Cherry Creek rallies to beat Ralston Valley in semifinal thriller, 21-14, to earn shot at fifth straight Class 5A title

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

Cherry Creek rallies to beat Ralston Valley in semifinal thriller, 21-14, to earn shot at fifth straight Class 5A title GREENWOOD VILLAGE — After being seriously tested, Cherry Creek just called “Next.”The four-time defending Class 5A state champions are headed back to the title game after rallying for a dramatic 21-14 win over Ralston Valley in the semifinals on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Stutler Bowl.“Every yard was tough today,” Cherry Creek head coach Dave Logan said. “That’s two really good teams, and we knew it was going to be this way. They had been playing their best football down the stretch. We knew it was going to be a battle…. Between two teams like this, it usually comes down to a play or two, and it did today.”With the win, the Bruins are set up to pad their historic championship streak next Saturday in their 22nd appearance in the title game. They already have the Class 5A record for consecutive titles, but with a win at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Cherry Creek can pass Palisade (which won four consecutive Class 3A titles fr...

CHSAA state football playoffs: How the semifinals in Class 5A, 4A and 3A played out

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

CHSAA state football playoffs: How the semifinals in Class 5A, 4A and 3A played out Class 5ANo. 1 Cherry Creek beat No. 5 Ralston Valley, 21-14: Creek senior Tyson Mauck broke a long reverse run late in the fourth quarter, and sophomore QB Brady Vodicka punched it in from a yard out on fourth down as the Bruins (13-0) advanced to their sixth straight 5A title game. Ralston Valley (10-3) took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter following consecutive TD runs from Brady Weldon, but Creek answered with a Jordan Herron scoring run not long after, and the Bruins defense shut out the Mustangs the rest of the way. The loss marked the second straight year Ralston Valley was eliminated in the semifinal round, and third time in the last five seasons.No. 2 Columbine beat No. 14 Chatfield, 35-16: Seniors Josh Snyder (31 carries, 180 yards) and Mason Moreno (21-108) both topped 100 yards rushing, with Snyder scoring three touchdowns, and QB Reeve Holliday found James Cillessen for a TD as the Rebels (13-0) clinched their seventh 5A title game appearance under coach Andy Lowry. Sen...

Deion Sanders, CU Buffs fall 23-17 at Utah Utes, end season on 6-game skid

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

Deion Sanders, CU Buffs fall 23-17 at Utah Utes, end season on 6-game skid SALT LAKE CITY — Shedeur Sanders didn’t play. And, true to his mantra, Deion Sanders’ Buffs didn’t quit.CU, a three-touchdown underdog, fell 23-17 at Utah on Saturday despite a heroic game by two-way Buffs star Travis Hunter (107 receiving yards, one score) and nearly 200 passing yards by backup quarterback Ryan Staub, who made his first collegiate start in Sanders’ place.The Buffs finished the elder Sanders’ first season at 4-8, 1-8 in Pac-12 play, and riding a six-game losing streak.The final Rumble In the Rockies in the Pac-12 — both CU and Utah are moving to the Big 12 next summer — had more of an NFL preseason feel at the start, as both rivals started backup quarterbacks.With Shedeur Sanders battling a spate of injuries, Coach Prime started freshman Ryan Staub behind center. Utah opened with senior Luke Bottari, a JUCO transfer. Both were making their first FBS starts at the FBS level.Staub’s first drive opened conservatively and ...

When will the sun start setting later in Southern California?

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

When will the sun start setting later in Southern California? For the last couple of weeks, the sun has been setting earlier and earlier. While daylight saving time is largely to blame (it did move sunset times up by a whole hour), where we are in our orbit also has an impact. So when will the sun stop setting so early? It ultimately depends on where you live. The Earth is on a tilt, as you probably know. That means there is a time when we’re tilted toward the sun, during summer, and a time when we’re tilted away from the sun, during winter. This gives us more hours of sunlight in summer and fewer in winter (in case you haven’t noticed).We’re only a few weeks away from the “shortest” day of the year, December 22. Here in the U.S., we’ll experience the least amount of daylight hours on that day.  Turkey leftovers: How long is too long in the refrigerator? While it may be a little depressing to think about being shrouded in even more darkness, early and mid-December mark a big turning point: the sun will start setting later across the U.S...

San Jose State football: Spartans beat Vegas, await fate

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

San Jose State football: Spartans beat Vegas, await fate The San Jose State Spartans jumped out to a 17-0 lead and held on for a 37-31 victory over UNLV in a battle for first place in the Mountain West.With the victory, its sixth in a row, San Jose joined UNLV and Boise State atop the league standings with a 6-2 record. Which two teams will meet in the Mountain West championship game next Saturday was to be determined by league officials.Senior running back Kairee Robinson carried 16 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns. His 40-yard run, which gave the Spartans a 37-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, was his 18th rushing touchdown of the season, breaking the school record shared by Deonce Whitaker and Johnny Johnson.Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro completed 19 of 26 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns.The first scoring strike, 56 yards to tight end Sam Olson, came on the opening possession of the game. UNLV fumbled the ensuing kickoff and SJSU converted the turnover into a 10-0 lead.After UNLV went three-and-out, Cordeiro drove the Sp...

Beloved Cupertino pub could face last call

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

Beloved Cupertino pub could face last call (BCN) -- At Apple's modern spaceship campus in Cupertino, engineers and designers work year-round on the latest iterations of the company's iconic gadgets, always focused on the future.In a much more plain building just across Wolfe Road, the pace of change is a bit slower. In fact, not much has changed in four decades at The Duke of Edinburgh, a traditional English pub in the center of Silicon Valley."There's nothing quite like The Duke, it's so authentic," Jason Foreman, a board member of the Cupertino Historical Society and Museum, told San Jose Spotlight. "You just can't beat it." Hostages released by Hamas have returned to Israel, Israeli military says The owners threw the pub a 40th birthday party earlier this month, celebrating with a DJ, dance floor, food and drinks. It's unclear if the birthday bash could be the last for The Duke, however, due to a developer's looming plans for a hotel on the site--but the pub's longtime patrons and employees say they're relishing the tim...

No. 17 Alabama bounces back from first loss, beats Oregon 99-91

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

No. 17 Alabama bounces back from first loss, beats Oregon 99-91 NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Mark Sears scored 27 points, Aaron Estrada added 22 and No. 17 Alabama followed its first loss with a 99-91 victory over Oregon on Saturday in the third-place game of the Emerald Coast Classic.Those two were among four Alabama players scoring in double figures in a mid-afternoon game after the Crimson Tide’s 92-81 loss to Ohio State on Friday night.The Crimson Tide expanded an eight-point halftime lead with a 15-5 surge, capped by Estrada’s 3-pointer with 9:28 remaining, for a 78-61 lead. Alabama led by as much as 18 before Oregon got within six points with 2:46 left, but couldn’t get closer.The game at Raider Arena at Northwest Florida State College was the first meeting between these teams in seven years. Jermaine Couisnard led Oregon with 24 points.The game’s fast pace led to the teams combining for 12 fouls in the first six minutes of the second half. Both teams were in the bonus with 11:41 remaining.Alabama led 47-39 after a first half where both teams we...

Chase Meyer’s third field goal of second half lifts Tulsa to 29-27 win over East Carolina

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

Chase Meyer’s third field goal of second half lifts Tulsa to 29-27 win over East Carolina GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Chase Meyer kicked three field goals in the second half, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1 second left, and Tulsa defeated East Carolina 29-27 on Saturday to finish the season for both teams.The Golden Hurricane trailed 24-21 at halftime, then held ECU to 141 yards, three first downs and three points in the second half. Meyer’s field goals all came after Tulsa drove inside the red zone, hitting from 28, 26 and 37 yards.Kirk Francis completed 23 of 37 passes for Tulsa (4-8, 2-6 American Athletic Conference), with two touchdowns and an interception. Anthony Watkins ran for 106 yards and Kamdyn Benjamin had six receptions for 143 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown. Kendarin Ray had 15 tackles, nine solo for Tulsa.East Carolina’s Alex Flinn was 12-of-18 passing for 184 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Pirates (2-10, 1-7) got 145 yards and a touchdown on the ground from Rahjai Harris and Chase Sowell caught five passes for 1...

Barcelona needs own-goal to salvage 1-1 draw at Rayo. Griezmann leads Atletico past Mallorca 1-0

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

Barcelona needs own-goal to salvage 1-1 draw at Rayo. Griezmann leads Atletico past Mallorca 1-0 BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona needed an own-goal by Rayo Vallecano defender Florian Lejeune in the final minutes to salvage a 1-1 draw in Madrid on Saturday.Rayo midfielder Unai López put the hosts ahead in the Spanish league game with a shot from well outside the area in the 39th minute at Vallecas Stadium.Barcelona was held in check until late in the second half. Minutes after substitute Raphinha hit the post, Lejeune inadvertently turned a cross by Alejandro Balde, which was intended for Robert Lewandowski, into his own net in the 82nd.Antoine Griezmann scored with a header as Atletico Madrid beat Mallorca 1-0 at home and moved into third place ahead of Barcelona on goal difference. Atletico, which also has a game in hand, visits Barcelona next weekend. Both teams are in Champions League action on Tuesday — Barcelona hosts Porto, and Atletico plays at Feyenoord.Leader Girona is three points clear of Atletico and Barcelona before playing Athletic Bilbao on Monday. Second-place...

San Jose State beats UNLV 37-31; Mountain West ends in 3-way tie for first

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:55:57 GMT

San Jose State beats UNLV 37-31; Mountain West ends in 3-way tie for first LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chevan Cordeiro threw two touchdown passes, Kairee Robinson ran for two scores and San Jose State won its fifth straight game and earned a share of the Mountain West Conference title by beating UNLV 37-31 on Saturday.UNLV (9-3, 6-2) had already clinched a share of its first conference title, but the loss leaves the Rebels, San Jose State (7-5, 6-2) and the Boise State Broncos (7-5, 6-2) in a three-way tie for first place. Computer rankings will determine which two teams will play in the conference championship game.San Jose State took control early, using Cordeiro’s 56-yard scoring strike to Sam Olson on the fourth play from scrimmage to grab the lead. Jacob De Jesus fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Spartans’ Jay’Vion Cole recovered the ball at the UNLV 23-yard line. That led to a 25-yard field goal by Kyler Halvorsen. Robinson added a 25-yard touchdown run for a 17-0 lead before the Rebels scored on a 7-yard run by Jai’Den Thomas to get w...