Nick Chubb plows through heavy snow for 2-yard TD, giving Browns 24-19 win over Steelers

November 22, 2024

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) carries for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) — With snow falling, Nick Chubb plowed forward.
On a play that looked eerily similar to the one in Pittsburgh last year that threatened to end his career, Chubb kept his legs moving and pushed his way into the end zone for a touchdown he and his teammates won’t forget.
Chubb ran for a 2-yard touchdown w ith 57 seconds left, and the Cleveland Browns stunned one of their division rivals on Thursday night, beating the Steelers 24-19 and ending their five-game winning streak.
Chubb’s score came in his first game against the AFC North-leading Steelers (8-3) since the running back sustained a season-ending left knee injury in Week 2 last September in a Monday night game against the Steelers.
Chubb, who had injured the same knee while playing at Georiga in 2015, had to endure grueling rehab sessions to make it back on the field, and the sight of him scoring against the dreaded Steelers was almost poetic.
“It meant a lot to me. I know it means a lot to him,” said Myles Garrett, who had three sacks. “He won’t say it, but it’s true. I’ll say it because this time last year we were sick to our stomachs. There was just so much in the air, so for him to come back and be pivotal in this game just speaks to the kind of resilience and the man that he is.
“We absolutely love him.”
Chubb also scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter.
The Browns (3-8) had blown a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and were down 19-18 before getting the ball back with 3:22 remaining after Pittsburgh punter Corliss Waitman shanked a 16-yarder.
With snow piling up and covering the yard lines on the field, Cleveland’s Jameis Winston c ompleted a third-down pass to Jerry Jeudy to the Pittsburgh 9. Two plays later, Chubb barreled into the end zone.
Chubb did not speak to the media afterward, but his teammates were overjoyed and couldn’t wait to share his story.
“I’m his No. 1 fan when he’s out there,” Browns running back Jerome Ford said. “If I could, I would start the ‘Chubb’ chant every time he steps on the field.”
The Steelers had one last chance, but Russell Wilson’s Hail Mary on the final play was knocked down by Browns safety Grant Delpit in the end zone, touching off a wild celebration at Huntington Bank Field.
Amid a disastrous season, beating the Steelers eased pressure on coach Kevin Stefanski and gave Cleveland fans something to savor.
“Our guys love playing under the lights,” Stefanski said. “They love playing in front of these fans. Add the snow element, it was pretty cool.”
With early snow flurries giving way to blizzard-like conditions in the fourth quarter that blanketed the field in white — Amazon Prime Video used graphics on its telecast to show the otherwise invisible numbers and hash marks — the Steelers quickly erased an 18-6 deficit, scoring two touchdowns in just over a minute.
Wilson’s 23-yard TD pass to Calvin Austin III with 6:15 left put Pittsburgh ahead by one. Nick Herbig’s strip-sack of Winston set up the go-ahead score and put the Steelers in position to win their sixth straight and open a two-game lead in the AFC North over Baltimore.
However, the Browns responded and pulled off their second divisional win after beating the Ravens last month.
“We should’ve won that game,” Wilson said. “We felt like we battled in a tough environment. The way we answered in the fourth quarter was pretty special and we had a chance at the end, too.”
Jaylen Warren scored on a 3-yard run midway through the fourth to pull the Steelers to 18-13. Then, as always seems to be the case, Pittsburgh’s defense came up with the big play as Herbig got to Winston and safety DeShon Elliott recovered the fumble.
Garrett outplayed Steelers star T.J. Watt — like he planned.
Garrett dominated the first half, sacking Wilson and putting constant pressure on the Steelers’ QB. The performance came during a week in which the Browns star commented about Watt’s seeming slight when Garrett was named Defensive Player of the Year over him last season.
“I wanted to make it known that I’m the guy, I’m No. 1 as an edge defender. That was a statement I was intending to make and I think I made.”
Garrett set up Cleveland’s second score with a strip-sack of Wilson. As he was being blocked, Garrett popped the ball from Wilson’s grip and linebacker Winston Reid recovered.
The Browns drove to the 16 and settled for a 34-yard field from Dustin Hopkins, who missed two kicks weeks a week ago in a loss at New Orleans.
Chubb’s TD dive in the second quarter capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive by the Browns, who gained just 19 yards and had two three-and-outs in the first quarter.
The Steelers drove inside Browns territory on their first three possessions, but came away with just three points.
Chris Boswell, who made six field goals last Sunday for all of Pittsburgh’s points in a win over Baltimore, missed a 58-yard field goal in the first quarter while the field was still in good shape. It was only his second miss in 31 attempts this season.
Injuries
Steelers: WR Van Jefferson (quadriceps) left briefly in the first half but returned. … LB Elandon Roberts was forced out in the fourth quarter with an unspecified injury.
Browns: WR Cedric Tillman is in concussion protocol.
Up next
Steelers: At Cincinnati on Dec. 1.
Browns: At Denver on Dec. 3.
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Penn State wins trademark case over retailer’s use of vintage logos, images

November 21, 2024

FILE – The Nittany Lion logo taken before an NCAA college football game between Penn State and Delaware, Sept. 9, 2023, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
By MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage logos and images. A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages earlier this week over products made and sold by the firms Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc. Penn State accused them of selling “counterfeit” clothing and accessories. The defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with Penn State. At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, but the Pennsylvania case was the first to go to trial.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Penn State has won a closely watched trademark fight over an online retailer’s use of its vintage sports logos and images.
A Pennsylvania jury awarded Penn State $28,000 in damages on Wednesday over products made and sold by Vintage Brand and Sportswear Inc., two firms co-founded by former minor league baseball player Chad Hartvigson.
Penn State accused them of selling “counterfeit” clothing and accessories, while the defendants said their website makes clear they are not affiliated with the university.
At least a dozen other schools have sued the defendants on similar grounds, including Purdue, Stanford and UCLA, Penn State said in its 2021 lawsuit. However, the Penn State case was the first to go to trial and seen by some as a test case in the sports merchandising industry.
“It addresses an important issue with trademark law — whether or not the mark owner is able to prevent third parties from using its marks on T-shirts and paraphernalia without permission,” said Tiffany Gehrke, a trademark lawyer in Chicago who was not involved in the case.
The verdict, she said, maintains the status quo, while a victory for Vintage Brand “could have shaken things up.” It followed a six-day trial in federal court in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, overseen by Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann.
It was not immediately clear if the defendants planned to appeal. Phone and email messages left with their lawyers on Thursday were not immediately returned.
Penn State, in a statement, called its trademarks “critical” to the school’s brand, and said it was grateful for the verdict.
“The university appreciates this result as it relates to the many hundreds of licensees with whom the university works and who go through the appropriate processes to use Penn State’s trademarks,” the statement said.
Penn State, founded in 1855, adopted the Nittany Lion as its mascot in 1904 and has been using various images of the animal, along with the school’s seal and other logos, for decades, the lawsuit said. The school now has more than 100,000 students at 24 campuses.

Fourth-ranked Penn State takes playoff push on the road for a passing test vs. Minnesota

November 21, 2024

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (15) throws against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
By The Associated Press undefined
Penn State takes its push for the College Football Playoff on the road to Minnesota this week. The Nittany Lions are 9-1 overall and fourth in both the latest CFP rankings and the AP poll. They’re still in the mix for the Big Ten title at 6-1. The Gophers are 6-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play. They’re 2-1 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of the game. The Gophers have never before had three wins against ranked opponents in the same season. The Nittany Lions are favored by 11½ points according to BetMGM odds.

No. 4 Penn State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP) at Minnesota (6-4, 4-3), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EST (CBS).
BetMGM College Football Odds: Penn State by 11½.
Series record: Penn State leads 10-6.
What’s at stake?
Penn State is in prime position for a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff and still in the mix to make the Big Ten championship game, with a home game against struggling Maryland waiting after this challenge on the road against a well-rounded opponent. Losing to Minnesota team coming off a bye week would be a big blow to Penn State’s playoff push and all but take a conference title off the table. Minnesota can vastly upgrade its bowl bid with a win and take some momentum into a final-week rivalry game at Wisconsin.
Key matchup
Penn State TE Tyler Warren vs. Minnesota defense. Warren, a first team AP Midseason All-America selection, totaled 190 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage last week in a blowout win at Purdue. He is second among all FBS tight ends in receiving yards (808) and also taken 13 of his 16 rushing attempts for either first downs or touchdowns. The Gophers are second in the FBS in passes defended per game, tied for fourth in interceptions per game and tied for 17th in yards allowed per pass attempt.
Players to watch
Penn State: DE Abdul Carter has had multiple tackles for loss in three straight games. The junior, who played linebacker the previous two seasons, second in the FBS with 17½ tackles for loss and seventh with eight sacks this year.
Minnesota: LB Cody Lindenberg. The fifth-year junior leads the Gophers with 76 tackles, coming off a career-high 14 tackles at Rutgers in their last game on Nov. 9.
Facts & figures
This will be Penn State’s fourth visit to Minnesota since Huntington Bank Stadium opened on campus in 2009. The Nittany Lions won in 2010 and lost in 2013 and 2019. … Penn State has won its first four road games in a season for the first time since 2011. … Penn State QB Drew Allar is third in the FBS in yards per pass attempt (9.8) and fifth in completion percentage (71.9) … The Nittany Lions have allowed 49 second-half points this season for the second-best per-game average in the FBS. … Minnesota is 2-1 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of the game. The Gophers have never posted three wins against ranked opponents in one season.
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Pirates tab Matt Hague as their next hitting coach hoping to unlock anemic offense

November 21, 2024

FILE – This is a 2024 photo of Matt Hague of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Matt Hague as their hitting coach, bringing him back to the team that drafted him in 2008.
Hague replaces Andy Haines, who was fired after Pittsburgh finished in the bottom 10 in the majors in every significant statistical category last season, including runs (24th) and home runs (25th), while also striking out a club-record 1,504 times, second-most in the National League behind Colorado.
The 39-year-old Hague spent last season as an assistant hitting coach with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Pirates selected Hague in the ninth round of the 2008 draft. The first baseman reached the majors in 2012 with Pittsburgh but played sparingly with the Pirates and Toronto. Hague hit .226 with no home runs and 7 RBIs in 84 career major-league at-bats. He played briefly in Japan in 2016 and served as a minor leaguer in three different organizations in 2017 and 2018 before going into coaching.
Pittsburgh finished 76-86 for a second straight season due mostly to an offense that struggled to support a pitching staff that included National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes and fellow rookie Jared Jones. The Pirates figure to spend much of their offseason trying to upgrade a lineup anchored by veteran left fielder Bryan Reynolds.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Former Pirates Catcher Jacob Stallings agrees to a $2.5M, 1-year deal with the Colorado Rockies

November 21, 2024

FILE – Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings (25) in the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)

BC-BBO–Rockies-Stallings, 2nd Ld-Writethru

Nov 20, 2024 5:05 PM

DENVER (AP) — Catcher Jacob Stallings and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract. The deal carries a $2 million salary for next season, along with a $2 million mutual option for 2026 that includes a $500,000 base buyout. The 34-year-old Stallings set full-season career highs with Colorado last season when he hit .263 with nine homers and a slugging percentage of .453. He caught 12 runners stealing, which was 12th most among catchers.

First-place Steelers visit rival Browns on Thursday night with teams at opposite ends of AFC North

November 21, 2024

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is introduced prior to an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

By The Associated Press undefined
The Steelers and Browns will renew their rivalry Thursday night sitting at opposite ends of the AFC North. After navigating through some quarterback uncertainty, Pittsburgh is a surprising 8-2 while Cleveland is a dreary and disappointing 2-8. The Steelers are coming off a gritty win at home over the Baltimore Ravens and can’t afford a letdown against the Browns, whose playoff hopes are gone and may be headed for another massive overhaul. Coach Kevin Stefanski could use a big win to alleviate any concern that he has lost his team.

Pittsburgh (8-2) at Cleveland (2-8)
Thursday, 8 p.m. EST, Amazon Prime.
BetMGM NFL Odds: Steelers by 3 1/2.
Against the spread: Steelers 8-2; Browns 3-7.
Series record: Steelers lead 79-62-1.
Last meeting: Browns beat Steelers 13-10 on Nov. 19, 2023, in Cleveland.
Last week: Steelers beat Ravens 18-16; Browns lost to Saints 35-14.
Steelers offense: overall (19), rush (8), pass (28), scoring (14).
Steelers defense: overall (8), rush (4), pass (19), scoring (2).
Browns offense: overall (27), rush (29), pass (20), scoring (31).
Browns defense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (17), scoring (24).
Turnover differential: Steelers plus-11; Browns minus-5.
Steelers player to watch
WR George Pickens. Perhaps no player has benefitted more from QB Russell Wilson’s arrival in the starting lineup than Pickens. The 6-foot-3 third-year wideout has become Wilson’s go-to in almost every situation. Pickens had a season high in targets (12) and receptions (eight) last week against the Ravens and his 48 catches on the season are more than the next four receivers on the depth chart combined (35).
Browns player to watch
RB Nick Chubb. He’ll face the Steelers for the first time since suffering a gruesome knee injury against them last season. Chubb’s inspiring comeback has been one of the only positives this season for the Browns. In his fourth game back, Chubb gained 50 yards last week but was only on the field for 22 plays as the team continues to manage his workload following his second knee reconstruction.
Key matchup
Steelers LB/edge rusher T.J. Watt versus Browns RT Jack Conklin. Watt is having another Watt-like season — 7 1/2 sacks, four forced fumbles, two recoveries and 12 tackles for loss through 10 games. Pittsburgh moves Watt from side to side but he’ll primarily be lined up against Conklin, who will likely need some help to keep QB Jameis Winston upright.
Key injuries
Steelers: OLB Alex Highsmith will miss his second straight game with an ankle injury. Nick Herbig started in Highsmith’s place against Baltimore on Sunday and forced a fumble on the game’s opening series.
Browns: DE Myles Garrett (hip) missed practice on Tuesday but is expected to play. … Starting LT Dawand Jones broke his leg last week and is done for the season. His loss is further complicated by Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee), who sat out last week and will also miss Thursday’s game. Germain Ifedi will start for the Browns.
Series notes
The heated rivalry has been more balanced in recent years after being dominated by the Steelers for most of two decades. … Pittsburgh won 12 straight, 17 of 18 and 25 of 28 from 2000-14. … The Steelers are just 1-4-1 in their past six visits to Cleveland, losing twice on Thursday night. … The Browns have won eight straight home games on Thursdays. … Overall, Cleveland has won six in a row on Thursday night.
Stats and stuff
The Steelers have won five straight, the past four with Wilson taking over after missing the first six games with a calf injury. … Pittsburgh is 0-3 on the road on Thursday nights against the Browns, including losses in 2019 and 2022. … The Steelers are 67-39-4 all time against QBs taken No. 1 overall in the draft as Winston was in 2015 by Tampa in 2015. … Pittsburgh needs just one victory or tie in its last eight games to assure the franchise of its 21st straight non-losing season, the past 18 under coach Mike Tomlin. … Watt has thrived against the Browns. Watt has 17 sacks against Cleveland in his career, tied for the most against any Pittsburgh opponent (Baltimore). … Pittsburgh K Chris Boswell is 29 of 30 on the season and provided all of the Steelers’ points in wins over Atlanta and Baltimore, games in which Boswell made all six of his field-goal attempts. Pittsburgh is 2-0 this season when the offense doesn’t score a touchdown. The rest of the NFL is 2-13 in such games. … One of the reason’s Boswell has been so busy is that Pittsburgh’s offense has sputtered in the red zone. The Steelers have turned just 16 of their 36 trips inside the opponent’s 20 into touchdowns, that’s the third-lowest touchdown rate (44.4 percent) in the league. … Pittsburgh’s defense is among the league’s best, particularly after halftime. The Steelers are allowing just 6.4 points in the second half, tops in the NFL. … Cleveland begins a critical stretch with coach Kevin Stefanski’s future in doubt despite winning the AP Coach of the Year honor last season. … Winston is coming off his best game with the Browns, throwing for 395 yards and two TDs in his third start of 2024. … This will be Winston’s first career game against the Steelers, who were the only NFL team he had not faced. … Chubb has 717 yards rushing and three TDs in 10 games against the Steelers. … There’s a rivalry within the rivalry between Watt and Garrett, the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year and the 2021 winner. When Garrett won the award, Watt felt slighted and posted “Nothing I’m not used to” on social media. Watt had more sacks (19) than Garrett (14) last season. … Browns WR Jerry Jeudy had six catches last week for 142 yards, including an 89-yard TD. … CB Denzel Ward finally got his first interception — and Cleveland’s second all season — last week despite playing hurt. Ward leads the league with 17 passes defensed. …. Normally reliable K Dustin Hopkins missed three field goals against the Saints. He’s just 4 of 8 on kicks of at least 50 yards after making all eight attempts from 50 and beyond last year.
Fantasy tip
While Pickens has developed nice chemistry with Wilson, he’ll likely be matched up against Ward, who is playing as well as any corner in the league. Also, the weather forecast of cold, wind and maybe snow could make passing a challenge. A better play might be to go with Steelers RB Najee Harris, who has run for a career-best 493 yards and four TDs against the Browns.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Paul Skenes becomes second Pittsburgh Pirate to win National League Rookie of the Year Award by Major League Baseball

November 19, 2024

(File Photo)

Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Major League Baseball announced on Monday that Pittsburgh Pirates rookie phenomenon pitcher Paul Skenes has won the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Award. Skenes has created a buzz in Pittsburgh since he made his first start in May, and in only twenty-three starts, pitched 133 innings with 0.95 WHIP and 1.96 ERA, while holding an 11-3 record. After beating out worthy rookie nominees Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers and Jackson Merill of the San Diego Padres, he becomes the first Pittsburgh Pirate since Jason Bay in 2004 to become the Rookie of the Year in the National League. Skenes is also the first rookie to start the Major League Baseball All Star Game since Hideo Nomo in 1995. The National League Cy Young Award winner will be confirmed on Wednesday, and Skenes is nominated for that as well.

Boswell kicks 6 field goals and the Steelers bottle up Lamar Jackson in 18-16 win over the Ravens

November 17, 2024

Nov 17, 2024 6:21 PM

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Boswell tied a franchise record with six field goals and the Pittsburgh Steelers limited Lamar Jackson and the NFL’s top-ranked offense in an 18-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers (8-2) won their fifth straight behind Boswell and a defense that never let Jackson, Derrick Henry or the rest of the offense get into a rhythm, opening up a little breathing room atop the AFC North. The Ravens were held to season lows in points and yards and while turning it over three times to fall to 7-4.

Ellwood City Comes Up Short To South Park 28-7

November 15, 2024

Story by Ryan Gerazounis – Beaver County Radio

(Wexford, Pa)

Only one game stood between the Ellwood City Wolverines football team and a trip to Acrisure Stadium next Saturday for a chance at AA WPIAL Gold. On Friday night the Wolverines faced their toughest challenge of the season when they faced off against the South Park Eagles. Ellwood City came into the game with a perfect record. While South Park only lost one game back in week 1 of the season.

The Wolverines started the game red hot, when Chris Smiley hit Dailonn Currie for an 18 yard touchdown pass. Giving them a 7-0 lead only forty five seconds into the game. On Ellwood City’s second drive Chris Smiley threw an interception to Nathan Walz that was returned all the way down to the Wolverines two yard line. Two plays later Colsen Heynes found the end zone, tying the game at 7-7. Later in the first half South Park’s Eric Doerue found pay dirt scoring on a long run and that gave the Eagles a 14-7 lead at halftime.

South Park’s Sophomore running back Colsen Heynes added to their lead early in the third quarter by taking a handoff and going 28 yards for another Eagles touchdown. Putting his team up 21-7. Ellwood City who haven’t played from behind all season was having no success on offense. The Eagles would add on again later in the third quarter when Eric Doerue found the end zone for his second touchdown of the evening, increasing their lead to 28-7. The clock was no longer on the Wolverines side and desperation started to set in. In the fourth quarter while attempting to comeback Chris Smiley threw another interception, this time to Kenyan Brown. South Park was able to run the clock out and they would take the victory over Ellwood City 28-7.

The South Park Eagles will advance to Acrisure Stadium next weekend for a chance at WPIAL Gold. They will face off with Seton LaSalle for the WPIAL AA Championship. The Ellwood City Wolverines have been eliminated from playoff contention.