Category Archives: football

Cony football steamrolls Fryeburg, moves atop Class B North

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**AUGUSTA — Cony Rams Dominate Fryeburg Academy in Pine Tree Conference Showdown**

A highly anticipated battle between the No. 1 and No. 2 unbeaten teams in the Pine Tree Conference turned into a one-sided affair Friday at Fuller Field. The Cony Rams sent a clear message that they are the team to beat in the league, dominating every aspect of the game, especially with their prolific passing attack.

Cony rolled to a commanding 53-7 victory over Fryeburg Academy in a matchup of the top Class B North teams. Led by a stellar first-half performance from quarterback Parker Morin, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns, the Rams surged to a 47-7 halftime lead.

“Fryeburg is obviously a good program and a well-coached team, so to come out and play like we did in that first half was a really big statement,” said Cony coach B.L. Lippert. “Our offense just really clicked all game, and we played pretty well defensively for the most part.”

### How It Happened

Cony (5-0) was unstoppable through the air in the first half. Morin connected on eight completions of 20 yards or more, finding receivers Anderson Noyes, Landen Perry, Ethan Demmons, and Cooper Clark for touchdown receptions of 11, 25, 45, and 25 yards respectively. Remarkably, the Rams scored on every drive of the first half.

“Our chemistry is unbelievable,” Morin said. “It’s the little stuff like going to a buddy’s house and playing a little cornhole with them or coming on a Monday night and throwing the ball around in the summer that really builds that and helps you out in the fall.”

Defensively, the Rams completely shut down Fryeburg’s (4-1) running game, limiting the Raiders to just 24 yards on 17 carries. While Benny Arnason made occasional big plays through the air, Cony’s defense sacked him four times and forced two interceptions.

“It all just starts on Monday with film and doing a little install,” said Austin Bucknam, who recorded two sacks on Arnason in the first half. “You just work at it all week, watch the guy in front of you; when he moves, you move. Just find the ball and hit the ball.”

### What It Means

With the win, Cony stands alone atop Class B North. The Rams and Raiders had been the clear leaders in the region entering the week, with no other team better than 1-3. This victory cements Cony as runaway favorites in the league.

Coach Lippert also reached a major milestone, becoming the winningest coach in Cony history with 58 wins, surpassing Dana Dogherty’s record (1942-52). Now in his 10th season, Lippert has guided the Rams to consistent contention and has assured them of an eighth consecutive winning season.

“Watching this program as a kid, I always saw him as a coach, and I’m like, ‘Man, he’s been here for a while,’” Morin said. “To finally see him do that, it’s awesome; I couldn’t be more happy for him.”

For Fryeburg, the loss marked their first in almost a calendar year. The Raiders had won eight straight games since a narrow 21-20 defeat to Wells on Oct. 18, 2024, and captured a Class C state title along the way.

### They Said It

“Trying to shut (Fryeburg star player) Ty Boone down is a full-time job. He got us once on a fade ball, but I thought we mostly did pretty well against him,” Lippert said. “They did move it on us a little bit, but we did well enough to keep them out, and our offense just really got going.”

### Stat Leaders

**Fryeburg:**
– Benny Arnason: 8 of 19 passing, 170 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions
– Ty Boone: 2 receptions, 88 yards
– Ted Carter: 3 receptions, 52 yards

**Cony:**
– Parker Morin: 13 of 19 passing, 281 yards, 4 touchdowns
– Anderson Noyes: 6 carries, 27 yards, 1 touchdown; 4 receptions, 65 yards, 1 touchdown
– Ethan Demmons: 3 catches, 57 yards, 1 touchdown; blocked punt for touchdown
– Austin Bucknam: 2 sacks

### Up Next

– **Fryeburg:** vs. Lawrence, 6:30 p.m. Friday
– **Cony:** at Skowhegan, 7 p.m. Friday
https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/10/03/cony-football-steamrolls-fryeburg-moves-atop-class-b-north/

“Typical terrible Sean McVay 4th & 1 call”: Bill Simmons goes off on Rams HC over questionable play calling in upset loss to 49ers

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Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay has come under scrutiny for his decision on a crucial play in the 26-23 overtime loss against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday.

The Rams had an underwhelming first half against the 49ers but came back roaring in the second half to take the game into overtime. However, McVay called a run into the line on fourth-and-1 instead of kicking a field goal on the drive. The 49ers read the play and stopped it for no gain.

Bill Simmons sounded off on the Rams coach for his decision that played a huge role in the loss.

“Rams went for it on a typical fourth-and-1 call, typical terrible Sean McVay fourth-and-1 call,” Simmons said. “For what a genius he is as an offensive mind and I think he is one of the best five or six coaches, it’s stunning how bad some of his big fourth-and-1 or season on the line or game on the line calls are.”

Following the loss, McVay acknowledged that he had made a mistake with his decision in the post-game conference.

“Bad call by me,” McVay said. “Thought about maybe trying to draw them offsides, I took one [timeout], they took the other and it was a poor decision by me right there.”

### Sean McVay Felt “Sick” for Putting His Players in a Tough Spot

McVay admitted that it’s his job to put his players in the best positions, something he failed to do against the 49ers. He also talked about thinking about kicking a field goal on the play.

“In hindsight, I wish I would’ve,” McVay said. “We came in here to try to win the football game. It didn’t go down for us, that wasn’t even a thought. But the play selection was very poor, I’m sick right now because I put our players in a shitty spot and I got to live with that.”

McVay is looking to bounce back from the loss and expects a strong performance from his players against the Baltimore Ravens in the Week 6 game on Sunday.

—

**About the author**
*Chaitanya Prakash* is an editor who covers US Sports at Sportskeeda. His first brush with sportswriting was in 2012 when the greatest football manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson, bid farewell to the beautiful game. Although having started out professionally as a cricket writer in 2022, Chaitanya’s curiosity and indiscriminate interest in all sports in general eventually introduced him to America’s favorite pastime.

While Chaitanya’s favorite player from the current crop is the dynamic Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr., his all-time favorite, however, is Pedro Martinez, for his self-belief and consistency. He also rates Jose Bautista’s iconic bat flip in 2015 as his favorite moment in baseball history.

Chaitanya specializes in reporting on technical aspects of the game or analyzing patterns behind specific plays. He also likes pondering over players’ self-assessments following the conclusion of a game as it helps him get an idea of how they think about the sport in general.

When not cheering for his favorites across sports, Chaitanya likes being transported to the past through a good war documentary or a historical documentary in general.

—

**LA Rams Nation!**
Check out the latest [Rams Schedule](#) and dive into the [LA Rams Depth Chart](#) for NFL Season 2024-25.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-typical-terrible-sean-mcvay-4th-1-call-bill-simmons-goes-rams-hc-questionable-play-calling-upset-loss-49ers

Hoffenheim vs Koln Prediction and Betting Tips | October 3rd 2025

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Hoffenheim will host Köln at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena in a Bundesliga clash this Friday. Both sides currently have seven points from five games, with the visitors sitting seventh in the standings thanks to a superior goal difference.

The hosts, Hoffenheim, are winless in their last two matches. Following a heavy 4-1 defeat to Bayern Munich last month, they managed only a 1-1 draw against Freiburg in their most recent outing. Freiburg took an early lead through Lukas Kübler in the third minute, but Fisnik Asllani equalized just ten minutes later. Hoffenheim, also known as Die Kraichgauer, have not won any of their three games this September and will be eager to start the month with a positive result.

Köln, nicknamed Die Geißböcke (The Billy Goats), enter this matchup after suffering a second consecutive defeat in their previous game last week. They lost 2-1 at home to Stuttgart, despite Jakub Kamiński putting them ahead early in the fourth minute. Stuttgart fought back with a goal in each half to overturn the deficit. Köln are currently winless in their last three league matches and will look to bounce back on the road.

### Hoffenheim vs Köln: Head-to-Head and Key Stats

The two teams have faced each other 31 times across all competitions. Hoffenheim hold the upper hand with 14 wins, while Köln have claimed nine victories. The remaining eight matches ended in draws.

In the current Bundesliga season, Hoffenheim remain unbeaten against Köln in two meetings, registering an away win and a draw at home. Köln have only won once in their last 14 encounters with Hoffenheim, with that solitary victory coming away from home in 2023.

This season, Hoffenheim have lost both of their home games, scoring just one goal in each. Interestingly, the hosts have also scored exactly one goal in four of their last five games against Köln. Meanwhile, Köln have managed one goal in three of their last five meetings.

### Team News and Predictions

Hoffenheim’s defense has been vulnerable at home, conceding seven goals in two matches thus far. They will be looking to tighten up as they aim for their first home win this season. Injuries are a concern, with Adam Hložek, Valentin Gendrey, Kōki Machida, Ozan Kabak, and Hennes Behrens sidelined. Albian Hajdari missed last week’s game due to illness and remains doubtful.

Köln face a challenging task after failing to win in three straight league games, conceding eight goals in the process. However, they remain unbeaten in their last two away clashes against Hoffenheim and have scored four goals in those fixtures. The visitors have no new injury concerns, with only Rav van den Berg, Luca Kilian, and Marius Bülter unavailable for the trip to Baden-Württemberg.

Considering both teams’ recent form and scoring patterns, a draw appears to be the most likely outcome.

### Match Prediction: Hoffenheim 1-1 Köln

### Hoffenheim vs Köln: Betting Tips

– **Tip 1:** Result – Draw
– **Tip 2:** Goals – Under 2.5 goals
– **Tip 3:** Both Teams to Score – Yes
– **Tip 4:** At Least One Goal in the Second Half – Yes

Fans can expect a closely contested match with both sides striving to halt their respective winless runs. Stay tuned for an exciting encounter at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/hoffenheim-vs-koln-prediction-betting-tips-october-3rd-2025

A.J. Brown addresses his ominous Eagles social media post

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A.J. Brown wants to make one thing clear about his cryptic social media post: it was nothing more than venting after a vexing outing.

The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver posted a Bible verse, Mark 6:11, on his X account on Sunday following Philadelphia’s win over the Buccaneers. The verse read:
“If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

Brown notably finished the game with just two catches on nine targets for a paltry seven yards. The 28-year-old said the post came after he let frustrations get the better of him following a quiet day production-wise, and that his anger was not directed toward quarterback Jalen Hurts nor any of his other teammates.

Nevertheless, Brown made it clear he will not shy away from his desire to get the ball more.

Thus far, despite the Eagles starting 4-0 in their Super Bowl title defense, Brown has 14 catches with a career-low 10.8 yards per reception. He’s found the end zone just once.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing for wanting the ball,” Brown told reporters Wednesday. “It’s not just for targets or anything, to put numbers up, no. I see that we’re struggling and I’m a guy that wants the ball in those times when we can’t find a way. Give it to me. When the game’s on the line, give the ball to me. I want that, I want that pressure, I put it on myself, and I work hard for it.”

“You can misconstrue whatever perspective about me, but it is what it is, and I don’t care to be honest because my teammates know that when the game’s on the line, look at me. And I want everybody in the stadium to know that. It’s not a secret. I’m not shying away from that.”

Brown also emphasized that Philadelphia is home despite his latest airing of grievances.

Nevertheless, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that the Eagles could entertain a trade of the wideout in the offseason after what has been a sometimes rocky relationship between the two sides.

Brown and the Eagles will put their win streak on the line against the 2-2 Denver Broncos on Sunday.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/01/sports/a-j-brown-addresses-his-ominous-eagles-social-media-post/

Dolphins beat sloppy Jets but Tyreek Hill sustains feared season-ending injury

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Miami’s Darren Waller had a pair of touchdown catches in his first NFL game in nearly two years, but the Dolphins’ first win of the season, a 27-21 victory over the New York Jets, was marred by a suspected dislocated knee for their star receiver, Tyreek Hill.

The Dolphins lost Hill in the third quarter. The five-time All-Pro made a catch and landed awkwardly on his left leg after being tackled near the New York Jets sideline. Players from both teams watched anxiously as Hill was tended to and then carted off the field. The Dolphins later issued a statement saying he was being taken to a local hospital for imaging, evaluation, and observation.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported later Monday night that the Dolphins fear Hill suffered a dislocated knee. If confirmed, the injury would almost certainly end the 31-year-old’s season.

Despite the injury, the eight-time Pro Bowler showed a brave face as he was taken off the field, smiling and waving to the home crowd. Since entering the NFL in 2017, Hill has amassed 11,363 receiving yards—the most in the league during that span. He also has 819 catches, ranking fourth most since 2017 behind Davante Adams (886), Travis Kelce (880), and Stefon Diggs (824).

On the field, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to victory, throwing for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 17 of 25 passes without a turnover for the first time this season, moving his record to 7-0 against the Jets as Miami’s starter.

The Dolphins (1-3) secured their 10th straight home win against the Jets (0-4), who are still searching for their first victory under coach Aaron Glenn. The Jets pulled within six points with 1:49 left in the game when Garrett Wilson caught a 23-yard jump ball from Justin Fields, who then ran it in for a successful two-point conversion.

After recovering the ensuing onside kick, the Dolphins went three-and-out while running down the clock to 13 seconds. Miami then pinned the Jets on their own one-yard line, and the game ended on a Jets play involving a series of laterals, one of which was flagged for an illegal forward pass.

“I’m not losing hope in our guys at all,” Glenn said after the game. “We’ve just got to go back and work; that’s all we can do.”

Waller, playing his first game since the end of the 2023 season, caught a four-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone from Tagovailoa on a fourth-and-goal in the second quarter. The 33-year-old scored again on a nine-yard catch in the third quarter that put Miami ahead 17-3. He finished with three receptions for 27 yards.

The Dolphins amassed 123 rushing yards behind Devon Achane’s 20 carries for 99 yards, including a nine-yard scoring run.

For the Jets, quarterback Justin Fields completed 20 of 27 passes for 226 yards in his return from a concussion that sidelined him in Week 3. He added 81 yards rushing, highlighted by a 43-yard scramble for a touchdown on fourth-and-one that pulled the Jets within a touchdown midway through the third quarter.

New York gained 197 of their 404 total yards on the ground with a highly effective rushing attack averaging seven yards per carry. However, the Jets turned the ball over three times and were penalized 13 times for a total of 101 yards, including an offensive pass interference against Wilson that wiped out a touchdown in the third quarter.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/dolphins-beat-sloppy-jets-tyreek-025350535.html

Jose Mourinho says he will ‘always be a blue’ ahead of Benfica’s game at Chelsea

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Jose Mourinho insisted he will always be a Blue as he returned to Stamford Bridge ahead of Benfica’s Champions League meeting with Chelsea.

The three-time Premier League winner was appointed on September 18 by the Lisbon giants and will lead his new team out on Tuesday for what will be his eighth match in the visiting dugout at the ground he once called home. Despite being twice sacked by former owner Roman Abramovich, Mourinho remains Chelsea’s most successful manager.

Speaking to the media inside the stadium’s Ted Drake Suite — where the walls are adorned with framed photos of the 62-year-old clutching the Premier League trophy — he said:

“Of course I will always be a Blue. I’m part of their history and they are part of mine. I helped them become a bigger Chelsea and they helped me become a bigger Jose. When I say I’m not a Blue, I hope everyone understands I’m speaking about the job that I have to do tomorrow.”

He added, “These pictures, there’s not many clubs that do this. In many clubs, it looks like there’s a fear of what happened in the past. There is a continuous transformation of pictures. It looks like they want to delete people that made history in the club.”

Mourinho, who led Chelsea to their first league title in 50 years during his first season in 2004 before adding to it in 2005 and 2015, returns at a sensitive moment for current head coach Enzo Maresca. Three defeats in four matches have brought a new wave of pressure over the Italian as he seeks to forge a title-winning side from the lavish investments made by the club’s ownership.

Last season’s fourth-place finish, which secured Champions League qualification, looked like a step forward following league finishes of 12th and sixth in previous years. This progress was complemented by victories in the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup. Nevertheless, supporter skepticism towards Maresca and his methods remains.

The sight of Mourinho back in west London, together with memories of past glories, will do little to ease the stalled bid to renew Chelsea in a positive light.

Mourinho, who professes to still be a Chelsea fan and has a home nearby in London as well as strong family ties, gave his backing to the club’s new direction:

“There was a sad period where even myself, from the outside, was putting some question marks,” he said. “It looked like Chelsea lost their identity as a club. But what happened last season put things back on track. They gave trust to Enzo, he brought his ideas, and he fitted well with the philosophy they want to give with the club.”

On Chelsea’s recent trophy successes, Mourinho remarked, “The Conference League is an easy competition to win for a big club, I did it with Roma. Then the Club World Cup — people can say the Champions League is much more important, but that badge (on the shirt) means a lot. It’s the first time a club wins it. That gives them a base of trust and confidence, even at the supporters’ level they feel it.”

He concluded, “I live five minutes from here, my son comes here. The feeling is completely different. There was a period of disappointment and doubt, but this is a period of happiness and trust.”
https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/jose-mourinho-says-he-will-always-be-a-blue-ahead-of-benficas-game-at-chelsea-1812729.html

Galatasaray vs. Liverpool injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

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Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from defeat when they face hosts Galatasaray on Tuesday at Rams Park in their second Champions League game of the season.

Galatasaray were beaten 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt on September 18 in their first European game of the campaign. Meanwhile, the Reds secured a 3-2 victory against Atletico Madrid a day earlier but suffered a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the team news for both clubs ahead of the big match.

### Galatasaray vs. Liverpool

**Galatasaray**
– **Out:** None
– **Doubtful:** None
– **Sports Mole’s predicted XI:**
Cakir; Sallai, Singo, Sanchez, Elmali; Torreira, Lemina; Sane, Gundogan, Akgun; Osimhen

**Liverpool**
– **Out:** Giovanni Leoni (ACL), Jayden Danns (knock)
– **Doubtful:** None
– **Sports Mole’s predicted XI:**
Alisson; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Gakpo, Wirtz, Salah; Ekitike

Fans can expect an intense contest as both teams seek important points early in their Champions League campaigns.
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/liverpool/champions-league/team-news/galatasaray-vs-liverpool-injury-suspension-list-predicted-xis_582527.html

49ers Fall One Score Behind Jaguars; 5 Takeaways from #JAXvsSF

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The San Francisco 49ers concluded their Week 4 matchup with a close 26-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The game took place at Levi’s Stadium, where the 49ers fought hard but ultimately fell short against their opponents.

Despite their efforts, the team was unable to secure a win on their home turf, leaving fans eager for the next opportunity to bounce back.
https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-fall-one-score-behind-jaguars-5-takeaways-from-jaxvssf

Liam Coen, Robert Saleh exchange words after Jaguars-49ers game

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In the days leading up to Sunday’s game between the Jaguars and the 49ers, San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh praised the Jacksonville coaching staff for their ability to legally steal signals. However, Jaguars coach Liam Coen didn’t appreciate the implication behind Saleh’s comments.

After the game, Coen had some strong words for Saleh. Fortunately, he was steered away from what could have escalated into a much worse situation, especially if things had turned physical.

During his post-game press conference, Coen tried to downplay the incident, stating that he would “keep the exchange between us.” Meanwhile, Saleh was reportedly only intending the comment as a compliment, not as an accusation.

Despite Saleh’s intentions, Coen—who is known in some circles for having a short fuse—did not take it that way. Looking ahead, when Saleh next speaks to reporters, expect him to reiterate that his comment was meant as a compliment, not a suggestion that the Jaguars were breaking any rules.

Saleh is also likely to acknowledge that he should have chosen his words more carefully to avoid any connotation of cheating.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/liam-coen-robert-saleh-exchange-words-after-jaguars-49ers-game

Davante Adams, DeForest Buckner both active for Rams-Colts

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Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Friday that he felt receiver Davante Adams and right tackle Rob Havenstein would be able to play in Sunday’s game against the Colts despite being listed as questionable. That is now officially the case, as both Adams and Havenstein are active for the contest.

In addition to them, tight ends Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson, who were also listed as questionable, have been confirmed active for the game.

On the Colts’ side, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is active despite being listed as questionable.

For the Los Angeles Rams, the inactives for the game include tight end Terrance Ferguson, offensive linemen Beaux Limmer and D.J. Humphries, defensive end Desjuan Johnson, and quarterback Stetson Bennett. Bennett is serving as the Rams’ emergency third quarterback.

The Indianapolis Colts will have guard Matt Goncalves, defensive tackle Eric Johnson, tight end Will Mallory, cornerback Kenny Moore, receiver Alec Pierce, offensive tackle Luke Tenuta, and quarterback Riley Leonard inactive. Leonard is Indianapolis’ emergency third quarterback.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/davante-adams-deforest-buckner-both-active-for-rams-colts