit more poise and composure there,” he said. “But I was here to compete tonight.”

Florida safety Bryce Thornton (18) intercepts the ball intended for UCF wide receiver Kobe Hudson (2) to end the Knights comeback bid during a 24-13 Gators win Oct. 5 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

UCF would cut the lead to 24-13 on a 13-yard run by star tailback RJ Harvey with 7:50 left in the game. But the Knights showed little sense of urgency when they got the ball back with 4:20 remaining.

By then, the Gators had run out of steam offensively, gaining just 108 second-half yards and never crossing into UCF territory.

“We sputtered a little bit,” Napier said.

But Florida’s defense kept chugging along. UF sealed the win on an interception by Bryce Thornton off Jefferson’s pass downfield on the first play after the two-minute warning.

“I feel like tonight we actually got it rolling,” Sapp said. “We got in a groove as a defense. We just kept stacking plays on top of plays. And before you knew it, the scoreboard looked how it looked.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Florida at Tennessee

When: 7, Saturday, Neyland Stadium

TV: ESPN

Klubnik and Mafah lead Clemson’s attack in a 29-13 win over Florida State

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 19:51

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Cade Klubnik had 235 passing yards and threw touchdown passes to Antonio Williams and T.J. Moore as No. 15 Clemson jumped to an early lead and cruised past Florida State 29-13 on Saturday night.

“I thought Cade played great,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Gritty. Made some plays with his legs. He’s just been a difference maker for us in his recognition. He’s been much more opportunistic. Has really made some big plays.”

Klubnik completed 19 of 33 passes and ran for 62 yards on 11 carries. He threw a 57-yard touchdown to Williams and a 23-yard touchdown to Moore as Clemson built a 17-0 lead after one quarter.

“Really proud of the guys,” Klubnik said. “Obviously want to convert some of those field goals to touchdowns. I feel like we played an A-minus, B-plus game on offense in total and we still had 500 yards of offense.”

Klubnik now has 14 touchdown passes in five games.

Phil Mafah ran for 154 yards on 20 carries as Clemson (4-1, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) finished with 265 rushing yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. The Tigers owned the line of scrimmage and won their first road game of 2024.

Coach Dabo Swinney picked up his 174th win at Clemson, breaking the record for victories at an ACC school — a mark held by Florida State’s Bobby Bowden, who won 173 games from the time the school joined the league in 1992 to his retirement in 2009.

“It’s a blessing,” Swinney said. “And I honestly think coach Bowden is probably smiling. Somebody has to break it. Somebody will break this record one of these days. It’s not ever anything I’ve ever dreamed about or cared about or thought about doing.”

While Florida State won the 2023 matchup in Death Valley, Clemson has won four straight games in Tallahassee.

Brock Glenn, making his third career start, completed 23 of 41 passes for 228 yards and touchdowns to Amaree Williams and Ja’Khi Douglas for Florida State (1-5, 1-4). He completed more passes than he had in his previous two starts plus mop-up time.

“I appreciated his energy,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “He showed toughness throughout the course of the game. Made some really good plays.”

QB FRIENDSHIP

Klubnik caught up with Florida State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei after the game. The two were teammates at Clemson in 2022, which was Klubnik’s freshman year and Uiagalelei’s last year before transferring to Oregon State for the 2023 season. Uiagalelei did not play for the Seminoles on Saturday due to injury.

“We text every once in a while,” Klubnik said. “I told him I was praying for his hand. But more than anything I told him I was thankful for him and thankful for the time that we had together. It was great to see him.”

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Clemson is poised to move up, especially on a day when so many top 10 teams lost.

TAKEAWAYS

Clemson: The Tigers racked up 500 offensive yards, controlling the line of scrimmage for large portions of the game.

Florida State: The Seminoles didn’t have any rushing yardage through three quarters, finishing with 22 yards on 23 carries and lacking balance to support a redshirt freshman quarterback.

UP NEXT

Clemson plays at Wake Forest next Saturday.

Florida State has a bye and will next play at Duke on Oct. 18.

___

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Today in History: October 5, Steve Jobs dies at 56

Sat, 10/05/2024 - 01:00

Today is Saturday, Oct. 5, the 279th day of 2024. There are 87 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Oct. 5, 2011, Steve Jobs, the Apple founder and former chief executive who invented and master-marketed ever-sleeker gadgets that transformed everyday technology, died in Palo Alto, California, at age 56.

Also on this date:

In 1892, the Dalton Gang, notorious for its train robberies, was practically wiped out while attempting to rob a pair of banks in Coffeyville, Kansas.

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman delivered the first televised White House address as he spoke on the world food crisis.

In 1953, Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th chief justice of the United States, succeeding Fred M. Vinson.

In 1958, racially desegregated Clinton High School in Clinton, Tennessee, was nearly leveled by an early morning bombing.

In 1983, Solidarity founder Lech Walesa (lek vah-WEN’-sah) was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1986, Nicaraguan Sandinista government soldiers shot down a cargo plane carrying weapons and ammunition bound for Contra rebels; the event exposed a web of illegal arms shipments, leading to the Iran-Contra Scandal.

In 1989, a jury in Charlotte, North Carolina, convicted evangelist Jim Bakker of using his television show to defraud followers. Initially sentenced to 45 years in prison, Bakker was freed in December 1994 after serving 4 1/2 years.

In 2001, tabloid photo editor Robert Stevens died from inhaled anthrax, the first of a series of anthrax cases in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Washington.

In 2018, a jury in Chicago convicted white police officer Jason Van Dyke of second-degree murder in the 2014 shooting of Black teenager Laquan McDonald.

In 2020, President Donald Trump made a dramatic return to the White House after leaving the military hospital where he was being treated for COVID-19.

Today’s Birthdays:
  • College Football Hall of Fame coach Barry Switzer is 87.
  • Rock musician Steve Miller is 81.
  • Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., is 81.
  • Rock singer Brian Johnson (AC/DC) is 77.
  • Actor Karen Allen is 73.
  • Singer-songwriter Bob Geldof is 73.
  • Writer-filmmaker Clive Barker is 72.
  • Astrophysicist-author Neil deGrasse Tyson is 66.
  • Architect-designer Maya Lin is 65.
  • Golf Hall of Famer Laura Davies is 61.
  • Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux is 59.
  • Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Roy is 59.
  • Actor Guy Pearce is 57.
  • Actor Josie Bissett is 54.
  • Actor Parminder Nagra (pahr-MIHN’-da NAH’-grah) is 49.
  • Actor Kate Winslet is 49.
  • Actor Jesse Eisenberg is 41.
  • NFL tight end Travis Kelce is 35.
  • Actor Jacob Tremblay is 18.

Western blocks overtime extra-point attempt to get first win, topping previously unbeaten West Boca | Photos

Fri, 10/04/2024 - 21:50

DAVIE — A murder’s row of losses to four nationally ranked opponents set the stage for Western’s improbable, 28-27 homecoming overcoming victory over visiting West Boca Raton on Friday night.

Western (1-4) knocked off previously unbeaten West Boca (5-1) despite not running an offensive play from scrimmage in the first quarter, when they led 8-7 at the end of the first. The Bulls ran 25 plays in the first quarter.

The host Wildcats, who opened the year with losses to 13-time Alabama state champion Hoover, along with American Heritage, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Chaminade-Madonna, rallied from a 14-8 halftime deficit to tie the game at 14, and then again at 21-21 to force overtime.

Delorean Airall (6) of West Boca gathers a blocked field goal to end the third quarter against Western. Friday, Oct.. 4, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

“We said we were going to come out tonight and go 1-0,” said Western coach Adam Ratkevich. “That was our mindset as we start to get close to the state playoffs. A lot of people said that was the best team in Palm Beach County and they are a helluva football team. I was very proud of how our team finished.”

Western senior quarterback Sebastian Circo flipped a 10-yard scoring pass to Khamarian Young on the second play of overtime and Gavin Katz converted the extra point to give Western a 28-21 lead.

West Boca pulled to within 28-27 on a sophomore Trey Moran’s 10-yard TD pass to Anderson Gracilien on their second play from the 10. Wildcats’ senior linebacker Julien Mendez sprinted around right end to block West Boca freshman kicker John Farfan’s extra point kick to escape with the win.

“That’s what champions do; they find a way to win right?” Ratkevich continued. “We came up short early against some nationally ranked opponents and we learned baptism by fire early on. We’ve been knocked out by private schools in the state playoffs the last three years, so that is why we had the schedule we did early on to get us ready for the playoffs.”

Quarterback Sebastian Circo (7) of Western drops back to pass against West Boca in the second half. Friday, Oct.. 4, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

West Boca took the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards in 16 plays, but were stymied when Mason Mallory threw a pick-6 that Western’s Sherrod Gourdine returned 87 yards for a touchdown. Jacob Joseph took the direct snap on the extra-point attempt and made it 8-0.

The Bulls, who played their fourth straight game without two-time Palm Beach County Super 11 junior running back Javian Mallory, pulled to within 8-7 on a 3-yard TD pass from Moran to Gracilien. Mallory suffered a leg injury in the team’s win over Palm Beach Central and has been held out due to precautionary reasons.

“It’s a lower muscle, hamstring, quad area and we are just being cautious,” said West Boca coach Dylan Potts. “He reaggravated it and we want to think long term for him. We want to do what is right for the kid. He has a long football career ahead of him and we hope that in three games he is full go…we just have to keep rehabbing it until he is healthy.”

“We had three young kids that came up today and did a good job,” Potts said. “They played and ran hard, and we knew it was going to be that type of a ball game.”

Western takes the field to play West Boca. Friday, Oct.. 4, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

West Boca pulled ahead 14-8 at halftime when Kyle Andrews scored on an 11-yard end-around.

“I thought we battled back after our opening drive ended in a pick-six,” Potts added. “Our kids battled back to take the lead and Western is a good team with firepower on offense to answer quickly. It really came down to they made one more play than us.”

The teams traded scores in the second half, with West Boca scoring on a 40-yard TD from Moran to Mark Hanniford with 1:04 left in the third and Western forcing overtime on an 18-yard scoring toss from Circo to Young with 4:07 left in regulation. The Wildcats converted a fourth-and-7 with a little more than three minutes left.

Jonathan Bueno (2) of Western looks for running room against West Boca during the fourth quarter. Friday, Oct.. 4, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).

Daily Horoscope for October 05, 2024

Fri, 10/04/2024 - 21:00
General Daily Insight for October 05, 2024

We’re getting real with each other. The sensitive Moon trines disciplined Saturn, empowering our ability to be mature and encouraging us to be realistic regarding how we express ourselves. The Moon conjoins balanced Venus in investigative Scorpio at 2:28 pm EDT, giving us the motivation to get to the heart of the matter and deliver the information well. Finally, the Moon and dynamic Mars elevate each other, so fortune favors the brave even more under their energy. Courage and tact will combine especially well.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Deep subjects are likely to be on the horizon for you. You might not have expected to be talking about serious matters or delicate secrets, but someone in your life may bring them to your doorstep at any moment. It’s important to know what your boundaries are and to express them clearly, so that feelings aren’t hurt in the end. The more that you’re able to create healthy expectations together from the beginning, the more likely the conversations are to go smoothly.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

The importance of balancing give and take in your connections with others cannot be overstated. Where they might be struggling, you’re probably capable of taking up the slack and helping them get back up on their feet, and vice versa. Alternatively, if someone is actively showing you that they aren’t willing to show up for you in the same way that you would do for them, it could be time to move on from this connection. Pursue those that make you feel supported.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your dedicated efforts are presently more likely to be noticed. Working hard to deliver consistent results and being confident in the work that you’ve done is a great way to move up the ladder, and should provide you with an opportunity to impress authorities. Outside of business, this is a good time to spend time with your elders or your mentors, as these people can encourage you or offer advice on how to get wherever you’re trying to go. Stay the course!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Taking a risk can take you enticingly far. You’re being encouraged to release any unreasonable fears around putting yourself out there, because there’s likely someone looking for someone just like you. Whether they’re looking for a new friend or a wise employee, it’s important for you to step up and make your abilities known. This could happen at a party, a job fair, or when simply out on the town. They’re probably not going to find you at home, so meet them in the middle!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You might be realizing that home is where your heart is. While it is important to spread your wings and show the world who you are and what you can do, it’s also important to go back home and connect with your roots once in a while. You likely have strong family ties, or people that you are very close with that you haven’t visited in a while. Honor where you come from by showing love to that place and those people.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Learning about who you are may involve the people around you. They say that you become like those who you spend time with — and you should pay attention to who you’re becoming more like. If you’re excited to be like these people, then you’re on the right track. If you’re worried that you’re not able to be your true self or their company feels stagnant, step back. Seek out those who live authentically and encourage you to do so as well.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You might be setting up a future win. Even if not much happens today specifically, you’re setting up all of the pieces of the puzzle that will eventually ensure your dreams of the future will be able to become real. While it might not all come together to make the big picture that you’re looking for in the present, you’re setting up great things for yourself in the future by making such stabilizing decisions. Plant the acorn that will become the tree.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Allowing yourself to grow always carries some risk with it. There may be people in your life who don’t want you to grow so quickly — maybe they’re worried you’ll outpace and then abandon them. It’s important to let them know that you’re not trying to leave them behind! You likely want your pals to grow with you, but you can’t make that decision for them. You can remain friends without being on the exact same level. Real friends shouldn’t hold you back.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Your best work might be done in the dark. It’s crucial for you to embrace performing behind the scenes, because putting yourself out there could, counterintuitively, cause people to overlook you. If you’re doing an excellent job in the background, someone should notice you putting your head down and doing the work that needs to be done, rather than trying to steal the spotlight. For current success, it’s not about who’s the most noticeable. It’s about who’s doing the best job with focus and dedication.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Say what you’ve been wanting to say, Capricorn. There might be someone in your midst that you’ve been meaning to say something to, but there just has never been the right moment. It understandably can be somewhat daunting to wear your heart on your sleeve, but be honest with yourself and with them. What’s most important is your delivery, so think about how your words would sound from their perspective before you say anything. Regardless of the topic, set yourself up for communicative success.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Take a chance on who you could become. Your beliefs about yourself could be limiting your soul — it’s time to break free from whatever narrative that you tell yourself about yourself! You may be your own main critic at this time. Take a look around and notice any people who are waiting in the wings to cheer for you without you even realizing. Once you finally take a chance and begin constructing your dreams in reality, the support might start flooding in.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Your ideology is growing up with you. You may have followed a belief system up until now, but it’s starting to not make sense with who you are becoming. Instead of trying to shove yourself back into a box that no longer fits you, consider studying alternate mindsets that could allow you to flourish. Whether this is about a religious belief or a personal belief about life in general, it’s important that you analyze it to make sure it’s continuing to work for you.

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