Inglewood, CA- University of Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr threw four touchdowns and the defense finished with five interceptions in a dominating 38-10 win over Boise State in the L.A. Bowl game Saturday at SoFi Stadium.
After both teams traded field goals in the first quarter, Washington went on a 21-0 run in the second quarter. Williams Jr. threw three touchdowns in the second quarter to give UW a 24-3 lead heading into halftime.
INGLEWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 13: Washington Huskies linebacker Xe’Ree Alexander (10) and Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) after the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk between the Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies on December 13, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
“They treated the game as we asked them to, which is a championship game, a championship opportunity,” UW coach Jeff Fisch said. “As we’re sitting here with nine wins, really proud of our players, and tonight was a great football game.”
UW opened the second quarter with Williams Jr. hitting Denzel Boston for a 78-yard touchdown to give UW a 10-3 lead. UW forced a punt on the ensuing drive and drove down the field with a 7-play, 57-yard drive that was capped with a 6-yard touchdown catch by Desmond Roebeck.
“Once I turned around and I saw there was no safeties and my guy running free, I was just trying to make it as catchable as possible,” Williams said on the pass to Boston.
INGLEWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 13: Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) runs the ball during the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk between the Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies on December 13, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
The third touchdown of the quarter came when Willimas Jr connected with Raiden Vines-Bright for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:17 remaining in the first half.
The UW offense kept it rolling in the third quarter when Williams Jr threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to tight end Quentin Moore for a 31-3 lead.
INGLEWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 13: Washington Huskies wide receiver Chris Lawson (8) catches the ball for a gain during the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk between the Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies on December 13, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
Running back Jonah Coleman capped the night with a 6-yard touchdown run. Coleman rushed for 86 yards while Boston finished with six catches for 125 yards.
Boise State finished with 311 total yards but were held to 51 yards in the first half. The Broncos will move to the PAC-12 next season.
INGLEWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 13: Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) catches the ball for a touchdown and celebrates during the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk between the Boise State Broncos and the Washington Huskies on December 13, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 news)
Los Angeles, CA- No. 16 USC gave an unpremeditated warm West coast welcome to the undefeated No.1 UConn with a sold out crowd of 9,000 that turned into a chilly blowout, 79-51 on Saturday at the Galen Center.
After eight minutes of back n forth action, the Women of Troy seem like they were on the verge of keeping up with the No. 1 Huskies before a Blanca Quinonez substitution led into a full court pressure onslaught to change the short-lived battle into a white flag retreat.
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
“I think we had two turnovers through the first half of the first quarter … and then we turned the ball over too much,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “It’s really hard to guard them in transition off of made or missed baskets, but I thought we could do that probably better than anyone that they’ve played. But it’s really hard off of live-ball turnovers.”
USC’s defense allowed UConn to score 15 straight points to close the first quarter initiated by Quinonez one woman defense show forcing turnovers with her length to steal the ball on inbound plays then converting them into six straight points before the Women of Troy figured out just how to advance the ball up the court.
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
Unfortunately for USC, UConn unleashed their best play of this season thus far finishing with 44 points in the paint and 26 points off turnovers.
Sophomore Guard Kennedy Smith fought to keep her team encouraged while their two top scorers Senior Guard Kara Dunn and Freshman Guard Jazzy Davidson were froze out most of the game by UConn’s physical, fast play.
“During the game I was telling them in the huddles just work on us at this point,”Smith said once the game seemed out of reach. “If we’re going to lose the game, we’re gonna lose the game, but work on what we need to be better.”
Smith finished with 16 points and had much needed assistance from Senior Guard Londynn Jones off the bench scoring 14 points in 25 minutes. Davidson eventually reached double digits with 10 points despite most of those points being “a day too late” buckets as the game was out of hand. Dunn had an upside with five assists and scoring the first basket for her team from deep to give them an early lead.
“Games like this are where you learn so much. I think staying present and just trying to do whatever it is in that moment, you have to take it play-by-play,” Jones said about co-leading this team with fellow teammates. “I think that was just kind of the mentality that I was just trying to get everybody on and you can’t do anything about the past. So, moving forward, we’re just trying to get better.”
USC continues struggling on offense with their inconsistent scoring and inability to finish nifty drives inside the paint, especially contested shots. However, the Women of Troy on the defensive end, were able to make the Huskies less efficient from deep range, hitting only 7 out of 19 as well as kept UConn’s dominant forward Sarah Strong under her usual outstanding performance as she struggled quietly in the first half.
USC was denied double digits both quarters in the first half culminating with a big block on Davidson entering into halftime, 39-17. The Women of Troy briefly held early leads but were unable to sustain an offensive rhythm, despite limiting the Huskies to their fewest points in a half this season.
By the third quarter, Women of Troy came out to a different tune, scoring 22 points but unable to stop the flow of UConn or the bleeding from Huskies’ hoedown on their home court.
“I never allow myself to go into a game thinking it’s going to be a 30-point game,” Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma said. “I knew it would be a good game. I thought it would be physical, I thought it would be fast-paced, and we wanted to make it fast-paced. When we could speed the game up and play really quickly, it was to our benefit. Defensively, our guys were able to do that today.”
UConn star guard Azzi Fudd not only clamped up Davidson for most of the game, she led her team with a game high 17 points including 3 out of 6 from behind the arc. Freshmen Quinonez poured in 12 points, four rebounds, four steals and a couple of assists that overall shifted UConn’s play into a different gear as they never looked back after she checked in the game.
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
“When you have someone like her coming off the bench and can just bring that spark, it’s like the first group is playing well, and then she comes in, and it’s like a whole other level,” Fudd said about Quinonez.
The Women of Troy finished the game shooting 30 percent, hitting only 16 field goals for a season-low, 51 points. USC did show progress from the charity stripe, making 15 from 20.
USC (7-3) has one more home game to host Cal-Poly at the Galen Center on Thursday, December 18 completing their six game homestead and hopefully rebounding from such a downcast defeat.
UConn (10-0) remains undefeated and will return to Northeast to face Marquette on Wednesday.
LOS ANGELES, CA- On Wednesday night, the San Antonio Spurs battled the L.A. Lakers for a spot in the Semifinals of the NBA Cup. From the onset it was the Spurs who regained supreme, soundly defeating the Lakers 132-119 at Crypto.com Arena.
San Antonio now travels to Las Vegas to face the 24-1 defending NBA Champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Semifinals. While the Lakers need to improve their defense desperately.
Stephon Castle scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half, and De’Aaron Fox added 20 points in the San Antonio Spurs’ victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Victor Wembanyama missed his 12th straight game with a calf injury, but he traveled with the Spurs. Many Laker fans fellt the loss of Wemby meant smooth sailing to Sin City.
For those fans still confused about the NBA Cup: here is a brief explanation.
An annual in-season tournament for all 30 NBA teams, featuring a group stage followed by single-elimination knockout rounds, culminating in a championship game in Las Vegas, with special uniforms, courts, and significant prize money ($500k per player for winners) to create early-season stakes, with most games counting towards the regular season and playoff seeding.
Going into the matchup, the Lakers confidence was sky high with a 4-0 record in the group stage. In addition, the Purple and Gold won the inaugural Cup in 2023.
Photo by Jevone Moore
Stephon Castle scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half, and De’Aaron Fox added 20 points in the win. Keldon Johnson had 17 points and eight rebounds as the Spurs maintained a healthy double-digit lead for most of the final three quarters to claim the last Cup semifinal spot in Las Vegas.
For the Lakers, Luka Doncic scored 35 points and LeBron James had 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers, who lost for only the third time in 12 games. Los Angeles trimmed its deficit to eight points late in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get closer.
Marcus Smart scored a season-high 26 points with eight 3-pointers for the Lakers, and Austin Reaves had 15 points.
Unfortunately, the Lakers defense has been awful all season. Last night, it was exposed for the NBA world to see.
San Antonio made a 17-2 run and jumped to an 18-point lead in the second quarter, with Castle and Harrison Barnes exploiting Los Angeles’ season-long struggles in perimeter shooting defense.
Our Lakers are mired in the bottom five in the league in opponents’ 3-point percentage (38.2%), by hitting 17-of-38 from the outside (44.7%) and leading by as many as 24 points in the elimination game for the in-season tournament.
When the Spurs weren’t launching from beyond the arc, their guards were penetrating into the paint, compromising L.A.’s interior defense so much the Lakers often had no choice but to foul. Sm
San Antonio went 29-for-36 from the foul line compared with the Lakers’ 17-for-23.
Despite L.A.’s 17-7 start to the season, the loss mirrored many of the Lakers’ other lopsided defeats in the first quarter of the regular-season schedule.
The Lakers travel to Arizona to face the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
INGLEWOOD, CA- The stars were definitely out on a cool, clear Tuesday night at Morningside High/Inglewood High School United.
The brightest star of the evening was Inglewood’s Jason Crowe Jr., for the Ocean League opener against visiting Beverly Hills.
Down at center court, there was a festive atmosphere. The DJ spun various rhythm and blues, hip hop and dance music. Green confetti was launched in the air and fluttered around like a New Year’s party. Friends, relatives and basketball followers celebrated as Crowe achieved a huge milestone in California high school basketball.
(Photo by Jevone Moore)
They were also happy about Inglewood’s 112-75 win over Beverly Hills.
L.A. City Section Hall of Famer Dwayne Polee was among many former players, coaches, officials and fans in attendance to watch Inglewood display a total team effort as Crowe became the state’s all-time leading scorer.
Crowe finished with 51 points, but it wasn’t easy. In between getting knocked around by a physical Beverly Hills defense, he had to earn every point, from the court to the free throw line.
Crowe Dunks (Photo by Jevone Moore)
While Inglewood (7-1) was taking care of business on the court, there was prep sports media legend Eric Sondheimer writing his award winning column from his perch up high above the Western sideline in the stands.
Standout L.A. area journalists Tarek Fattal, Ronnie Flores, photographer Nick Koza, and many other videographers were putting their best work together, representing the prep media in yet another big Southern California basketball event.
Game announcer Corey “Swaggy C” Kwok used his powerful voice in another commanding performance that punctuated the sparkling night.
Legal magnate Jacob Emrani and basketball camp guru Dinos Trigonis soaked in the pure basketball atmosphere that actually felt like a playoff game.
Meanwhile, there was an important league game to win. Cayim White and David Conerly helped Inglewood’s defense use an array of steals, half and full court pressure traps to build a lead that began at 24-7 after the first quarter.
(Photo by Jevone Moore)
Despite trailing 57-32 at the half, Beverly Hills (6-2) put up a competitive showing of its own at times, playing aggressive scrappy defense, its wings filling lanes wider than the Harbor Freeway to create several two-on-one breaks after steals.
But at the end of the night, it was just another magical chapter in the illustrious Inglewood basketball legacy.
After breaking the record (Photo by Jevone Moore)
With his performance, Crowe joined Byron Scott, Jay Humphries, Ralph Jackson, Reggie Theus, Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Monica Raspberry, Shaunda Greene, Jojo Witherspoon, Lynn Sherow, Elden Campbell, Carl Franklin, Frank Scott, Jim Harrick and many others, but the playoffs will be the next step very soon.
Los Angeles, CA – Freshman Jazzy Davidson led the No. 16 USC in her first career Big Ten opener, to a 59-50 victory with a big double-double, scoring a season-high 22 points plus 12 rebounds, to end No. 21 Washington 8-game win streak at the Galen Center.
Women of Troy recorded their longest home game winning streak since 1948 with 19 in a row to help their head coach Lindsay Gottlieb become the fastest coach in program history to reach 100 wins out of 138 games.
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
“As I told them in there, this is a big win,” coach Gottlieb said. “It’s a conference win. It’s a top 25 win. It’s a NCAA tournament team win.”
The low scoring affair was big for both teams coming in on win streaks though neither teams could get much going on offense with the scored tied at halftime 22-22.
“I’m really proud of the way we competed especially the first quarter, though I know that sounds crazy, when to not score for eight and half minutes,” coach Gottlieb said.
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
Sophomore Guard Kennedy Smith whose struggle on offense hit one of the two triples for the game to give SC their first lead, 17-16 with less than four minutes remaining in the first half, but the momentum booster was short as Washington answered right back to close the half.
“I thought Ken’s leadership, Malia’s leadership, people who could settle us in, did so,” coach Gottlieb said about her team’s early offensive woes.
Davidson extended 6-0 run to 9-0 run after nailing the team’s only other 3-pointer of the game to seal the game as Women of Troy never trailed after midway through the third quarter, 34-27. The lady Huskies kept competing and even went on a 4-0 run to close the quarter, 34-39.
“I thought our defense was elite…they’re [Huskies] really talented,” coach Gottlieb said. “They come in with a lot of actions and movements this Princeton stuff…”
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
Washington expanded their run with six points, until SC forced a turnover and capitalized with a transition bunny assisted by Davidson to Kennedy Smith. Then Davidson followed with a short fadeaway to push lead back up to five, 51-46.
“I think there are some nights like that,” Davidson said about team’s rollercoaster shooting. “I have full confidence in my teammates to hit those shots and same with myself…I think those shots you make nine out of ten times, you just keep shooting them.”
Sayvia Sellers kept shooting to keep her Huskies team in the game before fouling out and finishing with 20 points on 7-of-23 shooting. Former USC transfer Avery Howell added 16 points and 13 rebounds. Howell received a warm welcome of boos and bumps in game while she picked up a few chippy fouls towards some of her former teammates.
Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News
Both teams shot ugly to start the game but USC (7-2) improved to 38% while going 11 of 21 from the charity stripe and 2 of 17 from behind the arc. Washington (8-1) shot 27% (18 of 67) from the field, 6 of 25 (24%) from 3-point range.
The Women of Troy’s four game win streak out of this sixth game homestead, will need this type of momentum and confidence built in their preparation for what could be their toughest home opponent this season, hosting Number one team, UConn on Saturday.
LOS ANGELES, CA — LOS ANGELES — UCLA Bruins opened Big Ten play in dominant fashion Sunday, rolling past Oregon Ducks 80–59 at Pauley Pavilion.
The Bruins (9-1, 1-0 Big Ten) jumped out early, building a 19–8 first-quarter lead and never looking back.
By halftime they led 49–26, thanks in part to a 10-0 second-quarter run that widened the gap.
UCLA’s Lauren Betts #51 finishes at the rim (Photo by Jason Purisima)
Center Lauren Betts powered the Bruins — she posted a season-high 24 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and swatted five blocks.
Graduate guard Gianna Kneepkens added 17 points and helped extend the Bruins’ advantage throughout.
On the glass, UCLA crushed Oregon 52–29 in total rebounds and controlled the paint with a 40–28 edge.
The Bruins also moved the ball well, compiling 22 assists.
Oregon’s Katie Fiso #2 dribbling up court (Photo by Jason Purisima)
For Oregon (10-1, 0-1 Big Ten), forward Ehis Etute led the team with 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench, while guard Katie Fiso added 14 points.
But the Ducks struggled mightily from the floor — shooting just 3-for-18 in the first quarter and failing to recover enough to stay within striking distance.
“From the opening tip we set the tone,” Betts said after the game. “We knew we had to own the boards and play tough defense — that got us rolling.”
UCLA’s Lauren Betts #51 attacking Oregon’s Sarah Rambus #23 (Photo by Jason Purisima)
Bruins coach Cori Close lauded the collective effort: “We shared the ball, moved it, and got great energy on the glass. That’s the recipe for success.”
The loss ends Oregon’s unbeaten start and hands UCLA its sixth straight victory over the Ducks, continuing a trend of strong Bruins performances in this matchup.
Big Ten Championship December 06 Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. ( Photo by Andre Hollis /fi360 News)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — In a classic Big Ten Heavyweight fight worthy of the conference’s grandest stage, No. 2 Indiana stunned No. 1 Ohio State 13–10 Saturday night inside Lucas Oil Stadium, riding a fearless performance from quarterback Fernando Mendoza and a game-breaking night from tight end Charlie Becker to claim the Big Ten Championship before a record crowd of 68,214.
Mendoza, the Hoosiers’ Heisman frontrunner, carved up college football’s top-ranked team with poise and toughness, throwing for 222 yards on 15-of-23 passing with one touchdown and one interception, while Becker delivered the defining moments of the night with six catches for 126 yards, repeatedly torching the Buckeyes in the biggest spots. Indiana’s final defensive stand — a bat-down on Ohio State’s last-gasp throw with 18 seconds remaining — sealed the first Big Ten title in program history and sent crimson-clad fans into delirium.
Indiana Hoosiers Big Ten Champions December 06 Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. ( Photo by Andre Hollis /fi360 News)
Indiana announced it wasn’t intimidated early, even as adversity struck immediately. Mendoza was knocked down on the first play — a hit many thought deserved a flag — but returned after briefly exiting as his brother took the second snap. From there, the Hoosiers settled in, converting a crucial 3rd-and-4 on their opening drive with a strike to Becker, foreshadowing what would become a recurring nightmare for Ohio State.
The defenses dominated the opening quarter. Indiana generated pressure Ohio State hadn’t seen a week earlier against Michigan, culminating in Louis Moore’s interception of Julian Sayin on a 3rd-and-6, giving IU prime field position. The Hoosiers managed just six plays and 12 yards, but the short field was enough for a 3–0 lead after a field goal.
Julian Sayin throw at strike for the first touchdown during the Big Ten Championship December 06 Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. ( Photo by Andre Hollis /fi360 News)
Ohio State answered late in the first quarter despite penalties and stalled momentum when Sayin found Carnell Tate in the back of the end zone for a 7–3 Buckeyes lead. Indiana responded with a perfectly timed pass interference call and a 37-yard burst by Black, though a missed field goal kept points off the board — the kind of mistake that usually costs teams against No. 1.
Still, this Indiana team was different.
After another Ohio State drive featuring a 52-yard Sayin-to-Smith connection, IU’s defense stiffened, forcing a field goal instead of a touchdown. Trailing 10–3, Indiana gambled near midfield, converting a 4th-and-2 with a perfectly executed fake to tight end Riley Nowakowski, igniting the stadium. A 14-play, six-minute march followed — capped by a made field goal this time — trimming the deficit to 10–6 at halftime.
Rolijah Hardy with a critical 4th down stop duringBig Ten Championship December 06 Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. ( Photo by Andre Hollis /fi360 News)
At the break, Indiana had out-possessed Ohio State and out-hit them, posting 166 total yards (87 pass, 79 rush) while holding the Buckeyes to just 19 rushing yards. Both teams had turnovers, three sacks apiece, and everything pointed to a heavyweight fight heading into the second half.
The Hoosiers came out swinging.
Indiana’s defense opened the third quarter with back-to-back sacks, forcing a Buckeye punt. On the very next series, Mendoza hit Becker for a 51-yard strike, flipping the field and momentum in one play. Seven snaps later, Mendoza zipped a 17-yard touchdown to Elijah Sarratt, completing an 88-yard drive in just three minutes and putting Indiana in front 13–10.
“Ho-ho-ho Hoosiers” echoed through the dome as Indiana seized control.
Ohio State threatened late in the third, marching inside the red zone behind Sayin’s rhythm throws, but a potential game-changing QB sneak on fourth down was overturned on review, handing the ball — and momentum — back to Indiana.
Fernando Mendoza hands the ball off to Kaelin Black during Big Ten Championship December 06 Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. ( Photo by Andre Hollis /fi360 News)
The fourth quarter delivered pure drama.
Mendoza kept answering the call, again finding Becker on third down, this time for 15 yards, before Ohio State forced a punt. The Buckeyes countered with clutch conversions, trick plays, and a double pass — aided by a 15-yard penalty — setting up a tying field goal attempt under five minutes.
It missed.
With 2:48 left, Indiana took over protecting a three-point lead. Facing 3rd-and-6 with 2:41 remaining, Mendoza calmly delivered the dagger — a 33-yard strike to Becker, his biggest catch in a night full of them and his third 100-yard game of the season. Indiana bled the clock, punted, and trusted a defense that had already proven it belonged.
Ohio State got one final shot. It never landed.
A Hoosier defender batted down Sayin’s last throw, and the celebration was on.
Fernando Mendoza holding up the MVP trophy during the Big Ten Championship December 06 Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. ( Photo by Andre Hollis /fi360 News)
Indiana — in its first-ever Big Ten Championship Game appearance — completed a perfect season, took down the nation’s top team, and made an unmistakable statement heading into the College Football Playoff. Against a Buckeye defense no one had cracked all year, the Hoosiers attacked through the air and on the ground, converting when it mattered and refusing to blink.
On a night built for legends, Fernando Mendoza and Charlie Becker delivered one, and Indiana football reached a place it had never been before.
Carson, CA- A season that revived a city, restored pride on campus, and put Carson back on the map ended two points short Saturday night. The Colts fell 35–33 to Kennedy–Delano in the CIF State Division 3-A Regional, a game defined by momentum swings, emotional resilience, and two plays that will haunt Carson until they get another chance to rewrite the story.
The Colts jumped out to a blazing 27–14 first-quarter lead, powered by junior quarterback Chris Fields, who accounted for all five Carson touchdowns. But a blocked extra point early in the first quarter and a stopped two-point conversion late in the fourth became the difference. Those missed opportunities, paired with Kennedy’s relentless ground game, ultimately sealed the Colts’ fate.
Fields (1) on the run. Photo by Jevone Moore / Full Image 360
Fields completed 11 of his first 15 passes for 160 yards in the opening half and finished 14 of 26 for 204 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also added 17 rushing yards and three scores on the ground, becoming the heartbeat of the offense.
His targets delivered: Jordin Daniel led with 98 yards on seven catches. Nathan Williams hauled in an 18-yard touchdown.
Darren Panton caught three passes for 70 yards and set the stadium buzzing with a 59-yard punt return that helped Carson take a 27–20 lead.
Royal Moore made a tough fourth-down catch in the second half that kept Carson’s chances alive.
The Colts exploding up and down the field with confidence and pace gave the home crowd the feeling that a state berth was coming. But games like this are built on adjustments, and Kennedy had one ready.
Kennedy answers with old-school football, running the ball as if they were writing a textbook on the Wing-T offense.
Demacabalin (10) on the to the endzone. Photo by Jevone Moore / Full Image 360
Senior star Jace Demacabalin carried the ball 38 times for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Kennedy attempted only one pass all night. They did not need another.
Every time Carson seemed on the verge of forcing a punt, Kennedy picked up another first down. Counters, sweeps, dives and traps wore down the defense. The Thunderbirds added a major spark when Jamison Membreve returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown immediately after Carson went up 14–7. He finished with 46 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown of his own.
One of the biggest turning points came on a rarely called horse-collar tackle penalty, a fifteen-yard flag for pulling a runner down by the inside of the shoulder pads. Officials do not see it often because players are coached to avoid that dangerous motion. But its timing was devastating. Instead of facing a long second down, Kennedy received a free fifteen yards that placed them deep in Carson territory and kept the drive alive.
Second half struggles and the math that caught up as Carson’s offense cooled in the second half. Fields began the third quarter with six straight incompletions. Timing fell off. Drives stalled. Penalties began to creep in, extending Kennedy possessions and shrinking Carson’s margin for error.
Still, the Colts fought. They reached the end zone late and cut the deficit to two. But because of the blocked PAT in the first quarter, Carson could not kick to tie the game. They were forced to attempt a two-point conversion.
Kennedy stopped it.
A blocked extra point at the beginning and a stopped two-point conversion at the end. Two plays, two points, and a season closed.
Demacabalin (10) running in traffic. Photo by Jevone Moore / Full Image 360
After the loss, the bigger picture took center stage, The field was still full.
On one sideline, Kennedy celebrated loudly, cheering, laughing, and taking pictures with their fans as they prepared for their state championship appearance.
On the opposite sideline, silence. Carson players sat in full pads, staring at the turf, letting the weight of the moment sink in.
That is when the seniors stepped forward.
Forming a huddle around their younger teammates, they spoke with cracked voices and heavy emotion. They told them to carry this feeling into next year, use the loss as fuel, and continue the standard this group had rebuilt. They reminded the underclassmen that Carson football had reclaimed its identity this season and that it was now their turn to protect it.
Later, in a separate conversation, the team’s academic counselor shared how proud he was of the group. He meets with players throughout the year to review grades, NCAA requirements, and credit recovery options. His role is making sure their classroom performance stays aligned with their athletic goals.
“We had a great year,” he said. “You saw the boys get better every week. The growth was amazing.”
An assistant coach who works as a registered nurse during the day and coaches in the evenings echoed the same sentiment. He spoke about how many players juggle schoolwork, practice schedules, family responsibilities, and college aspirations. Their discipline, he said, is what impressed him most.
The message from both men was clear: the season ended, but the growth continues.
A season that meant something, the Colts did not get the ending they dreamed of, but they earned something real this year.
Photo by Jevone Moore
They won the Open Division. They reignited a proud football community. They brought energy back to the to their campus, and to their city.
A 35–33 loss does not erase any of that.
This team leaves behind a standard, a foundation, and a room full of younger players who now know exactly what it takes to climb this far. The seniors are gone, but their message remains:
Take the pain. – Correct the mistakes. – Finish the story. – And make us proud.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 6: Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton (2) makes a pass during the fourth quarter of the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Arlington, Texas (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/fi360 News)
Dallas, TX, – Saturday’s game meant more than the 2025 Big 12 title. For Texas Tech, it was about securing a playoff spot. The Red Raiders put the committee on notice by knocking out BYU 34-7. This gave them their first Big 12 Championship crown in school history.
“Just proud of them,” Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said after the game. “I’m so proud of this team. I think we’ve got the best coaching staff in the world. We’ve got the best administration staff in the world. We’ve got the best fans in the world. Proud of the way we played today.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 6: Texas Tech linebacker Ben Roberts shares the player of game award with his teammates after winning the 2025 Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Arlington, Texas (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/fi360 News)
The Big 12 Championship game is a rematch of Texas Tech’s 29-7 win over BYU on November 8th in Lubbock. It was the first Big 12 Championship appearance for both teams and their first meeting on a neutral field—the fourth time overall they’ve met. The start of Saturday’s game felt different, but the final three quarters echoed last month’s matchup, setting the stage for a familiar narrative.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake mentioned numerous times during the postgame press conference that Texas Tech is the best team in college football. “I’ve said it before, I think [Texas Tech is] the best team in the country, and confirming it, they’re the best team in the country. They beat us in a different way than they did the first time. We’ve got to learn from this and build on it and be a lot like them.”
BYU, known for slow starts in 2025, took its opening drive from its own end and used almost seven minutes. They covered ninety yards and converted three third downs. LJ Martin finished the drive with a ten-yard direct snap run for a touchdown. Texas Tech answered by driving into the red zone. However, they committed two false start penalties inside the BYU ten-yard line and settled for a 23-yard field goal by Stone Harrington. Both teams went 6-for-8 on third-down conversions in the first quarter. The field goal was made on the first play of the second quarter. This was only the third time all season that Texas Tech failed to score in the first 15 minutes of a game.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 6: BYU receiver Parker Kingston (11) Texas Tech tackler John Curry (6) during the second quarter of the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Arlington, Texas (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/fi360 News)
“We felt like we were going to get everything and anything, and we did,” McGuire said after the game. “I think we got a reverse pass, double pass, reverse. They emptied the tank on that first drive. The one thing we did make them do was drive the field, so they had to use everything. Then we settled in.”
On the next drive, Texas Tech converted two third downs and reached the BYU 33. Morton then found Coy Eakin in the front corner of the end zone, who dragged his toes and crossed the pylon with the ball. After review, officials ruled it a touchdown, giving Texas Tech its first lead at 10-7.
“The corner just kind of dropped. I had him beat, so I was like, Behren is about to throw it. Just kind of make the play that comes to you,” Coy Eakin said after the game on the touchdown.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 6: Texas Tech receiver Terrence Carter Jr (7) stiff arms BYU linebacker Faletau Spatula (11) during the second quarter of the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Arlington, Texas (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/fi360 News)
The Red Raiders’ defense halted BYU’s fake punt attempt, forcing a standard punt. Texas Tech advanced but nearly lost possession when J’Koby Williams fumbled on third down at the BYU 44; fortunately, Terrance Carter Jr. recovered. The drive stalled inside the 25, leading to a Harrington field goal and a 13-7 Texas Tech lead at halftime.
Both teams opened the second half with quick drives that ended suddenly. BYU missed a 46-yard field goal, and Texas Tech turned it over on downs at the BYU 14 with an incomplete fourth-down pass.
Texas Tech’s decision to go for it was bold, and BYU’s next drive ended with the game’s first turnover. A Bear Bachmeier pass to Chase Roberts was deflected and intercepted by Ben Roberts, who set up a Cameron Drickey touchdown run and a two-point pass to Carter Jr.
Not to be outdone, BYU turned it over on the next drive, when Bachmeier’s RPO was blown up by Anthony Holmes Jr., leading to a fumble that Texas Tech’s Romello Height recovered inside the BYU 25. This second Cougars’ turnover directly resulted in Harrington’s third field goal, extending the Red Raiders’ lead to 24-7. On the very next BYU possession, Bachmeier threw again—this time Ben Roberts made a leaping interception, tipping and catching the ball. Roberts entered Saturday with two career interceptions (Nov 1, 2025, at Kansas State; Sept 23, 2023, at West Virginia). His two picks vs. BYU set a Big 12 Championship record, all while playing through an abdominal injury.
“I just did everything I could to stretch it out and fix it up. But the trainers really helped me at halftime. They got it all heated up and relaxed, and I was ready to go in the second half,” Ben Roberts said.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 6: BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) pitches the ball to running back LJ Martin (4) during the fourth quarter of the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Arlington, Texas (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/fi360 News)
Texas Tech added another score on a 4th and 1 with Morton’s second touchdown pass to Eakin. Overall, Texas Tech forced four BYU turnovers, all in the second half—three in the fourth quarter. In both meetings, the Red Raiders’ defense forced seven BYU turnovers.
“Our defense is chaos. They’re a great group of guys. I can’t say enough about the defense for what they’ve done for the offense. It makes our job a lot easier,” Behren Morton said about his defense after the game.
There’s optimism in BYU’s locker room, regardless of whether the Cougars make the playoff field, and even if they miss the cut, their culture remains unchanged for the bowl game.
“We all love each other so much,” BYU wide receiver Chase Roberts said. “There’s such a great culture that we’ve built, and the team we have, we’re going to go out, and we’re going to play our hearts out.”
Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire thinks BYU should receive a bid for the College Football Playoff.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 6: Texas Tech linebacker Ben Roberts (13) returns his first of two interceptions in the second half of the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Arlington, Texas (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/fi360 News)
“I want to start out with making — when the Selection Committee starts looking at teams, I truly believe the Big 12 deserves two teams in the playoffs. When you look at BYU, they’re 11-2, and their two losses are to the No. 4 team in the nation,” he said.
Texas Tech heads to the college football playoff with all 12 wins by 23 points or more. Behren Morton finishes 11-0 as a starter. He went 20 for 33 for 215 yards and threw two touchdowns to Eakin.
Saturday’s championship game performance suggests that the best team in the country may reside in Lubbock, Texas. For Texarkana native, Joey McGuire, the win over BYU was only the start.
“I’m a Texan. I ain’t never been anywhere else. I’ll never be anywhere else. I’m proud to be the head coach at Texas Tech, and this team’s not done yet.”
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 6: Texas Tech receivers Reggie Virgil (1) and Terrance Carter Jr (7) celebrate after scoring on a two-point conversion during the third quarter of the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Arlington, Texas (Photo by Jeff Dahlia/fi360 News)
Los Angeles, CA- No. 16 USC beat St Mary’s in a similar style to how they’ve won their previous two games at the Galen Center, in another decisive score, 79-33, behind one of Transfer Senior Guard Londynn Jones’ best defensive performance according to head coach Lindsay Gottlieb to go with 17 points.
“First off, I want to wish good luck to St. Mary, though I think we made them look rougher than what they are,” Coach Gottlieb said. “I thought our players took this challenge…our players moved the ball great, turned it over minimally, got to the right spot, people knocked down shots.”
Women of Troy were able to defeat the Gaels by 46 points with a variety of defenses and lineups that tallied up 16 steals to hold this team to single digit points in three out of four quarters.
“Obviously, holding a team to 33 points is exceptional, but we’re still getting better, ”Coach Gottlieb said. “We have a lot of great defenders and it starts with Kennedy and everyone’s feeding off of her.”
On the other end of the court, Transfer Senior Kara Dunn’s offensive prowess continues to lead USC dominance against non-conference teams after losing on the road to two tough power 4 non-conference ranked contenders, University of South Carolina and Notre Dame.
USC started on a short run before St. Mary settled into their offense in the first quarter. But in the second quarter, the Women of Troy turned up their pressure on both ends behind Dunn delivering 11 points with efficient shooting plus three steals. Junior Guard Malia Samuels returned into the starting lineup after missing the last game and finished with four steals in limited minutes.
“We’re working on making sure our execution is really good,” Dunn said. We’re making sure we’re giving all of our effort in every play. We’re getting better in boxing out…games like this there should be no reason, we’re not efficient.”
USC bench was just as effective and efficient behind the veteran leadership of Jones coming off the bench and giving her team an extra boost of energy and experience, scoring nine points in the first half off 50% shooting. USC entered halftime with a 24-point lead, 42-18.
Big 10 Freshmen of the week, Jazzy Davidson also scored in double figures with 14 points, though she struggled from deep range, going 2-9, plus pitching in six assists.
“Kind of like Kara said, we’re not taking any team lightly, “Davidson said.
USC showed no mercy for St. Mary coming out of halftime with a 21-0 run. Jones led the charge with eight points in nearly three minutes of action shooting perfect from the field, 2 of 2 from three-point range and 2 of 2 from the free throw line.
However, she cooled off, missing her last four shots in the final quarter despite USC ending the game on a 12-0 run.
The Women of Troy (6-2) will have three remaining home games of this six-game homestead as they prepare to host No. 21 Washington on Sunday matching up against one of their former players, Avery Howell, whom transferred after one season at USC.
