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By WILL GRAVES
Associated Press
DaQuan Jones remembers the chaos. The uncertainty. The sanctions. The aftermath.
How could he not? He and the rest of his Penn State teammates — those that stuck around anyway — lived through it.
Jones was a sophomore defensive lineman in the fall of 2011 when the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal brought one of college football’s bluebloods to its knees and sent revered coach Joe Paterno into exile.
It felt like a tipping point.
“The program could have done a whole tanking and kind of completely went under,” said Jones.
Only it didn’t. While some transferred out in search of a fresh start, Jones was among those who stuck around. Bill O’Brien took on the impossible task of replacing an icon. Walk-ons filled the void left by the scholarship reductions levied by the NCAA as part of the fallout that shook the state’s flagship institution to its foundation.
Things were very fragile. Yet in those uncertain times, the Nittany Lions began the methodical process of building themselves anew, well aware of what was at stake.
The memories remain fresh for Jones, now an 11-year NFL veteran in his third season as a starter for the Buffalo Bills. He’s kept close tabs on his alma mater since graduating in 2014 and can draw a direct line from the rubble the program sifted through in the wake of Sandusky to the opportunity that awaits Penn State on Saturday when the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (11-2) host 11th-seeded SMU (11-2) in the opening round of the College Football Playoff.
“I think it all just starts with that firm foundation of the guys that stayed there in 2012,” he said. “I’m just so happy to see the program do so well.”
Penn State’s first invitation to the playoff will serve as another referendum on current coach James Franklin for a portion of a passionate fan base tired of of the program being on the fringe of the national championship conversation. For the former players now scattered across the NFL and the world, it will be a celebration.
“The dark shadow of Penn State, it’s good to finally be out of that,” said Connor McGovern, an offensive lineman on the 2016 team that won the Big Ten title and “started to turn the narrative around.”
Sandusky is far from forgotten; he was resentenced just five years ago, still professing his innocence.
The university has painstakingly worked to restore the program’s reputation as a place where the players are competitive on the field and graduate off it, knowing any misstep will be magnified.
It’s why the men who have pulled the classic blue-and-white jerseys over their shoulder pads have a deep appreciation for what it took to get to this moment and how far-fetched it may have once seemed.
“Coach O’Brien helped sustain that program,” said Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth, a three-year starter for the Nittany Lions. “It was a tough job to be able to keep guys and keep things at a respectable level. And coach Franklin was able to build it and I’m just appreciative of being a part of that family.”
Penn State won’t be the only team that runs onto the field at Beaver Stadium carrying the weight of history.
SMU was a national power in the early 1980s — the Mustangs went 11-0-1 in 1982 only to finish No. 2 behind undefeated Penn State — before a pay-for-play scheme led the NCAA to give the program the death penalty.
While the Nittany Lions stayed competitive as it rebuilt itself, SMU went a quarter century between bowl games and more than 30 years between appearances in the AP Top 25. This season SMU became the first former Group of Five team to go undefeated in its league’s regular season in its first year in a major conference as it stormed to the ACC title game.
This blush of success can feel fresh. It was born, however, out of what third-year coach Rhett Lashlee described as “a couple of decades of hard work” done by predecessors like June Jones and Sonny Dykes.
“It’s like a pickle-jar effect,” Lashlee said. “They all were trying to get the lid off, and they never got it off. But by the time we got here, we were able to pop the lid off because a lot of work had been done by so many before.”
It’s much the same now at Penn State. Had the CFP gone to 12 teams from its inception in 2014, the Nittany Lions might have been a fixture. No school has finished in the top 12 in the final CFP rankings more without actually making the playoff than Penn State.
And yes, those who were parts of the near misses can’t help but think of what might have been.
“We would have made it pretty much every year, which would have been cool to experience,” said Sean Clifford, a four-year starter at quarterback from 2019-22 whose younger brother Liam is a junior wide receiver on this year’s team.
The older Clifford, now a member of the Green Bay Packers practice squad, added that he has no grudges, laughingly pointing out, “There’s a lot of things that have changed in the NCAA that I would have liked.”
One of the things that hasn’t changed in State College is the way Franklin goes about doing his job. More than a half-dozen former Nittany Lions now in the NFL interviewed by The Associated Press pointed to his leadership as one of the reasons why Penn State has pulled itself back from the brink.
“He cares about us deeply,” said punter Jordan Stout, now with the Baltimore Ravens. “He knows your mom. He knows your dad. He knows your brother, sister, cousin, third cousin.”
Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Chop Robinson credited Franklin for treating his players like men “if you approached everything like a man. … That’s what I loved about him.”
Robinson and others hear the criticism of Franklin, who is 1-14 against top 10 teams in his 11-year tenure.
“If they don’t make it far, then I think everyone’s just going to be like, ‘Fire Franklin; fire Franklin,’” Stout said. “Obviously that’s not the right call in my opinion.”
There will be more than a fair amount of pressure on the 52-year-old Franklin on Saturday. Then again, he’s accustomed to the weight. The problems he faces now are the kind he could only dream about on Jan. 11, 2014, when he pledged at his introductory press conference to “build this program [to] where everybody wants it to be.”
Now that it’s almost there, Jones wonders if maybe it’s time to not focus on the increasingly narrow gap between the Nittany Lions and the top but the canyon it has no nimbly navigated to get here.
Yes, he is well-versed in the seemingly annual tough losses to the Ohio States of the world. Yet he also remembers the performance of those sanction-laden teams littered with walk-ons when the wounds wrought by Sandusky’s downfall were still so fresh.
Those teams hung in there and walked so the current Nittany Lions could run. If and when Penn State finds itself playing deep into January, Jones knows the first steps weren’t taken this fall, but long before.
“That’s a testament to what Penn State really means,” Jones said. “Hard-working people [who] got to work every day, put [their] head down, don’t look for glory and go out there and just collect the wins.”
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/12/21/penn-state-and-smu-carry-the-weight-of-history-into-their-cfp-debuts-theyre-both-trying-to-shed-it/
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Colorado Avalanche looked tired after one period Friday night, but one of their new goaltenders kept them afloat until the rest of the club found enough energy to grind out a win.
That script has been a familiar one during the toughest stretch of schedule the Avs have faced, and these might prove to be incredibly valuable. Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves, the Avalanche rebounded to fend off the Anaheim Ducks, 4-2, at Honda Center.
Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist, while Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin had two points each. Wedgewood, along with Mackenzie Blackwood, has repeatedly provided a level of consistent goaltending the club had been lacking. The overall play for the Avs is not near its peak, and a season full of injuries combined with a stretch of 13 road games in the past 17 contests has likely played a part in that. But they have now won six of eight, and are a season-high five games better than .500 (20-15-0).
This game may have turned on a bad-luck play … for the Avs. Anaheim defenseman Olen Zellweger clipped MacKinnon in the face with his stick and was sent to the penalty box for high sticking. The officials conferred and decided to wipe away the infraction. It looked from multiple replay angles that MacKinnon was hit by the puck after Keaton Middleton tried to clear it out of danger, but a zoomed-out angle showed that Zellweger clearly got the reigning MVP ahead of the puck.
So, with the Avs down a goal and trying to kill off a penalty, the hockey gods evened out the fortune. Zellweger stumbled near the top of the Anaheim offensive zone, which allowed Logan O’Connor to spring Parker Kelly for a breakaway and a shorthanded goal at 6:40 of the second. It was Kelly’s third goal of the season and Colorado’s second of the year while shorthanded.
Valeri Nichushkin put the Avalanche in front midway through the second. Anaheim goalie John Gibson didn’t handle a Makar shot cleanly, and Nichushkin was waiting at the doorstep for one of the easiest goals he’s going to score. It was his 10th of the season in just 18 games played.
Colorado’s power play came to California mired in a 5-for-48 slump, but the Avs scored twice with the extra man Thursday night in San Jose and struck again for an insurance goal early in the third against Anaheim. MacKinnon started the play with a rare dump-in from the neutral zone. Rantanen kept the Ducks’ clearing attempt in the offensive zone, and then MacKinnon found Makar with a cross-ice pass for the defenseman’s 10th goal of the year at 3:30 of the third.
The Avalanche survived the first period, but only because Wedgewood was stellar. Colorado looked like a team playing on the road for the 13th time in 17 games, and like a club playing for the second straight night against a rested team. Anaheim had nearly 80% of the expected goals and seven of the eight high-danger chances in the opening 20 minutes, per Natural Stat Trick.
Beyond Kelly’s goal, the Avs’ penalty kill has also surged since completing the double goaltending switch. Colorado killed off five Anaheim power plays in this one, including one in the final four minutes. The Avs are now 20 for 21 on the kill since swapping Alexandar Georgiev for Mackenzie Blackwood.
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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/20/avalanche-ducks-wedgewood-makar-mackinnon/
By MICHAEL MAROT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Jeremiyah Love tied the Notre Dame record with a 98-yard touchdown run, Riley Leonard added two more scores and the Fighting Irish shut down the highest-scoring team in the College Football Playoff, overwhelming Indiana 27-17 on Friday night.
The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish (12-1) won their 11th straight — and their first playoff victory. They’ll face second-seeded Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman got the biggest win of his three-year career by extending his Irish record to 12 victories over ranked teams in three seasons.
Tenth-seeded Indiana (11-2) completed a magical season by finishing with its second fewest points this season on a cold, brisk night in the first CFP game ever played on a campus site. Both of the Hoosiers’ losses came to top-five opponents. Indiana set a single-season school record for wins but still hasn’t won at Notre Dame since 1898.
Notre Dame took control on its third offensive play when Love scooted around the right side of Indiana’s defense, eluded one tackle and sprinted down the sideline to make it 7-0. He matched Josh Adams’ longest run in school history, set in 2015 against Wake Forest. It was also the longest run in CFP history.
Love finished with eight carries for 108 yards despite appearing to reinjure his left knee later in the first half.
Indiana never recovered after Notre Dame made it 14-0 early in the second quarter.
Leonard’s 1-yard TD run late in the fourth gave him 15 this season to break Notre Dame’s season record by a quarterback.
Indiana scored both of its touchdowns in the final 1:27.
Notre Dame made it 14-0 on Leonard’s 5-yard TD pass to Jayden Thomas early in the second quarter. The Irish settled for three more field goals, and the defense took care of the rest — allowing just one field goal.
Leonard was 23 of 32 with 201 yards and one interception. Notre Dame receiver Jordan Faison caught seven passes for 89 yards.
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke turned in another poor game against a top defense, finishing 20 of 33 with 215 yards, with two TDs and one interception and the Hoosiers rushed for just 63 yards.
Takeaways
Indiana: The Hoosiers trailed fewer minutes than any other FBS team this season entering the playoffs and had the highest-scoring team in the playoffs. They didn’t do either Friday night against a stout Irish defense that rattled Rourke early.
Notre Dame: The Irish have relied on the running game and defense all season — and it was that combination that gave Notre Dame the first playoff win in school history. They may need more out of their passing game to win their first national championship since 1988.
Up next
Indiana: Will spend a busy offseason trying to replicate what they built in Year 1 under coach Curt Cignetti.
Notre Dame: Plays Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
___
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https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/12/20/notre-dame-protects-home-field-in-new-postseason-era-with-1st-playoff-win-27-17-over-indiana/
Scores and statistics from Friday high school sports events:
Boys Basketball
GUS GIBBS MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
At DeLand High School
Thursday’s results:
Master’s Academy 64, Atlantic 50
Leesburg 52, McKeel Academy 45
Oakleaf 51, Vero Beach 50
DeLand 57, Tavares 37
Friday’s results:
Atlantic 54, Leesburg 53
Vero Beach vs. Tavares, 5:30
Master’s Academy 91, McKeel Academy 51
Buzz: Hunter Nickerson had 19 points for the Eagles (8-3) while Noah Rogers had 17 points, and Josh Pitts added 16 points.
DeLand 70, Oakleaf 67
Saturday’s games:
7th-place game, 10 a.m.
3rd-place game, 11:30
5th-place game, 1
Championship, 2:30
CITY OF PALMS CLASSIC
At Florida Southwestern State College, Fort Myers
Thursday results:
Gibbs (Calif.) 76, Mater Dei 45
St. Joseph (Cal.) 69, Edgewater 43
Oak Ridge 103, Bishop McNamara (Md.) 61
IMG Academy 81, Faith Family Academy (Tx.) 78
Miami Columbus 90, Great Crossing (Ky.) 39
Montverde Academy 68, Millennium (Ariz.) 63
Friday’s results:
Faith Family Academy (Tx.) 73, Bishop McNamara (Md.) 63
Westminster Academy 81, Great Crossing (Ky.) 72
Bullis School (Wash. DC) 59, Dream City Christian (Ariz.) 57
Dynamic Prep (Tx.) 78, DME Academy 67
Oak Ridge 73, Owasso (Okla.) 50
Buzz: The Pioneers (7-0) advanced to the semifinals with Jamier Jones scoring 23 with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Jalen Reece and Ce’zanne Mosley each had 18 points, with Mosley adding 9 rebounds. Oak Ridge will face Montverde in one of the semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Columbus 85, Grayson (Ga.) 48
Other scores/results:
Hope Academy 61, Eustis 60
St. Cloud 70, Woodward (Ohio) 30
Buzz: Julian Fox had 13 points for the Bulldogs (12-0) in the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational.
International Community 56, Trinity Prep 47
Buzz: Slade Woodruff had 17 points for the Comets (7-5) in the win while Jace Grover and Paxton Boaz had 15 points each, and Jamarie Lyce added 12 rebounds.
City of Life Christian 53, Legacy Charter 48
Tohopekaliga 55, Satellite 45
Life Christian Academy 64, Winter Springs 54
Lake Brantley 56, Lake Mary 53
Buzz: Adam Ndaiye and Dean Adkins each had 13 points for the Patriots (8-4) in the win while Julian Vargas added 12 points. Jaiden Aristile had 15 points for the Rams (6-5) in the loss.
Harmony 69, Melbourne 50
Buzz: Sylus Cory had 16 points for the Longhorns (7-4) in the win while Jeremy Penner added 15 points.
Apopka 62, South Lake 58
Colonial 79, DME Academy 65
Dr. Phillips 75, Horizon 57
Buzz: London Hatch had 26 points and 9 rebounds for the Panthers (6-5) in the win while Jeremiah Fort had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Caleb Smith added 16 points and 9 rebounds.
Windermere Prep 83, Foundation Academy 64
Lake Highland Prep 58, Ponte Vedra 52
Port St. Joe 83, Cornerstone Charter 53
Geneva School 53, Merritt Island Christian 46
Girls Basketball
KSA PRE-HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
At Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee
Thursday’s results:
Timber Creek 51, Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.) 37
Milken Community (Calif.) 50, Preston (W.V.) 39
Friday’s results:
Timber Creek 66, Preston (W.V.) 32
Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.) 55, Milken Community (Calif.) 37
Saturday’s games:
Timber Creek vs. Milken Community (Calif.), 12:30
Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.) vs. Preston (W.Va.), 12:30
Other scores/results:
McLean (Va.) 39, Altamonte Christian 23
City of Life Christian 38, Legacy Charter 17
Buzz: Abigail Squires had 18 points, 9 steals and 5 rebounds for the Warriors (6-4) in the win while Joelle King added 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots.
Cooper Hills (Utah) 62, Winter Springs 21
Destin 31, Cornerstone Charter 28
Lake Highland Prep 61, Galloway (Ga.) 58
DeLand 60, Rockledge 21
Hampton (Tenn.) 46, Winter Park 32
The First Academy 66, Edgewood 15
Lake Howell 78, Osceola 17
Pine Ridge 54, Calvary Christian 37
Sacred Heart 44, Dr. Phillips 37
St. Cloud 49, Merritt Island Christian 34
Boys Soccer
Oviedo 2, Merritt Island 0
Buzz: Ellison Ruffin had a goal and an assist for the Lions (9-2-1) while Matias Rodriguez had the other goal, and Madrick Muina earned the shutout at keeper.
Leesburg 5, Citrus 0
Buzz: Beckham Gahret had 2 goals for the Yellow Jackets (9-1-1) while Troy Martinez added a goal and an assist. Theordore Kanczurzewski had 5 saves at keeper to earn the shutout.
Bishop Moore 7, Mulberry 0
Buzz: Mariano Hudtwalcker and Marco Acevedo each had 2 goals for the Hornets (11-2-2) while Sebastian Chica, John Gardner and David Rodriguez had the other goals.
Other scores:
Lake Nona 8, Lake Howell 0
Orlando Science 2, Master’s Academy 1
Orange City University 1, Spruce Hawk 1
Girls Soccer
Bishop Moore 3, St. John’s Country Day 1
Buzz: Avery Jacobs had a goal and an assist for the Hornets (7-4-1) while Leighton McGratty and Piersen Rawlin had the other goals.
Other scores:
East River 4, Colonial 0
Boys Wrestling
KNOCKOUT CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
At Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee
Team standings after Day 1 (top 3 & locals):
1. Camden County 96.5
2. Tuttle 91
3. Zephyrhills Christian 87.5
10. Hagerty 62
11. Winter Springs 61.5
29. Freedom 42
48. Osceola 24
58. Lake Brantley 6.5
Individual bracket (local undefeated wrestlers):
150 – Nikolas Blake (Hagerty)
175 – Jeremiah Williams (Winter Springs)
215 – Marco Gonzalez (Winter Springs)
285 – Franklie Marquez (Winter Springs)
Individual bracket (local wrestlers going 2-1):
106 – Chase Wolgamuth (Hagerty)
126 – Hunter Jessee (Hagerty)
132 – Isfandier Sharipov (Osceola); Dario Duany (Lake Brantley)
144 – Ben Wolgamuth (Hagerty); Kingsley Mincer (Freedom)
150 – Nathaniel Cabrera (Osceola)
BILL SCOTT MEMORIAL
At Lyman High School
Team standings (top 3 & locals):
1. Timber Creek 149.5
2. Mexico 127.5
3. Palmerton Area 110.5
4. Lyman 105.5
8. Colonial 92.5
9. DeLand 88
10. Bishop Moore 79.5
11. Apopka 78
11. Mount Dora 78
13. Wekiva 70.5
14. Windermere 68.5
16. Olympia 65
18. Lake Brantley 56.5
19. West Orange 54
20. Orange City University 48
23. Horizon 42
24. Winter Park 40
25. First Academy-Leesburg 30
26. Deltona 27.5
27. The First Academy 13
28. Seminole 11.5
Individual bracket (local wrestlers going 3-0):
106 – Javonni Carraturo (Deltona); Damian Quinonez (Mount Dora)
113 – Mohammad Davtalabsabe (Timber Creek); Conner Williams (Bishop Moore); Jamie Taylor (Lyman)
120 – Tiago Neves (Timber Creek); Joseph Romano (Bishop Moore); Egehan Yilhan (Windermere)
126 – Diego Weiser (Timber Creek); Ashtin Diggs (Timber Creek)
132 – David Birdsey (DeLand)
138 – Sam Aponte (Mount Dora); Raphael Taquechel (Windermere)
144 – Peyton Senez (DeLand); Ozy Aquino (Timber Creek)
150 – Angel Prieto (Bishop Moore); Cameron Popeck (Lyman)
157 – Juan Viera (Timber Creek)
165 – Angel Ortiz-Corral (Lyman)
175 – Colton Fickett (Mount Dora)
190 – William Muniz (Timber Creek)
215 – Brandon Roberts (Apopka); Elijah Jean (Wekiva)
285 – Fuad Maali (Olympia)
FALCON CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
At East River High School
Team standings:
1. Sebastian River 231.5
2. Boone 142
3. East River 125
4. Freedom 93
5. Ocoee 86
6. Innovation 72
Championship round (local matches only):
106 – Ajani Flanders (Boone) pinned Douglas (Sebastian River), 4:58
113 – Elijah Persaud (Boone) dec. Gill (Sebastian River), 11-5
120 – E. Guerrero (Sebastian River) pinned Dae’Miere Spencer (East River), 1:30
126 – Norris Mayo (East River) won by forfeit over Isaiah Rivera (East River)
132 – Jonathan Riveros (Boone) dec. Nazzio Huyler (Ocoee), 13-6
138 – N. Guerrero (Sebastian River) pinned Anthony Johnson (Freedom), 0:51
144 – Wheeler (Sebastian River) pinned Joaquin Losey (East River), 1:04
150 – Boecker (Sebastian River) pinned Zaden Fleming (East River), 2:33
165 – Weatherly (Sebastian River) tech fall over Clauderle Petit (Ocoee), 4:00 (18-0)
175 – Hix (Sebastian River) pinned Adarius Quezada (Ocoee), 5:09
190 – Kramer (Sebastian River) pinned Joshua Calederon (Freedom), 0:57
215 – Jariel Ramos (Innovation) dec. Luzader (Sebastian River), 6-3
285 – Tyler Duvermont (Ocoee) dec. Braxton Drinkwater (East River), 7-2
Girls Wrestling
KNOCKOUT CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
At Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee
Team standings after Day 1 (top 3 & locals):
1. South Dade 106
2. Flagler Palm Coast 91.5
3. Osceola 77
6. Freedom 67.5
17. Harmony 34
30. Winter Springs 13
36. Ocoee 10
51. Orange City University 4
Quarterfinal results (local matches only):
100 – Booe (Palm Harbor University) dec. Aniyah Whayne (Osceola), 2-0
115 – Grace Lashinsky (DeLand) pinned Metzger (Crestview), 3:13
115 – Espinosa (South Dade) pinned Jocelyn Quiroz (Winter Springs), 2:32
120 – Paola Ramirez (Osceola) pinned Ledesma (Hillscrest), 1:40
125 – Kyla Rodriguez (Osceola) pinned Rice (Charlotte), 1:40
135 – Holmes-Smi (Enterprise (Ala.) pinned Genesis Fuentes (Osceola), 3:38
145 – Fries (Flagler Palm Coast) pinned Elody Rodriguez (Freedom), 5:34
170 – Wilson (Lincoln Park Academy) pinned Lily Tucker (Osceola), 3:20
190 – Gomez (Hillcrest) pinned Chloe Riley (Freedom), 3:31
235 – Mekialla Mauvais (Freedom) pinned Johnson (Bell Creek), 2:32
235 – Rotchiva Clermont (Freedom) pinned Barrett (South Dade), 0:53
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/12/20/fhsaa-high-school-scores-statistics-december-20-city-palms-montverde-oak-ridge-december-20/
When it looked like the Colorado Rapids were out of cards to deal in the MLS SuperDraft on Friday afternoon, they pulled a few more out of the sleeve.
In the first round alone, the club made three trades to turn the No. 8 pick, up to $312,500 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and a 2025 international roster slot into picks Nos. 4, 6 and 12 and $75,000 in 2026 GAM.
For the second straight year, sophomores and juniors were eligible for selection under new rules implemented last fall. Last year, the Rapids made use of that flexibility and brought in a player from both classes with top-five picks. They also drafted freshman Kimani Stewart-Baynes, a Generation Adidas player.
This year was no different. In the first round, during which the Rapids made five picks, the club selected a sophomore Generation Adidas forward, two junior defenders, a sophomore midfielder and another sophomore forward.
To conclude the draft, the Rapids made a second-round pick and three third-round selections. As it stands, all but two or three will immediately join the club for preseason, which begins on Jan. 11.
According to Rapids President Pádraig Smith, the club hit on six of the top 10 players on its draft board.
Here’s a look at the 2025 SuperDraft class for the Rapids:
Round 1
No. 4 — Alex Harris, F, so., Cornell: The second-to-last Generation Adidas player off the board, Harris can score goals with the best of them. In two years at Cornell, he had 31 goals and nine assists while converting eight of nine penalties.
As a freshman, he was unanimously voted Ivy League rookie of the year. This season, he was one of two sophomores in the country to be named a MAC Hermann Award semifinalist.
“He knows where the ball is going to go and he does everything in his power to get to that spot,” Smith said. “He’s a little menace, his work rate is terrific and he’s got to be a nightmare to defend.”
He ranked second in the nation in goals and points per game behind Akron senior Emil Jaaskelainen (taken seventh overall).
No. 6 — Matthew Senanou, D, jr., Xavier: The Rapids continued their trend of going after big defenders.
Senanou, a 6-foot-4, 214-pound junior, was the anchor of a defense that gave up just more than a goal per game this season.
The club was enamored with his personality, too. In his interview with the club, Smith said Senanou brought up how much of a fan he is of former Rapids center back Moïse Bombito — the Rapids’ third overall pick in 2023 who sold for an MLS-record $7.7 million this summer — and how he dreams of a similar career path. Smith has said in the past that Bombito’s pre-draft interview was the best he’d ever had. Senanou’s is now in that conversation.
No. 12 — Efetobo Aror, M, so., Portland: Aror played 10 games in 2024 before a torn meniscus cost him the rest of his season. A defensive midfielder by nature, he scored one goal before the November injury and notched an assist.
The injury and his time with a smaller-caliber program in Portland may have caused him to drop in the draft, but Smith felt he had to get a move done at the time to get the No. 12 pick and ultimately Aror.
“Based on our scouts’ opinions and the work they had done, Aror was the standout six (rather than top pick Manu Duah),” Smith said. “You look at the video and just the explosiveness, the ability on the ball and the profile, it was a no-brainer for us.”
In a trade with Austin FC, the Rapids gave up a 2025 international roster slot in exchange for the pick and $75,000 in 2026 GAM.
No. 16 — Sydney Wathuta, F, so., Vermont: With the ball at his feet, 2024 NCAA national champion Sydney Wathuta can do it all. In the national semifinal against DU, Wathuta gave the Pioneers’ defense fits.
He can carry the ball while waiting for plays to develop, make turns in tight areas to free up space and find passes the recipient sometimes may not even know was there.
The ultimate play-maker, Wathuta ranked second in the nation with 14 assists this year to go with a goal.
No. 26 — Josh Copeland, M, so., Detroit Mercy: Another small-school standout, Copeland was a lock to be selected by the Rapids. The club had been in discussions with the Michigan native for “quite some time” before the draft and promised to pick him.
While the sophomore doesn’t have accolades or stats that jump off the page — he recorded three goals and five assists in 17 games this year — the Rapids see something in the 6-foot-3 midfielder they think they can build on.
Round 2
No. 38 — Charlie Harper, D, jr., North Carolina: Harper had another pre-draft interview that left Smith impressed.
Not exactly a surprise given his story: Born in Melbourne, Australia, Harper attended high school in Japan and moved to the U.S. to play college soccer. His UNC biography says he holds citizenship in Australia, Japan and England. Oh, and he’s fluent in Japanese.
According to Smith, he’s very good with both feet and has a solid 6-foot-2 frame. He scored one goal in 2024.
Round 3
No. 62 — Donavan Phillip, M/F, so., NC State: An in-state rival of Harper, Phillip scored six goals and dished out four assists in 2024. The Saint Lucia native would count as an international on the roster.
At this stage, Smith said it’s not certain whether Phillip will return to college or join the team come January, but the club wants the latter.
No. 68 — Shawn Smart, D, Las Vegas Lights: Smart was the only player selected who is not coming from a college. The Las Vegas Lights, a USL Championship team, has the 20-year-old under contract through the 2025 season, meaning the Rapids drafted Smart’s MLS rights and the right of first refusal once his contract ends.
In 33 games last year with the Lights, Smart notched two goals and an assist on the way to the Western Conference final, where they lost to eventual champions Colorado Springs.
Smart won’t join the Rapids this year, but Smith said he likes it that way. With a revolving door of defenders coming and going, the club thinks it’s best for a player like Smart to continue developing and getting USL Championship-level experience.
No. 75 — Matthew Van Horn, F, so., Georgetown: A fun fact: Van Horn is native to North Pole, Alaska.
The 6-foot sophomore, who scored six goals and had three assists with Georgetown in 2024, is the only sure-fire player to return to school for at least another year.
Another fun fact: His Hoyas were seeded fourth in the NCAA Tournament this year and were upset by Phillip’s unranked Wolfpack in the second round.
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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/20/rapids-2025-mls-superdraft-picks/
TAMPA — Florida closed out a turnaround season with a solid but unspectacular showing.
A 33-8 win against Tulane during the Gasparilla Bowl was still something to celebrate for coach Billy Napier. After all, the victory capped a four-game winning streak after two seasons that ended on skids of three and five games, respectively.
Yet Friday’s performance at Raymond James Stadium didn’t quite provide a surge of momentum entering a critical offseason for the Gators (8-5) or quell questions about Napier’s need to hire an offensive coordinator.
Quarterback DJ Lagway, the player many fans came to see, finished 22 of 35 for 305 yards for his first 300-yard performance against an FBS opponent and took home MVP honors.
The true freshman also threw two first-half interceptions to cost Florida points and highlight his struggles against zone coverage. Both miscues were thrown into the middle field with the intended target in triple coverage.
“We were sloppy early,” Napier said. “We were just a little rusty on offense.”
Lagway’s 7-yard touchdown to tight end Tony Livingston with 4:03 left in the third quarter was the Gators’ first touchdown, giving them a 16-0 lead following the first three of a bowl-record four field goals by Trey Smack.
“They didn’t make it easy, especially the first half,” Napier said.
Following the touchdown by Livingston, a sophomore from Tampa, Florida’s defensive intensity increased to another level as Tulane managed just 194 yards.
The Green Wave (9-5) ended a once-promising debut season under Jon Sumrall on a three-game losing streak but avoided their first shutout loss since 2016 against Temple when Ty Thompson found Mario Williams for a 16-yard touchdown with 29 seconds to go.
Without starting quarterback Darian Mensah, who transferred to Duke three days after an AAC-title-game loss to Army, the Green Wave were 10-point underdogs with a backup quarterback who hadn’t started a game during four seasons.
Sumrall’s sense of urgency was evident from the opening snap.
Tulane looked to catch the Gators off guard with a flea-flicker on its first play.
Thompson, an Oregon transfer after the 2023 season and in the transfer portal again, fluttered a pass into the waiting hands of UF’s Trikweze Bridges.
“We sent a message to the team we weren’t going to play timid,” Sumrall said. “I don’t think we did. I just think we wore down.”
Thompson’s day didn’t get much better. He finished 11 of 29 for 125 yards with 3 interceptions, the second by Gators walk-on linebacker Alfonzo Allen Jr. on a pass broken up by sophomore cornerback Dijon Johnson of Tampa.
“Playing at a high level down in and down out is hard when you haven’t done it,” Sumrall said.
Tulane’s season-ending fall was precipitous.
The Green Wave sat No. 17 in the College Football Playoff rankings prior to the season-ending skid. Meanwhile, the Gators were 4-5 after a 49-17 drubbing Nov. 9 at Texas.
Behind Lagway, a suffocating defense and a strong kicking game, Florida closed with its longest winning streak during Napier’s three seasons.
The strong-armed 6-foot-3, 239-pound Lagway gives the Gators a headstart entering the offseason. The 19-year-old also showed that much work remains.
Lagway’s two first-half interceptions matched his season-high during spot duty against Texas A&M.
The second pick was on 3rd-and-goal from the Tulane 4 with Florida leading 6-0 and 3:29 remaining in a first half that ended as the lowest-scoring in the bowl game’s 16-year history.
The Green Wave’s first interception gave them the ball at UF’s 23. Forced to settle for a 35-yard field-goal attempt, Tulane’s placekicking woes continued as freshman walk-on Patrick Durkin’s effort was wide left.
A Durkin miss and botched snap on another attempt contributed to Tulane’s 35-14 loss Dec. 6 at Army.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/12/20/florida-gators-football-gasparilla-bowl-tulane-green-wave-billy-napier-jon-sumrall-dj-lagway/
One of the trademarks of the Colorado women’s basketball team in the past few years has been its ability to embrace the underdog role and rise to every challenge.
The roster this season is vastly different, but fifth-year senior Frida Formann believes that mentality hasn’t changed.
“Yeah, I think so,” she said as the Buffaloes prepared this week for Saturday’s Big 12 Conference opener against No. 14-ranked West Virginia. “It’s not like anyone in the Big 12, from the media’s perspective or anything, is expecting us to do big things. So we are naturally just an underdog.
“Then I think we’ve really been working on that, just, attack mentality of like, anyone who comes into our house, or every time we step in someone else’s house, we want to win. It doesn’t matter what they’re ranked or all that stuff. I think every game in this conference is very winnable, for sure.”
Despite back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in the past two years, CU was projected for a ninth-place finish in its return season to the Big 12. That is, in large part, because the Buffaloes feature 10 new players.
The new-look Buffs now have 11 games under their belt, however, and head coach JR Payne believes her team is ready for conference play.
“Definitely ready,” she said. “We’re very excited. I thought the preseason was good and challenging, lots of road games and challenging things, but we’re really excited to get going.”
West Virginia is one of three ranked teams in the Big 12 – just behind No. 12 TCU and No. 13 Kansas State – and the Buffs are eager to jump into the fire, rather than easing into conference play.
“We always love a challenge, and we’re always glad to play at home, like every team in the country,” Payne said. “So, we might as well play one of the best right off the bat.”
The only returning starter from last year, Formann has been a part of a lot of big games with the Buffs, including several victories against ranked opponents.
CU lost its only previous game this year against a ranked team, 79-71 against then-No. 24 Louisville on Nov. 30 in Boulder, but it was one of its better games, minus about three minutes.
The Buffs led that game, 57-56, with 7 minutes, 20 seconds to play before the wheels fell off, as Louisville went on a 16-0 run during a stretch of 3:02. During the other 37 minutes of the game, CU outscored the Cardinals 71-63.
“When we had that Louisville game and played against another Power Five team, the energy we had – we shouldn’t play down to our opponent or anything, but it’s just really fun to play good opponents that have really great players, good coaching,” Formann said. “So I’m just really excited to do that every single week (in the Big 12), and really getting into our prep, executing scout, really caring about all that stuff. Just very excited for that to start.”
Formann is also eager to see how this version of the Buffs responds to a significant challenge before the holiday break.
“We get them at home, and I think we’re great at home,” she said. “You know us from past years, we don’t really back down from a challenge. Being the underdog is fine with us. I think it’s honestly perfect for us, them coming here right before Christmas. It’ll be good.”
CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. No. 14 West Virginia
TIPOFF: Saturday, 6 p.m., CU Events Center
TV/RADIO: ESPN+/KHOW 630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 9-2; West Virginia 10-1
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 9th season (152-104; 253-217 career). West Virginia — Mark Kellogg, 2nd season (35-9; 480-129 career).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — F Nyamer Diew, 6-2, Sr. (7.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg); G Frida Formann, 5-10, Sr. (14.1 ppg, 2.6 apg, .439 3Pt%); F Lior Garzon, 6-1, Sr. (12.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg); F Jade Masogayo, 6-3, Jr. (10.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 apg, .554 FG%); G Sara-Rose Smith, 6-1, Sr. (7.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, .368 3pt%); G Johanna Teder, 5-11, Sr. (5.5 ppg, 2.2 apg, .548 FG%); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, Sr. (5.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.8 apg, 2.1 spg). West Virginia — F Kylee Blacksten, 6-3, Sr. (7.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg); G Jordan Harrison, 5-6, Jr. (15.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.8 spg, .438 3pt%); G JJ Quinerly, 5-8, Sr. (17.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.9 spg); G Sydney Shaw, 5-9, Jr. (12.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 spg, .439 3pt%); F Jordan Thomas, 6-3, Fr. (8.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .621 FG%); G Kyah Watson, 5-10, Sr. (6.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.1 spg).
NOTES: The Buffs bring a three-game winning streak into their first Big 12 game in more than 13 years. CU spent the past 13 seasons in the Pac-12. … The Buffs were 4-9 in Pac-12 openers and went 7-8 in Big 12 openers during their first stint in the league (1996-2011). … This is the first-ever meeting between CU and West Virginia. The Mountaineers joined the Big 12 in 2012, a year after CU left. … Wetta and her backup at the point, Kennedy Sanders, have missed the past two games with concussions, but they are expected to play on Saturday. … This will be CU’s only game in about a three-week stretch. The Buffs haven’t played since Dec. 10 against Denver and won’t play again until Jan. 1 at TCU. … This will be CU’s second game against a ranked opponent this season. The Buffs lost to then-No. 24 Louisville, 79-71, on Nov. 30 in Boulder. … West Virginia has won two in a row since its only loss, 78-73 to No. 5 Texas on Dec. 1 in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla. … CU and WVU have one common opponent this year: Boise State. The Buffs lost at Boise State, 50-47, on Nov. 10, while the WVU routed the Broncos, 82-47 on Nov. 30 at the Gulf Coast Showcase. … Kellogg’s first head coaching job came at Fort Lewis College in Durango from 2005-12, going 173-46. … Blacksten, an Air Academy High School graduate, played her first two seasons at CU before transferring to WVU before the 22-23 season.
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https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/20/womens-basketball-cu-buffs-embrace-challenge-with-no-14-west-virginia-coming-to-boulder/
In a modern era of the NBA that’s viewed by some national pundits and former players as soft compared to the past, Magic guard Jalen Suggs is as tough as they come.
A former high school football player and second-team All-Defensive NBA selection a season ago, Suggs brings physicality and aggression on that end of the floor nightly.
But he’s still human.
So when coach Jamahl Mosley saw that Suggs didn’t immediately pop up after going down while grabbing his left ankle on the Kia Center court late in the first half against the Thunder on Thursday night, there was some concern for the fourth-year pro.
“When he went down the first time, I was extremely nervous and worried,” Mosley said of the moment that occurred with 1:38 left in the second quarter. “I wasn’t going to call the timeout but usually he bounces back up. And then I called the timeout.”
Suggs was able to slowly get to the bench on his own power before the Thunder closed out a 36-18 second quarter en route to a 105-99 win over the Magic.
The Magic guard played four minutes of the third quarter before he exited again for good.
That’s because Mosley recognized something was off with Suggs.
“As he comes out in the second [half] I just saw, there wasn’t a high pace,” the Magic coach said. “I mean, there were moments of it but I just want to make sure he’s going to be OK for the long haul.
“There’s too many things going on with this team when it comes to the injury bug that we want to make sure we’re smart when it comes down to that,” he added.
It’s hard to blame him.
Orlando — already without stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who are continuing to recover from the same injury (torn right abdominal muscle) — played majority of the second half without its third best player on the court.
In addition, veteran guard Gary Harris missed his 10th straight contest with a left hamstring strain Thursday.
Beede’s Breakdown: Magic compete hard but lose another starter in loss to Thunder
Second-year guard Anthony Black filled in for Suggs as the Magic battled hard against Oklahoma City, cutting a 23-point deficit to single digits in the third quarter before the Thunder handed the Magic their third straight loss.
Fortunately for Suggs, The Athletic observed him departing Kia Center without a walking boot on his ankle after he rolled it in the first half.
Suggs (right ankle sprain) was listed as probable for Saturday’s game against Miami on Orlando’s initial injury report. Harris is considered questionable.
“He’s a tough kid,” Mosley said. “He wants to be out there and that’s what you see in him. We said it before the game — his passion, his energy, his intensity to want to be on the floor with his guys.”
After beating the Magic, the Thunder traveled south to face the Heat on Friday. Less than 24 hours later, Orlando (17-12) will host Miami at Kia Center on Saturday.
It’s first of two games against between the in-state squads in a span of five days. The Magic will also host the Heat on Thursday after defending champion Boston comes to town Monday.
The Magic defeated the Heat on opening night in Miami, but Banchero and Wagner both were healthy. Since then, Orlando has gone 15-10 without Banchero and 1-3 without the star duo available.
Magic gift shopping spree
Banchero joined Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and members of the Osceola Magic at a holiday shopping spree for 100 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida at a local Walmart on Friday.
Each kid received $300 gift cards courtesy of Banchero, Caldwell-Pope and Pepsi. The pair of Magic teammates and the soft drink manufacturer each donated $10,000 in gift cards that allowed them to buy whatever they wanted ahead of Christmas, as well as the first night of Hanukkah, on Wednesday.
Children who attended the shopping spree were from three local branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs — the Walt Disney World Clubhouse, Levy-Hughes Clubhouse and Bradley-Otis Clubhouse.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic vs. Heat
When: 7, Saturday, Kia Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/12/20/orlando-magic-jalen-suggs-injury-update-okc-thunder-miami-heat-paolo-banchero-kentavious-caldwell-pope-nba-kia-center-jamahl-mosley/
