WBVP-AM 1230 and WBVP-FM 99.3’s Bob Barrickman and Jim Frederick have the call from Neshannock High School of this WPIAL Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference high school football game as the Bulldogs battle the Lancers. Click on the logo below to hear the broadcast:
Denny Hamlin goes nearly 205 mph in Talladega practice
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Denny Hamlin went nearly 205 mph at Talladega Superspeedway, where he was among seven drivers to top 203 mph in Friday’s first practice.
The Daytona 500 winner went 204.904 mph in the closing moments of the first drafting session of the weekend. He was the only driver to top 204, but Kevin Harvick was second fastest at 203.688 mph. Kyle Busch, who had an early fuel pressure issue at the start of practice, was third at 203.684.
Corey LaJoie was fourth fastest and followed by Michael McDowell and an unusual cast of fast contenders. The top-10 average speeds were rounded out by Erik Jones, Ross Chastain, Brendan Gaughan, Chris Buescher and Matt DiBenedetto.
Of the 40 drivers in the field, 33 topped 200 mph.
The Talladega weekend schedule gives teams track time on Friday only, with qualifying the only scheduled activity Saturday. It makes for a condensed schedule at a wild-card race of NASCAR’s playoffs. Sunday marks the middle race of this round, and four drivers will be trimmed from the remaining field next week at Kansas.
The unpredictability of NASCAR’s fastest and biggest track makes it critical for drivers to have a smart strategy and most will plan to work within their manufacturer alliances. The practice began with Toyota, was perfected by Ford and finally embraced by Chevrolet the last two years. In April, Chase Elliott led Chevy to its first Talladega victory since 2015 when he snapped a seven-race Ford winning streak.
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Playoff positions are on the line tonight as Beaver County Radio presents a pair of games for Week 7 of High School Football in the WPIAL.
Freedom looks to remain undefeated (5-0, 7-0) and inch closer to securing a Midwestern Athletic Conference title, but Neshannock (3-1, 5-2) looks to put themselves right back into the mix with a win at home. Pregame on WBVP & 99.3 FM is at 6:30 with kickoff from Mitchell Road scheduled for 7:00.
Meanwhile on 1460 WMBA, Moon looks to build on their upset victory over Peters Township last week as they welcome Upper St. Clair to Moon Tiger Stadium. Both teams have identical records of 3-1 in the Allegheny Eight Conference, and 5-2 overall. Coverage on WMBA begins with pregame at 6:30 and kickoff will be at 7:00.
1A
Rochester at Northgate
Laurel at Cornell
2A
Freedom at Neshannock (WBVP/99.3)
South Side Beaver at Seton-LaSalle
Ellwood City at Riverside
3A
Central Valley at Hopewell
South Park at Aliquippa
Waynesburg Central at Beaver Falls
4A
Montour at Ambridge
5A
Upper St. Clair at Moon (WMBA)
Non-Conference
Quaker Valley at Beaver*
Blackhawk at Indiana
Hampton at West Allegheny
OLSH at Jefferson-Morgan
*-game at 7:30 instead of 7:00
(Bridgewater, PA) Two area high school head football coaches were the special guests last night on the Coaches Corner live broadcast from the Sports Patio at Robert’s Roadside Inn. Jeff Beltz from Beaver and Joe Lamenza from Ellwood City joined the show hosted by Bob Barrickman, Tom Hays and Bruce Frey, which aired on 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA and 99.3 F.M. Lamenza’s Wolverines from Ellwood City made a strong showing with around 40 players and coaches making the trek from the Beaver/Lawrence county border area school district to the venue for last night’s show. The Ellwood contingent came hungry too as, according to Robert Skerlec, owner of Robert’s Roadside Inn, a regular season record was set, consuming 160 pounds of free wings provided by Skerlec and his enterprise. In addition to the wings, The team made quick work of the usual compliment of numerous pizzas, courtesy of Pizza Joe’s in Beaver. Much like a feeding frenzy at the shark tank at the zoo, the action was fast and furious when the food was set out. Luckily, everyone got enough to eat and a good time was had by all. Upon learning of his high achieving team’s unique record, Ellwood City Head Coach, Joe Lamenza, offered that coming down to Coaches Corner was truly a special event and that his team was really excited to be included and because of that, every single player attended. That made setting the wing record easy work for a team that had just practiced hard and burned off a great deal of calories earlier in the day.
Beltz and Lamenza also talked at length on the show about their seasons and analyzed the upcoming games for each of their squads.
The sports patio at Robert’s Roadside Inn is now in its 29th season as the home for Coaches Corner, a weekly live high school coaches interview program that airs on 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, and 99.3 F.M. during football and basketball seasons. Coaches Corner always features free pizza from Pizza Joe’s in Beaver and wings from Robert’s Roadside Inn.
Coaches Corner is hosted by Bob Barrickman, Tom Hays and Bruce Frey and airs every Wednesday from 7 to 8 P.M. on WBVP , WMBA and 99.3 F.M.
Heinola, inexperienced D lead Jets past Penguins, 4-1
By DAN SCIFO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The youngest member of an inexperienced Winnipeg Jets defensive unit led the way to a big win.
Ville Heinola scored his first NHL goal and the Jets beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 on Tuesday night.
“It was a good moment for me,” the 18-year-old Heinola said. “It was exciting. Of course, I was dreaming of that.”
The Jets got their first win in Pittsburgh since returning to the NHL in 2011. The Penguins previously won 18 consecutive home games against the Jets-Atlanta Thrashers franchise dating to March 24, 2007. Pittsburgh’s last loss against Winnipeg at home came on Dec. 27, 2006.
Tucker Poolman scored his second NHL goal and Neal Pionk his second of the season as three defensemen scored for a young Jets blueline, which combined for 350 career NHL games.
“Those guys have worked really hard back there,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “They’re learning every shift. I thought they were great.”
Nikolaj Ehlers scored his first of the season, while Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele both had three assists for the Jets, who closed a season-opening, four-game road trip. Connor Hellebuyck made 36 saves in his second start of the season.
“I thought the guys in front of me played very hard,” Hellebuyck said. “They were blocking shots at the right time and controlling shots from the outside. It was a team win.”
Sidney Crosby scored his first of the season and Matt Murray stopped 17 shots for Pittsburgh, which routed Columbus 7-2 on Saturday.
“I don’t think the score (Tuesday) was an indication of how the game was played,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think the game was a lot closer than the score indicates.”
Jets defenseman Dmitry Kulikov was granted a personal leave of absence, while Josh Morrissey missed his second straight game after sustaining an upper body injury during warmups before Sunday’s loss at the New York Islanders.
The Jets played Tuesday without six defensemen from last season’s team, which lost to eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs. The list includes Kulikov and Morrissey, while Dustin Byfuglien remains away from the team on a personal leave. Winnipeg traded Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers, while Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot left in free agency.
Heinola, Poolman and Pionk provided not only defense but scoring.
“We all went through training camp together, so we all got to know each other pretty well,” Pionk said. “We created that bond in training camp and went from there.”
Pittsburgh had injury troubles of its own as Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad were recently placed on injured reserve after leaving Saturday’s win against Columbus with lower body injuries. Sullivan said both will be out long term. Patric Hornqvist also left Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury.
“We had a shortened bench for a lot of the game and the guys competed pretty hard,” Sullivan said.
Crosby opened the scoring 32 seconds into the game. He was alone at the top of the crease when he redirected Jake Guentzel’s pass past Hellebuyck.
Heinola, the 20th overall pick in this year’s draft, scored his first NHL goal at 5:48 of the period. Heinola’s shot from the top of the left circle snuck underneath Murray’s glove to tie the game.
Ehlers gave Winnipeg a 2-1 lead less than five minutes later. He pounced on a turnover at Pittsburgh’s blue line and ripped a short-side wrist shot past a standing Murray.
Poolman put Winnipeg ahead 3-1 just 54 seconds into the second period with a blocker-side wrist shot from the slot.
Pionk made it 4-1 midway through the second. It was the third goal scored by the Jets’ young defensive corps, more than enough to beat Pittsburgh on this night.
“I thought they were fantastic,” Hellebuyck said. “They were blocking shots, they were controlling pucks and they did exactly what they were asked to do. I think as the game went on, they got even better.”
NOTES: Crosby passed Jean Beliveau for 41st on the NHL’s career points list. . Pittsburgh’s Brandon Tanev played against his former team. Tanev, who signed a six-year, $21-million contract in July, set career highs last season with the Jets and scored 24 goals and 51 points in 195 games. . Penguins D John Marino and F Sam Lafferty made their NHL debuts. Lafferty grew up less than 100 miles from Pittsburgh. . The Penguins have won 15 of their last 20 games overall against the Jets.
UP NEXT
Jets: Play their home opener Thursday against Minnesota
Penguins: Close a season-opening four-game homestand Thursday against Anaheim
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph remains in concussion protocol
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says quarterback Mason Rudolph “appears to be doing fine” but remains in the concussion protocol following an illegal hit by Baltimore safety Earl Thomas.
Rudolph left last weekend’s overtime loss to Baltimore in the third quarter after Thomas hit Rudolph in the chin with his helmet. Rudolph was knocked unconscious on the play but was able to slowly make his way off the field. Tomlin made it a point to say Rudolph was cleared by medical personnel to walk off under his own power and the fact the medical cart malfunctioned didn’t play a factor in the decision.
Rudolph went to a hospital for evaluation before being cleared to go home. Rudolph was at the team’s facility on Monday, but Tomlin declined to give a timetable on Rudolph’s potential availability for Sunday’s visit to Los Angeles to play the Chargers.
Rookie undrafted free agent Devlin Hodges will start at quarterback if Rudolph is unable to play.
The Steelers will be without running back Jaylen Samuels for about a month. Samuels underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
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Penguins centers Malkin, Bjugstad out with injuries
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad will be out indefinitely with injuries.
Coach Mike Sullivan said Monday that Malkin’s lower-body injury will require a longer recovery than Bjugstad’s, but he added it is not season-threatening.
Both centers were injured during a 7-2 victory over Columbus on Saturday. Malkin collided with teammate Kris Letang in the second period before limping down the runway. Bjugstad exited in the third with an undisclosed injury.
Jared McCann took over Malkin’s spot centering the second line in practice Monday, with Zach Aston-Reese filling in for Bjugstad on the third line.
The Penguins, off to a 1-1 start, host Winnipeg on Tuesday.
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Rudolph exits after scary hit, Ravens edge Steelers in OT
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — After Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph was knocked unconscious by a head-high hit in the third quarter Sunday, Justin Tucker made a 46-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Baltimore Ravens past the Steelers 26-23 on Sunday.
Baltimore (3-2) snapped a two-game skid when safety Marlon Humphrey stripped Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and recovered the fumble at the Pittsburgh 34. Tucker knocked through the winner four plays later.
Lamar Jackson threw for 161 yards with a touchdown and three picks and also ran for a game-high 70 yards. Mark Ingram ran for a touchdown for the Ravens, who won in Pittsburgh (1-4) for the second straight season.
Rudolph threw for 131 yards and a score before suffering a concussion following a hit to the chin by Baltimore safety Earl Thomas. Backup Devlin Hodges played admirably in Rudolph’s place, throwing for 68 yards and directing a pair of scoring drives after Rudolph’s exit. James Conner ran for 55 yards and a touchdown for Pittsburgh.
Long one of the AFC’s most heated rivalries, the game took a turn in the third quarter with the Ravens leading 17-13.
The Steelers were facing third-and-11 at the Pittsburgh 12 midway through the third quarter when Rudolph dropped back to pass. The play broke down and Rudolph scrambled to his left and stepped up field. He flicked the ball to teammate James Washington just before the crown of Thomas’ helmet hit Rudolph under the chin. Rudolph fell to the ground and lay on the field motionless for several minutes while several teammates became visibly upset as the stadium fell silent.
The scene of players on both sides going down to one knee while a medical team attended to Rudolph was eerily similar to the on-field reaction in Cincinnati in December, 2017 when Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier sustained a spinal injury. Rudolph was able to stand up and be helped off the field by several teammates, a move made necessary when the medical cart wouldn’t start. Shazier, currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list while he continues his rehab from spinal stabilization surgery, walked over to Rudolph and briefly comforted him as Rudolph made his way to the locker room for further treatment and examination as the crowds chanted “throw him out” at Thomas.
Rudolph’s injury thrust Hodges, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Samford, into a role he couldn’t have envisioned when the Steelers signed him to be a “camp” arm before organized team activities. He played well in the preseason but didn’t make the cut only to find himself signed to the practice squad when Pittsburgh traded Josh Dobbs to Jacksonville. Hodges was elevated to backup status when Roethlisberger went down with an elbow injury.
He trotted onto the field when Rudolph ducked out of view and hardly looked nervous, leading the Steelers on a drive that ended with Conner’s 1-yard touchdown run that put the Steelers in front. Baltimore pulled even on Tucker’s field goal. Hodges later used a 21-yard sprint to set up Chris Boswell’s go-ahead field goal with 2:41 remaining. Jackson countered with a drive that ended with Tucker’s third field goal that tied it with 14 seconds remaining.
Pittsburgh won the coin toss to start overtime but curiously opted to kick the ball rather than receive it. The Steelers forced a Baltimore punt, but Humphrey punched the ball out of Smith-Schuster’s hands then pounced on it to put the Ravens in position to win.
INJURIES
Ravens: Safety Tony Jefferson went down in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury.
Steelers: Wide receiver James Washington Barron left in the third quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return. Linebacker Mark Barron exited in the second quarter with a hamstring injury.
UP NEXT
Ravens: Hosts AFC North rival Cincinnati next Sunday. The teams split their two meetings in 2018.
Steelers: Visit Los Angeles to face the Chargers next Sunday. Los Angeles beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh 33-30 last season.
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Hines’ rushing helps Duquesne hold off Long Island 21-14
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A.J. Hines rushed for 140 yards with a touchdown and twice converted first downs on third-and-short in the final minutes to preserve Duquesne’s 21-14 victory over Long Island University in the first meeting of the two teams Saturday.
Duquesne (3-2, 1-0 Northeast Conference) took its first possession 74 yards in nine plays and got on the board with Mark Allen’s 20-yard scoring run. Hines added a late touchdown, scoring from the 1 as the Dukes led 21-7 early in the fourth quarter.
Long Island (0-4, 0-3), which is Joining the NEC and moving up from Division-II, marched 74 yards in 14 plays and made it a one-score game with 3:55 remaining when Clay Beathard found Steven Chambers crossing the front of the end zone.
The Dukes, aided by Hines’ two first-down conversions, ran out the clock.
Beathard completed 15 of 24 passes for 221 yards but was intercepted twice. David Parr was 12 of 21 for 196 yards for Duquesne.
McCann, second-period burst leads Pens past Blue Jackets
By DAN SCIFO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins rebounded from a season-opening dud.
Jared McCann scored twice as the Penguins had five goals in the second period to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-2 on Saturday night.
The offensive outburst helped Pittsburgh rediscover its confidence after making 17 turnovers in a home loss to Buffalo on Thursday.
Pittsburgh scored five goals on 14 second-period shots. The last time Pittsburgh scored five goals in a period came on Jan. 16, 2017, against Washington.
“I thought our confidence built as the game went on,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I thought we were playing on our toes and I thought we mounted a pretty good attack. There’s still some areas where we know we have to clean up, but I thought the guys played hard.”
The Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin left in the second period and did not return with an undisclosed injury. He ran into D Kris Letang near center ice and awkwardly fell into the boards. Malkin, the 2012 NHL MVP, scored a power-play goal against Buffalo on Thursday.
Center Nick Bjugstad also left and didn’t return for Pittsburgh. Sullivan said after the game that Malkin and Bjugstad were being evaluated and he didn’t have an update on their status.
McCann tied a career high with three points. The other time came as a member of the Florida Panthers when he had a goal and two assists on March 20, 2018. McCann scored two goals once with Pittsburgh on March 23 last season against Dallas.
“It’s huge, but I can’t take all the credit,” McCann said. “My linemates did most of the work and found me. I just tried to get it to the net.”
Patric Hornqvist scored twice and Letang had a power-play goal, while Teddy Blueger and Marcus Pettersson also scored for Pittsburgh. Alex Galchenyuk, acquired from Arizona in a trade for Phil Kessel, recorded two assists for his first two points with Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby also had two assists.
Matt Murray made 28 saves and is now two wins from 100 in his NHL career.
Gustav Nyquist scored his first goal for Columbus and Zach Werenski scored for the Blue Jackets, who lost their second game in as many days. Columbus lost its season-opener 4-1 to Toronto at home and has been outscored 11-3 in two games. Elvis Merzlikins stopped 31 shots in his NHL debut.
“It’s an opportunity for us right away at the beginning of the year to teach about patience, to teach about how we have to play,” Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella said. “Hopefully, we’ll go about it the right way.”
Pittsburgh opened the scoring at 1:45 of the second when Hornqvist tipped Jack Johnson’s point shot past Merzlikins. The Penguins took a 2-0 lead 2:29 later when Pettersson’s shot from the top of the left circle caromed off Merzlikins’ glove and behind the line.
Not long after Pittsburgh’s second goal, Werenski was left alone at the right side of the crease and cut the Blue Jackets’ deficit in half.
But the Penguins regained their two-goal cushion, 3-1, two minutes later when McCann sent a blocker-side wrist shot behind Merzlikins during a two-on-one.
McCann scored his second goal of the game 14 seconds after a fighting major to Crosby, his first in four years. McCann took a backhand pass from Galchenyuk at the blue line and sent another blocker-side wrist shot past Merzlikins.
Letang scored Pittsburgh’s fifth goal of the second period with 1.2 seconds to play. He beat Merzlikins with a slap shot from the right faceoff dot.
“It took us awhile to find our swagger,” McCann said. “That’s something that this team needs to play with. We have guys who have so much skill and need to make plays, but sometimes we just have to keep it simple.”
NOTES: Crosby passed Larry Murphy for sole possession of 42nd-place on the NHL’s all-time points list with 1,218. … Werenski, with 39 goals, is two from the Blue Jackets’ record for most by a defenseman. … Murray has nine wins in 12 games all-time against Columbus. … Pittsburgh has won eight straight home games against Columbus and 16 of 20 all-time. … The Penguins have won eight of their last 10 games against Columbus. … Brandon Tanev and Dominik Kahun, acquired in the offseason, recorded their first points with Pittsburgh.
UP NEXT
Blue Jackets: Host Buffalo on Monday
Penguins: Continue a season-opening four-game homestand Tuesday against Winnipeg.
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