Napa Valley Register SPORTS Sunday, September 25, 2022 | B5

NFL COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Napa’s Bowers, Georgia

down Kent State 39-22
PAUL NEWBERRY
Associated Press
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia hardly
looked like the nation’s best team
Saturday as it struggled to put away
Kent State.
The No. 1 Bulldogs ultimately
prevailed, holding on for a 39-22
DAVID BECKER, ASSOCIATED PRESS‌ victory, but their two-week run
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) celebrates after sacking atop the rankings could be in jeop-
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray last Sunday in Las Vegas. ardy.
Napa High School graduate

Raiders, Titans eye each Brock Bowers scored two more

touchdowns and Georgia survived
a sloppy performance and surpris-

other for first victory

ingly gritty effort from the Golden
Flashes.
The Bulldogs (4-0) turned it over
three times, struggled in the red
TERESA M. WALKER urgency. zone, were burned on a fake punt
Associated Press “We have to be on our stuff and and gave up several big plays to Kent
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Ten- get ready and go out there and get State (1-3) in what was easily their CURTIS COMPTON, ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION VIA AP‌
nessee Titans and Las Vegas Raid- a win now,” Adams said. worst performance of the season. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers breaks away from Kent State safety Antwaine
ers are in an NFL group no team Was it bad enough to knock Richardson on a 75-plus yard touchdown run Saturday in Athens Ga.
ever wants to be mired in: 0-2 and Respecting Henry‌ Georgia out of the top spot in the
stuck at the bottom of their divi- Raiders defensive coordinator rankings? Check back Sunday. Or maybe he should be listed as tember. They embraced it and got
sions. Patrick Graham doesn’t have much “We don’t care too much about a running back. better because of it.”
If these teams can avoid a tie affinity for offensive players, hav- the rankings,” defensive lineman “I guess I’m a tight end,” Bowers Kent State became the first
Sunday in Music City, at least ing spent his entire career devising Nazir Stackhouse said. “We focus said. “But I just line up wherever team all season to score a touch-
someone will walk away with the ways to stop them. Graham does on us. It’s always a ‘we’ thing. We’re the tell me.” down against Georgia’s first-team
first victory of the season and a admit that Titans running back always focused on our development Bowers strengthened his cre- defense when Devontez Walker
chance to start building some Derrick Henry is an exception with as a team, no matter where we are dentials as one of the nation’s hauled in a short pass from Collin
momentum. And the Titans and this his first chance at defending in the rankings.” most dynamic offensive players. Schlee along the sideline and took
Raiders, both playoff teams in the two-time NFL rushing champ. Kent State had a chance to make “What a weapon he is,” Smart it 56 yards to the end zone.
2021, insist their issues right now “I’ve admired from afar because it a one-score game with less than said. “He can line up and play just
are all their own. as a defensive coach, there’s not 13 minutes remaining after Mar- about anywhere.” The takeaway‌
“That’s the message to our too many things we like about of- quez Cooper powered in from the 1 But Bowers was the exception Kent State: The Golden Flashes
team,” Titans Pro Bowl defensive fense, but when you see a guy that to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive. But a for the Bulldogs on this day. have a lot to build on as they pre-
tackle Jeffery Simmons said. “It’s could run the ball and the way he two-point conversion failed, leav- Ladd McConkey lost a pair of pare to face teams more their size.
not about trying to see who’s go- runs the ball and the physicality, I ing the Bulldogs with a 32-22 lead. fumbles, one on a punt return Most notably, they put together
ing to go 0-3. It’s about the Ten- wish he would have switched over Georgia then finished off the when he probably should have scoring drives of 70 and 75 yards
nessee Titans finding a way to get to defensive end or linebacker at Golden Flashes, driving 75 yards called for a fair catch, another after against a defense that had allowed
this win.” some point,” Graham said. “I’m for Kendall Milton’s 1-yard plunge being stripped on a catch catching just 10 points through the first three
The Titans haven’t started this excited about the challenge.” on fourth-and-goal with 5 1/2 min- a pass in Kent State territory. games.
poorly in a decade, and their 41-7 The Raiders have been stingy utes to go. Stetson Bennett threw his first
rout Monday night in Buffalo was against the run so far, allowing just Georgia head coach Kirby Smart interception of the season, though Georgia: The Bulldogs played like a
their worst loss since October 2017. 3.7 yards per carry for the sixth- insisted that he wasn’t all that he did score on a 1-yard dive, team that paid far too much atten-
It’s been a distressing start for best mark in the league. Henry displeased with his team’s per- sticking the ball across the line tion to all the accolades after their
a team that was the AFC’s No. 1 is off to a slow start with just 107 formance. He pointed out that the while falling on his back with 8 first three games. That’s just what
seed a year ago, though Tennes- yards rushing the first two weeks. Bulldogs never had to punt, blocked seconds left in the first half to put Smart was worried about, but it
see at least plays in the woeful a punt for a safety and finished with the Bulldogs up 26-13. gives him plenty of things to work
AFC South. Las Vegas has its own Protect Tannehill‌ a 529-281 edge in total yards. Georgia settled for three field on when his team returns to the
high hopes after hiring Josh Mc- The previous time the Titans But Georgia has plenty to clean goals by Jack Podlesny after driv- practice field.
Daniels. The Raiders also spent played against Chandler Jones, up. ing inside Kent State’s 20-yard
lots of money adding players such the defensive end wreaked havoc “The fake punt is like a turnover,” line, which allowed the Golden Poll implications‌
as five-time Pro Bowl wide re- on their offensive line, sacking Smart said. “When you have four Flashes to hang around. If the Associated Press voters
ceiver Davante Adams, four-time Tannehill five times and forcing turnovers, you’re gonna have a “That’s a really good football follow the same pattern they did
Pro Bowl defensive end Chandler two fumbles to kick off his run to game like that.” team,” Smart said. “They proved with Alabama, Georgia is likely
Jones and handing out extensions a fourth straight Pro Bowl and the Fortunately for the Bulldogs, they that today.” to get bumped from the top spot.
to tight end Darren Waller and re- three-year contract the Raiders have Bowers. Kent State was facing a team The Crimson Tide started the sea-
ceiver Hunter Renfrow. gave him this offseason. Coming off a three-touchdown currently ranked in the AP Top 25 son No. 1 but swapped places with
That made blowing a 20-point The Titans will be without performance against South Caro- for the third time in its first four Georgia after a surprisingly tough
halftime lead in a 29-23 overtime three-time Pro Bowl left tackle lina, he took it to the end zone on games, having already lost to No. 20-19 victory at Texas two weeks
loss to Arizona in the Raiders’ Taylor Lewan, whom Jones re- the second play of the game with a 18 Washington and No. 6 Okla- ago. Alabama was hosting Vander-
home opener more than disap- peatedly attacked a year ago. Le- dazzling 75-yard run. homa. bilt later Saturday.
pointing in the competitive AFC wan was carted off after their first Going in motion to take a hand- This figured to the their tough-
West. Adams, who had just two offensive play against Buffalo. off, the sophomore tight end est test yet. But the Golden Flashes Up next‌
catches for his fewest receptions Dennis Daley replaced Lewan in found a big hole around right end actually made things tough on Kent State: Having completed the
in a game since 2017 and nothing Buffalo and now will have a week and never stopped running, turn- the Bulldogs, who came in as 44 brutal part of the schedule, the
after halftime, said there’s a bit of of practice. ing on his impressive speed down 1/2-point favorites. Golden Flashes open Mid-Amer-
the sideline in front of the Georgia “I’m really pleased with the way ican Conference play by hosting
bench. that our kids fought,” Kent State Ohio next Saturday.
Athletics age. Nimmo is scheduled to play
Sunday afternoon’s series finale.
Bowers also scored on a 2-yard
scamper, making it three touch-
coach Sean Lewis said. “We have
a really talented ball club that has Georgia: Travels to Missouri for its
From B1 Manager Buck Showalter didn’t downs on three carries this season gone through tremendous adversity second Southeastern conference
want to take a chance with Nimmo for the sophomore tight end. and conflict in the month of Sep- game in a Saturday night clash.
Francisco Lindor added a sac- with the quick turnaround after a
rifice fly in the first off Ken Wal- night game Friday, and the training
dichuk (1-2), who earned his first
major league victory in his fifth
staff expects that with the off day
Monday he should be full strength Presidents Cup a 10-foot birdie for another point.
Every point is big for the Inter-
— eight losses and one tie — and
was shut out until he and Hideki
career start with five solid innings. by Tuesday. ... All-Star RF Starling From B1 national team, already depleted Matsuyama took down Collin
Rookie Dermis García hit a two- Marte has been hopeful of return- from four players who left the Morikawa and Cameron Young in
run double in the bottom of the ing for a key series with the Braves match in the afternoon. PGA Tour for Saudi-funded LIV, the morning, and Scott and Davis
first against deGrom, who surren- next week as he works back from a The Internationals split the and already dealing with eight proved to be a great Australian duo
dered Vimael Machin’s one-out non-displaced fracture of his right morning matches, and the way straight cup losses. in the afternoon.
single and then issued consecutive middle finger. He flew back to New this Presidents Cup has gone for The Americans are still very “Any victory against the U.S.
walks to Sean Murphy and Brown. York on Saturday afternoon for them, not losing ground felt like much in control, needing only team has got to be really hard
Conner Capel homered among further imaging tests. Also going a win. four wins and a halve from the 12 fought,” Scott said. “So this feels
his career-best three hits and back early were starting pitch- And then it got better. singles matches in the final ses- good.”
drove in a career-high four runs. ers Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan They rallied over the final hour sion. Max Homa is still having the
He had an RBI groundout and Shea Walker. in two matches to turn deficits Spieth and Thomas have led the week of his life. After his late hero-
Langeliers also doubled in a run in into 1-up wins, taking the after- way. The only other U.S. tandem ics the night before, he partnered
the A’s first. Athletics: CF Ramón Laureano is noon session by winning three of in a Presidents Cup to go 4-0 was with Tony Finau in a 4-and-3 vic-
Capel homered in the fifth and recovering from a PRP injection in the four matches. Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker at tory over Si Woo Kim and Davis.
Brown added an RBI single in the his right hip that he opted to have The star was Kim, the youngest Harding Park in 2009. The Inter- Homa sat out the afternoon ses-
sixth. The A’s kept adding on, with because he was already sidelined player at Quail Hollow and per- nationals had Louis Oosthuizen sion. He is 3-0 in his debut playing
Nick Allen hitting an RBI single in and expected to miss the remain- haps the biggest personality. He and Branden Grace do the same in a cup.
the seventh. der of the season with a right ham- started the comeback with a 55- in South Korea in 2015. Schauffele and Cantlay lost for
Former A’s outfielder Mark string strain. He’s expected to have foot eagle putt on the par-4 11th Thomas and Spieth have been the first time in three matches
Canha was hit by a pitch to start a normal offseason to be ready for hole against Patrick Cantlay and close friends for 15 years, dating this week. They were 2 up after 10
the third. He singled in the first spring training and will begin a Xander Schauffele. to junior golf and international holes and were 3 under the rest of
and struck out twice. rehab program this coming week They were all square going to outings. This is the first time in the way, with Schauffele making a
rejoining the team. the last, Si Woo Kim already out a Presidents Cup that they have 40-foot birdie putt from short of
A’S 2023 hall of fame class‌ of the hole, and Tom Kim facing been paired together, and both are the 15th green for a 1-up lead that
Oakland announced its 2023 Roster move‌ a 10-foot birdie putt for the win. on their games. It a lethal combi- looked like it would carry them to
Hall of Fame class to be honored Oakland designated infielder He took a few steps back as the nation. another point.
during next year’s Bay Bridge Se- Sheldon Neuse for assignment to ball neared the hole, dropped his Even so, the end of the matches Instead, Si Woo Kim made a
ries on Aug. 6 — AL MVP Jason clear roster room for infielder Ernie putter and slammed his cap to the gave Spieth pause. 4-foot birdie putt to square the
Giambi, World Series champions Clement, claimed off waivers from ground in a raucous celebration. “We’ve got to go get the job match on the 16th, and a 5-foot
Carney Lansford and Gene Ten- Cleveland on Friday. “I wanted that putt more than done tomorrow and win two more par putt to keep it tied on the
ace, Bob Johnson of the Philadel- anything in the world,” Kim said. points for our team,” Spieth said. 17th. Tom Kim was so nervous he
phia A’s, and former PA announcer Up next‌ Moments later, Adam Scott “I’d love to get a singles win, and I covered his eyes and was peaking
Roy Steele. RHP Max Scherzer (10-4, 2.15 and Cameron Davis rallied from 1 know Justin would, too. We’re go- through his fingers, pumping his
ERA), coming off his 200th career down with three holes remaining ing to be close enough where our fist when the putt dropped.
Trainer’s room‌ win, faces the A’s for the first time when Davis made a 12-foot eagle two would be obviously extremely And then the 20-year-old
Mets: CF Brandon Nimmo was since surrendering five earned putt on the 16th and a 15-foot important.” Korean had the stage to himself
held out of the lineup as a pre- runs over six innings in Oakland on birdie putt on the 17th hole to go Kim won both his matches Sat- at the end, and he delivered a
caution after he returned Friday May 27, 2014, while with Detroit. 1 up. urday, teaming with K.H. Lee in winner. Left to be seen is what
from a left quadriceps injury. He The A’s send LHP JP Sears (6-2, On the final hole, Sam Burns hit morning foursomes to beat Burns one putt — one point — can do
left Wednesday’s game follow- 3.58) to the mound to face the Mets his approach to 4 feet that gave and Masters champion Scottie for an International team that
ing the first inning hurt then an for the first time after he beat the him and Billy Horschel a chance to Scheffler, 2 and 1. still has a four-point deficit to
MRI showed no structural dam- Mariners on Tuesday. earn a halve. And then Davis made Scott is playing on his 10th team overcome.
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