Sports Desk

Reuters

Reuters

PA Media

PA Media

PA Media

EPA

‘Football unites us’

Reuters

ESPN is shifting its strategy on online sports gambling, ending its partnership with Penn Entertainment.

The companies announced Thursday they were terminating an agreement that offered ESPN equity in Penn, which operated the ESPN Bet sportsbook app. The app will no longer carry the familiar red ESPN logo. It will operate under a new name.

ESPN said it will partner with DraftKings, a leading sports betting company, which will provide odds and other gaming-related data for the Walt Disney Co. unit’s programs and its digital platforms. ESPN’s on-air staff will use DraftKings’ odds starting Dec. 1.

According to people familiar with the ESPN-Penn arrangement, the app simply didn’t reach its financial targets in the highly competitive business, which operates in the 31 states where online gambling is legal.

In 2023, Penn agreed to pay $1.5 billion in cash over the next 10 years for the rights to use the ESPN name on its app. As part of the deal, ESPN promoted the product across its programming and provided access to on-air talent. ESPN had the right to purchase up to 31.8 million shares of Penn stock for $500 million over the 10-year period.

“When we first announced our partnership with ESPN, both sides made it clear that we expected to compete for a podium position in the space,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of Penn Entertainment. “Although we made significant progress in improving our product offering and building a cohesive ecosystem with ESPN, we have mutually and amicably agreed to wind down our collaboration.”

The end of the deal comes shortly after an FBI investigation led to the arrest of Miami Heat player Terry Rozier, who allegedly pulled out of a game claiming injury to deliver a win on one of his prop bets.

ESPN’s decision is unrelated to the recent news, as the company has been in talks for months with DraftKings about a new partnership. But no longer having the ESPN name on a betting app will keep the brand out of the line of fire if the NBA case escalates.

Beginning in December, DraftKings will have its app exclusively integrated across ESPN’s platforms.

The companies said they will “collaborate to advance their shared commitment to responsible gaming, by dedicating prominent assets to educate, raise customer awareness and promote responsible play through campaigns and integrations.”

DraftKings will provide the betting tab within the ESPN app and its customers will receive special promotions for ESPN’s newly launched direct-to-consumer streaming product.

DraftKings operates in 28 states and in Washington, D.C., and Ontario, Canada, and has more than 10 million customers across its products.

Wolves have made an approach to Middlesbrough about appointing Rob Edwards as their new head coach.

BBC Sport reported on Sunday that former Luton manager Edwards was among the leading contenders to replace Vitor Pereira, who was sacked following Wolves’ 10-game winless start to the Premier League season.

Wolves held talks with former boss Gary O’Neil, but the 42-year-old withdrew from the running on Monday.

Former Wolves player Edwards, also 42, has always been a strong candidate at Molineux and is emerging as the preferred choice.

It is understood the relegation-threatened club have made contact with Middlesbrough, who are third in the Championship, regarding their interest in appointing Edwards.

Whether that level of contact constitutes an official approach from Wolves to discuss the vacancy with Edwards is unclear, but the wheels are now in motion towards the Premier League side accelerating their plan to make an appointment.

It is understood Wolves would be required to pay significant compensation to Middlesbrough to secure Edwards, who only took over at the Riverside Stadium in June.

Wolves are bottom of the table with only two points after 10 games – eight points adrift of 17th-placed Burnley.

Marcus Smart couldn’t believe the stat line. Five steals and two blocks for who?

“Lukaaaaa,” Smart said, elongating Luka Doncic’s name while smiling toward his star teammate who was sitting with his feet in an ice bucket with ice bags wrapped around his knees.

Doncic matched his career high for steals in a regular-season game Wednesday. The guard averaging 40 points per game claimed his defense was the only thing he did well on a night when he finished one rebound short of a triple-double. While collecting 35 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, he was an inefficient nine-for-27 from the field and four-for-11 from three. He missed four free throws, turned the ball over four times and, after picking up his fifth foul with 7:58 remaining in the fourth, nearly fouled out.

The last fact took Rui Hachimura by surprise.

“I’ve never seen him like that,” Hachimura said. “But you know, he’s trying to be more aggressive [on defense] and that’s what we need from him, too.”

Redick said Doncic had a few games when he started slow defensively in terms of physicality and engagement, but has been overall “really good” this season. Even when he was switched on to Spurs star Victor Wembanyama or point guard Stephon Castle, Doncic still competed well.

“There wasn’t matador defense,” Redick said. “He still guarded. And that was huge. The reason we won the game is because we guarded in the fourth quarter. Our fourth-quarter defense was the No. 1 reason we won the game.”

The Lakers limited the Spurs to 36.8% shooting from the field during the fourth quarter while forcing six turnovers. Wembanyama was held to 19 points on labored five-for-14 shooting with eight rebounds. He was nine-for-11 on free throws and fouled out with 1:40 remaining when he bowled over Hachimura.

Ronaldo, who left United to join Real Madrid in 2009, rejoined the Old Trafford club from Juventus in August 2021.

However, he had his contract terminated in November 2022 after he criticised the club and said he had “no respect” for then manager Erik ten Hag in a previous interview with Morgan.

In his latest interview with the broadcaster, the 40-year-old said: “I’m sad, because the club is one of the most important clubs in the world and a club that I still have in my heart.

“They don’t have a structure. I hope that changes in the present and future, because the potential of the club is amazing.

“They are not on a good path. And it’s not only about the coach and players, in my opinion… He [manager Ruben Amorim] is doing his best. What are you going to do? Miracles are impossible.”

Amorim, who took charge of United in November 2024, led the club to last season’s Europa League final but they missed out on the trophy – and qualification for this season’s Champions League – as they lost to Tottenham.

They finished 15th in Premier League, their worst performance since the 1973-74 campaign in which they were relegated from the top flight.

They spent more than £200m in the summer but started this season slowly – including being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town.

Amorim appeared to be under pressure, but United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said the Portuguese needed three years to prove he is a “great” coach.

In an interview in March, Ratcliffe said the club had “not performed at the level that has been expected” since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson as manager at the end of the 2012-2013 season, adding that some United players were “not good enough” and some were “overpaid”.

Recently, United have shown an improvement in form, winning three of their past four league games – including a victory at Liverpool – and are eighth in the table.

Well, it was fun while it lasted … wait, it’s not over?

There’s somehow at least four games left in a UCLA football season that feels like it’s already exhausted its story arc and run out of acts.

Act I: The fall of a proud Bruin.

Act II: The rise of a proud (Fresno State) Bulldog-turned-Bruin.

Act III: A 50-point implosion that sucked the air out of the season and didn’t please any Bruin.

What’s left after an 0-4 start that included the firing of a coach followed by a three-game winning streak and a 56-6 loss to one of the nation’s top teams? Somehow, there’s still at least a third of a season to go.

A victory over Nebraska on Saturday evening at the Rose Bowl could essentially put the Bruins right back where they were a few weeks ago, giving interim coach Tim Skipper another chance to reclaim the hearts of the college football world with an upset of top-ranked Ohio State the following weekend.

But first they have to get past a Cornhusker team missing its biggest kernel. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola is out for the season with a broken leg, forcing the team to turn to a true freshman who was throwing passes for Orange Lutheran High this time last year.

Don’t expect TJ Lateef or any of his teammates to walk into the Rose Bowl waving a white flag.

“It would just be so average to go out there and be like, well, we’ve got a freshman quarterback and it is what it is,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule told reporters this week. “Like, no, we’re not doing that. We’ve got TJ Lateef and we’re going to rally around him.”

Here are five things to watch when the Bruins (3-5 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) face the Cornhuskers (6-3, 3-3) in a game that starts at 6 p.m. PST and will be televised by Fox:

Quarterback quandary

Nebraska quarterback TJ Lateef hands off the ball to running back Emmett Johnson during the second half against USC.

(Bonnie Ryan / Associated Press)

Lateef is about to become just the fourth true freshman quarterback to start a game for Nebraska since 1950.

Will it be a performance for the ages?

Lateef didn’t wow in relief of Raiola last weekend against USC. He completed five of seven passes as the Trojans rallied for a 21-17 victory, those completions going for a grand total of seven yards — 1.4 yards per completion. Lateef might be more dangerous as a runner than a passer, having averaged 4.5 yards and scored two touchdowns in his 11 carries.

Skipper said the Bruins would watch Lateef’s high school game footage to get a fuller understanding of his potential.

“We know we’re going to get some unscouted looks, unscouted plays,” Skipper said. “I’m sure there’s things that he does well that they’re gonna want to do that they haven’t really shown. He kind of had to do the game plan and scheming that they had up for Dylan and his reps [against USC], so we’ll have to adjust as the game goes.”

On the other hand . . .

Nebraska’s uncertainty at quarterback likely means more opportunity for its running game.

And the Cornhuskers have a good one.

Emmett Johnson has already topped 100 yards rushing in five games this season, totaling 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Against USC, he ran for 165 yards and a touchdown while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

“We’re going to need to know where he is at all times,” Skipper said. “He does a great job of just making people miss, I’m really impressed by how he plays. You know, I come from a family of running back coaches, and I’ve watched a lot of backs, and he’s one of the top guys I’ve ever seen.”

Another mantra

Skipper could keep a custom T-shirt shop busy with all his slogans.

He’s told his players to strain. He’s asked them whether they were one-hit wonders. He’s implored them to uphold the standard they had established.

Over the two weeks that followed his team’s 56-6 loss to Indiana, he’s delivered a new message.

“We’re just getting back to the basics,” Skipper said. “It’s about fundamentals and little details. That’s kind of been what we’ve been really preaching.”

Linebacker Jalen Woods said plenty of time has been spent on tackling after the team experienced significant slippage in that area against the Hoosiers. Offensive tackle Garrett DiGiorgio said players ran between drills to quicken the tempo of everything they were doing.

With an extra week to prepare for the Cornhuskers after a bye, the Bruins have tried not to let the disappointment they experienced in their last game linger.

“Don’t let it carry over into the next game,” Woods said of the team’s collective mindset.

A line redrawn

Eugene Brooks celebrates a UCLA touchdown against Penn State.

(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)

UCLA guard Eugene Brooks was back at practice this week, a significant development for an offensive line that had struggled in his absence.

The Bruins ran for just 88 yards — 60 by running backs — and allowed three sacks with Brooks sidelined against Indiana.

It appears they’ll be back at full strength against a Nebraska defense that’s allowing only 289.9 yards per game, ranking No. 13 nationally.

Skipper said the Cornhuskers create confusion using multiple defensive fronts with hybrid players who either rush the quarterback or drop into coverage.

“They’re going to create a lot of havoc that way with the people that they use,” Skipper said. “They create a lot of turnovers. They’re very good on third down. They don’t give up big plays in the passing game. They’re really good at keeping people in front of them.”

Another boost

Running back Anthony Woods also returned to practice after missing the Indiana game.

His ability to run the ball and catch passes out of the backfield could help an offense that did not score a touchdown for the first time this season when it faced the Hoosiers.

Running back Jalen Berger said the success UCLA had on the ground during its three-game winning streak, when it averaged 236.7 yards rushing per game, was largely a result of an increased emphasis on its ballcarriers.

“I’d say it’s more of a commitment,” Berger said of an approach the Bruins had to abandon after falling behind big against Indiana. “Just being run-first, you know?”

Scotland: Kinghorn; Graham, Hutchinson, Tuipulotu (capt) Steyn; Russell, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Rae, Gilchrist, Cummings, Brown, M Fagerson, Dempsey.

Replacements: Turner, Sutherland, Millar-Mills, Sykes, Darge, Bayliss, Dobie, Jordan.

New Zealand: Jordan; Carter, Fainga’anuku, Tupaea, Clarke; B Barrett, Roigard; Groot, Taylor, Newell, Lord, Holland, Sititi, Savea (capt), Lakai.

Replacements: Taukei’aho,  Williams, Tosi,  Darry, Kirifi, Ratima, Proctor, McKenzie.

From Broderick Turner: The buzz inside Crypto.com Arena for the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs game was created because generational talents Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyana were performing. It was a show that even several members of the World Series champion Dodgers were on hand to watch.

But what they saw was a lot of fouls being called that made the game unsightly. Doncic picked up his fifth in the fourth quarter, and Wembanyama eventually fouled out.

In the end, Doncic produced 35 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds in leading the Lakers to their fifth straight win with a 118-116 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday night.

The Lakers won despite a horrible turnover late in the game, giving the Spurs a chance to tie the score.

Continue reading here

Lakers box score

NBA standings

DODGERS

From Jack Harris: The Dodgers wasted no time this week setting their sights on a potential World Series three-peat for next season.

Now, they embark on the winter-long process of building a roster capable of doing it.

For the most part, the core of the 2026 Dodgers shouldn’t change much. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith will still lead the offense. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow will anchor the rotation.

However, with plenty of money coming off the books, several notable contributors to this year’s team now free agents, and plenty of opportunities lying ahead of them this offseason, the Dodgers have work to do and decisions to make as they attempt to defend their title again next year.

Continue reading here

The Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series had record-setting ratings. Here’s what it means

DODGERS POLL

We asked, “Who was the Dodgers’ hitting star in the World Series?”

After 1,691 votes, the results:

Will Smith, 55.8%
Shohei Ohtani, 27.4%
Miguel Rojas, 13.1%
Someone else, 3%
Max Muncy, 0.7%

RAMS

From Gary Klein: The Rams are no longer kicking the can down the road when it comes to their kicking problems.

On Wednesday, the Rams signed kicker Harrison Mevis to the practice squad to compete with second-year pro Joshua Karty. The move came a day after the team signed veteran long-snapper Jake McQuaide to compete with Alex Ward.

“It’s all geared toward trying to be able to just get some solutions and some kick consistency really with our field-goal operation,” coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. “I think it’s important to have good competition at some spots that we feel we can have improved play.”

Continue reading here

From Andrés Soto: Kaylon Miller was on the six-yard line in the fourth quarter, blocking on a USC run play when he saw King Miller, his running back and twin brother, blow right past him.

“Run, run, go, go!” he remembers shouting as King bumped it outside and crossed the Nebraska goal line for the go-ahead touchdown that ultimately would be the game winner in the Trojans’ 21-17 Big Ten win last Saturday in Lincoln.

When King turned around in the end zone, it was his brother who was the first to greet him; the two brothers shared a moment as their facemasks clashed into each other. Both walk ons. Both finding opportunities to get on the field as redshirt freshmen — and both making the most of those opportunities.

Continue reading here

Keith Browner, former USC linebacker and member of a large NFL family, dies at 63

THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

1869 — First U.S. college football game played, Rutgers 6, Princeton 4.

1934 — Joe Carter scores four touchdowns and Swede Hanson rushes for 190 yards as the Philadelphia Eagles crush the Cincinnati Reds 64-0.

1966 — Philadelphia’s Timmy Brown returns kickoffs 93 yards and 90 yards for touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 24-23 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

1981 — Larry Holmes knocks out Renaldo Snipes in the 11th round to retain the world heavyweight title in Pittsburgh.

1983 — James Wilder of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushes for 219 yards and a touchdown in a 17-12 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

1988 — Britain’s Steve Jones win the New York City Marathon in 2:08:20, the fastest time in the world this year. His margin of victory, 3 minutes and 21 seconds over Salvatore Bettiol, is the largest in the history of the five-borough race. Grete Waitz wins an unprecedented ninth women’s title, finishing in 2:28:07 well ahead of Italy’s Laura Fogli (2:31:26).

1992 — Manon Rheaume of the Atlanta Knights becomes the first woman to suit up for a regular-season pro hockey game. The 20-year-old goalie doesn’t play in Atlanta’s 3-2 overtime loss to Cincinnati in the IHL game.

1993 — French-based Arcangues stages the biggest Breeders’ Cup upset, rallying to beat Bertrando by 2 lengths in the $3 million Classic at Santa Anita. Arcangues went off at 133-1 and returned $269.20 on a $2 bet.

1993 — Evander Holyfield regains the WBA and IBF heavyweight championships from Riddick Bowe in a fight disrupted by a parachutist. During the seventh round at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the chutist tumbles into the ringside seats and stops the fight for 21 minutes. Holyfield becomes the fourth man to become a heavyweight champion at least twice.

1995 — Art Modell officially announces Cleveland Browns are moving to Baltimore.

1999 — Charles Roberts rushes for 409 yards and five touchdowns to lead Sacramento State past Idaho State 41-20, setting a new NCAA record for a single-game rushing performance.

2005 — Annika Sorenstam becomes the first player in LPGA Tour history to win a tournament five straight times, shooting an 8-under 64 for a three-stroke victory in the Mizuno Classic.

2010 — Michigan wins the highest scoring game in its 131-year history by stopping a 2-point conversion attempt in the third overtime for a 67-65 victory over Illinois.

2010 — Zenyatta comes within a head of finishing a perfect career. Horse racing’s biggest star closes from dead last, but Blame holds off the 6-year-old mare and wins the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic under the lights Churchill Downs. Zenyatta entered the race hoping to improve to 20-0 on her career.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has named his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Evan Ferguson included despite struggling with an ankle problem.

The forward – on loan at Roma from Brighton, who scored in the 1-0 win against Armenia in October, picked up the injury against Parma on 29 October. However, he is included in the 25-man squad for the final two group games that begin at home to Portugal on Thursday, 13 November (19:45 GMT) before a trip to Hungary on Sunday, 16 November (14:00 GMT).

Hallgrimsson’s side go into the final round of matches in Group F sitting in third, one point behind Hungary who travel to Armenia in the first of their games, knowing qualification for the 2026 World Cup could be out of their grasp with a game to spare should they lose to runaway leaders Portugal.

Missing for that game will be Jayson Molumby and Ryan Manning through suspension, but both are included in the squad.

There is a return for Mark Sykes despite his club Bristol City revealing he would miss their next two games after sustaining a gash on his leg in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat by Blackburn Rovers.

With Callum O’Dowda out, Jimmy Dunne retains his place in the squad after coming in as a late replacement for the October internationals, while American-born 26-year-old Kevin O’Toole receives a call-up with the left-sided New York City player eligible through his grandfather.

However, there is no call for Celtic’s Johnny Kenny – despite scoring three goals in his last two games, including the opener in the League Cup semi-final win over Rangers at the weekend – even though Hallgrimsson is without the injured Sammie Szmodics.

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS WATER POLO

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

OPEN DIVISION
Pool A — Third Round
#1 Newport Harbor 12, #4 Oaks Christian 6
#5 JSerra 14, #8 Laguna Beach 6

Pool B — Third Round
#3 Corona del Mar 13, #2 Santa Margarita 11
#6 Mira Costa 10, #7 Long Beach Wilson 6

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 5 p.m. unless noted)
Quarterfinals

DIVISION 1
Loyola vs. San Marcos at Dos Pueblos
Dos Pueblos vs. Buena at Rio Mesa
Mater Dei at Sage Hill
Harvard-Westlake at Westlake

Note: Divisions 2-5 quarterfinals Nov. 7; Open Division crossover round Nov. 8 at higher seeds; Divisions 2-5 semifinals Nov. 11; Open Division semifinals Nov. 12 at Woollett Aquatics Center; Division 1 semifinals Nov. 12; Finals (all divisions) Nov. 15 at Mt. San Antonio College.

The Ashes returns on 21 November and plenty of batters will be dreaming of runs before the opening Test in Perth.

Just 10 England players have scored a century in a men’s Ashes Tests in Australia since 2005, can you name them all?

There’s no timer on this quiz. Good luck!

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Semifinals

DIVISION II
#1 East Valley d. #5 North Hollywood, 20-25, 25-16, 25-19, 24-26, 15-11
#2 Mendez d. #6 Maywood CES, 25-23, 25-18, 8-25, 25-18

DIVISION III
#1 Panorama d. #12 New West Charter, 25-22, 25-13, 25-23
#2 Sun Valley Poly d. #3 Chavez, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 15-5

DIVISION IV
#1 Marquez d. #13 Fairfax, 3-0
#7 South East d. #3 Huntington Park, 27-25, 25-11, 25-16

DIVISION V
#5 Legacy d. #9 Santee, 25-22, 26-24, 25-20
#11 Sotomayor d. #7 Jefferson, 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 22-25, 15-11

FINALS SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
At Southwest College

DIVISION V
#11 Sotomayor (12-11) vs. #5 Legacy (9-15), 5:15 p.m.

OPEN DIVISION
#2 Palisades (34-7) vs. #1 Venice (32-10), 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY
At Birmingham High

DIVISION IV
#7 South East (10-14) vs. #1 Marquez (15-21), 10 a.m.

DIVISION III
#2 Sun Valley Poly (13-19) vs. #1 Panorama (15-14), 12:30 p.m.

DIVISION II
#2 Mendez (25-8) vs. #1 East Valley (13-6), 3:15 p.m.

DIVISION I
#3 Granada Hills Kennedy (31-9) vs. #1 LA University (20-6), 6 p.m.

Manchester City players including Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Lauren Hemp, Khiara Keating and Kerstin Casparij share their confessions, including things they got away with growing up, their mid-game thoughts and what football rule they would like to change.

Watch live coverage of Everton v Manchester City on Sunday 9 November from 14:30 BST on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app.

WATCH: ‘Defenders work harder than attackers’ – Man Utd Confession Cam‘

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
First Round

DIVISION 2
Woodbridge 13, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 5
Orange Lutheran 13, Great Oak 5
Redondo Union 10, Santa Margarita 6
San Juan Hills 13, Diamond Bar 5
Aliso Niguel 10, Newport Harbor 8
Chadwick 14, Laguna Beach 4
Tesoro 13, Huntington Beach 5
Calabasas 15, Temecula Valley 3
Crean Lutheran 15, Los Osos 3
Peninsula at Bonita
Marlborough 10, South Pasadena 8
San Marino 14, Crescenta Valley 4
Crossroads 16, Claremont 2
Westlake 13, Yorba Linda 5
Troy 10, Oak Park 8
Harvard-Westlake 15, Northwood 3

DIVISION 3
Anaheim Canyon, bye
Santa Monica 12, Patriot 6
Whitney 15, Arlington 3
Cate 13, Dos Pueblos 5
Temple City 13, Buckley 5
San Clemente 10, Cypress 8
Eastvale Roosevelt 11, Riverside King 7
El Toro at Los Alamitos
Brentwood 16, Liberty 2
West Ranch 10, CAMS 8
Campbell Hall 17, Yucaipa 1
Capistrano Valley 9, Ayala 9 (CV wins on games 75-68)
Flintridge Prep 10, Long Beach Poly 8
Arcadia 11, Sunny Hills 7
Corona Santiago 13, Redlands 5
Palm Desert, bye

DIVISION 4
Sierra Canyon 12, Quartz Hill 6
Esperanza 12, Fullerton 6
Pasadena Poly 11, Mission Viejo 7
Placentia Valencia 11, Camarillo 7
Rancho Cucamonga 10, Carpinteria 8
Dana Hills 10, Fairmont Prep 8
San Dimas 10, Irvine 8
Oaks Christian 11, La Serna 7
Keppel 9, San Marcos 9 (Keppel wins on games 79-74)
Murrieta Mesa 14, Silverado 4
Torrance 11, Orange County Pacifica Christian 7
Simi Valley 10, Alta Loma 8
Geffen Academy 11, Mayfield 7
Agoura 10, West Torrance 8
St. Margaret’s 12, Warren 6
Marymount 16, Westminster La Quinta 2

DIVISION 5
Thacher, bye
Valencia 11, Oxford Academy 7
Milken Community 10, Louisville 8
Riverside North 13, Valley View 5
Burbank 16, Long Beach Wilson 2
Millikan 14, Oak Hills 4
Maranatha 14, Rowland 4
Golden Valley 15, Chaparral 3
Chino Hills 10, Webb 8
Lakewood St. Joseph 13, Burbank Burroughs 5
Santa Barbara 13, Laguna Blanca 5
Beverly Hills 10, Citrus Valley 8
Santa Fe 11, Serrano 7
Cerritos 12, Pasadena Marshall 6
Bishop Montgomery 13, Xavier Prep 5
Paloma Valley 9, La Palma Kennedy 9 (PV wins on games 87-75)

DIVISION 6
Woodcrest Christian 10, La Habra 8
Flintridge Sacred Heart 15, Lancaster 3
Garden Grove 10, Mayfair 8
Ontario Christian 10, Estancia 8
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 9, Western Christian 9 (PC wins on games 70-66)
Villa Park 10, Corona 8
Vista del Lago 11, San Bernardino 7
Linfield Christian 10, La Quinta 8
San Jacinto 12, Riverside Notre Dame 6
Village Christian 16, Indio 2
Downey 11, Summit 7
Hillcrest 10, Western 8
Montclair 14, Hesperia 4
El Modena 14, Hacienda Heights Wilson 4
Heritage 13, Chino 5
Saugus 14, La Mirada 4

DIVISION 7
Temescal Canyon 11, Los Altos 7
Los Amigos 9, Rosemead 9 (Los Amigos wins on games 79-78)
El Rancho 10, La Sierra 8
Malibu 16, Twentynine Palms 2
South Hills 13, Azusa 5
Laguna Hills 17, Orange Vista 1
Ventura 12, Savanna 6
Apple Valley 10, Chaffey 8
Norwalk 9, Canoga Park AGBU 9 (Norwalk wins on games 70-66)
La Salle 13, Coachella Valley 5
Ramona 12, Granite Hills 6
Segerstrom 11, San Gabriel 7
Bolsa Grande 12, Westminster 6
Oakwood 17, Miller 1
Northview 12, Indian Springs 6
Arroyo 17, Highland 1

DIVISION 8
Alhambra, bye
Bishop Diego 14, YULA 4
Rim of the World 10, Foothill Tech 8
Nogales 13, Paramount 5
Tahquitz 13, Grand Terrace 5
Costa Mesa 12, Knight 6
Duarte 10, Workman 8
Whittier 11, de Toledo 7
St. Bonaventure 12, Edgewood 6
Oxnard 10, Channel Islands 8
Bellflower 10, Rancho Alamitos 8
Arroyo Valley 10, Moreno Valley 8
Canyon Springs 12, Cathedral City 6
Garden Grove Santiago 14, Carter 4
Hueneme 14, Banning 4
Academy for Academic Excellence 14, La Puente 4

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Matches at 3 p.m. unless noted)
First Round

DIVISION 1
Sage Hill at Corona del Mar
JSerra at Mater Dei
Mira Costa at Palos Verdes
Fountain Valley at Portola

Second Round

DIVISION 2
Orange Lutheran at Woodbridge
San Juan Hills at Redondo Union
Chadwick at Aliso Niguel
Calabasas at Tesoro
Crean Lutheran vs. Bonita / Peninsula
San Marino at Marlborough
Westlake at Crossroads
Harvard-Westlake at Troy

DIVISION 3
Santa Monica at Anaheim Canyon
Whitney at Cate
Temple City at San Clemente
Roosevelt vs. El Toro / Los Alamitos
Brentwood at West Ranch
Campbell Hall at Capistrano Valley
Flintridge Prep at Arcadia
Corona Santiago at Palm Desert

DIVISION 4
Esperanza at Sierra Canyon
Pasadena Poly at Placentia Valencia
Rancho Cucamonga at Dana Hills
San Dimas at Oaks Christian
Keppel at Murrieta Mesa
Simi Valley at Torrance
Agoura at Geffen Academy
Marymount at St. Margaret’s

DIVISION 5
Valencia at Thacher
Milken at Riverside North
Millikan at Burbank
Maranatha at Golden Valley
Lakewood St. Joseph at Chino Hills
Santa Barbara at Beverly Hills
Santa Fe at Cerritos
Bishop Montgomery at Paloma Valley

DIVISION 6
Woodcrest Christian at Flintridge Sacred Heart
Ontario Christian at Garden Grove
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian at Villa Park
Linfield Christian at Vista del Lago
San Jacinto at Village Christian
Hillcrest at Downey
El Modena at Montclair
Heritage at Saugus

DIVISION 7
Temescal Canyon at Los Amigos
Malibu at El Rancho
Laguna Hills at South Hills
Apple Valley at Ventura
Norwalk at La Salle
Ramona at Segerstrom
Bolsa Grande at Oakwood
Arroyo at Northview

DIVISION 8
Bishop Diego at Alhambra
Rim of the World at Nogales
Tahquitz at Costa Mesa
Whittier at Duarte
St. Bonaventure at Oxnard
Bellflower at Arroyo Valley
Garden Grove Santiago at Canyon Springs
Academy of Academic Excellence at Hueneme

Note: Quarterfinals (Divisions 2-8) Nov. 10; Semifinals (all divisions) Nov. 12; Finals (Divisions 1-4) Nov. 14 at University of Redlands; Finals (Divisions 5-8) Nov. 14 at The Claremont Club.

Craig Bellamy laughs when asked about Rubin Colwill, the 23-year-old forward currently impressing for Cardiff City.

“He’s big for you, isn’t he?,” Bellamy asks the reporter who brings up his name.

Not that Bellamy is not a fan of the nine-cap midfielder, to the contrary.

However, Colwill has not always featured in Bellamy’s Wales squads despite playing a starring role in Cardiff’s League One promotion bid and their quarter-final EFL Cup run.

“Rubin is able, there’s still one or two bits that we need more from, but he’s capable,” insists Bellamy who has plenty of other reasons to be a regular at Cardiff City Stadium.

“For the first time in a long, long time, I’ve really enjoyed coming away from Cardiff games with a smile,” he added.

“Last year was difficult, the atmosphere was down, but now I get to see a number of Welsh young players playing in a way I like.

“I only see them improving and selfishly I just see that this is going to benefit the country, so I’m over the moon with that.”

HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL

SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS

Saturday at El Modena High

DIVISION 1
JSerra (27-0) vs. Orange Lutheran (24-2), 7 p.m.

DIVISION 2
Corona del Mar (17-14) vs. Westlake (17-6), 5 p.m.

DIVISION 3
La Serna (17-11-1) vs. Eastvale Roosevelt (14-10), 3 p.m.

DIVISION 4
West Ranch (17-3) vs. Riverside Poly (19-11), 9 a.m.

DIVISION 5
Castaic (15-10) vs. Anaheim (15-10), 1 p.m.

DIVISION 6
Adelanto (14-6) vs. Bishop Alemany (10-11), 11 a.m.

This is the first Champions League season to feature six clubs from one nation and history will be made if all six of England’s representatives go through.

Back in 2017, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham all progressed, making England the first country to have five teams in the knockouts of the competition.

However just two of those sides – Liverpool and Manchester City – got beyond the last 16, while the Reds went all the way to final after knocking City out in the quarter-finals.

In the final, Liverpool were beaten by Real Madrid.

According to Opta’s predictions, Arsenal have a 99.8% chance of progressing to the knockouts, with Manchester City on 97.4% and Liverpool on 95.5%.

However, the predictions model is a little less confident over the automatic progress of the other three sides with Newcastle on 82%, Chelsea on 80.8% and Tottenham on 72%.

Former Liverpool midfielder Stephen Warnock told BBC Sport: “I’d say at the moment it is [significant what English teams are doing], but it doesn’t matter what goes on at the moment because we saw what happened last year, when Liverpool were dominating and finished top of the league stage – and then they were suddenly knocked out by PSG who had been rubbish up until then.

“So I just don’t see at the moment, unless you get knocked out, what effect it is going to have and it does not mean the English teams are going to get through the knockout stages because it all depends on the draw, and how you are set up later in the competition.”

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE

DIVISION 4
La Canada (22-18) at Ventura (21-9), 6 p.m.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

At Cerritos College

DIVISION 1
Sierra Canyon (38-3) vs. Mater Dei (31-4), 6 p.m.

DIVISION 2
Santa Margarita (23-10) vs. West Ranch (25-5), 12:30 p.m.

DIVISION 3
Santa Ana Foothill (27-10) vs. Cypress (20-12), 10 a.m.

DIVISION 5
Ontario Christian (13-8) vs. Chadwick (22-18), 3 p.m.

At Arrowhead Christian

DIVISION 6
Wiseburn Da Vinci (19-14) vs. Arrowhead Christian (18-11), 6 p.m.

At Carpinteria

DIVISION 7
West Valley (13-18) vs. Cate )13-6), 4 p.m.

At Artesia

DIVISION 8
Schurr (15-19) vs. Artesia (14-10), 6 p.m.

At South El Monte

DIVISION 9
Nogales (16-14) vs. South El Monte (16-11), 6 p.m.

At Anaheim

DIVISION 10
Moreno Valley (16-15) vs. Anaheim (16-12), 6 p.m.

Available for 29 days

It was another successful night for Premier League clubs in the Champions League with wins for Manchester City who beat Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle who got the better of Athletic Club at St James Park – and a draw for Chelsea away to Qarabag in Baku.

Kelly Cates has all the reaction and is joined by Premier League legends Michael Brown, Leon Osman and Tim Krul. They start at the Etihad where Phil Foden and Erling Haaland dazzled again for Manchester City on bonfire night – and Pep Guardiola even pops on the pod to chat to John Murray after his side’s 4-1 victory.

Tim gives his thoughts on Joelinton and Dan Burn after they scored for his former side, giving Newcastle a 2 nil win.

And Chelsea came from 2-1 down to draw two all with their opponents, after Alejandro Garnacho got Chelsea’s second and proved that he was indeed the impact substitution that manager Enzo Maresca needed.

Timecodes:
00:40 – Manchester City section.
10:25 – Pep Guardiola with John Murray.
14:30 – Newcastle section.
18:08 – Eddie Howe interview.
22:35 – Chelsea chat.
29:53 – Enzo Maresca audio.

Thursday 6th November
EUROPA LEAGUE: Midtjylland v Celtic 1745 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA
CONFERENCE LEAGUE: AEK Larnaca v Aberdeen 1745 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA 2
EUROPA LEAGUE: Rangers v Roma 1945 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA

Saturday 8th November
PREMIER LEAGUE: West Ham v Burnley 1500 KO – LIVE ON 5 LIVE
PREMIER LEAGUE: Everton v Fulham 1500 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA
PREMIER LEAGUE: Sunderland v Arsenal 1730 KO – LIVE ON 5 LIVE
WSL: Arsenal v Chelsea 1200 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA

Sunday 9th November
PREMIER LEAGUE: Nottingham Forest v Leeds United 1400 KO – LIVE ON 5 LIVE
PREMIER LEAGUE: Brentford v Newcastle 1400 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA
PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa v Bournemouth 1400 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA 2
PREMIER LEAGUE: Crystal Palace v Brighton 1400 KO – LIVE ON SPORTS EXTRA 3
PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester City v Liverpool 1630 KO – LIVE ON 5 LIVE

Programme WebsiteShow less

The Rams are no longer kicking the can down the road when it comes to their kicking problems.

On Wednesday, the Rams signed kicker Harrison Mevis to the practice squad to compete with second-year pro Joshua Karty. The move came a day after the team signed veteran long-snapper Jake McQuaide to compete with Alex Ward.

“It’s all geared toward trying to be able to just get some solutions and some kick consistency really with our field-goal operation,” coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. “I think it’s important to have good competition at some spots that we feel we can have improved play.”

The Rams are preparing for their game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

The Rams are 6-2 — and their losses against the defending Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles and the 49ers both resulted from problems in the kicking game that resurfaced without dire consequences in last Sunday’s rout of the New Orleans Saints.

Against the Saints, Karty missed a 39-yard field goal attempt and an extra-point attempt. Karty has made 10 of 15 field-goal attempts and 23 of 26 extra-point attempts.

McVay said after the game that the Rams would evaluate “all parts of where we go with this operation.”

On Tuesday, they turned to McQuaide, 37, who played for the Rams from 2011-2020 and was part of a special teams unit that also included kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter/holder Johnny Hekker.

“If all things go well with Jake, we expect him to be our long-snapper,” McVay said.

On Wednesday, they brought in Mevis, who made 89 of 106 field-goal attempts at Missouri, including one from 61 yards. In the United Football League this past season, he made 20 of 21 field-goal attempts.

So Karty and Mevis will duel during expanded special teams drills this week.

“We’ll implement more than we normally would on a Wednesday and a Thursday and truly be able to kind of use it as a competition,” McVay said.