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For anyone expecting the Darryl Sutter era Kings to be radically different from the Terry Murray era right away, boy was this game against the Ducks a letdown despite the 3-2 shootout victory. more › Read the original: Kings Are 1-0 in Darryl Sutter Era
EUGENE, Ore. — LaMichael James ran for 219 yards and three touchdowns and No. 8 Oregon beat UCLA 49-31 in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game Friday night for the Ducks’ third straight conference title and a berth in the Rose Bowl. Rick Neuheisel tipped his hat to the UCLA fans in his last game as coach. The former Bruins quarterback was fired this week after four seasons with his alma mater. While the Bruins (6-7) played with passion for their outgoing coach and kept it closer than many thought they would, it was not enough to overcome the Ducks (11-2), who head to a BCS bowl for the third straight season. Darron Thomas threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns, becoming Oregon’s career leader with 63 TD passes. James became the first rusher in Pac-12 history with three straight 1,500-yard seasons. He moved into a tie with USC’s LenDale White (2003-05) for second on the league’s career rushing TD list with 52. Afterward, James and fellow running back Kenjon Barner danced, while other Ducks held roses clenched in their teeth. Fans swarmed the players as fireworks exploded above Autzen Stadium and confetti rained down. “These guys go play,” coach Chip Kelly said. “They’re fearless competitors.” Neuheisel, fired following last weekend’s 50-0 loss to No. 9 Southern California, hugged quarterback Kevin Prince as time ran out. “Well, we weren’t good enough, but it wasn’t because we didn’t have enough heart,” he said. Neuheisel’s dismissal was part of a wave of coaching moves in the conference. Around the time he was fired, Arizona State let go of Dennis Erickson. Washington State parted ways with Paul Wulff, then quickly hired former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach a day later. “They can take my job,” Neuheisel said, gesturing to the locker room, “but they can’t take those boys away from me.” Oregon will play the winner of the first Big 10 championship game Saturday between No. 11 Michigan State and No. 15 Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2. The bowl pairings will be formally announced on Sunday. The heavily favored Ducks scored on their first series when James ran 30 yards for a touchdown. James went into the game as the nation’s top running back with an average of 142.7 yards per game. UCLA tied it when linebacker Patrick Larimore intercepted Thomas and ran 35 yards for a touchdown. Neuheisel pumped his fist in celebration. Thomas scored on a 10-yard keeper and then found true freshman tight end Colt Lyerla alone in the end zone with a 7-yard scoring pass to make it 21-7. UCLA narrowed it with Prince’s flea-flicker to Nelson Rosario for a 37-yard touchdown. Oregon was stung early in the game when dynamic true freshman De’Anthony Thomas fumbled after a hit by Tevin McDonald. Shaken up on the play, the versatile running back who earlier this week was named the Pac-12′s co-freshman of the year on offense did not return. James added a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 28-14 before Darron Thomas connected with Daryle Hawkins for a 25-yard TD reception. UCLA’s Tyler Gonzalez kicked a 44-yard field goal to make it 37-17 at halftime. Prince scored on a 1-yard run early in the third quarter to pull UCLA closer to the Ducks, but James answered with a 5-yard TD dash to make it 42-24. A Heisman Trophy finalist last season as a sophomore, James fell out of the running for the most part this season because he missed two games with a dislocated right elbow. There has been speculation that James may skip his senior season at Oregon to go to the NFL. After the game, fans on the field chanted “One More Year!” “Just being with my teammates, I cherish that,” he said. “I don’t think about `one more year.’ I just think about today.” David Paulson caught a 22-yard touchdown pass midway through the third, which put Darron Thomas in front of Danny O’Neil (1991-94) for most passing TDs at Oregon. Rosario pulled down a one-handed, 19-yard touchdown pass from Prince with less than two minutes to play. Prince completed 13 of 26 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. The addition of Colorado and Utah to the Pac-12 paved the way for a league championship game this season. In previous years, the team with the best conference record claimed the title. While No. 9 USC (10-2, 7-2) finished atop the Pac-12 South, the Trojans are ineligible to play in the postseason because of NCAA sanctions, which put UCLA in the title game. This week, the NCAA ruled that the Bruins could accept a bowl invitation even if they lost Friday. Because of Neuheisel’s dismissal, offensive coordinator Mike Johnson will take over if UCLA is selected. The Bruins have reached just one bowl game in the past three seasons. Athletic director Dan Guerrero said he wants to reward the Bruins’ 18 seniors by going to a bowl even while the program is in upheaval. Oregon went to the 2010 Rose Bowl in its first season under Kelly, losing to Ohio State. Last season the Ducks went to the BCS championship, where they fell to Auburn. Oregon had appeared to be in the running for another shot at the national championship game before losing 38-35 to USC at Autzen Stadium on Nov. 19. Read the original: Duck Walk: Oregon Routs UCLA For Pac 12 Title
Sometimes a team loses in the long run despite winning a particular game. Thanks to injuries to Willie Mitchell and Mike Richards in the game, the Kings look like the losers on the ice despite their 2-1 victory over the rarely seen Florida Panthers. more › Link: Kings Overcome Injuries, Chase Panthers For Victory
The UCLA Bruins suited up in all-white last night in their game against the USC Trojans, and in retrospect it looks their uniforms were a white flag of surrender . The Bruins’ 50-0 defeat certainly looks like it could be the end for coach Rick Neuheisel. more › View original post here: UCLA Football Coach Could Be Canned After Bruins Face Off Against Oregon Ducks
The lifeguard who supervised the search for Natalie Wood thirty years ago, believes the actress could have been saved if rescue teams were called sooner. What happened that day? What did Smith tell investigators. Photo Credit: Feed Loader Go here to see the original: Lifeguard in Natalie Wood Case Tells His Story
Mike Richards with a goal and an assist helps lead the Kings to their fifth victory in seven games. Jonathan Bernier in his first start since Nov. 8 gave up a shaky goal in the first shot of the game. But he recovered to save 23 shots including 14 in the second period. more › Visit link: LAst Night’s Action: No Blues for the Kings
In tonight’s Extra, Extra, two of the three stolen Buena Park puppies are recovered, scandal continues to surround Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore’s recent split and Seal Beach residents watch as unidentified crazies behead a pigeon and coat themselves in its blood. Plus: Keep up with us on Facebook , and follow us on Twitter: @LAist @LAistFood @LAistSports . more › See the article here: Extra, Extra: Stolen Puppies Retrieved, Pigeon Slaughter Plus Ashton & Demi’s Open Marriage
Perhaps no football team in the Ocean League has been more decimated by injuries this season than Beverly Hills and it was evident Friday night against Morningside at Coleman Stadium in Inglewood. The Normans were down to their fourth- and fifth-stringers at certain positions and that, coupled with a lack of red zone production, led to their third consecutive defeat, 6-2, in a defensive struggle against a fired-up opponent determined to notch its first league win on homecoming. “The defense played well, but it’s tough to win when you have so many guys out,” Normans coach Donald Paysinger said. “Also, the field was in terrible shape because it rained earlier in the day and Inglewood played here [Thursday] night. Neither team could move the ball.” Having lost top wide receivers Broderic Smith and Willie Green earlier in the season, BHHS played Friday night without leading rusher Frank Brown, who suffered a concussion in the Normans’ 42-0 loss to defending league champion Inglewood the previous week. That left running duties to first-time starters Eddie Hong and Monte Monroe. Senior quarterback Brandon Adams missed several practices with the flu and took only a few snaps against Morningside, leaving the job to senior Cameron Countryman and junior Chase Crossly. Both offenses looked stuck in the mud and the teams combined for nine punts, but BHHS still had a chance to win the game, driving to the Monarchs’ 6-yard line. After Countryman was sacked at the 12-yard line, the Normans thought they had scored when tight end Madison Monroe caught a pass from Crossly and appeared to break the plane of the goal line on fourth down, but officials ruled him down at the 1-yard line, giving the ball back to Morningside. However, Beverly Hills’ defense rose up and wrapped up quarterback Dana Dodson in the end zone for a safety that trimmed the Normans’ deficit to four points with 2:03 left. After Morningside punted the ball back, BHHS tried a reverse on its first play but the ball was fumbled and recovered by defensive lineman Trayvion Carter, who returned it to the Normans’ 12-yard line. From there, Morningside proceeded to run out the clock. “I’m almost positive it was a touchdown,” Monroe said of his “almost” game-tying catch. “The ball was across the goal line and my knee wasn’t down. They took it away, but that’s the way the game goes.” Beverly Hills had penetrated the 10-yard line in the third quarter as well, but a wobbly pass was intercepted by Kenny Willis, who returned it to the Monarchs’ 42-yard line. Morningside’s only score came one play after a turnover. Countryman was hit and fumbled as he was cocking his arm to throw a pass and Carter recovered at the Morningside 34-yard line. On a quick count, senior Chad Conner raced 66 yards on a quarterback draw to give the home team a 6-0 lead. The snap was bad on the extra point attempt and the kick was blocked. “It was just your basic run up the middle, the coaches told me it would be open and it was,” Conner said. “This was real big. Everyone came out for our homecoming and you always want to win that game. Defensively, we just had to stop No. 1 [Countryman]. He was their big-play guy.” Countryman was held to 31 yards in nine carries and completed three of seven passes for 19 yards. Conner had 89 yards in 12 carries and Dotson gained 74 yards in 12 carries for Morningside, which closes the season with its annual grudge game against Inglewood next Thursday. Beverly Hills hosts Culver City at Nickoll Field next Thursday night. The Centaurs lost to Santa Monica 17-14 Friday night. Santa Monica can clinch the league title outright with a victory over Hawthorne. “We have too many injuries and it’s hard to execute the way you want to when you have eight or nine starters missing,” Paysinger said. “We didn’t have one of our best linemen [Julian Jackson], who got injured last week. So we came in short-handed and it showed.” Records: Beverly Hills 2-7, 1-3; Morningside 4-5, 1-3. Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook . Go here to see the original: Normans’ Offense Sputters Against Morningside
