Sports Update for 10/19/21

Williams, Honeycutt Garner Weekly Honors

Redshirt freshman DJ Williams and redshirt senior Malik Honeycutt both played key roles in Murray State’s come-from-behind win at Southeast Missouri Saturday. For their efforts, each received weekly accolades from the OVC with Williams being named as Offensive Player and Newcomer and Honeycutt being named as Specialist.

On Saturday, Murray State returns home after a two-game road-trip to Austin Peay for a special Homecoming edition of the Popeyes Battle of the Border. Kickoff from Roy Stewart Stadium is set for 2 p.m.

In KHSAA Volleyball District Tournament Play

KHSAA State Soccer Tournament Gets Underway Tonight

In the opening round of the boys state soccer tournament McCracken takes on Butler.

In the opening round of the girls state soccer tournament Marshall takes on Henderson County.

Blues Top Coyotes

(Glendale, AZ) —  The Blues scored five goals in just over five minutes in the second period of their 7-4 win over the Coyotes in Arizona.  Jordan Kyrou posted two goals and two assists, while Klim Kostin also scored twice.  St. Louis has won two-straight to start the season.  The Blues visit the Golden Knights tomorrow night. 

McDermott’s Gamble Costs Bills In Loss To Titans

(Nashville, TN)  —  Josh Allen failed to convert a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-one in a 34-31 Bills loss to Tennessee.  Sean McDermott opted to forgo a 20-yard game-tying field goal attempt, and the Bills turned the ball over to the Titans on downs.  Derrick Henry’s thirteen-yard touchdown run gave the Titans their 34-31 lead with just over three minutes to play ahead of the Bills’ final drive.  Henry finished the game with 143 rushing yards and three scores in the win.  Ryan Tannehill only had 216 passing yards, but he also rushed for a touchdown.  The Titans lead the AFC South with a 4-and-2 record. 

Predators Stay Home To Play LA Kings

(Nashville, TN)  —  The Predators have a chance to win their first game of the season tonight.  Nashville hosts the Los Angeles Kings tonight.  The Preds suffered two close defeats and will be looking to earn some points in the standings.

SEC Fines Tennessee $250K For Fan Antics During Ole Miss Game

(Birmingham, AL)  —  Tennessee is being fined 250-thousand dollars by the Southeastern Conference after fans threw trash on the football field.  SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says what happened Saturday during the final minute of the Volunteers game against Ole Miss can’t be repeated.  He also says schools may have to make changes to their alcohol sale policy.  The fans who threw items, including a golf ball and mustard bottle, on the field will be banned from all UT athletic events until Fall 2022.

Shildt Expresses Gratitude To Cardinals

(St. Louis, MO) —  Former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt is expressing gratitude to the organization for giving him a chance.  Shildt was dismissed as manager last week due to “philosophical differences” between him and the front office.  He served as manager for four seasons and worked in the organization for 18 years.  Shildt did acknowledged the differences between him and the club that led to his dismissal.  He said he is at peace with the way he left the players and the staff in a positive vision, adding that he is excited for the team in 2022.

Cubs Introduce Hawkins As GM

(Chicago, IL) —  Carter Hawkins is ready to be the Cubs general manager.  The club officially introduced him yesterday.  Hawkins comes to Chicago after spending 14 years in Cleveland’s front office, where he worked his way up to assistant GM.  He is replacing Jed Hoyer, who took over as the Cubs’ top front-office executive after Theo Epstein stepped down after the 2020 season.  The Cubs enter the offseason after making a flurry of trades mid-season, moving three core players from their World Series roster to jump-start their rebuild.

National Sports Headlines

Red Sox Rout Astros To Take ALCS Lead

(Boston, MA) — The Red Sox now lead the ALCS 2-1 after topping the Astros 12-3 in Game Three at Fenway Park. Eduardo Rodriguez earned the win after allowing three runs with seven strikeouts over six innings. Kyle Schwarber, Christian Arroyo, J.D. Martinez, and Rafael Devers all launched home runs for Boston. Jose Urquidy was charged with the loss. Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer for Houston. Game Four is tonight.

Dodgers And Braves Meet In Pivotal Game Three

(Los Angeles, CA)  —  The Dodgers are hoping to dig themselves out of the 2-oh hole they have in the NLCS.  Los Angeles suffered back-to-back walk off losses to the Braves, allowing Atlanta to go up 2-0 in the series.  The Dodgers hedge their playoff hopes on Walker Buehler, who makes his third start of the postseason.  Opposite him is Charlie Morton for the Braves.  The series shifts to LA after the first two games were played in Atlanta.

NBA Season Tips Off Tonight

(Undated)  —  It’s time for the kings of the hardwood to lace up their sneakers and turn the unbelievable into believable starting tonight.  The 2021-22 NBA season will tip off starting in Milwaukee.  The defending NBA Champion Bucks will raise their second championship banner as they host the visiting Nets.  Out west, it’s a battle of two title hopefuls as the Warriors visit the Lakers.  Los Angeles is debuting its new big three in LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

NBA’s Adam Silver Hopeful Irving Changes Mind On Vaccine

(New York, NY)  —  NBA commissioner Adam Silver is still hoping Kyrie Irving changes his mind on getting the COVID-19 vaccine.  Silver told reporters he thinks its been “best for everyone if every player were vaccinated” heading into this season.  ESPN reports Irving is the lone NBA player to be unable to play this season because of a vaccine mandate, such as the one in New York City.  Silver added that the mandates are a “responsible public health decision”.

Rolovich Out At Wazzu After Not Getting Vaccine

(Pullman, WA)  —  Nick Rolovich is being terminated from his head football coaching position at Washington State University.  Rolovich refused to get vaccinated for COVID-19, which is a requirement for all state employees in Washington, and is no longer the Cougars head coach as a result.  Washington instituted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in August and Monday was the deadline to get vaccinated.  The Cougars went 5-and-6 in Rolovich’s tenure.

Report: Texans To Release Veteran Mercilus

(Houston, TX)  —  The Texans are moving on from a longtime defensive standout.  According to reports, Houston is set to release defensive end Whitney Mercilus.  The pass rusher had been drafted by Houston back in the first round in 2012.  He posted 57 sacks over his 10 seasons with the club, which ranks second all-time behind J.J. Watt.  It’s another end of an era for a longtime Texan, following the departures of DeAndre Hopkins and Watt.

Jimbo Fisher Dismisses LSU HC Job Talk

(College Station, TX)  —  Jimbo Fisher is shutting down the idea he would pursue the LSU head coaching position.  Fisher, who has hired at Texas A&M in 2017, said he plans on staying with the program as they are “in the process of building something great”.  This follows Ed Orgeron and LSU announcing a mutual parting of ways at the end of this season.  Fisher added that he loves “being at A&M” and his family has “roots here”.

Sharks Forward Kane Suspended For 21 Games

(San Jose, CA)  —  The NHL is suspending Sharks forward Evander Kane for 21 games.  Kane had violated the league’s COVID-19 protocol for allegedly submitting a fake vaccination card.  Kane is suspended without pay, and will not be eligible to return to the team until November 30th.  The Sharks said in a statement they are disappointed with Kane’s disregard for the league’s health and safety protocols.

Dick Vitale Reveals Another Cancer Diagnosis

(Bristol, CT)  —  Legendary basketball commentator Dick Vitale is announcing yet another cancer diagnosis.  He penned an essay where he said he has lymphoma.  Vitale noted his diagnosis came after he had symptoms and went to get tested.  This is Vitale’s second bout with cancer as he recently had multiple surgeries to get rid of melanoma.  However, Vitale explained this new battle with lymphoma will be tougher.

American Athletic Conference Expanding

(Undated) — The American Athletic Conference is on the verge of an expansion. The AAC is expecting applications from six schools to join the league. According to sources Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, North Texas, UTSA, Rice, and UAB are all looking to join the conference. If the schools are added, the AAC would become a 14-team conference in football and basketball. This move comes after the AAC lost Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston to the Big 12.

MONDAY’S SCOREBOARD

NFL
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Tennessee Titans 34, Buffalo Bills 31

MLB Playoffs
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Boston Red Sox 12, Houston Astros 3
(Boston leads best-of-seven ALCS, 2-1)

NBA
——-
No Games Scheduled

NHL
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New York Rangers 2, Toronto Maple Leafs 1 (OT)
Philadelphia Flyers 6, Seattle Kraken 1
Anaheim Ducks 3, Calgary Flames 2 (OT)
St. Louis Blues 7, Arizona Coyotes 4