Mountaineers fall short against TCU
West Virginia came up short Saturday at TCU, and the Mountaineers have to be playing a game of “what if.”
Will Grier threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns to continue his torrid pace for the Mountaineers, but it wasn’t enough. The team made plays, but TCU made a few more and that was the difference in the game.
The 23rd-ranked Mountaineers host 24th-ranked Texas Tech Saturday and WVU really needs to pull it out. Three of WVU’s remaining seven games are against ranked teams, and if it wants to return to Texas for the inaugural Big 12 title game, it may have to win out.
Pitt in trouble for bowl game?
Pitt’s loss at Syracuse could be the game that Panther fans look back on as the game that kept the team out of a bowl. Pitt sits at 2-4, and like WVU, it has three games remaining against Top 25 teams.
The Panthers host No. 20 N.C. State Saturday and then has three games that they must win to hope to be bowl eligible.
Pitt heads to Duke and then hosts Virginia and North Carolina. The Panthers close the regular season at No. 18 Virginia Tech on Nov. 18 and hosts No. 11 Miami on Nov. 24.
PSU line must improve
A lot of Penn state fans may look at the fact that the team is ranked third in the country, has the best all-around player in the country in Saquon Barkley, and think things are looking good.
The Nittany Lions have this weekend off, and the offensive line will need to get their act together.
It is one thing to beat teams like Indiana and Northwestern with subpar line play, but Michigan and Ohio State are both loaded with future NFL defensive linemen who will eat PSU’s line up if it does not improve.
The week off will be beneficial for the players to recover from nagging injuries, and it is a safe bet that they will be amped up for the White Out night game against the Wolverines.
As of right now, ESPN has not announced its College Gameday location, and don’t be surprised if it heads to Happy Valley for the first time in almost a decade because as of right now, it is the only match-up between two ranked teams for that weekend.
Monessen duo at Duquesne
Since birth, Chavis and Justice Rawlins have practically been connected at the hip.
There is only a month age difference between the brothers, and it is only fitting that they are finishing up their senior football seasons together for Duquesne University.
Ball boys for the Monessen football team when I was an assistant coach there in 2002 and 2003, it was fun to cover them during their scholastic careers for the Greyhounds. Both earned All-State honors at different points in their careers, and to see them go out together is great.
Chavis, a wide receiver, is currently second on the team with 20 catches for 160 yards and one touchdown, while Justice, a redshirt senior defensive lineman, is causing havoc up front.
In June, I ran into them separately while they were working at PNC Park at mobile merchandise stands in the stadium. Both of their faces lit up when we made eye contact and it was followed by a big hug from each.
They will look to help the Dukes, who currently sit at 4-1, knock off rival Robert Morris Saturday. The game will air on ESPN3 online with kickoff at 6 p.m.
Zimcosky set for sophmore year at Ohio U
Emily Zimcosky and her Ohio University Bobcat teammates have started practice for this coming season.
The Smock native and 2016 Geibel Catholic graduate won six WPIAL gold medals during her career, including setting four WPIAL records, two PIAA gold medals and qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials in the 50-meter freestyle.
Zimcosky will likely swim in any combination freestyles, from sprints (50- and 100-meter) to middle distance (200- and 500-meter), although there is a chance she could swim the 1000 meters. As a true freshman last season, she won eight races during the team’s 10 meets.
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