Sports Archives - Page 17 of 22

Panthers new head coach Dave Canales wants the ball out of QB Bryce Young’s hands quickly in Year 2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Just 2.7 seconds. First-year Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales has been harping on Bryce Young to get the ball out of his hands or making the decision to scramble within that time frame throughout the offseason. It’s something that will require quick decision-making skills from the second-year quarterback. Canales believes it will play to Young’s strengths and help him turn the corner after a disappointing rookie season in which he went 2-14 as a starter, threw for fewer than 180 yards per game and was sacked 62 times. Young will be put the test on Sunday when the Panthers visit the Saints.… Continue Reading

QB Nico Iamaleava, 14th-ranked Vols look to build on momentum entering matchup with No. 24 NC State

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s impressive debut in Tennessee’s season opener has the 14th-ranked Volunteers riding high entering a big neutral site matchup with No. 24 North Carolina State on Saturday night. That has coach Josh Heupel cautioning against his team getting overconfident ahead of the Duke’s Mayo Classic saying “the reality is you’re only as good as your next performance.” Iamaleava threw for a school-record 314 yards in the first half and three touchdowns in his first regular-season start to lead the Vols to a 69-3 rout of Chattanooga of the Football Championship Subdivision. N.C. State Dave Doeren has no such worry about his Wolfpack being overconfident after they needed a fourth quarter rally to beat FCS school Western Carolina.… Continue Reading

Sao Paulo beefs up security for Brazil’s 1st ever NFL game as players raise crime concerns

SAO PAULO (AP) — Sao Paulo state’s government says it will deploy hundreds of police officers and provide escorts for team buses for Friday’s NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers after some players expressed concern about playing in Brazil. Security operations will be coordinated with U.S. authorities for the game in Sao Paulo’s NeoQuimica Arena, the state’s public security secretariat said Wednesday. Gun violence and crime rates in Brazil are among the highest in the Latin America. Hundreds of civilian and military police will be deployed for the game, the first NFL match to be played in the South American country.… Continue Reading

ACC schools have a new path to more revenue: just win… in the postseason

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Atlantic Coast Conference schools have a new path to more revenue tied to their own postseason success. This is the first season with success-driven distribution plan for the expanded league. It is based on allowing schools to keep more of the money generated by their own wins, primarily in football. A big year could net up to $25 million on top of annual media-rights revenues. That comes as the ACC faces an ongoing financial gap behind the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences. North Carolina athletics director Bubba Cunningham said the model follows “a natural pattern” amid changes in college athletics.… Continue Reading

NASCAR Playoffs: Don’t look for surprises in the postseason as power programs dominate field

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — NASCAR’s regular season had a surprising conclusion. Don’t count on the same thing in the playoffs, where the power programs in the Cup Series dominate the postseason field. Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske have a combined 11 drivers in the 16-team field. Those three blue bloods have won the past 10 Cup Series crowns. The playoffs start Sunday in Atlanta. Chase Briscoe was a surprise winner at Darlington Raceway, where he used a late, three-wide pass to move in front. He held off Kyle Busch at the end for the win.… Continue Reading

Tar Heels turn to Conner Harrell at QB after Max Johnson’s season-ending injury

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina is moving forward with Conner Harrell as its starting quarterback after Max Johnson suffered a season-ending injury in the opener at Minnesota. Johnson had beaten out Harrell to be the Game 1 starter but suffered a leg injury in the third quarter against the Gophers and had to be carted off. He had surgery for a broken right leg in Minneapolis and Brown said Johnson was having another procedure there Monday. Harrell will get his second career start on Saturday at home against Charlotte.… Continue Reading

Panthers’ Miles Sanders pushing for more playing time after losing starting job last season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Miles Sanders arrived at the Carolina Panthers training camp this summer with a newfound motivation, eager to prove he can still be a No. 1 running back after losing his starting job last season. And while Sanders remains behind Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart heading into the season opener Sunday at New Orleans, it’s clear that he’s gained ground and is pushing for a bigger share of the workload. Coach Dave Canales said Sanders has looked “fantastic” this summer and sees a scenario where Hubbard and Sanders will split carries.… Continue Reading

Martin Truex Jr. makes NASCAR playoffs after crashing out early at Darlington

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. has made the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in his final full-time season. NASCAR announced Sunday night that the 2017 Cup Series champion had clinched a spot among the top 16 drivers who will compete for a title beginning next week at Atlanta. Other competitors like Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher and Bubba Wallace were not as fortunate and missed the postseason. Truex’s chances looked dicey after he wrecked on the third lap at Darlington. But through stages, Truex’s postseason spot was secure.… Continue Reading

Scottie Scheffler caps off record season with FedEx Cup title and $25 million bonus

ATLANTA (AP) — Scottie Scheffler has polished off the best year in golf in nearly two decades with the biggest prize. He had a few nervous moments at the Tour Championship until running off three straight birdies around the turn at East Lake and pulling away from Collin Morikawa. That made Scheffler the FedEx Cup champion with its $25 million bonus. Scheffler won seven times on the PGA Tour and an Olympic gold medal. The eight victories are the most since Tiger Woods won eight times in 2006. The FedEx Cup bonus pushed his season earnings to just over $62.2 million.… Continue Reading

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast expected to miss season after neck surgery

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast is expected to miss the season after neck surgery this month. The team announced Fast’s prognosis Thursday after he had surgery Aug. 6. The 32-year-old Fast suffered a neck injury in the regular-season finale in April and missed the Hurricanes’ sixth straight playoff run. Fast didn’t specify the nature of the injury in end-of-season interviews in May. At the time, he was wearing a neck brace.… Continue Reading