Birr kicks 23-yard FG with 11 seconds left as No. 14 Georgia Tech rallies for 36-34 win over BC By KEN POWTAK Associated Press The Associated Press BOSTON
BOSTON (AP) — Aidan Birr kicked a 23-yard field goal with 11 seconds left and No. 14 Georgia Tech rallied for a 36-34 victory over Boston College on Saturday to remain tied for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Haynes King completed 26 of 34 passes for 371 yards and a touchdown as the Yellow Jackets (9-1, 6-1, No. 16 CFP) stayed even with No. 20 Virginia (No. 19 CFP) atop the league standings.
Dylan Lonergan went 26 of 40 for 362 yards and two TDs for the Eagles (1-10, 0-7), who lost their 10th straight game.
With a solid shot at the ACC championship game and potentially the College Football Playoff, Georgia Tech fell behind early in the second half and trailed 28-17 late in the third quarter.
After taking the lead, the Yellow Jackets fell behind again 34-33 when Turbo Richard scored on a 43-yard run up the middle. But the Eagles failed on the 2-point try.
King then marched Georgia Tech 69 yards in 13 plays before Birr’s winning kick.
The game ended when Lonergan's Hail Mary was batted down near the goal line as time expired.
Jordan Allen broke free down the left sideline for a 54-yard touchdown with just over six minutes left, moving the Yellow Jackets ahead 33-28.
Georgia Tech had clawed back and cut it to 28-26 on Jamal Haynes’ 2-yard score with 7 1/2 minutes to play. But lining up with an unbalanced formation, King was stopped short on the 2-point try.
Jordan McDonald’s 14-yard TD run pushed BC ahead 21-14 on its first drive of the second half.
Birr’s 34-yard field goal sliced it to 21-17 before Lonergan engineered a 75-yard drive, capping it off by hitting Reed Harris, who caught a short pass before breaking a couple of tackles and going in for an 18-yard score.
Coming off an upset loss at North Carolina State two weeks ago, the Yellow Jackets grabbed a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter when Malik Rutherford caught a short pass near the line of scrimmage and burst free for a 71-yard TD.
The takeaway
Georgia Tech: There are suddenly some big cracks in the defense and it’s coming at the wrong time. The Yellow Jackets gave up 583 yards in the loss N.C. State and 537 to BC.
Boston College: Coach Bill O’Brien made the right move in rotating his starting quarterback for the third straight game and going back to Lonergan. Grayson James started the other one. Lonergan transferred to BC from Alabama , where he was recruited by O’Brien when he was the offensive coordinator there.
Record holder
BC receiver Lewis Bond made eight catches and became the school’s career leader with 206, surpassing Zay Flowers, who had 200 from 2019-22.
Up next
Georgia Tech: Hosts No. 23 Pittsburgh next Saturday.
Boston College: Travels to Syracuse on Nov. 29 for its season finale.
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Davis runs for 2 TDs, leads Alcorn State over Grambling 27-16 The Associated Press LORMAN, Miss.
LORMAN, Miss. (AP) — Reggie Davis ran for 80 yards and two touchdowns to lead Alcorn State to a 27-16 victory over Grambling on Saturday.
Davis' 1-yard TD run capped an 11-play drive, 75-yard drive to give Alcorn State a 21-16 lead with 4:50 remaining. Grambling turned it over on downs on its next possession before forcing a three-and-out to get the ball back with three seconds left.
The game ended on Eric Thomas' fumble return for a touchdown.
Davis carried the ball 18 times and also had a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter. Jacorian Sewell ran for an 8-yard touchdown in the first quarter for Alcorn State (5-6, 4-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference). Jaylon Tolbert was 23-of-30 passing for 167 yards.
Tyrell Raby recovered a fumble and returned it 10 yards into the end zone late in the third quarter for Grambling (7-4, 4-3). Theodore Caballero kicked field goals from 29 and 27 yards. Hayden Benoit was 16-of-33 passing for 142 yards for the Tigers.
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Jake Retzlaff accounts for 3 TDs as Tulane beats Florida Atlantic 35-24 The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jake Retzlaff threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, Jamauri McClure had 94 yards rushing and a TD on 10 carries, and Tulane beat Florida Atlantic 35-24 on Saturday night.
Tulane (8-2, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) is tied for second in the conference, a half-game behind Navy.
After Tulane went three-and-out, Alec Clark's 53-yard punt was muffed by Easton Messer and recovered by the Green Wave's Shaun Nicholas, and on the next play Jimmy Calloway ran for a 14-yard touchdown to open the scoring with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
FAU (4-6, 3-4) answered with a seven-play, 68-yard drive, but — after an illegal formation penalty nullified a Caden Veltkamp's 2-yard TD pass to Dominique Henry on fourth-and-goal — settled for a 25-yard field goal by Garrison Smith.
On the first play of the second quarter, Retzlaff threw a fourth-and-6 pass to Bryce Bohanon for a 29-yard touchdown that gave Tulane a 14-3 lead.
Anthony Miller Jr. caught a 14-yard TD pass, McClure scored on an 8-yard run late in the third and Retzlaff's 1-yard touchdown run capped the scoring with 4:30 to play.
Veltkamp, who finished with 375 yards passing, threw a 4-yard TD pass to Jayshon Platt on fourth-and-goal in the second quarter and Kaden Shields-Dutton capped a 17-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run on fourth-and-goal in the fourth. Veltkamp connected with Messer for a 12-yard touchdown and hit Asaad Waseem for the 2-point conversion to cap the scoring with 1:49 to play.
Tulane's Isaiah Wadsworth intercepted a pass in the end zone with 24 seconds left in the second quarter and the Green Wave took a 21-10 lead into halftime.
Tulane safety Bailey Despanie, a team captain who had a first-quarter interception, was ejected in the third for targeting.
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Commanders kicker Matt Gay fulfilling soccer dream by playing at Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer The Associated Press MADRID
MADRID (AP) — Playing in Europe is extra special to some NFL players, especially those with connections to soccer.
Washington Commanders kicker Matt Gay is among them, having played soccer most of his life before switching to American football.
He will be at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday when the Commanders take on the Miami Dolphins for the NFL's first regular-season game in Spain.
It will be the seventh — and final — international game of the season, the most ever in one year for the NFL as it continues to expand globally .
“For me, this is a dream come true. You are playing soccer in the United States, and played all the way through college, and so the dream was to make it in Europe, and wanted to play in English Premier League, La Liga, and so, for me, to play in the Santiago Bernabeu, it’s just, like, I’m ecstatic," Gay said. "I never thought it would be American football, but nevertheless, dream come true.”
It's the third time Gay will play abroad. He was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they played against the Carolina Panthers in London in 2019. At that time, he played at the venue of his favorite soccer team, Tottenham. In 2023, Gay was with the Indianapolis Colts when they faced the New England Patriots in Frankfurt, Germany.
Gay was a youth soccer prospect as a teenager and was invited to join U.S. Soccer’s residency program. He eventually switched to American football at the University of Utah, and in 2019 he was drafted in the fifth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Gay said he was greatly influenced by some of the top soccer players he grew up watching.
“I grew up watching Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, Dimitar Berbatov, Karim Benzema," he said. "I was a center forward, No. 9 striker, and so watching those guys, you know, just play the game the way it’s supposed to be played and just score goals. That’s just kind of like where my love grew.
“I’m watching all them. Some of those guys that played in the English Premier League and then made the transition to play for Real Madrid. I mean, it’s been my whole life growing up until I switched to play American football, and so, for me, this is just again ... ecstatic to play here at Real Madrid.”
Commanders punter Tress Way compared the Bernabeu to the iconic American stadiums.
“Growing up in America playing baseball, you hope to get the chance to play where the New York Yankees play. Playing football, legendary stadiums like the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. So now getting to play American football and come to play where Real Madrid plays, it's just a dream come true.”
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Fifita becomes Arizona's all-time leader in TD passes in 30-24 win over No. 22 Cincinnati By JEFF WALLNER Associated Press The Associated Press CINCINNATI
CINCINNATI (AP) — Noah Fifita passed for 294 yards and a touchdown to become Arizona's all-time leader in TD passes as the Wildcats beat No. 22 Cincinnati 30-24 on Saturday in the first game between the teams.
Fifita was 23 for 31 passing and his scoring pass in the fourth quarter was his 68th career TD pass, surpassing the marks of Nick Foles and Willie Tuitama.
“It's a tremendous honor,” Fifita said of his career milestone. “I'm grateful, I really am. But we came to Cincinnati to get a win. That's what we did. We're going home as a team with a victory.”
Kris Hutson had eight catches for 123 yards for Arizona (7-3, 4-3 Big 12), his fourth career 100-yard receiving game.
Cincinnati, coming off a bye week following a 45-14 loss at No. 14 Utah, got within three points on Zion Johnson's TD run with 6:38 left.
Arizona kicker Michael Salgado-Medina, who missed a field goal try and had another attempt blocked in the first half, connected from 50 yards to extend the Wildcats' lead to 30-24 with 1:34 left.
“They were prepared and ready to play,” Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield said. “Uncharacteristically, we had some drops to extend drives, missed some tackles. We didn't make enough plays today.”
The Wildcats' defense made a big play on the first play from scrimmage.
Brendan Sorsby's pass was deflected and intercepted by Jay'Vion Cole at the Bearcats' 26. Two plays later, Ismail Mahdi's 27-yard touchdown run put the Wildcats ahead 7—0 just 57 seconds in.
Sorsby, who came in averaging 230 passing yards per game, was 15 for 28 passing for 154 yards against Arizona. He threw two interceptions.
“Whenever you play a great quarterback, he's only going to give you a couple chances (for takeaways),” Wildcats coach Brent Brennan said. “You have to finish on those.”
The Bearcats (7-3, 5-2) rushed for 140 yards in the first quarter, led by Tawee Walker, who had 104 yards on his first four carries, including a 54-yard run. It's Walker's first 100-yard rushing game since Oct. 19, 2024.
Sorsby threw a touchdown pass to Jeff Caldwell and ran for another score to help the Bearcats take a 14-10 lead into halftime.
Cincinnati rushed for only 50 yards after the opening quarter.
“Early in the game, we did some great things running the football,” Satterfield said. “In the second half, they were able to get some more guys in the box. We hit a little lull.”
A 50-yard touchdown run by Kedrick Reescano capped a 99-yard drive to put Arizona ahead 20-14 in the third quarter.
Fifita's 15-yard TD pass to Gio Richardson with 10:53 left in the fourth quarter capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive and gave the Wildcats a 27-17.
“We knew coming in it was going to be a hostile environment against a good team,” Fifita said. “The defense made some critical stops and we were able to finish when it mattered.”
Not enough
Arizona secured bowl eligibility for the first time since 2023 with last week's win over Kansas. Brennan's message to his players was not to be satisfied.
“Getting to the postseason is better for everything, development, recruiting,” Brennan said. “At the same time, it's not enough. We came here to play great football and build an incredible team."
Takeaways
Arizona: The Wildcats held an opponent to fewer than 200 passing yards for the eighth time this season, the most since 2009.
Cincinnati: After going seven straight games without an interception, Sorsby has three in the past two games.
Up next
Arizona: Hosts Baylor on Saturday.
Cincinnati: Hosts No. 12 BYU on Saturday.
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Packers kicker Brandon McManus doubtful for Giants game because of quad injury The Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus is doubtful for Sunday’s matchup with the New York Giants because of a quadriceps injury after that issue caused him to miss two games earlier this season.
The Packers added McManus to the injury report on Saturday. Green Bay also noted that receiver Malik Heath isn’t traveling with the team and won’t play because of what the Packers described as “coach’s decision."
McManus didn’t play in the Packers’ victories over Cincinnati on Oct. 12 and at Arizona on Oct. 19 because of a quad injury. He returned to play in Green Bay’s last three games but has gone 4 of 8 on field-goal attempts during that stretch, including coming up short on a 64-yarder in the final play of the Packers’ 10-7 Monday night loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
After going 20 of 21 on field-goal attempts during the regular season for the Packers last year, McManus is 11 of 17 this season.
Green Bay’s roster includes a second kicker in Lucas Havrisik, who went 4 of 4 on field-goal attempts in the two games McManus missed this season. One of the field goals Havrisik made was a 61-yarder, the longest field goal in Packers history.
Heath has caught six passes for 86 yards this season while playing just under one-third of the Packers’ offensive snaps.
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Broncos' J.K. Dobbins needs foot surgery and is likely done for season, AP source says By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press ENGLEWOOD, Colo.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins is heading to injured reserve and needs surgery on his left foot that likely will end his season, a person familiar with the diagnosis told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition on anonymity because the team hasn't provided an update on Dobbins since he was injured last week during an unflagged hip-drop tackle by Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson late in the third quarter of Denver's 10-7 win over Las Vegas .
He limped off the field, but concerns about his health dissipated after he returned and carried six times for 25 yards. He finished with 77 yards on 18 carries and the Broncos chewed up the final 4 1/2 minutes in the fourth quarter to secure their seventh straight win.
The next day, though, Dobbins posted an obscenity-laced rant on X, calling for hip-drop tackles to be penalized, and he sought a second medical opinion, which confirmed the injury's severity.
Dobbins has been the Broncos' biggest offensive spark. Rookie R.J. Harvey is set to assume the lead running back role Sunday when Denver (8-2) hosts the Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) in an AFC West showdown .
Dobbins ranks No. 3 in the NFL with 774 yards rushing on 5 yards per carry. Harvey is a distant second on the team with 214 rushing yards, and his biggest contributions so far have come in the passing game with four touchdown catches.
On Friday, Harvey, a second-round pick out of Central Florida who has six TDs, said he is eager to carry the load so the Broncos have no drop off in their ground game.
“The game, I feel like, it slowed down a lot for me,” he said. “When I first got here, things were moving quick, moving fast. I definitely feel more comfortable.”
“Definitely excited to showcase my running ability,” Harvey said. “Whatever coach wants me to do, I’m willing to do on the field and help my team the best way possible.”
Said Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi: “He’s just a guy that’s growing right before our eyes. If his workload increases, we’re going to see his production increase and be real excited about it.”
The Broncos can all but bury the Chiefs, who have won nine consecutive divisional titles, with a win Sunday. But they're missing several starters in addition to Dobbins.
Star cornerback Pat Surtain II (strained pectoral) and tight end Nate Adkins (knee) will both miss their third straight game, leading tackler Alex Singleton is recovering from surgery last week to remove a cancerous testicular tumor and outside linebacker Jonah Elliss (hamstring) is also out.
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Bills call up reinforcements at receiver by elevating Davis and signing Hardman to active roster By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer The Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills are bringing reinforcements to their Josh Allen-led passing game by elevating Gabe Davis from the practice squad and signing fellow wide receiver Mecole Hardman to the active roster.
The defense is also getting help with rookie tackle T.J. Sanders activated off of injured reserve in a series of moves Saturday, a day before the Bills (6-3) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3).
Davis is in his second stint with Buffalo and spent the first eight weeks of the season on practice squad-IR recovering from a season-ending knee injury he sustained a year ago with Jacksonville. The sixth-year player topped 500 yards receiving in each of his first four seasons in Buffalo and has the opportunity to provide the Bills a much-needed deep threat.
Hardman joins the roster after being signed to the practice squad on Tuesday . The 27-year-old is in his seventh NFL season and is a three-time Super Bowl-winner with the Chiefs.
Aside from providing the Bills a speedy threat, Hardman is also expected to take over the kick-returning duties after Buffalo released Brandon Codrington on Saturday.
Buffalo has dropped three of five with Allen having difficulty pushing the ball deep in each of the three losses.
Sanders adds depth to an injury depleted defensive line. A second-round draft pick out of South Carolina, Sanders appeared in Buffalo’s first four games before hurting his knee in practice.
With tight end Dalton Kincaid ruled out due to a hamstring injury, Buffalo also elevated practice squad tight end Keleki Latu.
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Richardson, Allen lead rushing attack as Tulsa takes down Oregon State 31-14 The Associated Press TULSA, Okla.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Dominic Richardson racked up 166 rushing yards and one touchdown on 27 touches, Ajay Allen added 61 rushing yards and a score on seven carries, and Tulsa defeated Oregon State 31-14 on Saturday.
Richardson set a new career-high in rushing yards in his first year with the Golden Hurricane (3-7, 0-6 American Conference). His previous career best was 146 yards on 31 touches against one of his former teams, Oklahoma State, in September.
Brody Foley reeled in seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown to pace the air attack, and added a five-yard rushing score. Baylor Hayes was 12-of-19 passing for 163 yards and a touchdown.
The Beavers (2-9, 1-0 Pac-12) saw true freshman quarterback Tristan Ti'a take over in the fourth quarter, throwing for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 8-of-11 passing. David Wells Jr. and Trent Walker combined for 178 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
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Surveillance video shows Titans cornerback driving car minutes before alleged shooting By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
Surveillance video shows Tennessee Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed driving a Lamborghini Urus at a suburban Dallas dealership and nearby gas station minutes before two men allege that shots were fired at them from that vehicle last December.
Sneed, 28, was indicted Tuesday by a Dallas County grand jury on a misdemeanor charge of failing to report felony aggravated assault to law enforcement. The indictment does not include details of the alleged incident on Dec. 6.
In the video, Sneed can be seen getting out of the Lamborghini, then using crutches to walk past the men and up stairs into the dealership at 3:22 p.m. on that date. Sneed walks out about a minute later in the video, which was shared Thursday with The Associated Press by attorney Levi McCathern, who represents the two men in a civil lawsuit against Sneed over the shooting.
The Titans cornerback, who was on injured reserve, also can be seen in separate surveillance video at a gas station at the same time as the two men. In the video, Sneed walks in from a gas pump, goes to a register and then walks back to the same car when Christian Nshimiyimana and Avi Ahmed were inside.
Minutes later, Nshimiyimana and Ahmed say in their lawsuit that they were shot at while sitting in a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon at the dealership. The surveillance video shows a vehicle driving past with four loud pops heard and an arm out the passenger side window at 3:42 p.m. That vehicle then speeds off.
A probable cause affidavit from the Carrollton Police Department dated Dec. 11 said Ahmed asked employees about two men he had seen earlier and that Sneed was identified as one of those men. The dealership also provided Sneed’s phone number.
Detectives also confirmed Sneed’s identity from surveillance video from several locations.
“It was apparent that Sneed was the only person they had seen getting out of and into the driver seat of the Lamborghini. He also was the last person seen getting into the driver seat at the RaceTrac (gas station) approximately eight minutes before the shooting,” according to the affidavit.
The police affidavit also noted: “Combined with the rapid acceleration away from the scene proved that Sneed knew what he was doing when assisted the shooter in fleeing the scene.”
Nshimiyimana and Ahmed allege that Sneed and another man, Tekonzae Williams, were inside the Lamborghini when the shots were fired. Williams was indicted Tuesday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Court records did not list an attorney for Williams.
McCathern, of McCathern Law, said Thursday his clients were pleased that Sneed and his associate were indicted.
“Hopefully, this will be the beginning of getting justice for my clients,” McCathern said. "As the video clearly shows, they are very lucky to be alive after Mr. Sneed’s actions.”
Sneed's attorney, Michael J. Todd, did not return a message left by the AP on Thursday. Sneed's agent had no comment Wednesday.
No people were hit by bullets, though the lawsuit says bullets did hit the Mercedes-Benz as well as a building at the car lot. The lawsuit against Sneed and Williams seeks at least $1 million in damages.
The Titans said in a statement they were aware of the “legal matter” with Sneed and are in contact with NFL security per league protocol. The statement says the team had no further comment.
Sneed was placed on injured reserve last month with a quadriceps injury, and he was in the Titans' locker room Thursday. Players on injured reserve do not talk to reporters.
This is the second straight season the Titans have put him on injured reserve. He played only five games in 2024 after Tennessee traded with Kansas City for him, giving Sneed a contract that made him the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid cornerback at the time.
Sneed was drafted from Louisiana Tech in the fourth round in 2020 by Kansas City. He won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Chiefs in 2022 and 2023.
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Associated Press writer Jamie Stengle in Dallas contributed to this report.
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