Los Angeles, CA – In a complete 180° turn from last Thursday night against the Connecticut Sun, the LA Sparks snapped their six-game losing streak against the Seattle Storm 81–53 on Sunday evening to remain in playoff contention.
“I think today the way we came out, we showed the game respect. We showed our opponent’s respect. Not to say that we haven’t before, but in a way where you compete the whole time no matter what the outcome is,” said Nneka Ogwumike.
The LA Sparks completely dominated the Storm in their final home game of the regular season at Staples Center.
Photo by Brianne Ingram
The Sparks came out aggressive from the jump and led by as many as 30 points.
They shot 48% from the field (30/62 FGs) and 93% (15/16) from the line.
“We shot the ball well tonight. We saw the ball go in early. I think that helped our confidence. But it really did look like a team. Like eight players rowing in the same direction. That helps,” said Head Coach Derek Fisher.
Guards Te’a Cooper and Erica Wheeler were putting the Storm on skates with their lethal crossovers.
Photo by Brianne Ingram
Cooper led all players with 19 points (7/13 FGs), 2 assists, and 2 steals. This is her 11th game that she has scored in double figures this season.
“I think the last few games I wasn’t really feeling like myself. I had next game mentality. I had to shake it off. I got back in the gym. Refocused. And I just came out with a better mindset. Ready to play,” said Cooper.
The Storm tried to make a run in the second quarter, but active hands by the Sparks allowed them to keep their distance to stretch the lead 18 at the half 45-27.
The LA Sparks held the Storm to a season low in points at 53.
Storm Star Forward Breanna Stewart was missing in action as she was sidelined with a left foot injury.
The Sparks have two games remaining in their regular season.
Photo by Brianne Ingram
“I’m just really happy for our players, and for the fans and the people that came out tonight,” said Coach Fisher. “It’s been a really up and down season. Lots of injuries. We started our home regular season in another building. I’m just really happy for our players to get a chance to finish their home regular season this way. And what that feels like when things do come together for you. We’ll enjoy this one tonight and then we’ll start to prepare ourselves for Atlanta.”
The LA Sparks travel on the road against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, September 16th at 4pm.
SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 today announced its 2021 football season’s second weekly performance awards, presented by Nextiva. See below for Week Two’s recognitions across the Conference:
OFFENSE: CJ Verdell, Jr., RB, Oregon (Chula Vista, CA)
Ran for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries in Oregon’s historic 35-28 win over then #3 ranked Ohio State. Also led team with 3 receptions for 34 yards and another score. Finished with 195 all-purpose yards and 3 total TD.
Surpassed 150 yards on the ground for the 5th time in his career and the 11th career 100-yard game (T-5th most in school history).
7th in school history with 2,758 rushing yards and tied for 9th all-time at Oregon with 24 career rushing TD.
Oregon’s 269 total rushing yards are the most by any team against Ohio State in Ohio Stadium since November 22, 2014.
3rd time winning the award, taking it home in as a sophomore in October 2019 and a freshman in October 2018.
Also nominated: B.J. Baylor, RB, Oregon State; Micah Bernard, RB, Utah; Jayden Daniels, QB, Arizona State; Jayden de Laura, QB, Washington State, Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford
Returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown while adding 7 tackles and 3 pass breakups in 42-28 win at then #14 USC.
1st Stanford player with an interception returned for a touchdown since 2017 when Bobby Okereke returned one 52 yards at Washington State.
Held USC WR Drake London to 4 receptions and 68 yards off 10 targets, one week after London had 12 receptions for 137 yards.
1st Stanford player with interceptions in back-to-back weeks since Paulson Adebo in 2019.
1st Stanford player to win the award since Adebo won it twice in 2019.
Also nominated: Verone McKinley III, S, Oregon; Nate Landman, ILB, Colorado; Avery Roberts, ILB, Oregon State; Darien Butler, LB, Arizona State; Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah; Justus Rogers, LB, Washington State; Anthony Pandy, LB, Arizona
SPECIAL TEAMS: Travell Harris, R-Sr., WR, Washington State (Tampa, FL)
Finished with a total of 188 all-purpose yards, including 58 on 3 punt returns and 50 on 1 kickoff return. The 50-yard kickoff return is the 3rd longest of his career and 7th time he’s had a kickoff return of 40 yards or more. Had career-long 22-yard punt return which led to a Cougar touchdown.
Had 80 receiving yards on 6 receptions including 2 touchdowns.
2nd time he’s won the award and the first time a Washington State player has won since Harris won it in September 2018 as a redshirt freshman.
2nd straight week the winner is originally from Tampa, Florida (Arizona State’s D.J. Taylor)
Also nominated: Kyle Ostendorp, P, Arizona; Eddie Czaplicki, P, Arizona State; Camden Lewis, K, Oregon; Alex Stadthaus, PK, USC
OFFENSIVE LINE: Alex Forsyth, Jr., C, Oregon (West Linn, OR)
Helped pave the way for Oregon to run for 269 yards, including 7.1 yards per carry, in Oregon’s historic win at then #3 Ohio State. Most rushing yards by any team against Ohio State in Ohio Stadium since November 22, 2014. Ducks had 505 yards of total offense.
Led Oregon with a whopping 6 knockdowns and did not allow a sack, hurry or pressure all game while recording a terrific 82.3 pass-blocking grade by Pro Football Focus. Finished with a 70.3 total blocking grade by PFF while playing all 75 offensive snaps at center.
Has not allowed a sack, hurry, or pressure in 145 snaps to start the season.
First Oregon player to win this award since T.J. Bass won it in November 2020. The Ducks won the award the first 2 weeks of last season, with Ryan Walk winning it in Week One.
Also nominated: Kellen Diesch, LT, Arizona State; Joshua Gray, OL, Oregon State; Abe Lucas, OT, Washington State
DEFENSIVE LINE: Bradyn Swinson, Fr., DE, Oregon (Douglasville, OR)
Recorded a critical sack in Oregon’s 35-28 win over then #3 Ohio State in Columbus, and finished with 5 total tackles and a pass breakup. Sacked OSU quarterback CJ Stroud for 8 yards on 1st-and-10 with less than 4 minutes remaining and Oregon leading by 7. Sack helped set up an Oregon interception that sealed the historic win for the Ducks
Matched career-high with 5 total tackles, and set a new career-high with 4 solo stops
Notched the second pass breakup of his career, nearly recording his first career interception in the 3rd quarter.
1st Oregon player to win this award since Kayvon Thibodeaux won in December for the final weekly award of the 2020 season.
Also nominated: Thomas Booker, DE, Stanford; Tyler Johnson, DE, Arizona State; Brennan Jackson, DE, Washington State
Was 16-of-23 for 234 yards with 2 touchdowns through the air, while adding a rushing touchdown off 7 rushing yards in his first career start, a 42-28 victory at #14 USC. First Pac-12 quarterback to beat a Top 25 opponent on the road in his first career start since Stanford’s Tavita Pritchard on October 6, 2007 at #2 USC.
Had zero turnovers and zero sacks on the night.
Only the second Stanford quarterback since 2003 to have 3 total touchdowns in their 1st career start (Kevin Hogan, 2012). His 234 passing yards are the fourth most by a Stanford quarterback in their first career start, dating back to 2003.
The win was Stanford’s first at USC since 2015. The 14-point margin of victory is the 5th largest margin of victory at USC in the series history.
2nd Stanford player to win the award since it started in 2019 with Simi Fehoko winning it in October 2019
Also nominated: Bradyn Swinson, DE, Oregon; Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State; Eddie Czaplicki, P, Arizona State; Andrew Edson, Edge, Washington State
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: pre game fireworks at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360news)
USC trailed Stanford 21-13 in the third quarter when Drake London had a pass bounce off his hands and fall into the hands of cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, who returned the interception 31-yards for the score.
That play sent USC fans to the exits as Stanford went on to a dominating 42-28 win over the Trojans in the conference opener on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: USC Trojans running back Quincy Jountti (27) and USC Trojans defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu (49) make a tackle during a college football game between The Stanford Cardinals against the USC Trojans on September 11, 2021, at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA.(Photo by Jordon Kelly/ fi360 News)
“It’s early in the season,” USC head coach Clay Helton said. “We lost our first conference game. I look forward to seeing the production of our team through an entire season, and looking forward to seeing where we add up at the entirety of a season. Obviously, this is a step back from last week’s performance, but something that I know our kids will react from. And I hope our fans, and I know they will, they’ll support our players.”
Stanford opened the scoring with an 87-yard run from Nathaniel Peat. It was the fifth longest rushing touchdown in Stanford history. USC answered with a 2-yard touchdown run from Keaontay Ingram to tie it 7-7 in the second quarter.
The Cardinals were getting ready to kick a field goal but USC was lined up in the neutral zone. Stanford went for it on fourth-and-goal and McKee hit Elijah Higgins in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown.
After a USC field goal, Stanford went down the field and scored on a McKee 6-yard touchdown pass to Brycen Tremayne. Stanford took a 21-10 lead into halftime.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: USC Trojans running back Keaontay Ingram (28) runs the ball for a gain during a college football game between The Stanford Cardinals against the USC Trojans on September 11, 2021, at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA.(Photo by Jordon Kelly/ fi360 News)
“For defense specifically, I think we just have to execute better,” USC defensive back Isaiah Pola-Mao said. “Coach makes any call and honestly we just have to make it happen, regardless if it’s right or wrong. Our defense thrives on turnovers, and we didn’t get any tonight, so I think we just have to step up as players and execute better.”
Stanford put the game out of reach on McKee’s 1-yard touchdown run and Isaiah Sanders 2-yard run in the fourth quarter. USC scored two touchdowns with just under four minutes left in the game but it was too little too late.
Kedon Slovis was 27 for 42 with 223 yards and London finished with four receptions for 68 yards. USC had 11 different receivers register a catch in the game tonight, with five catching at least three passes.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: USC Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis (9) runs the ball for a gain during a college football game between The Stanford Cardinals against the USC Trojans on September 11, 2021, at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA.(Photo by Jordon Kelly/ fi360 News)
“When you look at it across the board, they beat us in every phase,” Helton said. “In each and every phase, you look at the execution they out-executed us. And when you look up, we did not do what we did in the first game. We got beat in penalties. We got beat on third down efficiency, and got beat in the turnovers, we didn’t get turnovers.”
USC will look to bounce back when they hit the road against Washington State on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Los Angeles, CA – A 17-0 start by the Connecticut Sun (23-6) ignited their dominance over the LA Sparks (10-19) to win 75-57 in Los Angeles on Thursday night.
The Sparks came out hesitant and were simply outmatched from the opening tip.
“When you’re playing against a good defensive team that’s already difficult to score on, to be down 17 early, like it just makes the game so much harder. Like you need everything to go right from that standpoint. And it’s just not how the game of basketball goes,” said Head Coach Derek Fisher.
The Sun, however, are the top-seeded team in the league and looked every bit deserving of their ranking.
Photo by Brianne Ingram
The Sparks are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, and the Sun are on a roll with an 11-game winning streak.
The Sun bullied their way in the paint during the opening period. They scored 14 of their 19 first quarter points (7/11 FGs) around the rim and led 19-8 at the end of the period.
MVP candidate Jonquel Jones was straight cooking all night.
Jones stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.
Towards the end, the LA Sparks seemed to run out of gas in the fourth quarter. They shot 5/15 from the field on 33% shooting in the final period.
Photo by Brianne Ingram
“Sometimes we just mentally get in our way. Sometimes when you try too hard, it just doesn’t work right,” said Fisher. “We just have to take full ownership and accountability for what’s happening and do things to change it. And it doesn’t all happen in one night. It won’t all of a sudden be the best team in the league come Sunday, but we gotta figure out a way to be better than we were tonight in order to have a chance to win.”
The Sun held the Sparks to 23/55 FGs on 41.8% shooting, and 2/10 3PTs on 20% shooting from 3-point range.
Nneka Ogwumike put up 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
“Fish [Coach Fisher] is right. You have to have that mindset of preparedness and focus and we just have to tap into that as a collective. Especially when things don’t go well for us. It’s all about composure. We’re playing great teams. They’re going to challenge us and how we respond is really what’s telling of us,” said Ogwumike.
Despite the loss, the Sparks are still in the playoff hunt as they are vying for the last 8th spot.
They currently sit at No. 10 in the standings and are one game back from clinching the 8th seed.
Photo by Brianne Ingram
This week, both Nneka Ogwumike and LA Sparks Assistant Coach Seimone Augustus were both named on the WNBA’s Top 25 All-time Players List.
The LA Sparks play the Seattle Storm in their last home game of the season on Sunday, September 12th at 6 pm at the Staples Center.
Los Angeles, Calif. – September 9, 2021 – In a first-of-its-kind, 10-year partnership, Square has been selected as the exclusive point-of-sale (POS), payments, software, and merchant services provider for the new SoFi Stadium, home to the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams, and Hollywood Park, the 300-acre mixed-use development being built by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman and SoFi Stadium developer E. Stanley Kroenke. Together, Square, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, and Legends are ushering in a new standard for fan experience and commerce that enables seamless commerce centered around delighting and engaging sports fans and concert-goers, while rising to meet the new challenges, needs, and opportunities facing the entertainment and sporting industry.
By leveraging all that Square’s ecosystem has to offer, SoFi Stadium is creating a multifaceted and dynamic approach to the game-day commerce experience that will delight and engage fans from pregame through overtime. As a fully cashless venue, SoFi Stadium selected Square’s ecosystem of products and services to power commerce and contactless payments across every checkout and purchase point, spanning hundreds of concession stands, bars, roving hawkers, and merchandise retail stores. Square’s integrated POS software and hardware enable fast, reliable, and convenient transactions and create safe, streamlined payment experiences for fans, including fast check-out speeds and reduced lines.
“SoFi Stadium is a world-class facility and the largest stadium in the NFL. Maintaining that level of service requires selecting technology partners who can match that scale,” said SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park Chief Technology Officer Skarpi Hedinsson. “Square is at the forefront of innovation across payment and transactions and shares our passion for incredible customer service. As a cashless venue, our partnership will offer fast, reliable and secure contactless payments for guests that helps to create a safe and streamlined experience at SoFi Stadium.”
Here’s how SoFi Stadium uses Square’s powerful ecosystem of services to create compelling, omnichannel commerce experiences across the venue:
● Commerce and Operations Software: Integrated Square software solutions including Point of Sale and Team Management offer rich data and sales insights in real-time, enabling stadium managers to better understand trends. This includes information like top-selling items and busiest purchasing times for all concessions, bars, and hawkers, which empowers the stadium to make smart decisions, on the fly, to optimize staffing, inventory, and promotions. Square for Retail powers merchandise locations with business analytics features like inventory and sales reports to maximize revenue opportunities throughout each game or event, while Square Team Management supports the employee experience, enabling quick and easy access to Square’s POS, with unique permission sets that ensure enterprise-scale access controls throughout the system. Both are simple to learn and use, which makes hiring and training large stadium staffs easy for operators.
● Square Hardware: The stadium uses more than 1,000 Square Register and Square Terminal units to power sales throughout the NFL’s largest venue. With separate seller- and buyer-facing displays, Square Register enables smoother, faster payment experiences for employees and fans alike. Additionally, Square Terminal’s handheld, all-in-one payment processing capabilities enable stadium hawkers to take card and contactless payments directly at fans’ seats. All hardware devices are completely integrated and allow the stadium to flexibly power special food and merchandise pop-ups at any location, for any type of event. Square Register and Square Terminal enable fans to pay in any way they prefer, including contactless transactions through tap credit cards or mobile wallets on smartphones and smartwatches, with payment transactions covered by Square’s best-of-breed PCI compliance, privacy protection, and security.
● API Integrations: Square’s APIs enable operators to integrate Square into any front-end fan experience or back-end data system, working seamlessly with any technology vision or enterprise architecture. For example, SoFi Stadium is leveraging Square’s Catalog API to manage inventory and product availability and inform mobile application and digital signage of menus at each concession stand. SoFi Stadium is also enlisting Square’s Orders API to transmit order details from Square POS directly to the kitchen, and Square’s Payments API to provide further business analytics.
Square’s platform also integrates with SoFi Stadium’s best-in-class partners for mobile application development, inventory management, kitchen display systems (KDS), and digital signage for a complete tech-advanced stadium. All in all, Square’s platform enables powerful system integrations between back-end and front-end user experiences across in-person, mobile, and online.
“Square’s integrated products and platform enable sellers of all sizes to run their businesses, and as a proud partner of SoFi Stadium – the biggest and most advanced stadium in the country – we’re eager to continue to show what’s possible for stadiums and retail districts,” said Ashley Grech, Global Head of Sales at Square. “Fan experience, fan safety, and long-term fan engagement will remain top of mind for every sports and entertainment venue for many seasons to come. Square’s continued commitment to providing seamless, reliable, and safe contactless commerce, as well as the data insights operators need to optimize their sales, makes us ideally suited to help organizations modernize and future-proof their operations.”
“SoFi Stadium is the most technologically advanced venue in the world, and we’re committed to keep it that way, which means we only wanted to work with partners who are thought leaders and committed to pushing the envelope with innovation,” said Denise Taylor, President, Global Technology Solutions for Legends Entertainment. “With Square, we were really excited about their commitment to continuous improvement and forward thinking development of their platform. Square is able to help us scale into the future, as the guest experience continues to evolve and we look to offer more mobile commerce solutions. We want fans to be able to enjoy a seamless guest engagement in a secure manner, and Square is the partner that enables SoFi Stadium to do that and change the way we all think about sports technology.”
Along with powering operations and payments for SoFi Stadium, Square is also the exclusive Point of Sale and Merchant Services partner for Hollywood Park and YouTube Theater. This expansive agreement showcases Square’s ability and flexibility to build out stadiums and their surrounding districts and create first-class consumer commerce experiences. Partnering with SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park builds upon Square’s prior expertise powering experiential commerce for venues and organizations, including the Washington Nationals, Ogden Raptors, Speedway Motorsports, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and more. To learn more about Square’s stadium and enterprise capabilities, visit squareup.com/large-businesses.
SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park partnered with Legends, a premium experiences company, in securing this partnership. In addition to operating SoFi Stadium Tours, Legends has been engaged throughout SoFi Stadium on hospitality, premium sales, retail, partnerships and naming rights, technology solutions, and project development.
About Square
Square, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) revolutionized payments in 2009 with Square Reader, making it possible for anyone to accept card payments using a smartphone or tablet. Today, we build tools to empower businesses and individuals to participate in the economy. Sellers use Square to reach buyers online and in-person, manage their business, and access financing. Square has offices in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Ireland, Spain, and the UK.
About SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, is located at Hollywood Park, a near 300-acre sports and entertainment destination being developed by Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke in Inglewood, Calif. The 3.1 million square-foot SoFi Stadium is the largest stadium in the NFL, as well as the first indoor-outdoor stadium. It seats approximately 70,000, expandable up to 100,000, with more than 260 luxury suites and more than 13,000 premium seats. SoFi Stadium will host Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the College Football National Championship Game in 2023, and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 2028. Adjacent to the stadium and sitting under the same roof canopy is the 2.5-acre American Airlines Plaza and the 6,000-seat YouTube Theater. For more information about SoFi Stadium, visit www.SoFiStadium.com or @SoFiStadium on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
About Legends
Founded in 2008, Legends is a premium experiences company with six divisions operating worldwide – Global Planning, Global Sales, Hospitality, Global Partnerships, Global Merchandise, and Global Technology Solutions – offering clients and partners a 360-degree service solution platform to elevate their brand and execute their vision. Currently, Legends works with marquee clients across business verticals including professional sports; collegiate; attractions; entertainment; and conventions and leisure. We are the industry leaders in designing, planning and realizing exceptional experiences in sports and entertainment. For more information, visit www.Legends.net and follow Legends at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @TheLegendsWay.
The USC Trojans and the Oregon Ducks meet in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to play in the 2020 PAC-12 Confrence Championship on Dec. 18, 2020. (John McGillen)
SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 today announced its 2021 football season’s first weekly performance awards, presented by Nextiva. See below for Week One’s recognitions across the Conference:
Career-high 12 tackles in win over Weber State with 8 of them coming in the first half. 5th career game with double-digit tackles and most by a Ute since 2019.
2.0 TFL for 10 yards including an 8-yard sack. Also had a forced fumble and his 2nd career interception.
1st Utah player to win the award since Julian Blackmon in November 2019. Utah players won the award 4 times that season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D.J. Taylor, R-Fr., DB, Arizona State (Tampa, FL)
Finished with a total of 142 all-purpose yards, recording 87 punt return yards and 55 kickoff return yards. The 142 return yards are 22 more than the second-best in the conference.
Made the most of his three punt returns, leading the conference after Week One with 87 punt return yards. Electrified the crowd with a 47 yard punt return that directly led to a Sun Devil touchdown, the longest punt return of any player in the conference.
Fourth in the Pac-12 in all-purpose yards despite not getting an offensive touch.
2nd straight time an Arizona State player has won the award as Will Shaffer won the final Special Teams Player of the Week for the 2020 season.
Helped pave the way for UCLA to run for over 200 yards for the second straight game this season with a 210-yard effort in the win against LSU. The Bruins averaged 4.5 yards per carry on the night and produced one 100-yard rusher (Zach Charbonnet- 117) and another back who came up just short with 96 yards (Brittain Brown).
Credited with 2 knockdowns and graded out at 82% for the game. The offensive line’s dominance in the 4th quarter was reflected in a 11:34 to 3:26 time of possession edge to the Bruins which included 19 rushing attempts for 112 yards (5.9 avg).
First UCLA player to win this award since it began in 2019.
Also nominated: LaDarius Henderson, LG, Arizona State; Donovan Laie, OL, Arizona; Braeden Daniels, LG, Utah; T.J. Bass, OL, Oregon
DEFENSIVE LINE: D.J. Davidson, Gr., NT, Arizona State (Mesa, AZ)
Stuffed the stat sheet during a dominant season debut, helping the Sun Devils defeat Southern Utah 41-14. Extremely productive effort from his nose tackle spot, collecting six tackles, two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery.
A key reason why Arizona State held Southern Utah under 80 yards rushing and only 3.0 yards/rush. Drew the attention of the opposing blocking scheme, but still manage to put up numbers and draw a holding penalty.
Tied for the second-most tackles for loss in the conference (2.0) and also tied for the second-most tackles among defensive lineman (6.0) in week one. One of only seven players in the conference to recover a fumble.
4th Arizona State player to win this award since it began in 2019 and the first since Tyler Johnson won in December 2020.
Led Oregon to a season-opening win over Fresno State with a career-high 14 tackles while adding a TFL and a forced fumble. Forced a fumble with Oregon trailing 24-21 in the fourth quarter, setting up a game-tying field goal and setting the stage for the Ducks’ comeback win.
Leads the Pac-12 in tackles after Week One. His 14 tackles are the most by a UO freshman since Troy Dye had 14 on Sept. 21, 2016. First Oregon player since 2007 and just the fourth overall since 2000 to have at least 14 tackles and a forced fumble in the same game. Just the 8th player in program history to have at least 14 tackles in a season opener.
Earned a solid 75.8 grade in run defense by Pro Football Focus.
1st Oregon player to win the award since it started in 2019.
Also nominated: Calen Bullock, S, USC; Gunner Cruz, QB, Arizona; Montana Lemonius-Craig, WR, Colorado; Eddie Czaplicki, P, Arizona State
DALLAS (FWAA) – Georgia senior defensive tackle Jordan Davis bolstered a defensive wall against a usually-prolific Clemson offense, drawing consistent double- and sometimes triple-teams. That attention allowed other Bulldogs to become playmakers as Georgia registered seven sacks and a defensive touchdown while holding Clemson to two yards rushing and keeping the Tigers out of the end zone in a 10-3 win in a battle of top five teams. For anchoring the nation’s top defensive effort in the season’s first week, Davis earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 4, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
Playing in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C., the 6-6, 340-pound Davis pushed through for three tackles in the game and one sack, the sixth of his career, and was one of six Georgia players to record a sack. Georgia held Clemson to 90 yards in the first half (1 rushing, 89 passing), and held Clemson scoreless at halftime for the first time in its last 143 games. The blanking continued through three quarters and the Bulldogs also snapped Clemson’s 400-yard total-offense streak at 12 games, yielding only 180 total yards.
“Two on me means somebody’s free,” Davis told ESPN’s Holly Rowe in a postgame on-field interview. “I know that’s going to free up a linebacker or another defensive lineman. It’s amazing they have that type of respect for me. We came out here and played the game we were supposed to play.”
Georgia is well represented in Bronko Nagurski Trophy history. The Bulldogs have had a finalist in two of the last four seasons (safety J.R. Reed in 2019 and linebacker Roquan Smith in 2017), six finalists overall and one former winner (Champ Bailey in 1998). Davis, however, is the first Bulldog to earn this weekly honor since 2012 when linebacker Jarvis Jones won his third weekly award (twice in 2012, once in 2011). Davis is on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list.
Each Tuesday during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce three finalists for the 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 17. The national defensive player of the year will be chosen from those finalists who are part of the 2021 FWAA All-America Team and presented with the trophy at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet presented by LendingTree on Dec. 6 at the Charlotte Convention Center
The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.
About the Charlotte Touchdown Club The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, N.C., region. The club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding citizenship, scholarship, sportsmanship, and leadership of area athletes and coaches. Since 1990, the club has raised and donated nearly $3 million to benefit area high school and collegiate athletics. For more information, contact John Rocco (704-347-2918 or jrocco@touchdownclub.com). The official website of the Charlotte Touchdown Club is touchdownclub.com.
About LendingTree, Inc. LendingTree is the nation’s leading online marketplace that connects consumers with the choices they need to be confident in their financial decisions. LendingTree empowers consumers to shop for financial services the same way they would shop for airline tickets or hotel stays, by comparing multiple offers from a nationwide network of over 500 partners in one simple search and choosing the option that best fits their financial needs. Services include mortgage loans, mortgage refinances, auto loans, personal loans, business loans, student refinances, credit cards, insurance and more. Through the My LendingTree platform, consumers receive free credit scores, credit monitoring and recommendations to improve credit health. My LendingTree proactively compares consumers’ credit accounts against offers on their network and notifies consumers when there is an opportunity to save money. LendingTree’s purpose is to help simplify financial decisions for life’s meaningful moments through choice, education and support.
The Montana Grizzlies upset the Washington Huskies 13-7 at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA., on Saturday, September 4th, 2021. (Aaron Nelson / fi360 News)
Seattle, WA – The Washington Huskies entered the 2021 season with high hopes and unfinished business.
With a core group of returning starters on both sides of the ball and plenty of optimism surrounding second-year head coach Jimmy Lake, Washington fans hoped to see the squad display the same momentum generated in their 3-1 Pac-12 North Title run in 2020 during this year’s opener at home.
The Montana Grizzlies upset the Washington Huskies 13-7 at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA., on Saturday, September 4th, 2021. (Aaron Nelson / fi360 News)
Enter the Montana Grizzlies.
A perennial FCS powerhouse, the Grizzlies still came into this one as significant underdogs. Their lone victory over Washington came back in 1920, and few believed they could tally their second against the defensively loaded Huskies of 2021.
Both teams displayed stout defense throughout the night, holding each other under 300 total yards and allowing a single touchdown apiece.
In such a tight contest, mistakes were critical.
The Montana Grizzlies upset the Washington Huskies 13-7 at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA., on Saturday, September 4th, 2021. (Aaron Nelson / fi360 News)
A missed field goal in the second quarter by the Huskies certainly would have given them more to work with later on, but turnovers would ultimately seal Washington’s fate.
Huskies quarterback Dylan Morris gave his team a 7-0 lead with a first-quarter rushing touchdown before giving away three interceptions on the night, including the final dagger to Montana’s Marcus Welnel with 31 seconds to play.
Minus the turnovers, both quarterbacks performed fairly well. Morris ended with 226 yards on 27-of-46 attempts, while Montana’s Cam Humphrey earned 105 yards through the air on 12-of-23 attempts.
The Montana Grizzlies upset the Washington Huskies 13-7 at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA., on Saturday, September 4th, 2021. (Aaron Nelson / fi360 News)
The Grizzlies’ rushing attack was split between Xavier Harris and Isiah Childs, earning 73 and 41 yards on the ground, respectively. For Washington, it was Richard Newton leading the attack with 69 yards on 17 carries.
Humphrey gave the Grizzlies their lone touchdown with a 4-yard diving scramble early in the fourth quarter to go along with a first-half field goal and the go-ahead kick from Kevin Macias with a minute and a half remaining.
With the win, the Grizzlies became just the 5th FCS team to defeat a ranked FBS opponent and the first to do so since 2016. They will look to carry the well-earned momentum into week two against Western Illinois back in Missoula.
The Montana Grizzlies upset the Washington Huskies 13-7 at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA., on Saturday, September 4th, 2021. (Aaron Nelson / fi360 News)
The Huskies, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly. They travel to the Big House next week to take on Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines.
Pasadena, CA – All the buzz about college football rivalries were kind of was taken away in the Los Angeles area as USC has practically maintained strong records the last few seasons. Over time, Chip Kelly’s UCLA football team has been fairly short of being able to compete in meaningful games. Last season had sense of change in the air. Even at a 3-4 record, all of their losses were by six points or less. Beating Hawaii to a pulp last week was what UCLA wanted to send some shockwaves. With LSU in town Saturday night, did people notice?
Two years ago, Oklahoma came to town. The game wasn’t even close. Jaylen Hurts took over the field with his arms. Jaylen Hurts practically ran all over the Bruins secondary. In all he had 439 scrimmage yards. Over 52,000 were there to witness really a 60 minute Sooner show. Fans then eventually lost interest.
Fast forward now two years later, and now a rather strong SEC team and LSU travels to the Rose Bowl. The hype leading up to the game is far different. After the Bruins win last week, many have them believing this team is now for real. Nearly every UCLA player is on scholarship. A handful of returners made a tremendous impact against Hawaii. Newcomer from Michigan Zach Charbonnet has blown up UCLA tweets about him being an early vote for the Hesiman. While Vegas odds did have LSU favored by just under 3 points, only 62 percent of bettors swung in favor of the Tigers.
68,123 showed up to the Rose Bowl Saturday night. Most expected that LSU would take over the stands. About 15 minutes to kickoff, it looked as if the bowl was going to be split between purple and blue. The stands suddenly dominated in all blue. Every Bruin player immediately had a feeling something special was brewing.
Just once did LSU have a lead and it came early. After, UCLA relied on their defense to pick up their offense. Immediately after an LSU score, Dorian Thompson Robinson targeted Greg Dulcich for a 75 yard touchdown pass untouched. From there, the Bruins found ways to never let up.
Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown tag teamed for 28 carries and combined for just over 200 yards Thompson Robinson only threw 16 passes but managed three touchdowns on nine completions. As a team they outgained LSU 470 to 378. It was though the defense that credited the Bruins taking away prime chances for LSU to come back. UCLA took away the running game, only allowing 48 total rushing yards. Max Johnson did manage to throw for 330 yards and three touchdowns, but the difference in yards per completion forced LSU’s offense to slow down quite a bit.
Stat wise the Bruins did dominate, but it wasn’t tremendous. The fourth quarter became key utilizing the run game. With UCLA leading by just four, the Bruins kept the ball on the ground. In their final two scoring drives, UCLA managed over 110 rushing yards, but it was two key pass plays that set up the Bruins to push this game out of reach. Completions to Dulcich and Kyle Phillips, the latter being a 45 yard touchdown pass, were the only two that Thompson Robinson needed setting up the Bruins at a 2-0 record.
Chip Kelly had never been 2-0 with UCLA. The Bruins were last 2-0 in 2017, starting the season with a nail biting win against Texas A&M. They eventually fell to 6-6 falling apart in the Pac-12. This is a far different feeling though. Another true test comes to town in two weeks with Fresno State. 3-0 is the next aim, but the Bruins are slowly starting to prove they will be no joke when conference play starts.
EUGENE, OR – For the first time in 644 long days, football fans were able to return to Autzen Stadium Saturday morning where they watched the 11th ranked Oregon Ducks escape an upset against Fresno State.
Sixth-year quarterback Anthony Brown and the Oregon offense struggled most of the day, but the run game finally came alive in the fourth quarter as running back CJ Verdell totaled 84 yards on the ground and Anthony Brown ran in the game winning 30-yard touchdown on a read option taking the final lead of the game at 31-24.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
Brown, who finished the night with 172 passing yards and 2 total touchdowns simply explained their offense “wasn’t clean enough.” He went on to say “In order for us to go where we need to go, we have to be firing on all cylinders, which we weren’t today. And that was obvious.”
While Oregon sputtered offensively, their defense stepped up when they needed to. The Ducks jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter scoring on back-to-back possessions after both Kayvon Thibodeaux and Noah Sewell forced fumbles.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
The Ducks were also put in position to tie the game at 21 in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard field goal by Camden Lewis after Justin Flowe forced Haener to fumble once again. In his highly anticipated debut Flowe recorded 14 tackles, 5 of which were solo. Despite his impressive performance, after the game Flowe said “I feel ike I can do way more.”
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
Across the board Oregon will have their work cut out for them next week as they travel to Columbus, Ohio to face the Buckeyes who are currently ranked 4th in the nation. Perhaps the biggest question mark of that contest will be the availability of Kayvon Thibodeaux who left the game due to a left ankle injury, although head coach Mario Cristobal stated that he is “Very optimistic that it’s nothing serious.”
