TYLER – Michael Jones, 31, has had his bond reduction request denied by a Smith County Judge after he and Kerry Jones, 34, were arrested on charges concerning dogfighting after 60 dogs and two cats were seized from a Tyler property on Sept. 9. Michael’s mother, Brenda, took the stand during the Tuesday hearing. She testified the dogs belonged to Michael’s brother, Kerry. He is also facing charges. Brenda called Michael a “nurturer” and says he cared for his puppies. At one point, she tried pleading the fifth when asked about dogfighting. Michael’s bond will remain at $700,000. Kerry’s is set for $560,000.
Ukrainian children who fled Russia’s invasion transform Ukrainian school in Canada
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Matviy, a 6-year-old boy, has been attending a school named Ridne Slovo, which means "native word" in Ukrainian, for two years and primarily focusing on reading and writing in Ukrainian -- to become fluent in his mother tongue, despite being separated from it by thousands of miles.
Ukrainian Saturday school in Vancouver is not just about the educational process -- it is, rather, about building the Ukrainian community, letting children preserve their attachment to Ukraine, their motherland, said Yulia, the mother of the boy.
This educational project of New Westminster Eparchy was established in 2014 by local Ukrainian families, who were interested in more diverse and comprehensive Ukrainian-speaking educational curriculum in comparison with the regular Canadian schools.
After more than 20 years in Canada, Yulia now serves as a head of the parents' council of the school, saying that joining the school was not even a matter of choice: "We want our son to feel himself a part of the community, to understand that he is not alone and his parents are not the only Ukrainians around," she said.
At the very beginning, there were only several dozens of pupils in the school. But this year the number has grown to 160 children -- the smallest is just over 2 years old and the eldest is 14 years old, said Iryna Dziubko, a school administrator.
"A lot of newcomers from Ukraine joined the school -- now there is an equal split between them and children who didn't directly flee the full-scale Russian invasion," Dziubko said.
As she sees it, these new students have changed the vibe of the school as children began to use Ukrainian language during the breaks and before that the school administration were struggling with English language in the corridors.
"The actual war refugees helped us deal with this problem enabling local children to practice Ukrainian language not only during classes," she said.
Fifteen teachers, including seven people who have also recently relocated from Ukraine, teach children how to write and read in Ukrainian, Ukrainian studies, history, math, logic and Bible studies, as preparation for the first communion.
"At first it was all about providing mostly Ukrainian cultural studies but now, with the new wave of children from Ukraine, we understood that we also can level up the general knowledge criteria," Dziubko said. The school is also trying to help young Ukrainians to overcome the war traumas, in part by pushing the student to study -- but also to relax and enjoy themselves, she said.
Ihor, 40, an IT specialist who relocated his family from Lviv, Ukraine, on March 1, 2022, just a week after the full-scale invasion began, said he and his wife are trying to help to their two boys, 13 and 11, and 9-year-old daughter, experience the benefits of attending the Canadian and Ukrainian schools at the same time.
"Our eldest son had a traumatic experience with the school back in Ukraine, he literally hated it against the background of the Canadian school he attends here -- it was about the indifference of the teachers and cruelty among the students," Ihor said.
He said he wanted his children to know why it is so important for them to learn about Ukrainian culture and identity.
"It is all about remembering where you are from, about having friends in here and enjoying the community of your own," Ihor said.
As he sees it, for parents this school is about community and cultural opportunity to keep holding to Ukrainian identity and consciousness in order to secure its transit to their children.
"I became a volunteer in this school, trying to be a role model and help my children with adaptation, to involve them into the learning process in the new surroundings," said Olena.
She said she found the school while in Sri-Lanka, browsing online for schooling opportunities for her children. Her daughter, Maggie, is almost 9 years old and son, Misha, is 6, and both have been attending Ridne Slovo since last winter.
"My children got used to this school despite the fact that they assigned more homework in a week than it has been assigned during the whole year in the Canadian school."
The whole family arrived in Sri-Lanka three days before the Russian invasion to Ukraine, hoping to spend their two weeks' vacation there, but got stuck. They attended a local British school for 18 months. Back then, Olena realized that she had to start speaking Ukrainian instead of Russian.
"My husband is British and I am the only keeper of the Ukrainian heritage in our family -- I bite it off with my teeth," she said. "So, it was my decision to let our children attend this school as Ukrainian language is now very important, although it was not a part of our family before the war -- all of us were Russian speaking."
"Sri-Laka it is almost India, India is a friend of Russia, and the Russians feel themselves very comfortable there -- like somewhere in Krasnodar region," she said. "There were a lot of them there and if you are speaking Russian there is almost no difference between you and them. So, they tend to make you one of them -- saying that we are all together in the same boat, let's hug each other and cry together."
Therefore, the family relocated to Vancouver and there, in this school, Olena was deliberately looking for other Ukrainian-speaking children, hoping that they would interact more and become friends with her daughter and son.
"I hope, my children will understand who they are, where are they from -- it is very important in here -- in Canada where there are so many people representing different races and nationalities," she said.
The language issue is also a key argument for Yevhen, 34, whose family moved to Canada 2 years ago after spending 8 years in Poland. He and his Polish wife are raising three children and the eldest son, 5, attends Ukrainian school.
"The language is the main issue for me -- one of my biggest fears is that my children will not speak Ukrainian," said Yevhen, who speaks four languages fluently. It was a matter of Yevhen's personal choice to switch from Russian to Ukrainian when he turned 16 and decided to change his name to Yevhen, instead of the more Russian Yevheniy, on his passport.
"Our son was born in Poland, we are raising him in Canada, he has never got to know Ukraine for real, so, this school is the only option for us to build up some identity in him, give him the understanding who he is," he said, adding, "I want him to promote Ukrainian culture, proving that it is as good as the others."
The school has become a central part of the lives of some who fled the war, even if they didn't initially intend it to become so. Alina Novytska, from Dnipro, Ukraine, was not a teacher back in her home city, but 5 years ago she joined this school community. First here two girls attended, and then she became a teacher. Now she is responsible for Ukrainian language classes, Ukrainian studies and Bible studies curriculum. "Smaller children are just singing songs about God and others are preparing for the First Communion," she said.
As a professional graphic designer, Alina is also involved in creative workshops and art classes with children. Currently teachers are using workbooks from Ukraine, adopting them according to their schedule. Alina said she sees a difference between newcomers and children who were born in Canada or have been here for a while.
"Due to the peculiarities of the educational system and methodology, it is easier for us to work with children from Ukraine as they are more disciplined, they are listening to the teacher, are precisely following all instructions and need no additional incentives," she said.
At the same time, the newcomers also tend to demonstrate a generally higher level of knowledge if compared to the schoolers of the same age from Canada. But, as Alina said, it is not just about education: "Some parents may barely afford this school as it is not free of charge but their children are the ones who are asking to let them have this small native island."
Ridne Slovo serves as a native island for the children of Father Mykhailo Ozorovych, the abbot of the Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster and the director of the school.
"As a married priest and father, I can see how important the community, other children and this experience of each other, this growth in knowledge, in Ukrainian culture is important for my children," he said.
In Ozorovych's opinion, being Ukrainian means not just language, embroidery and borscht -- it is something bigger and different, it is a way of thinking, way of life, attitude to the world.
On the one hand, the director admits that the religion is not a must at school and it is just offering more to the children in comparison to the regular schools in Canada. On the other hand, he insists that Ukrainians have to keep together making sure that the children have strong Christian connections. He called his school the investment into the future victory of Ukraine.
"At some point, the war will be over," he said, "there will be a time for the renewal and I want these children, these teachers, all together to rebuild Ukraine."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Hagerty: The public doesn’t care who does Hegseth’s background check
Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., a prominent ally of Donald Trump, said voters don't care who conducts background checks into the president-elect's Cabinet picks and that Trump would fire members of his administration who don't follow the policy he sets out.
In an interview with "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl, Hagerty lambasted the records of some of President Joe Biden's Cabinet members and insisted that Trump will command compliance from top members of his upcoming administration.
Name-checking Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for the bloody withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Hagerty said, “They've not been held to account.”
"President Trump will fire people that don't do their job well. I fully expect everybody coming into the Cabinet will listen to President Trump. They'll let him set the policy, and they'll execute according to that plan."
Trump has moved at a rapid pace to flesh out his Cabinet, including picking Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii to be director of national intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Trump also tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to head the Justice Department after former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., withdrew from consideration amid a tumultuous sexual misconduct investigation in the House Ethics Committee.
Hagerty said Trump hopes to have his Cabinet nominees swiftly confirmed, telling Karl that Trump "clearly expects to hit the ground running" and "wants us to have these hearings done quickly and expeditiously."
However, others besides Gaetz have been hit with scandal.
Kennedy has been a prominent vaccine skeptic and supported abortion access, riling anti-abortion groups allied with Trump. Gabbard has blamed the U.S. and NATO for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and met with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. And Hegseth is mired in a sexual misconduct controversy over payments to a woman who alleges he assaulted her at a conference.
With Gaetz out of the running, the spotlight has mostly shifted to Hegseth, who has also ruffled feathers by saying that he doesn't agree that women should serve in combat roles in the military.
Hagerty praised Hegseth and insisted that the Trump transition team has thoroughly vetted all of its candidates -- but that he isn't concerned with who does a formal background check on them before the confirmation process formally begins.
"Don't let these allegations distract us. What we need is real significant change. The Pentagon has been more focused on pronouns than they have lethality the past four years. We need to get back to business, and I think Pete is just the person to do it," Hagerty said.
"The transition team has been working for months to prepare for this. I'm certain that there was significant vetting that has taken place, it has for every candidate," Hagerty added.
FBI background checks have been standard practice for nominees requiring Senate confirmation, but the Trump transition team has yet to sign the necessary agreements to allow such screenings to occur.
However, while some Republican senators have said they'd like to see an FBI background check done on Hegseth, Hagerty said, "I don't think the American public cares who does the background checks. What the American public cares about is to see the mandate that they voted in delivered upon."
Hagerty also said that he supports the use of recess appointments -- allowing Trump to temporarily put Cabinet picks in office while Congress is out of session -- though he did demur when pressed by Karl over whether Trump would do so if the person lacked sufficient Republican support to be confirmed in the Senate.
"I haven't spoken with President Trump about the specific plans. What he wants to do is see these appointments made quickly. He wants to see us get through the confirmation process. And again, I think everything should be on the table," he said.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Klobuchar says she can’t make a decision on Trump nominees without FBI background checks
Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar emphasized Sunday the importance of FBI background checks for Trump's Cabinet nominees, which she said was necessary for their confirmation.
"I want to make a decision on each one of them on the merits, as I've done in the past, and I can't do that without the background checks," Klobuchar told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl. "Why wouldn't we get these background checks for the most important job in the United States government?"
Klobuchar expressed concern that the Trump transition team has yet to sign the necessary agreements to allow such screenings to occur, and she believes this will create "a delay in getting these Cabinet officials in."
Klobuchar said she "of course" has concerns about Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general who Trump selected for his attorney general after former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration, but she plans to meet with her and hear her out.
"Does it concern me that revenge would be part of [Bondi's] mission? Of course it does," she said. "I hope that's not the case. I hope that what she wants to do is uphold the Constitution, because that is a really important job."
During Trump's first term, Klobuchar voted against both of his attorney general nominees, Jeff Sessions and William Barr, but voted yes on about half of his nominees.
When asked what it would take for her to vote to confirm Bondi, Klobuchar said she "doesn't know yet."
"I never weigh in unless it's something as absurd as Matt Gaetz," she said, emphasizing her disapproval of Trump's initial attorney general selection.
Klobuchar added she is "concerned with all these nominees," pointing to Pete Hegseth's comments opposing women in combat and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s questioning of vaccines.
She emphasized the need for Cabinet members to have "views consistent with the American people," in addition to having the necessary qualifications.
However, she added, “As with every nominee, I believe you need to hear them out.”
In regards to Trump making recess appointments and whether Cabinet nominees could be approved without Senate confirmation, Klobuchar said, "I don't think that's going to happen." She cited "a number" of Republican senators who have "both publicly and privately" said "they will not go along with that."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Mavericks recover after losing 24-point lead, overcome Jokic’s triple-double to beat Nuggets 123-120
DENVER (AP) — Naji Marshall scored a career-high 26 points, P.J. Washington had 22 points and 13 rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks recovered after blowing a 24-point lead to beat the Denver Nuggets 123-120 on Friday night in an NBA Cup game.
Playing without Luka Doncic, Dallas built a 20-point halftime lead by was down by five before Washington scored nine points in the final 2:41 to improve to 2-1 in the West Group C. Denver was eliminated from the knockout round.
Doncic will be out at least four games with a right wrist sprain.
Nikola Jokic returned from a three-game absence to notch his sixth triple-double of the season. Jokic, who didn’t go on the three-game road trip while he and his wife waited for the birth of their second child, finished with 33 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists.
Russell Westbrook scored 16 points.
Dallas led 77-53 early in the third quarter but the Nuggets rallied to take a 113-108 lead late in the fourth. The Mavericks went on an 11-2 run to lead 119-115 with 50 seconds left.
Takeaways
Mavericks: Showed their depth without their best player. Seven players scored in double figures.
Nuggets: Christian Braun had 17 points and is the only player to score in double figures in every game this season. Jokic has scored at least 10 points in every game he has played.
Key moment
With the game tied at 113 with 1:52 remaining, Dereck Lively II blocked layups by Jokic and Westbrook in a span of 30 seconds.
Key stat
Westbrook entered Friday night shooting 30.4% from 3-point range in his career and made 4 of 6, including all three in the fourth quarter.
Up next
The Mavericks visit the Miami Heat on Sunday night while the Nuggets head to Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Saturday night.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Simons scores 25, Sharpe adds 24 as Trail Blazers bounce back with 104-98 win over Rockets
HOUSTON (AP) — Anfernee Simons scored 25 points and Shaedon Sharpe added 24 as the Portland Trail Blazers bounced back from a tough loss with a 104-98 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
The victory came after Portland was blown out 116-88 by the Rockets in an NBA Cup game Friday night.
The Trail Blazers led by three late before Alperen Sengun cut the lead to 99-98 on a shot in the paint with 21 seconds left.
Portland got two free throws apiece from Deni Avdija and Sharpe to make it 103-98 with 4.3 seconds remaining. Simons added another free throw after a technical foul on Fred Van Vleet to secure the win.
Houston’s Dillon Brooks and Sharpe had to be separated after they got tangled up fighting for a rebound with about two minutes left. Brooks had to be pulled away from Simons after Brooks took issue with Simons pushing him away from the fray.
Sharpe was called for a loose ball foul on the play and Simons and Brooks both received technical fouls.
Sengun had 22 points and Amen Thompson added 19 points off the bench for the Rockets.
Takeaways
Trail Blazers: They showed grit in putting Friday’s loss behind them and moving quickly to snap a two-game skid.
Rockets: Houston needs to play more consistently after a poor offensive showing Saturday night a game after Friday’s big offensive outing when the team made 15 3-pointers.
Key moment
Simons scored five quick points to make it 99-96 with less than 30 seconds to go, putting the Trail Blazers on top for good. He made a layup before hitting a 3-pointer after a block by Avdija.
Key stat
The Blazers made 18 of 44 3-pointers and Houston managed just 8 of 32 attempts with Jalen Green going 1 for 9.
Up next
The Trail Blazers visit Memphis on Monday night and the Rockets visit Minnesota on Tuesday night.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Wembanyama returns from three-game absence to help Spurs rally past Warriors, 104-94
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 25 points, Harrison Barnes had 22 and the San Antonio Spurs overcame a 17-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors 104-94 on Saturday night.
Wembanyama added nine assists, seven rebounds and three blocks in his return from a three-game absence with a bruised right knee.
San Antonio rookie Stephon Castle added 19 points and stole the dribble from Golden State’s Stephen Curry behind the 3-point line with 1:46 remaining to preserve an eight-point lead.
Andrew Wiggins had 20 points and Curry had 14 points for the Warriors, who had won two straight. Trayce Jackson-Davis added 12 points and eight rebounds.
San Antonio went on an 11-0 run for a 97-90 lead with Castle and Wembanyama accounting for all but two points. Golden State was held scoreless for 4 1/2 minutes and did not make a field goal for 5:19.
The Spurs were without Devin Vassell (bruised left knee bone), Keldon Johson (right hamstring tightness) and Jeremy Sochan (left thumb surgery).
Takeaways
Warriors: Golden State’s bench, which was averaging 54 points, was held to 36 points.
Spurs: Prior to its fourth quarter surge, San Antonio’s only previously led for 22 seconds. Barnes hit the opening basket on a cutting layup 21 seconds into the first quarter. Golden State then went on an 11-0 run for a 20-8 lead.
Key moment
Castle scored on a driving layup with 4:25 remaining to spark the Spurs’ closing run. He followed that with a 3-pointer from 27 feet, Wembanyama drained a 3 from 31 feet and Castle made one of two free throws to put the Spurs up 97-90 with 2:28 remaining.
Key stat
San Antonio outscored Golden State 33-13 in the final quarter.
Up next
Warriors: Play host to Brooklyn on Monday night.
Spurs: At Utah on Tuesday night.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Dodgers name Chris Woodward first base coach
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Woodward has been named first base coach by the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking his second stint on manager Dave Roberts’ staff.
The Dodgers made the announcement Friday night. Woodward was the Dodgers first base coach from 2016-18 before leaving to take over as manager of the Texas Rangers.
Woodward fills the opening created after former first base coach Clayton McCullough became manager of the Miami Marlins.
Woodward had a 211-287 record in nearly four seasons with the Rangers. He has been a senior advisor on the Dodgers’ Major League and Player Development staff for the past two seasons.
Dodgers executive vice president and general manager Brandon Gomes said Woodward will take over base running and infield responsibilities with third base coach Dino Ebel shifting to outfield duties.
Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretaries
The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20, 2025. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition.
Rollins, an attorney who graduated from Texas A&M University with an undergraduate degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. She worked as a litigation attorney in Dallas and also clerked for a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas after earning her law degree from the University of Texas.
The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration.
Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk” earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field.
“I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.”
Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war.
President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes.
In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs.
___ Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.
Tyler man gets 45 years after 3-year-old injured in shooting
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Darius Jubarn’e Davis was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Nov. 15 after he was arrested in connection to a Tyler shooting that injured a 3-year-old in March.
Darius Jubarn’e Davis, 31 of Tyler, pleaded guilty to unlawful possesion of a firearm by a felon and manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance between four and 200 grams, according to our news partner KETK. Initially, Davis was also charged and indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon but that charge was dropped. Judicial records show that he was sentenced to 45 years in state prison for the firearm charge and 20 years for the controlled substance charge.
Davis was arrested in March after a 3-year-old was hit in the buttocks by a bullet and had to be taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The 45-year sentence and the 20-year sentence both started on Nov. 15. Davis was given a 248-day jail credit, according to Smith County Jail records.
Helm’s 2 TD catches power No. 3 Texas over Kentucky 31-14 to keep Longhorns atop SEC
AUSTIN (AP) — Quinn Ewers threw two first-half touchdown passes to Gunnar Helm and No. 3 Texas beat Kentucky 31-14 on Saturday to stay on top of the Southeastern Conference in the Longhorns’ first year in the league.
Quintrevion Wisner ran for 158 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown for Texas (10-1, 6-1, No. 3 CFP ). The Longhorns can earn a berth in the SEC title game when they face No. 15 Texas A&M next week as that rivalry resumes after a 12-year break.
“Back-to-back 10 wins seasons, but more work to do. Obviously, we’ve got a big game next week,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “What that game means to the entire state of Texas. It’s so cool we’re playing the game again.”
Texas’ final home game of the regular season also looked like it could be Ewers’ last home game in burnt orange if the Longhorns don’t host a College Football Playoff game. The three-year starter has a year of college eligibility left but took part in Texas’ senior day pregame celebrations.
Ewers considered leaving for the NFL after leading Texas to the playoff last season. He has dealt with a nagging abdomen injury that forced him to miss two and a half games this season.
He deflected questions about his future after the game.
“I’m just glad we won,” Ewers said. “We’ll see what happens from here on out.”
Ewers was 20-of-31 passing for 191 yards in an uneven performance to push his record to 24-7 as as starter.
His first touchdown pass to Helm came on Texas’ opening drive. Ewers rolled to his left on 4th-and-goal and found Helm roaming in the back of the end zone. The second came on a touch pass where Helm had to reach high and absorb a big hit at the touchline to make it 21-7.
“I really like throwing the football to him,” Ewers said.
Kentucky (4-7, 1-7) cut the lead to 24-14 on Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s 25-yard touchdown return after a Ewers fumble in the third quarter.
Wisner’s power running took over late in the fourth quarter before he pushed in for a 1-yard score. Texas bled 8 minutes off the clock and ran 12 times in a 15-play drive.
Sarkisian called it a “culture, attitude drive.”
“Being able close out the clock and send it home means a lot,” Wisner said.
The Takeaway
Kentucky: Backup quarterback Cutter Boley replaced starter Brock Vandagriff in the third quarter and put some life in the Wildcats’ offense with 160 yards passing. But Kentucky needed to beat Texas and then Louisville next week to keep its eight-year bowl game streak alive.
“The bowl game streak is gone. It hurts. It’s not fun. It’s something we were proud of and you can’t take that stuff for granted,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said.
Texas: The defense continued its dominant form. Texas has not allowed an opponent to score in the first quarter in eight times this season. The defense held again in the third quarter when the Wildcats had first down at the Texas 1-yard line. The drive went back 15 yards before a missed field goal.
Poll Position
Texas should stay put at No. 3 with a solid win but no real room to move up before their showdown with the Aggies next weekend.
Up Next
Kentucky hosts Louisville next Saturday.
Texas plays at Texas A&M next Saturday.
TCU pulls away from Arizona 49-28 with relentless offense
FORT WORTH (AP) — Josh Hoover threw for 252 yards and a touchdown and JP Richardson had 149 all-purpose yards and a 38-yard touchdown reception to lead TCU over Arizona 49-28 on Saturday.
On the first play from scrimmage, Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita was intercepted by Bud Clark and TCU scored five plays later on Trent Battle’s 4-yard run.
The Horned Frogs scored touchdowns on five straight drives, going at least 75 yards on nine or more plays on three of the possessions.
TCU (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) drove 75 yards in 12 plays in the final 1:55 of the first half to take a 21-13 lead on Savion Williams’ 20-yard run. Hoover completed five passes on the drive, including gains of 24, 19, and 24 yards to set up Williams’ score with 20 seconds left in the half.
The Horned Frogs took the second-half kickoff and drove 76 yards in nine plays to build a 28-13 lead on Battle’s 1-yard run.
“We had two series where it didn’t look very good, but the last drive of the first half and the second half were the two pivotal moments of the game,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said.
Richardson’s 33-yard punt return to the Arizona 34 set up a third touchdown in three possessions. He caught a short pass over the middle from Hoover and raced untouched 38 yards for the score and a 35-13 lead. Richardson led TCU with six catches for 107 yards.
Four TCU running backs scored a touchdown, including Williams, who rushed for 80 yards and two scores. Battle also rushed for 28 yards and two scores.
Fifita was 29 of 44 for 284 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Arizona (4-7, 2-6). Tetairoa McMillan made nine catches for 115 yards.
“Everyone is disappointed. It’s hard when you go through a season like this,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “It’s challenging on every level. I love these players.”
Scoop and score
Arizona defensive lineman Sterling Lane II picked up a fumble from TCU backup quarterback Ken Seals with just over a minute left in the game and ran it 70 yards for a touchdown to cap the scoring.
Nipped in the Bud
Clark leads the Horned Frogs with three interceptions, including one in each of the past two games. He is tied for fifth-most in the Big 12.
Passing your coach
McMillan became Arizona’s all-time leading receiver, passing his wide receivers coach Bobby Wade for the top spot. McMillan had nine receptions for a game-high 115 yards. He has 78 receptions for 1,251 yards this season and 207 receptions for 3,355 yards in his career. Wade finished his four-year career with 3,351 receiving yards in 2002.
The takeaway
Arizona: The Wildcats, who started the season in the AP Top 25 poll, will not be bowl-eligible this season with a game remaining under Brennan. A year ago under coach Jedd Fisch, who is now at Washington, Arizona advanced to the Alamo Bowl for the first time since 2017.
TCU: The Horned Frogs, who became bowl-eligible two weeks ago, won their third consecutive game at Amon Carter Stadium after losing two in a row to UCF and Houston. TCU has won four of its past five, the only blemish a 37-34 last-second loss at Baylor.
Up next
TCU: At Cincinnati on Saturday.
Arizona: Hosts Arizona State on Saturday.
No. 4 Penn State stays on playoff track with narrow 26-25 win over Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Penn State left nothing to chance with a championship chase still on the line. The Nittany Lions were determined to end this game with the ball in their hands.
Drew Allar passed for 244 yards and a touchdown, rushed for a score and led two late fourth-down conversions to help No. 4 Penn State fend off Minnesota 26-25 on Saturday and stay on track for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Tyler Warren had eight receptions for 102 yards for the Nittany Lions (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP), who dodged the upset on an afternoon when three other teams in the projected 12-team playoff were beaten and secured a third straight 10-win season. Penn State is 5-0 on the road for the first time since 1985.
“Records and stats are one thing, but they’re a physical team, they’re a tough team and they brought their ‘A’ game,” Nittany Lions center Nick Dawkins said.
Dragan Kesich’s third field goal of the game with 5:48 left brought the Gophers (6-5, 4-4) within one after they had first-and-goal from the 7. They tried to get tricky with a second-down screen pass to left tackle Aireontae Ersery, but it fell incomplete.
Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck trusted his defense enough to kick, a strategy that almost paid off until Penn State’s Luke Reynolds ran 32 yards on a fake punt to make up for two special teams gaffes in the first half.
Reynolds’ run was the first of three fourth-and-1 conversions on the Nittany Lions’ final drive. Allar converted the second on a keeper from the Minnesota 25 just before the two-minute warning and ended the game on the third conversion with an 11-yard pass to star tight end Warren.
“I just felt like we needed to be aggressive and end the game on our terms,” Franklin said.
Penn State trailed 10-0 and didn’t score until Allar found an uncovered Omari Evans for a 45-yard touchdown pass with 10:48 left in the second quarter. Nick Singleton’s 12-yard touchdown run with 3:43 left in the third gave the Nittany Lions their first lead at 23-22.
“All these times we have been down at halftime, there hasn’t been any pointing fingers or bad attitudes coming back in the locker room,” Warren said, reflecting on comeback wins over USC and Wisconsin. “I think that sets us up really well for the second half.”
Max Brosmer, whose streak of 206 passes without an interception ended when he was picked off by Dominic DeLuca in the second quarter, lost a fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter. Both turnovers set up field goals for Penn State.
“I know it happens in football, but I know that I can be way better,” Brosmer said.
Daniel Jackson had six catches for 90 yards, and Marcus Major rushed for a touchdown for Minnesota.
“There’s a lot of tears in that locker room because of how hard they played, but Penn State found a way to make one more play than we did,” Fleck said. “It was a great football game. Sometimes you’ve got to step out of the head coach role to appreciate a game like that.”
Hands up
With Penn State punting from the back of the end zone, Derik LeCaptain deflected the ball that died at the 21. The Gophers dialed up a double-reverse pass on the next play with a pitch to Darius Taylor, who tossed it to Jackson and back to Brosmer for a TD pass to tight end Jameson Geers with 1:03 left in the first half.
The Nittany Lions cruised 75 yards in six plays, aided by a questionable pass interference penalty on Ethan Robinson, to score on a 4-yard Allar scramble. But Jack Henderson blocked the extra point, and Robinson scooped it up and raced 88 yards for two points and a 19-16 halftime lead.
The takeaway
Penn State: The offense was at its best in no-huddle mode, particularly when keeping Warren, the do-it-all tight end, as involved as possible. Allar’s ball security continues to be an asset.
Minnesota: The win in 2019 against a then-undefeated Penn State team showed what’s possible for this program, and the Gophers nearly repeated that feat. The two turnovers by Brosmer loomed in the end.
Up next
Penn State finishes the regular season at home against Maryland next Saturday, and Minnesota plays at Wisconsin next Friday for possession of Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
Florida knocks No. 9 Ole Miss out of College Football Playoff contention, 24-17 in the Swamp
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Coach Billy Napier and his team did something no one at Florida had done in nearly two decades. It could be the turning point for a once-proud program that clearly slipped in recent years.
DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and the Gators upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention.
Florida (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference), which topped LSU last Saturday in the Swamp, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008.
“We’re just getting started,” said Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season in 2025. “This is part of the big-picture journey. Belief is the most powerful thing in the world.”
Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), which was a 10-point favorite, lost for the first time in four games and will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. The Rebels ranked ninth in the latest CFP and needed only to avoid a letdown against Florida and lowly Mississippi State to clinch a spot in the playoff field.
“Obviously a lot was at stake, and we didn’t come through,” coach Lane Kiffin said. “A lot of missed opportunities.”
The Rebels failed to score in three trips inside the red zone and dropped countless passes in perfect weather, miscues Kiffin called “very unusual.”
Still, Ole Miss had chances late. But Jaxson Dart threw interceptions to end the team’s last two drives. Bryce Thornton, beaten for a touchdown in the first half, picked off both. The second one came with 17 seconds remaining and set up a raucous celebration by defenders in the end zone.
Dart completed 24 of 41 passes for 323 yards, with two TDs and the two picks. He was sacked four times and also scrambled 14 times for a team-high 71 yards.
“You look at the way we played, we had a chip on our shoulder for sure,” defensive tackle Cam Jackson said.
The Rebels probably would have had a comfortable lead had it not been for repeated failures inside the 20-yard line. Defensive tackle J.J. Pegues, a 325-pound wrecking ball out of the backfield, was stopped on two fourth-down runs inside the 20-yard line, and Caden Davis missed a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Ole Miss’ drops were egregious, including at least three that probably would have been touchdowns. Jordan Watkins (twice), Wells (twice), Dae’Quan Wright and star receiver Tre Harris were among the droppers.
Florida was much more efficient. Lagway completed 10 of 17 passes for 180 yards, with an interception. He made three throws with defenders draped all over him.
“Those were the plays of the game,” Napier said.
Johnson had a few of those, too. His 9-yard scoring run from the wildcat formation was huge and came after missed most of the last four games.
“I focused on grinding and trying to work my way back,” Johnson said. “Last week I got a couple carries and this week I shot to the moon.”
Injury woes for Ole Miss
Days after Kiffin raved about the health of his team, the Rebels had three starters go down with injuries.
Harris, returning after missing the last three games with a strained groin, re-injured it the second quarter and did not return.
Safety Yam Banks also was carted off the field after injuring his left knee, and center Reece McIntyre left the game. Right tackle Micah Pettus also was injured on a play but was able to return.
“Senior Day” for Florida
Injured quarterback Graham Mertz got the loudest ovation during Florida’s senior day. Mertz’s college career ended when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a 23-17 overtime loss at then-No. 8 Tennessee last month.
The graduating class also includes Johnson, defensive tackle Desmond Watson and cornerback Jason Marshall, who also is out for the season.
The Takeaway
Mississippi: The Rebels needed better offensive balance. Playing without running back Henry Parrish Jr. (knee) for the second consecutive game, Ole Miss threw the ball 41 times. Dart also scrambled 14 more. It worked at times against Florida’s depleted secondary but wasn’t a recipe for success.
Florida: The Gators now have a chance to close the regular season with three consecutive wins, more proof that Napier has the team on the right track.
Up Next
Mississippi: The Rebels host Mississippi State in a rivalry known as the Egg Bowl on Friday.
Florida: The Gators play at rival Florida State next Saturday.
Beck throws 4 TD passes and Frazier runs for 3 scores to lead No. 8 Georgia past UMass, 59-21
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Coach Kirby Smart hopes some ugly breakdowns by his defense in No. 8 Georgia’s otherwise dominant 59-21 win over Massachusetts on Saturday will provide lessons his team can use in its final regular-season game.
Smart says the most important lesson is about more than missed tackles. He says his players lacked the energy he saw from visiting UMass and that Georgia can’t make the same mistake when it plays in-state rival Georgia Tech on Friday night.
“I hate to say it, but I don’t know if our guys were as energized as their guys were,” Smart said, adding the “want-to and desire” was “the biggest thing” that kept the visiting Minutemen competitive in the first half.
Ultimately, Georgia’s advantage in talent was the difference.
Carson Beck threw four touchdown passes and Nate Frazier set career highs by rushing for 136 yards and three scores as the Bulldogs tried to protect their College Football Playoff hopes.
Georgia (9-2, No. 10 CFP) needed the big offense from Beck and Frazier to rescue a defense that gave up 226 rushing yards. UMass (2-9) played its first game under interim coach Shane Montgomery, the offensive coordinator who retained his play-calling duties after replacing fired coach Don Brown on Monday.
Jalen John led the Minutemen with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown.
“I think we just stuck to the plan that the coaches had for us,” John said. “Obviously this week was kind of rough for us, given Coach Brown not being here anymore. We just did our best to stay focused on what the coaches planned and did our best to execute it.”
Georgia extended its streak of consecutive home wins to 30, the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Bulldogs linebacker Chris Cole returned a fumble recovery 31 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Quintavius Johnson’s sack of AJ Hairston and forced fumble set up the play.
Beck avoided turnovers for the second consecutive game. He threw two touchdowns without an interception and also ran for a score in the Bulldogs’ 31-17 win over No. 6 Tennessee on Nov. 16. Beck had 12 interceptions in his previous six games.
“I think the first thing is, obviously, the offensive line played so well,” Beck said. “When I’m not getting pressured as much and I can sit back there comfortably and make my reads, it makes life a lot easier for me.”
UMass opened the game with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that included nine runs and was capped by CJ Hester’s scoring run from the 4.
UMass veered from its run-first plan to open the second half. Hairston threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Jakobie Keaney-James, who made the catch between defensive backs Dan Jackson and Daniel Harris.
Georgia had only four possessions in the first half and each ended with a touchdown pass from Beck. The senior quarterback connected with Oscar Delp, Cash Jones, Dominic Lovett and Arian Smith for the scoring passes.
Poll implications
Favored by 42 1/2 points, Georgia faced a difficult task of meeting expectations. The offensive showing by Beck and Frazier could be enough for the Bulldogs to protect their Top 25 and CFP rankings.
The takeaway
UMass: The Minutemen ran for 166 yards in the first half against a Georgia defense that had allowed an average of 114 for a full game. … LB Jalen Harrell was surrounded by teammates after he was placed on a cart with a leg injury midway through the third quarter.
Georgia: Running backs Trevor Etienne and Branson Robinson, recovering from injuries, were held out. Dwight Phillips Jr. and Chauncey Bowens were given carries, but Frazier seized the opportunity to solidify his status as the next back on the depth chart. Frazier had scoring runs of 9 and 15 yards in the third quarter and added a 2-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth. … Beck completed 20 of 31 passes for 297 yards. Gunner Stockton took over for Beck and led the Bulldogs’ final offensive touchdown drive. … DL Christen Miller was ruled out after leaving the game in the first quarter with what Smart said was a dislocated shoulder.
Up next
UMass: Closes its season at home next Saturday against UConn.
Georgia: Remains home to play Georgia Tech (7-4) on Friday night. The Yellow Jackets beat N.C. State 30-29 on Thursday night.