Glenn Papazian bringing you the latest edition of The Sports Desk, news from the world of sports, what happened, what’s coming up, an honor roll and Player of the Week, and a commentary. There is so much to talk about, so let’s get to it!
Sixers
The Sixers split the week, but Jaylen Brown consistently scored. He had 20 plus in both games over the week. Tyrese Maxey continues his hot shooting, and Lebron James continues to contribute everywhere. It is a big game on Tuesday when the Sixers host the Celtics. Philadelphia leads the division by a half-game over Boston. Should be a good one as Jaylen Brown meets his former team and teammate Kevin Tatum for the first time this season.
Eagles
The Eagles lost their seventh consecutive game 19 – 11 against the New York Giants. The defense gave a good effort holding the Giants to a touchdown and 4 field goals. But the offense could manage little. Giving up 19 points should keep the team in a game. But scoring 11 will not. Joe Milton took over at quarterback. The rushing attack was relatively non-existent except for Milton who ran for 64 of the team’s 92 yards. Not good when that happens. Milton passed for 169 yards but was sacked 7 times. The Birds get a badly needed week off. It is time to reset and heal.
Flyers
The Flyers continue to lose the one-goal games on this road trip. The team stays in Canada for games in Vancouver and Edmonton. The Flyers are presently on a three-game losing streak. They are on the road until Sunday.
In collegiate football
Villanova
The Villanova Wildcats put up their first shutout since 2023 blanking the Richmond Spiders 30 – 0 at Villanova Stadium. The defense gave up a total of 140 yards. The offense was efficient. Isaiah Ragland ran for 125 yards allowing him to reach the 2,000 career rushing yards milestone. Quarterback Pat McQuaide passed for 3 touchdowns.
Villanova is tied for second place in the Patriot League, a game behind Lehigh. Next Week the team goes to Holy Cross who also sits in that tie.
Penn
The University of Pennsylvania eked out a 14 – 13 win at Cornell. The winning points were delivered by running back Sean Williams with 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The defense hung on to the win from there. Karson Siqueiros-Lasky passed for 220 yards, 106 to wide receiver Isaac Lee on 9 catches. Penn has Harvard next weekend at Franklin Field.
Temple Football
The Temple Owls rallied from a 28 – 0 deficit. They tied the game at 35 with 5:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. But the story of the game was Navy quarterback Jackson Gutierrez who ran for 5 touchdowns and passed for another. He scored the winning points on a 4-yard touchdown run with 1:14 on the clock for a 42 – 35 win in Annapolis. Owls quarterback Jaxon Smolik threw 3 touchdown passes, 2 to Jayce Freeman. Up next is a Saturday game hosting UAB.
Delaware
The Fightin’ Blue Hens fell 42- 40 at Kennesaw State. UD quarterback Nick Minnicucci had 408 passing yards and 2 scoring tosses. The key play in the back-and-forth game was a 63-yard touchdown pass for State from Landon Varnes to Reed Jesiolowski in the fourth quarter to regain the edge for the Owls. Delaware scored late, but their 2-point conversion attempt failed. Next a home game on Saturday against FIU.
Penn State
The Nittany Lions held a 28 – 6 lead at halftime. Then held off a Washington rally hanging on for a 28 – 25 victory. Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht threw for 240 yards. Carson Hason ran for 119, and Chase Sowell had 125 receiving. Big plays from key players are what PSU needs and got. Minnesota comes to Happy Valley next week.
West Chester
Big day for the Golden Rams. West Chester downs Shippensburg 44 – 10. The Rams scored the first 23 points of the game and were never threatened. The Shippensburg running attack garnered minus 14 yards. For West Chester Jack Pellicciotti threw for 238 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Mikhail Johnson put on a show with a 93-yard rushing touchdown. The team put up 430 yards of total offense. West Chester goes to Gannon on Saturday.
CFP
Many ranked teams faced another on Saturday.
The Biggest game was Miami at Notre Dame. It was a good game. The Irish down the top-ranked Hurricanes 31 – 24. Notre Dame took a lead of 24 – 3 late in the second quarter. But Miami refused to yield and got to within 7 points twice. CJ Carr threw for 319 yards. Michah Gilbert caught 9 passes for 98 yards for the Irish. The Hurricanes were paced by quarterback Darian Mensah who had 276 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Last year there was controversy in the CFP Selection process as Miami was chosen over Notre Dame. This year? Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman says they team stated their case and should leave no doubt that ND will go.
Georgia made short work of Ole Miss 42- 7. Not much more to say except the Bulldogs are the new number one team in the land.
BYU hoped to upset unbeaten Utah but did not losing 28 – 20. The Utes came into the game ranked third and are now 2nd.
Alabama knocked off LSU 31 – 13. The Crimson Tide scored the last 3 touchdowns to put the game away.
Time to talk about college basketball.
Temple Men’s Basketball
The Temple Owls played in the 100 Year Anniversary game at The Palestra against the Richmond Spiders. It took Temple to the 14:02 mark to score their first point on a free throw by Jordan Marsh. Behind 14 – 2 the Owls never caught up as Richmond wins 79 – 53.
Turnovers were a big problem for the Cherry and White. That did not allow the team to get into a flow. The Spiders shot just over 50% while the Owls were just under 30%. Richmond had a 40 -18 edge in points in the paint, many baskets by layups and good interior passing.
Richmond had 5 players in double figures led by Jamie Kaiser with 16 points. Alden Argabright had 15. Derin Saren took down 12 rebounds.
Cam Scott led the Owls with 13 points and Derrian Ford chipped in with 11.
Temple did not have the energy at the start according to Coach Adam Fisher.
Big Five
On the Big Five women’s side Penn downed Drexel 71 – 70 at the buzzer on a basket by Tina Njike. The game was moved to the DAC after it was discovered that the Palestra floor was too wet to play a game. Penn will host North Carolina next week.
Saint Joseph’s
The Saint Joseph’s Hawks are the Atlantic 10 Field Hockey champions for the sixth consecutive time defeating Richmond 2 – 1in a shootout. Ericka Culp scored both SJU goals, the second one in the 8th round of overtime. In that deciding round Culp scored, then Hawks goalkeeper Avianna Wagner stopped Maura Seeger of the Spiders. The Hawks are the champions and will play in the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday at Vermont. Win and they will play top seeded Northwestern.
Time for the Honor Roll.
Levi Haines a former Penn State wrestler who won gold for the United States in the U23 World Wrestling Championships at the 79kg weight class. Haines improved over his silver medal performance at the preceding championships. He has no eligibility left to compete for the Nittany Lions. His appeal for another year was denied.
Isaiah Ragland the running back for Villanova who reached the 2,000 career rushing yards for the Wildcats in the game against Richmond. His 125 yard rushing performance was his fourth career 100-yard game.
Jaylen Brown the Sixers guard who continues to add scoring punch to the team. He averaged just under 25 points per game this past week against Cleveland and Chicago.
Our Player of the Week is Erika Culp a Saint Joseph’s Field Hockey player. In the Atlantic 10 Championship game Culp had the Hawks goals. The first in regulation. The second goal was scored in the 8th round of overtime to give Saint Joe’s the title. Culp is the leading scorer on the Hawks squad scoring 9 goals and adding 3 assists for a total of 21 points.
Commentary
Villanova has turned its football season around. Nova has won its last four games against Fordham, Lehigh, Lafayette, and Richmond. The beginning of the season saw losses against William & Mary, Louisville, Colgate, and Morgan State. After a bye week which served as a physical and mental reset. A different team emerged.
The question is how did they turn it around?
Coach Mark Ferrante feels the team has come together. In his comments Mark alluded to the team being a work in progress. They have become comfortable with one another. The more reps they get, the more comfortable they are, then they get confident. The more confident you get, the better you play. One builds upon the other.
Villanova is playing confidently and complementary football. And that’s a compliment.
The Wildcats are in second place in the Patriot League, just a game behind league leading Lehigh. Villanova owns the tiebreaker. An FCS Playoff bid is still possible for a team that was 2 – 4 earlier.
And that’s the story.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: glenn@phillycollegesports.com
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