Category: Sports

Strong finish has Steelers optimistic heading into 2023

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers head into 2023 with plenty of optimism following a strong finish to 2022. Pittsburgh won seven of its final nine games to end up at 9-8. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett showed flashes of being a star down the stretch, engineering a pair of late touchdown drives in key wins over Las Vegas and Baltimore. The biggest question will be who handles the play-calling. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada came under fire as the unit struggled to score points, though coach Mike Tomlin credited Canada for the offense’s improvement over the second half of the season.

Penguins Beat Coyotes 4-1 to end 6-game slide

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby sends Arizona Coyotes center Barrett Hayton (29) to the ice as Penguins defenseman Ty Smith looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Tempe, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Jake Guentzel scored two goals, Casey DeSmith stopped 23 shots and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-1 to end a six-game losing streak. Pittsburgh fell into an early hole on Barrett Hayton’s first-period goal, but Guentzel scored twice in a little over three minutes in the second. Jason Zucker also scored, Jeff Carter added an empty-net goal and Sidney Crosby had two assists in Pittsburgh’s first win since Dec. 20. Karel Vejmelka had 24 saves for Arizona, which has lost five straight.

 

Steelers Beat Browns 28-14 But Miss Out On Playoffs

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) celebrates with teammate Dan Moore Jr. after scoring during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Najee Harris ran for 84 yards and a touchdown and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 28-14 on Sunday but were eliminated from the playoffs when Miami edged the New York Jets.
The Steelers (9-8) will have to settle for a 16th straight non-losing season under coach Mike Tomlin, fueled by a 7-2 finish. Pittsburgh’s ugly 2-6 start included an injury to star linebacker T.J. Watt and rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett’s ascension to the starting job at halftime of a Week 4 loss to the Jets.
Pickett completed 13 of 29 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown and avoided an interception for the sixth time in his last seven appearances.
Pittsburgh’s defense sacked Deshaun Watson seven times to assure the Steelers of finishing ahead of the Browns (7-10) in the standings for the 34th consecutive time.
Cleveland has had 17 seasons of 10 losses or more since the franchise rebooted in 1999.
Watson, who was suspended for the first 11 games of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, connected on 19 of 29 passes for 230 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, both of which the Steelers turned into points. Nick Chubb ran for 77 yards and caught a touchdown pass to join Jim Brown as the only players in Browns history to exceed 1,500 yards rushing in a season.
Pittsburgh ran off 20 straight points — 10 of them directly after turnovers — after spotting Cleveland an early touchdown. The Browns drew within 20-14 on a 2-yard flip from Watson to Chubb with 10:20 to go.
The Steelers responded with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard plunge by fullback Derek Watt with 4:39 to play.
While the Steelers entered the finale still in the mix, Cleveland was looking toward 2023 following an uneven season in which the turmoil surrounding Watson’s status overshadowed the on-field product for long stretches.
The Browns will miss out on the playoffs for a second straight year, although coach Kevin Stefanski’s job appears safe. The same cannot be said of members of Stefanski’s staff. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods’ status could be in jeopardy as the unit was wildly inconsistent and awful against the run, even with Myles Garrett — whose 16 sacks tied his own club record — having another spectacular season.
INJURIES
Browns: LB Reggie Ragland left in the first half with a shoulder injury. … CB Denzel Ward did not play in the second half due to a shoulder injury. Ward was questionable during the week. … T Jedrick Wills went to the sideline in the final minute with a leg injury.
Steelers: WR Gunnar Olszewski injured his left leg on a jet sweep in the third quarter. … C Mason Cole was evaluated for a left ankle injury in the third quarter but did not miss a series. … TE Pat Freiermuth left with a left leg injury in the fourth quarter.
KOSAR FIRED
Former Browns quarterback and Ohio native Bernie Kosar said he was fired from the team’s radio broadcast team on Sunday. Kosar admitted earlier this week to placing a bet on the Browns to win the game. Ohio made sports betting legal on Jan. 1.
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Blackhawk @ Beaver Score Updates!!!

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Steelers still eyeing playoffs as Browns visit in finale

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, right, celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver George Pickens (14) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers enter their regular-season finale against Cleveland still in the mix for the playoffs. Pittsburgh is 8-8 and needs a victory over the Browns and losses by Miami and New England to reach the postseason for the third straight year. The Steelers have praised coach Mike Tomlin’s leadership for helping them bounce back after a 2-6 start. Cleveland is 7-9 and searching for a season sweep of its longtime rival for the first time since 1988. The Browns are 3-2 since quarterback Deshaun Watson took over.

Bills’ Hamlin in critical condition after collapse on field

The Buffalo Bills players pray for teammate Damar Hamlin during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati. The game has been postponed after Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin collapsed, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin was in critical condition early Tuesday after the Bills say he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field following a tackle hours earlier, leading to the indefinite postponement of Buffalo’s pivotal Monday night showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bills said in a statement: “Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”

Hamlin was born in McKees Rocks and played for Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School.

Steelers still alive after last-minute 16-13 win over Ravens

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) throws against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Kenny Pickett threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Najee Harris with 56 seconds remaining, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a 16-13 victory over the Baltimore Ravens and improbably keeping their playoff hopes alive for another week. It was the first touchdown allowed by Baltimore at home in four games, and the Steelers needed it to avoid elimination. Just like they needed Miami to lose to New England earlier in the day, which also happened. Pittsburgh can now make the playoffs by beating Cleveland next weekend — if Miami and New England both lose. The Ravens’ chances of winning the AFC North took a hit.

Roberto Clemente remains Latino legend 50 years after death

FILE – Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates is seen in Tampa, Fla., March 3, 1963. Fifty years after his death, Clemente, the skillful outfielder, remains one of the most revered figures in Puerto Rico and Latin America. His graceful flare and powerful arm were unrivaled in his era, but his humanitarian efforts are perhaps his greatest legacy. Half a century after he played, many of today’s Latino baseball players credit him for paving the way. (AP Photo/Preston Stroup, File)

Roberto Clemente remains one of the most revered figures in Puerto Rico and Latin America 50 years after his death. His graceful flare and powerful arm were unrivaled in his era. His humanitarian efforts off the field are perhaps his greatest legacy, though. Half a century after he played, many of today’s Latino baseball players credit him for paving the way. Clemente died at age 38 on Dec. 31, 1972, when his plane crashed off the coast of Puerto Rico as he was delivering relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

Franco Harris Dies Just Two Days Short of 50th Anniversary of “Immaculate Reception”

FILE – Pittsburgh Steelers’ Franco Harris (32) eludes a tackle by Oakland Raiders’ Jimmy Warren as he runs 42-yards for a touchdown after catching a deflected pass during an AFC Divisional NFL football playoff game in Pittsburgh, Dec. 23, 1972. Harris’ scoop of a deflected pass and subsequent run for the winning touchdown — forever known as the “Immaculate Reception” — has been voted the greatest play in NFL history. On the 50th anniversary of the “Immaculate Reception” — Friday, Dec. 23, 2022 — Pittsburghers recall how it boosted morale during the collapse of the steel industry and has served as a cultural rallying point ever since. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck, File)
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris has died. He was 72. Harris’ heads-up thinking authored “The Immaculate Reception.” It is considered the most iconic play in NFL history. Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. The team’s dynasty began in earnest when Harris decided to keep running during a last-second heave by Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw in a playoff game against Oakland in 1972. His catch and run off a deflected pass gave the Steelers their first-ever playoff win and is forever immortalized as the “Immaculate Reception.”

A rare Tuesday Evening Rivalry

A good evening for a boys high school basketball game! The game took place  in New Brighton and hosted Beaver falls.  The first half started out with the game within 2 points, rideled with fouls and turnovers, the points spread ou throughout the game as it progressed.

Into the 2nd half, the, the game points ended up spreading out as time went on.

A fast moving contest, the lead spread out to  beyond a 10 point lead. The game had then progressed to over a ten point lead. Beaver Falls ended u with a final of 71 points pover  New Brighton  which had 55. A