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Cal football: Behind the Bears’ surge to bowl eligibility

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

Four weeks ago, after a 63-19 beatdown at Oregon that should have chased away the last bit of confidence the Cal football team was grasping, quarterback Fernando Mendoza said the kind of thing only a starry-eyed redshirt freshman could believe.“The only thing that really matters is winning,” Mendoza told reporters, “and we’re going to win those next three games.”Turns out Mendoza knew what he was talking about and on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, in what was the final regular-season game in the 108-year history of the Pac-12 Conference, the Bears completed that unlikely mission.Their 33-7 shellacking of UCLA was the Bears’ third straight victory and gave them the six wins they needed to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2019. Cal is most likely to wind up in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 16 in Shreveport, Louisiana.“We just had a belief. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy getting those three wins, but we thought it was possible,” said linebacker Cade Uluav...

San Jose State football: Spartans left out of league championship game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

San Jose State’s remarkable pursuit to return to the Mountain West Conference championship game fell just short Sunday morning, as the computer polls used to break a three-way tie left the Spartans as the odd-team out.UNLV, the team San Jose State beat 37-31 on the road on Saturday for its sixth straight victory, will play host to Boise State next Saturday to determine the MW champion.In the end, UNLV had a 44.50 computer average to comfortably secure one spot. San Jose State was at 58.50, significantly closing the gap on Boise State from the previous week, but the Broncos were able to hold on to second slot with a 55.75 average.“I’m subjectively disappointed,” said SJSU athletic director Jeff Konya in a phone interview with Bay Area News Group. “I subjectively think we’re one of the best two teams in the league. There’s no easy way to break a three-way tie and unfortunately for us we were the odd person out.”This doesn’t end San Jose State’s season. With a 7-5 overall record, the t...

National Weather Service extends beach hazards warning until noon Sunday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

(BCN) -- The National Weather Service has extended its beach hazards warning until noon Sunday. Forecasters say the threat of sneaker waves and rip currents will linger through the morning, bringing more runup farther up beaches than normal. The threat is especially present from coastal Sonoma County down to Monterey County, especially on beaches facing northwest. Unexpected waves can sweep people off rocks, jetties and beaches. The NWS reminds people to never turn their back on the ocean. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

College Football Corner: Terps, Hokies and Dukes post wins while the thrills happen elsewhere

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) is tackled by Virginia safety Jonas Sanker, center back, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Mike Caudill)(AP/Mike Caudill) Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) is tackled by Virginia safety Jonas Sanker, center back, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/Mike Caudill)(AP/Mike Caudill) Dave Preston is an AP Top 25 voter. Read his latest rankings here.It’s easy to buy into the hype of college football as there’s only 12 games over 13 weeks to determine success or failure. Thanksgiving weekend r...

Garnacho’s sensational overhead kick stuns protesting Everton fans and helps Man United earn 3-0 win

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

Manchester United needed to produce something extraordinary to quieten a home crowd at Goodison Park seething with anger and resentment.Alejandro Garnacho did just that by scoring one of the greatest goals ever seen in the Premier League.Leaping high in the air with his back to goal, the Argentina winger produced a spectacular bicycle kick from 15 yards (meters) that sent the ball flying into the top corner and — if only briefly — muted tens of thousands of protesting Everton fans.The third-minute strike set United on course for a 3-0 win over Everton but the score will not be the thing people remember from this fiery, volatile occasion.The match was played to a backdrop of protests by Everton supporters furious at what they perceived to be an over-the-top sanction — a record 10-point points deduction — for financial mismanagement issued by a disciplinary commission last week.This was the first game since that punishment and Everton fans marched in their thousands to the stadium, ho...

Boise State-UNLV set for Mountain West title game after computer breaks three-way tie for first

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

UNLV will host Boise State in the Mountain West Conference championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday after a computer ranking was used to break a three-way tie for first place.Boise State, UNLV and San Jose State each finished the regular season 6-2 in conference play. Because all three teams did not face each other and no team was included in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, the tie was broken by an average of four computer rankings from Anderson & Hester, Colley Matrix, Massey and Wolfe.San Jose State beat UNLV 37-31 on the road Saturday for its sixth straight win after a 1-5 start, but the computer rankings listed UNLV first among the three teams tied for first, allowing the Rebels to host the championship game. Boise State was second and San Jose State third.“It’s unfortunate. I think we were one of the top two teams in the league,” SJSU athletic director Jeff Konya told The Associated Press. “I’m sure the other institutions and...

Billups scores 23, Jackson 22 to lead VCU past Penn State to get 86-74 win in ESPN tourney

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

KISSIMMEE, Fla (AP) — Alphonzo Billups III scored a career-high 23 points, Zeb Jackson added 22 and VCU turned back Penn State 86-74 in the seventh-place game at the ESPN Events Invitational on Sunday.The Rams went 7 of 11 from 3-point range and 9 of 11 from the foul line in the second half to secure the win. Billups hit all five of his shots, including four 3-pointers, scoring 14 points after the break.Max Shulga made all 10 of his free throws and scored 19 points for the Rams (4-3) and Toibu Lawal added 11. Michael Belle had nine rebounds and Jackson seven with six assists.With Billups making a career best fives 3s with just one miss, VCU was 8 of 15 behind the arc and shot 54% overall.Ace Baldwin Jr. scored 17 points with five assists for the Nittany Lions (4-3), who arrived at the tournament undefeated but lost three times by double figures. Qudus Wahab added 14 points and D’Marco Dunn 11. Dunn was 3 for 3 from distance and scored all 11 points in the first half but Penn S...

Unbeaten Nice beats Toulouse 1-0 to stay one point behind French league leader PSG

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Striker Terem Moffi’s second-half goal was enough to give unbeaten Nice a 1-0 home win against Toulouse on Sunday and keep it one point behind French league leader Paris Saint-Germain.Moffi collected a pass from midfielder Morgan Sanson near the penalty spot in the 54th minute and finished confidently.Nice has built its success on a stout defense which has conceded just four goals in 13 games. Monaco is five points behind Nice in third place. Star striker Kylian Mbappé scored his league-leading 14th goal as PSG beat Monaco 5-2 on Friday in an error-strewn match.OTHER MATCHESRennes beat fifth-place Reims 3-1 to move up to midtable, thanks to goals from forward Amine Gouiri, attacking midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud and central defender Arthur Theate.Brest won 3-1 at Montpellier to go seventh, while midfielder Ablie Jallow scored a late penalty to help ninth-place Metz win 3-2 at struggling Lorient.Also, Nantes drew 0-0 with Le Havre.Later Sunday, Lyon will try to mo...

Tens of thousands march against antisemitism in London including UK ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Tens of thousands of people including former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson gathered in London on Sunday for a march against antisemitism, a day after large crowds turned out for a pro-Palestinian rally.Johnson was joined by U.K. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and other senior government officials at the march to express solidarity with the Jewish community. Organizers billed it as the largest gathering against antisemitism in London for almost a century. Marchers waved Israeli flags and Union Jacks, and held placards reading “Never Again Is Now” and “Zero Tolerance for Antisemites.”Sunday’s march was organized amid concerns about rising tensions sparked by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.“Anything which is associated with the Jewish religion now feel that they’re under attack and they have to look after themselves, have their own security,” said Malcolm Canning, 75, from London. “I never thought this would get to this stage in this country. And it’s very...

F1 champion Max Verstappen’s record-extending 19th win underlines his relentless drive

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:56:24 GMT

Although Max Verstappen clinched his third straight Formula One title almost two months ago at the Qatar GP there was never any chance of him easing up.He’s won every race since and capped off an outstanding year with a record-extending 19th victory of the season at the Abu Dhabi GP on Sunday.“I think that is just something how I grew up, I just can’t come into a race weekend not giving my all,” Verstappen said. “I would just get annoyed with myself and then I know people around me get annoyed with me. My mindset didn’t change after winning the championship. I come to the race weekends and always try to do the best I can, and winning is great. Why would I not want to win?”To round off a remarkable season, he also passed the landmark of 1,000 laps led in a season.“I knew it was on the cards going into the race,” said Verstappen, who moved onto 54 wins overall and into third on the all-time list.Verstappen finished ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes driver George Ru...