Tag Archives: championship

Having waited and learned, Collin Gillespie making most of time with Suns

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### Collin Gillespie’s Journey to NBA Prominence

PHILADELPHIA — Collin Gillespie understands the value of patience.

He learned it as a high school senior at Archbishop Wood, where he entered the Catholic League with few accolades and scholarship offers mainly from Albany, Maine, and Holy Family. He learned it again as a freshman at Villanova—spending six weeks on the bench before returning to a team that captured the national championship in 2018. And he learned it once more as an NBA rookie sidelined by a broken leg that delayed the start of his professional career.

Now 26, Gillespie is comfortably embracing the path that has led him to his first NBA game in Philadelphia, nearly three and a half years after going undrafted in 2022.

“I’ve learned a lot about the NBA game since being here with Denver,” Gillespie said from the Phoenix Suns locker room before a 116-110 victory over the 76ers. “I’ve gotten valuable experience on the court as well. So I think it’s just experience—being able to learn while being off the floor, while being on the floor—just a little bit of everything, trying to continue to get better every day.”

Making the most of all that waiting, Gillespie is now making the most of his minutes on the court.

He is averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists for a suddenly resurgent Suns team. He has even garnered chatter in the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year race, despite starting 25 straight games and slotting in seamlessly alongside high-scoring star Devin Booker.

In Tuesday’s game, Gillespie contributed 12 points on 3-for-6 shooting, four rebounds, and four assists in 28 minutes. The night before, he had put up 22 points in a win in Brooklyn, helping the Suns go 8-3 in January.

Gillespie has translated the flashes he showed during the 2023-24 season with Denver into sustained production. While he traveled with the Nuggets for one game in Philadelphia last year but did not play, he appeared in 33 games for the Suns. At 28.1 minutes per game, he has looked every bit the NBA regular.

That adaptability should come as no surprise to anyone who has watched Gillespie seamlessly elevate his game at every level.

At Villanova, Gillespie did it all in 156 career games. He scored 1,858 points, averaging 15 or more points per game in both the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons. In his senior year, he shot an impressive 41.5 percent from three-point range.

But the NBA draft offered no takers. Gillespie signed with the Nuggets on a two-way contract, only to suffer a fractured lower left leg in a workout at Villanova after Summer League. His rookie season, coinciding with the team’s championship run, ended before it began.

He learned by watching—and like he did in college, during his six-week injury stint, he came back better.

“I think I learned a lot about the NBA game—the pace, the details, tendencies of certain guys,” he explained. “There’s a lot you can learn about the game, yourself, teammates, and other teams, especially when you’re just sitting watching. I did it when I was in college when I got hurt, so I kind of have that experience of being able to do that.”

Questions about his size and defense remain, but not about his character.

Kyle Lowry, the 76ers guard and Villanova alumnus, calls Gillespie a “winner.” Suns coach Jordan Ott echoes that sentiment: “Ultracompetitive, has won at every level, fearless.”

Gillespie maximized every opportunity—in Denver, in limited minutes, as a two-way player with the Suns, as a rotation piece, and now as a starter for a team with playoff ambitions.

His stats tell the story: 3.6 points in 9.4 minutes over 24 games with the Nuggets in 2023-24 grew into 5.9 points in 14.0 minutes over 33 games (nine starts) in Phoenix last year. When in the G League, he’s put up 20 points per game. This season, Gillespie has been a full-time member of the Suns’ big club, helping a team once thought to be rebuilding hold onto sixth place in the Western Conference.

“I always go back to his ability to shoot off the dribble, which I think is an elite skill of his and something that’s needed in today’s game with so many pick-and-rolls and drives,” Ott said. “He’s able to defend his position for his size—you cannot target him. He has become super competitive in taking those challenges, and now he just got the opportunity.”

Gillespie’s production is no fluke. Last year, he averaged 20.8 points per 100 possessions; this year, despite playing alongside higher-caliber teammates demanding the ball, he is up to 23.2 points per 100 possessions. His assist rate remains strong at 8.4 per 100 possessions. Defensively, he ranks eighth in the league with 1.4 steals per 48 minutes, right behind 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, who leads the league with 2.1 steals per game.

He credits Villanova for instilling a professional mentality: “We treated it like it was our job in college, and now it is our job.”

With multiple Villanova alumni succeeding in the NBA, Gillespie is clearly thriving in his own right, adapting and flourishing wherever he goes.

“I think I know my role,” he said. “I play with really good players like Book, who has so much gravity on the floor, and Jalen [Green], who puts a ton of pressure on the rim. Just being able to play off those guys, I feel like I’m pretty good at finding my role—whether I need to score, find guys, get rebounds, run the offense, or just contribute to winning in any way possible.”
https://www.delcotimes.com/2026/01/21/having-waited-and-learned-collin-gillespie-making-most-of-time-with-suns/

Quinn Gray gets massive support from Florida A&M coaching legend

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Quinn Gray is now officially the head coach of Florida A&M, and he’s already receiving a ringing endorsement from a coaching legend with whom he’s very familiar.

In a promo posted by the O&G Strike Zone to secure donations for the football program, legendary Florida A&M coach Billy Joe spoke highly of Gray and gave his former player a strong endorsement.

“He was a member of my FAMU program from 1997 to 2001—five years. Those five years were FAMU’s golden years. We never lost to BCU during that time. We made the NCAA playoffs five straight years, and Quinn ran my Gulf Coast offense with precision and intelligence,” Joe said.

“We beat Troy State University twice and blew out Appalachian State on their own home field during those playoff runs. No HBCU football team has ever won three games in the NCAA playoffs in Division I-AA,” he continued. “No SWAC team has ever won a game in the NCAA playoffs. Quinn will bring the golden years back to FAMU, but he needs your help.”

Gray was one of Billy Joe’s greatest players during his tenure with the Rattlers. Serving as the signal caller in Joe’s “Gulf Coast Offense,” Gray eventually became the Rattlers’ all-time leader in passing yards (7,378), pass attempts (1,113), pass completions (562), and touchdown passes (57).

It’s clear that Gray learned a lot as a player under Joe’s mentorship, as his teams have demonstrated a penchant for moving the ball through the air quickly and efficiently.

In 2022, Gray became the head coach of Albany State, where he led the team to two SIAC Championship appearances, ultimately winning the conference title in November. The team also earned the top seed in NCAA Super Region Two in the Division II playoffs, advancing to the regional final with wins over Valdosta State and Benedict.

On December 6th, Albany State concluded a historic 12-2 season with a 31-24 loss to Newberry.

Perhaps Gray can be the coach that Florida A&M faithful believe he can be—carving out his own legacy similar to what Billy Joe accomplished during his time.
https://clutchpoints.com/hbcu/quinn-gray-gets-massive-support-from-florida-am-coaching-legend

Palm Beach girls golf first team, second team, honorable mention and coach of the year

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FIRST TEAM

Kayla Bryant, FAU High senior: Placed seventh at 1A state championship (70-69); tied for fourth at districts (71); tied for third at regionals (73); placed first at Dustin Johnson World Junior Championship; Florida State University signee.

Reese McMillan, Benjamin freshman: Tied for 12th at 1A state championship (143 total); shot a 69 in the first round at states; tied for third at regionals (73); tied for first at Palm League Invitational (69); placed first at the AJGA Open at Chechessee (68-66-69); won the 41st Nicklaus Junior Championship with 69 in the final round; named member of 2026 Team FSGA.

Alexandra Phung, FAU High sophomore: Placed first at districts (65); placed second at regionals (70); tied for ninth at 1A state championship (141 total); shot a 65 in the final round at states; placed first at AJGA Super Lychee Junior Open with 68 in final round; two-time champion of the Drive, Chip, and Putt National Championship at Augusta National.

Staci Pla, Berean Christian senior: Placed first at districts (72); shot a 70 in the final round at 1A state championship (147 total); Cincinnati signee; co-medalist at U.S.

Catherine Andino, West Boca junior: Placed first at districts (67); placed second at regionals (71); tied for fourth at 3A state championship (74-71); University of Miami commit; Junior Amateur Match Play champion; tied for fifth at Women’s Western Junior Championship.

Leah Gram, Dwyer sophomore: Tied for fourth at 3A state championship (75-70); placed second at districts (70); tied for sixth at regionals (71); placed first at AJGA Preview at Oakwing (73-72-70); tied for second at AJGA Dominican Junior Open with a 65 in the final round; placed third at FJT Tour Championship; qualified for Florida Women’s Amateur Championship.

SECOND TEAM

  • Sophia Christy, King’s Academy sophomore
  • Sarah Earle, Jupiter sophomore
  • Kaitlyn Hummers, Benjamin senior
  • Keala Richichi, Jupiter senior
  • Gaelle Summers, Spanish River senior
  • Kai Trump, Benjamin senior
  • Alyna Yensabai, FAU High seventh grader

HONORABLE MENTION

American Heritage-Delray: Emily Jim, Leilani Kellerman, Micaela Ruidias

Benjamin: Soleil Demers, Corinne de Nigris, Alexa Tobias

Dwyer: Emma Centore, Sophie Centore, Kaia Panico

FAU High: Keira Ly

Jupiter: Madyson Barone, Emilia Edgar, Olivia Hartman

King’s Academy: Callie Nelson, Lilly Kaye-Vance

Park Vista: Sofia Clay, Julia Clay

SLAM Boca: Valentina Aristy

Spanish River: Emma Andrews, Alexa Kyriacou, Jayden Loyacona

COACH OF THE YEAR

[Information on Coach of the Year to be added]

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/25/palm-beach-girls-golf-first-team-second-team-and-coach-of-the-year/

FanDuel Missouri promo code: Get $300 bonus for UConn vs. Florida after placing a $5 bet

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Missouri sports betting is now over a week old, so time is running out to claim welcome bonuses for the state’s launch. Thankfully, the FanDuel sign-up offer is still available, and no FanDuel Missouri promo code is required to claim it. Simply create a new account, place a $5 bet with your own money, and you’ll receive $300 in bonus bets.

Florida ended UConn’s quest for a third consecutive national championship last March, so revenge will clearly be on the minds of the Huskies. Despite winning it all last season, Florida is off to a shaky 5-3 start. UConn is a 4.5-point favorite on Tuesday night.

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– **NCAAB:** Clemson vs. BYU, 5:30 p.m. CT
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https://www.al.com/betting/2025/12/fanduel-missouri-promo-code-get-300-bonus-for-uconn-vs-florida-after-placing-a-5-bet.html

Dripping Springs vs. Vandegrift: Watch Texas high school football state championship quarterfinal live

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The stage is set for a high-stakes rematch as the defending state champion Vandegrift Vipers (11-2) face off against the Dripping Springs Tigers (12-1) in Saturday’s UIL 6A Division 2 state quarterfinal at San Antonio’s Alamodome.

The Tigers dominated the Vipers 41-14 in their season opener back in August. However, Vandegrift has since regained its championship form, including a methodical 24-7 victory over San Marcos in last week’s regional semifinals.

Meanwhile, Dripping Springs continues to display offensive firepower, coming off an impressive 45-14 dismantling of Medina Valley. This Central Texas showdown features two powerhouse programs separated by just 30 miles, now standing between each other and a trip to the state semifinals.

With Vandegrift’s title defense and Dripping Springs’ redemption narrative, there are compelling layers added to an already intense rivalry.

**Game Details:**
– **What:** Defending champ Vandegrift faces Dripping Springs in 6A Division 2 quarterfinal
– **When:** Kickoff at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, December 6
– **Where:** Alamodome | San Antonio, Texas
– **Watch Live:** The game will be livestreamed on the NFHS Network.

Don’t miss this exciting Central Texas clash!

**Watch here:** [Dripping Springs vs. Vandegrift Football Livestream on NFHS Network](https://www.nfhsnetwork.com)
https://www.oregonlive.com/tv/2025/12/dripping-springs-vs-vandegrift-watch-texas-high-school-football-state-championship-quarterfinal-live.html

Lakers Named ‘Perfect’ Trade Candidate For 3-And-D, 20 PPG Star

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Though the Los Angeles Lakers are second in the West and have their trio of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves back together, there is still always room for improvement through a trade. While Los Angeles has done a lot to create this 2025-26 roster, perimeter defense and three-point shooting remain the biggest issues for the team. While James, Doncic, and Reaves all expect to lead the Lakers for at least the remainder of this season, Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick have multiple players they can move on from and upgrade. But specifically, Rui Hachimura remains a looming candidate, and according to Tyler Watts of LakeShowLife, the Lakers could target Trey Murphy of the New Orleans Pelicans as a perfect upgrade at the forward position. “The Los Angeles Lakers want to jump into title contention, and could pull off the perfect move by trading Rui Hachimura for Trey Murphy III,” he wrote on a potential Lakers-Pelicans trade. “The Pelicans are last in the Western Conference standings and headed toward the lottery. They should be open for business ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Fans may think Murphy is out of the Lakers’ price range, but getting strong value for Hachimura could change that.” Though without any national spotlight, for the second year in a row, Murphy is averaging at least 20 points per game, along with six rebounds and three assists on 46/37/94 shooting splits. The wing from Virginia is making roughly $28 million per year, but with his increasing value, his contract could be a steal. Lakers Mock Trade For Trey Murphy While Hachimura remains a consistent and solid player in his own right, it’s hard to see him as anything but a role player at best. The Lakers have made it clear they are vying for a championship now, and though a trade for Murphy could be costly, the 6’8” forward could be the missing piece. “The 25-year-old is the perfect fit for the Lakers’ timeline. He could join Luka and Austin Reaves as the franchise’s core pieces for the next decade,” Watts wrote. “This would give Los Angeles the horses to compete for a championship this season and make them a title threat into the 2030s.” Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Trey Murphy III and Karlo Matkovi Chicago Bulls Receive: Rui Hachimura New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Kevin Huerter, Maxi Kleber, two 1st round picks, two swaps, 2032 2nd round pick. The haul for New Orleans would be big, but as they are last in the Western Conference with just two wins, there’s a possibility the asking price could drop. For Chicago, they get an upgrade at the wing with someone who offers a bit more stability. But for the Lakers, adding Murphy changes the direction of the team. They haven’t shown too much interest in developing young prospects or having a top pick in general, so it is easy to see Pelinka sending out their draft capital to guarantee a roster can compete with teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Denver Nuggets. “Now is the time to get [Doncic] a potential wing co-star, who is locked into a cheap contract until 2029,” Watts added. “The Los Angeles Lakers should only trade Rui Hachimura if they are getting a significant upgrade. Trey Murphy III certainly offers that.” Another Pelicans Star Could Be On The Table Though Murphy might be too rich for the Lakers’ blood, the potential of the Pelicans having a ‘fire sale‘ similar to the Sacramento Kings remains a strong possibility. While a Murphy trade might hold too much risk in this new era for Los Angeles, New Orleans might have another player whom they could make an offer for. “Is there really any trade target more perfect for the Los Angeles Lakers than Herb Jones?” Svyatoslav Rovenchuk wrote in a similar article about a Lakers trade idea for one of the Pelicans’ other top young players. “Jones is the type of 3-and-D star who would immediately raise the Lakers’ ceiling. His $13. 9 million makes him an easy player to match salaries for as well.” While the counting stats, 9. 5 points, 3. 8 rebounds, 2. 3 assists, aren’t amazing, Jones is a top-tier pest named to the All-Defensive First Team just two years ago. His 36. 2% three-point shooting percentage also wouldn’t hurt the last-place shooting Lakers, but more importantly, he would become the team’s number one wing defender. A deal for Jones would also likely include Hachimura to match the salaries, but with defense at a premium, the forward from Alabama would also have a high price tag.
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/los-angeles-lakers/perfect-candidate-murphy-jones-trade-rumors/

Here’s Alabama’s path to an SEC Championship Game appearance

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The Iron Bowl will all but determine Alabama’s postseason fate. That’s the case for the College Football Playoff and now, somewhat officially, the SEC Championship Game. With the results of SEC games Saturday, Alabama appears set to lock up a spot in the conference title game so long as it beats Auburn next weekend. In the scenario where Texas A&M beats Texas and grabs the top spot, the second spot is essentially left up to Alabama, Ole Miss and Georgia. The result in the Egg Bowl doesn’t matter, though, for the Crimson Tide. If Ole Miss wins, Alabama will still have the advantage over the Rebels and Georgia based on the tiebreaker of conference opponent win percentage. But if Ole Miss loses to Mississippi State, Alabama would still get the second spot because Ole Miss would have two conference losses, knocking it out of conference title contention. As a result, the second spot would come down to Alabama and Georgia, and the Crimson Tide has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bulldogs; Alabama beat Georgia in September. Using this helpful unofficial tiebreaker calculator, there doesn’t appear to be another game result that can change Alabama having the advantage over Ole Miss and Georgia in conference opponent win percentage. Vanderbilt defeating Kentucky 45-17 was the biggest result Saturday in helping ensure that. In the scenario Texas beats Texas A&M next week, Alabama would still get one of the two spots in the SEC Championship Game. In that scenario, where Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss are all 7-1 in conference play, it would come down to conference opponent win percentage. Georgia would have the edge over the other three teams and get the first spot. Alabama would get the second spot, having a better conference opponent win percentage than Ole Miss and Texas A&M. So, Alabama is all but headed to Atlanta, so long as it beats Auburn first. Easy enough, right?.
https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2025/11/heres-alabamas-path-to-an-sec-championship-game-appearance.html

Martin completes redemption tour with 8-Player Division 1 football state title win over Montabella

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The final stop on the Martin redemption tour was successful, making the hours at practice and on the farm worthwhile. The Clippers, who were knocked out in the second round of the 2024 playoffs, earned their third state title in four years, running past Blanchard Montabella for a 52-8 win Saturday in the 2025 8-Player Division 1 championship game at Northern Michigan University. “From Day One, we wanted to redeem ourselves,” Martin coach Brad Blauvelt said. “It was heartbreaking last year. We thought we could win four in a row. We wanted to get back this year and finish it right. “This senior class was special. They’re friends. They hung out with each other. I was super tight with them. They helped me move. They worked on my farm. I will miss these seniors.” The Clippers won the 2022 state title, beating Merrill, 74-24, before tacking on the 2023 championship with a 30-26 win over Indian River Inland Lakes. But Martin lost to Mendon, 26-22, in a 2024 regional final. In Saturday’s state final, Montabella scored first, with Brady Kieff running for a 3-yard touchdown and a 2-point conversion. “They came out swinging for sure,” Blauvelt said. “There were a couple mistakes on that first drive. We didn’t panic. These boys have been in so many tough situations a couple years ago where we won. Once we settled in, we were OK.” Senior quarterback Haylen Buell, who played in Martin’s previous two state finals, was more than OK. Buell capped his career with three touchdown runs and a TD pass against the 11-2 Mustangs. Buell finished with 179 yards rushing on nine carries and completed 7 of 7 passes for 134 yards, with one interception. “He was a monster today, and he has been all season,” Blauvelt said. “He wanted the third title. He was the driving force. I talk a lot about the senior class and how special they were. They wanted it. Haylen likes football. He likes to be physical, and that mindset rubbed off on everyone.” After Montabella’s opening touchdown, Martin answered with a 3-yard run and 2-point conversion by Buell for an 8-8 tie after one quarter. The Clippers took over the game in the second quarter, scoring 30 points for a 38-8 halftime lead. Bryer Watson began the scoring with an 81-yard TD run, with Buell tacking on a 44-yard TD run. After Seth Toris ran for a 1-yard score, Buell found Anderson Keeler for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Toris also ran for a pair of 2-point conversions. Elkins, who ran for a 2-pointer in the second quarter, scored on a 52-yard run in the third quarter, with Buell hitting Watson for the conversion. Buell finished the scoring with a 62-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Martin totaled 498 yards of offense, including 364 on the ground. Montabella was held to 101 yards rushing and 87 passing. Watson added six carries for 111 yards for the Clippers, with Ethan Greene catching four passes for 23 yards. Watson added two catches for 68 yards. Isaac Suk paced the Martin defense with six tackles, while Buell added five unassisted tackles and two assists. Noah Carlson had five tackles for Montabella, which made its first state final appearance. Gabriel Kauffman led Montabella with eight carries for 54 yards, completing 9 of 22 passes for 87 yards. “This class, this team was special,” Blauvelt said. “Before the season, we asked them to play with great effort, be selfless and be a teammate. “And they did.”.
https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2025/11/martin-completes-redemption-tour-with-8-player-division-1-football-state-title-win-over-montabella.html

10 things we’re watching in Patriots’ Week 12 matchup with Bengals

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The Bengals are preparing to face a much different Patriots team than the one they played in Week 1 of last season. The Patriots were able to come away with the victory in Jerod Mayo’s first game as head coach, but they only managed to win three more games all season. The Patriots now are 9-2, riding an eight-game winning streak and are tied with the best record in the AFC as they get set to take on the 3-7 Bengals. The Bengals are just three years removed from a conference championship loss, and it’s been just four years since their last Super Bowl appearance. It’s amazing how quickly things can flip in the NFL. One thing is for certain: The Patriots are in much, much better shape this year with Mike Vrabel as their head coach, Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator and Drake Maye, not Jacoby Brissett, starting at quarterback. Here’s what we’re watching on Sunday at 1 p. m. in Cincinnati: • The Bengals reportedly will not activate quarterback Joe Burrow from injured reserve in time for Sunday’s game, despite his return to full participation in practice earlier this week. That means Joe Flacco will continue to start. It’s debatable how comfortable Burrow would have looked in a rusty return to the field coming off of a turf toe injury, but this is still a win for the Patriots. Burrow, at this best, is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Flacco has been solid since joining the Bengals, but he’s got a 1-4 record with Cincinnati, and he’s 2-7 on the season, including his time with the Browns. • The Patriots don’t need to worry about Ja’Marr Chase this week, since he made the inadvisable decision to spit at Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey last week and got himself suspended. But they will still need to cover Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, a popular target for the Patriots in free agency until he was franchised and went on to sign a contract extension with the Bengals. On third down and critical situations, expect Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez to shadow Higgins, who’s the Bengals’ No. 2 receiver but is as talented and high-powered as a No. 1. Higgins has 35 catches for 544 yards with seven touchdowns this season. The Bengals’ other wide receivers are Andrei Iosivas and Mitchell Tinsley. • Running back Chase Brown’s numbers don’t jump off the page, but the Bengals rank fourth in rushing DVOA, second in EPA/rush and eighth in rushing success rate. Their offensive line is just 21st in ESPN’s run block success rate, and Brown ranks 25th in rush yards over expected, so there’s something funky going on there. The Patriots’ run defense has been tremendous this season, but they did appear to miss Milton Williams after he left last week’s win over the Jets. Expect his snaps to be split between Khyiris Tonga and Cory Durden. Rookies Joshua Farmer and Eric Gregory also could take on bigger roles. • Williams is the Patriots’ best or second-best defender, with Gonzalez being his biggest competition. The Patriots do have nice depth at defensive tackle behind starter Christian Barmore, however. Tonga and Durden are having career years, and Farmer and Gregory have had solid moments. • The Bengals’ pass-block win rate ranks just 29th this season, per ESPN, and they’re 23rd in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency. The Patriots’ pass rush has been inconsistent this season, and losing Williams for the next four games will hurt. On the edge, K’Lavon Chaisson is also having a career year with 6. 5 sacks through 10 games. Fellow starting outside linebacker Harold Landry III has slowed in recent weeks. Could the Patriots give rookies Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson more opportunities? Ponder, an undrafted free agent, has sacks in two straight games. Swinson, a fifth-round pick, was signed off of the practice squad and could be set to make his NFL debut against the Bengals. • The Patriots’ offense should be back at full strength this week with wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) and running back Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) back. Boutte, one of the league’s best deep threats, has missed the last two games. Stevenson has been out for three games. The Patriots weathered the storm without those two, but facing the league’s worst defense, per DVOA, it could be a highly productive day for the offense. • Boutte will likely take his reps back from rookie Kyle Williams, who caught a 72-yard touchdown against the Buccaneers but was otherwise ineffective in Boutte’s place. Maye and Boutte had forged an impressive downfield connection through the first half of the season. • Rookie TreVeyon Henderson took on a much larger role in Stevenson’s absence. Prior to Stevenson’s injury, Henderson was largely a change-of-pace back. Henderson had a 147-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 10 and scored three touchdowns in Week 11. He’s not built for an every-down role, but his effectiveness and big-play ability should cut into Stevenson’s playing time. Without any inside information, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them split snaps. • Two key Bengals defenders, defensive end Trey Hendrickson and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, are also out. Without Hendrickson rushing from the right side, rookie left tackle Will Campbell shouldn’t have an overly difficult matchup this week. Maye has been sacked a lot this season, but he reiterated this week that most of those were his fault. The Patriots’ offensive line has been much, much better this year. • This should be a blowout. Game prediction: Patriots win 38-13 against an undermanned Bengals team.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/11/22/10-things-were-watching-in-patriots-week-12-matchup-with-bengals/

Ramapo football flips the script, defeats Phillipsburg in Group 4 semifinals

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When Casey Grusser stepped off the bus he was immediately hit with the bitter memories of the last time he and his Ramapo teammates walked into Phillipsburg’s Maloney Stadium. It was a 35-6 loss, a result that has remained in the back of his mind for the 52 weeks since then. “Coming off the bus. I was like, man, we lost here last year,” Grusser said. “I don’t want this to happen again. “It’s really nostalgic coming back here. I know we lost last year, so I had that feeling in my mouth right as I’m getting off the bus today. All the other guys did as well. We really needed this one today and we did just that.” With memories from that lost lingering, Grusser and Ramapo not only flipped the script but rewrote the narrative about their physicality, with a 41-20 victory over Phillipsburg in the NJSIAA Group 4 semifinals. Ramapo (11-1) scored touchdowns on six of its first seven possessions as it totaled 344 yards of total offense, including 158 on the ground. Ramapo will now play for the Group 4 championship 3 p. m. Nov. 30 at Rutgers University against the winner of Saturday’s Winslow-Brick Memorial matchup. “I’d be lying to you if I said that we haven’t talked about coming back here and getting a chance to play them again,” Ramapo head coach Nick Guttuso said. “And look, Phillipsburg, I got the utmost respect for their program, for their tradition. But we have a great tradition too, and I’m really thrilled that our kids came out and prepared all year because like I said, our offseason was focused on how can we get a little bit better if we get back in this position to win the game.” Ramapo (11-1) held a 14-10 lead late in the second quarter, when it made a pair of game changing plays in the final minute. With Phillipsburg (10-2) driving and threatening to enter the intermission with a lead, linebacker Jack Schneider intercepted a pass at the 40 and returned it to the Phillipsburg 38 with 38 seconds left. Following Schneider’s sixth interception of the season, Grusser completed an 11-yard pass to Salvatore Livoti, scrambled for nine yards, then completed consecutive passes to Joseph Yessis to bring the ball to the 8 with nine seconds remaining. On the final play of the half, Grusser stepped back to pass, then took off, lunging towards the end zone and with an outstretched right arm, crossed the goal line to make it 21-10. “I just had to make a play myself,” said Grusser, who completed 16 of 17 passes for 186 yards. “Nobody was really open on the right side, so I just made a play and got it for the touchdown. ” Building off the momentum of the score, Ramapo added to its lead with Gino Gorga’s second rushing TD of the night. Phillipsburg trimmed the deficit to 11 with Sam Dech’s second 1-yard rushing score of the game late in the third quarter. The host Stateliners never got closer as Liam Hayward’s power rushing combined with a pair of fourth quarter TD pass by Grusser to Yessis and Mike Viksjo put the game away. “You can’t turn the ball over against a really good team,” Phillipsburg head coach Frank Duffy said. “You can’t have self-inflicted wounds, you can’t have turnovers against good teams. You got to be able to stop the run. We didn’t do that. So all the things that go into winning football that we’ve done consistently all year, we just didn’t do tonight.” Hayward, who opened the scoring with a 3-yard rushing TD just 61 seconds into the game, ran for 84 of his 107 yards in the second half behind the blocking of Peter Amerio, Finn Kirwan, Luke Gurba, Matthew Shifar and Harrison Kearney. As a team, Ramapo ran for 110 second half yards on just 17 carries in the second half. Despite holding the ball for just 15: 27, it was the seventh time this season Ramapo scored 40 or more points. Phillipsburg was able to control the clock with its own power rushing attack, as Dech (21 carries for 145 yards) carried the ball eight consecutive plays, and nine times overall in a seven-plus minute first quarter drive that culminated in Dech’s 1-yard touchdown. Phillipsburg now sets its sights on its annual Thanksgiving showdown with Easton, unsatisfied with a season that produced a second consecutive sectional title. “They don’t give you parades for getting this far. They give you parades for finishing the job,” said Duffy. “This is what the deal is here. So, we expect to be here every single year. “The reality is you really can’t (dwell on this loss), you got to get back to work. We’ve got the biggest game on our schedule and our most important game coming up on Thursday.”.
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/highschoolsports/2025/11/ramapo-football-flips-the-script-defeats-phillipsburg-in-group-4-semifinals.html