Sports
ARKANSAS AT AUBURN : Mistaken identity
BY TOM MURPHY
AUBURN, Ala. — Arkansas and Auburn football fans are wondering which trends might hold up today when the SEC West rivals face off at 4 p.m. in Jordan-Hare Stadium. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : Phillies pitcher finds his swing
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA — Brett Myers stood on first base, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders. He couldn’t explain his hitting success, and no one ever expected it. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES : Red Sox’s pitching too much for Rays
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Unhittable most of the game, Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox taught the Tampa Bay Rays all about dominant postseason pitching. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Pelphrey: Beverley doing well
BY BOB HOLT
BENTONVILLE — John Pelphrey no longer coaches Patrick Beverley, but they still talk. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Nothing missing this year
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — If the Texas-Oklahoma series were only about the sights, sounds and smells of their annual matchup at the Cotton Bowl, it would still be a lot of fun. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Red Wolves’ Leonard recalls 2007 letdown, vows no repeat
BY TODD TRAUB
JONESBORO — Arkansas State quarterback Corey Leonard feels like he has a few things to set right today. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Second thoughts
Compiled by Scott Loftis
Baker has new team to manage Cincinnati Reds Manager Dusty Baker is going back to youth baseball. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Off the wire
— Democrat-Gazette Press Services
TENNIS 18-year-old advances Japanese wild card Kei Nishikori, 18, ailing with a sore throat and aching knee, reached the Stockholm (Sweden) Open semifinals Friday when secondseeded Mario Ancic withdrew because of fever. “I wanted to play the match somehow,” Nishikori said. “Now I’ve got a day to rest and I’m sure I can play. It’s the semifinals. It’s big for me.” Nishikori will play fourth-seeded Robin Soderling, who defeated fifth-seeded Rainer Schuettler of Germany 6-2, 7-5. Nishikori has jumped 212 spots to a No. 77 ranking since the beginning of the year. He won his first ATP title at Delray Beach, Fla., early this year to become the first Japanese singles winner on the tour since 1992. Top-seeded David Nalbandian beat seventh-seeded Albert Montanes 6-4, 6-1 and thirdseeded Jarkko Nieminen beat Oscar Hernandez 6-1, 6-4. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
COMMENTARY : Pacman deserves punishment for stupidity
BY JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
IRVING, Texas — What actually happened in the bathroom at the trendy Joule Hotel between Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones and a member of his four-man security team doesn’t really matter. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Tuneup could net Sullivan paycheck
BY JEFFREY SLATTON
Playing his best golf of the year, Maumelle’s Patrick Sullivan is using this week as a tuneup. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
GOLF ROUNDUP : 66 leaves Crenshaw atop Senior Players field
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TIMONIUM, Md. — Ben Crenshaw didn’t just turn back the clock at the Senior Players Championship. He ripped 13 years off the calendar and floated back to 1995. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Position-by position matchups
By Tom Murphy
OFFENSE Quarterback Casey Dick has had his worst games this season against the stout defenses of Alabama and Texas, and Auburn is in that same mold. The Tigers have tough, agile pass rushers and great team speed, so quick decision-making will be critical. Dick is completing 59.4 percent of his passes through five games and has an equal amount of touchdowns and interceptions with 5 each. Dick steadied himself with a much better effort against Florida last week, hitting key third-down passes and going 4 of 4 on the Hogs’ touchdown drive. He’ll need that same steady hand in adverse conditions today if the Razorbacks are to have any shot at the upset. Whom Auburn will start is a mystery. Chris Todd was fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin’s special delivery recruit, and Todd’s struggles have reflected the offense’s ills in the Spread. Todd also has 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions and has completed 56.8 percent of his passes. Fort Smith Northside’s Kodi Burns might have an opening to get increased playing ti - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Overlooked Auburn defense too difficult to ignore
BY BOB HOLT
AUBURN, Ala. — When Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville was asked about Paul Rhoads on Tuesday during his weekly news conference, he jokingly pretended not to recognize the name. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Meyer, Gators seeking to avoid repeat against Tigers
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Everywhere Brandon Hicks and his Florida Gators teammates turned this week, they saw replays of last year’s demoralizing loss at LSU. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Bye week gives Golden Lions chance to tinker with offense
BY DOUG CRISE
PINE BLUFF — The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions have just about exhausted their last excuse. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Fast start crucial in Southland
BY NICK WALKER
CONWAY — There’s no need to stress the importance of the start of conference play to either Central Arkansas Bears Coach Clint Conque or Sam Houston State Bearkats Coach Todd Whitten. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
New Rams coach knows he’ll be better this time
BY JIM THOMAS ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
ST. LOUIS — From the day he was hired as the St. Louis Rams’ defensive coordinator in 2006, Jim Haslett hoped to get another crack at being a head coach in the NFL. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Little cornerback big part of Vikings
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Growing up in Akron, Ohio, Antoine Winfield and his family lived by a motto that preached humility and grace in handling success. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Colts trying to find consistency, passion
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS — Coach Tony Dungy didn’t mince words this week. He called on the Indianapolis Colts to play with more passion, more consistency and more urgency. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Green, Slaton getting in rush for Texans
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Ahman Green is finally healthy, but he hasn’t returned to the role he once had. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
How the top 10 fared
No. 1 Bentonville 54, Rogers Heritage 7 No. 2 FS Southside 55, Springdale 52 No. 3 Russellville 14, Bryant 13 No. 4 West Memphis 64, Searcy 0 No. 5 Helena-W.Helena Central 60, Wynne 14 No. 10 Cabot 34, No. 6 North Little Rock 21 No. 7 Pulaski Academy 49, Hot Springs Lakeside 28 No. 8 Fort Smith Northside 42, Fayetteville 35 No. 9 LR Catholic 47, Van Buren 21 High school coverage on Pages 8-10 C - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Getting it straight
The Democrat-Gazette wants its news reports to be fair and accurate. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Key matchup
Arkansas offensive line vs. Auburn defensive front The Razorbacks have not shown the ability to execute and composure needed to put together many scoring drives in recent weeks. The task will be even greater against Auburn’s tough and fast front seven. Nobody slowed the Razorbacks like Auburn did last year, and a bunch of those defenders are back for the Tigers. Tackles Jose Valdez, Ray Dominguez and Grant Freeman will have to do a solid job run blocking and defending the edge against the pass rush to give quarterback Casey Dick (above) and the Hog runners a chance. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Ouachita Baptist at Harding
— Doug Crise
WHEN 6 p.m. Central today WHERE First Security Stadium, Searcy RECORDS Harding 2-4, 1-2 Gulf South Conference ; Ouachita Baptist 2-3, 1-3 COACHES Ronnie Huckeba (7-7 at Harding); Todd Knight (58-96-2 at Ouachita Baptist) SERIES Harding leads 26-18-4 RADIO KVHU-FM, 95.3 (Searcy); KYXK-FM, 106.9 (Arkadelphia); KBHS-AM, 1420 (Hot Springs); KVMA-AM, 630 (Magnolia); KELDFM, 106.5 (El Dorado); KNAS-FM, 105.5 (Nashville); KQOR-FM, 105.3 (Mena) INTERNET www.hardingsports.com, mms://rain.obu.edu/tigerathletics HARDING 63.3 rush yards per game; 368.7 pass yards per game; 31.2 points per game OUACHITA BAPTIST 161.2 rush yards per game; 233.2 pass yards per game; 29.2 points per game WHAT TO LOOK FOR Ouachita Baptist has the opportunity to pull out of a three-game skid against one of the Gulf South Conference’s worst defenses. But after turning the ball over six times to Arkansas-Monticello a week ago, the Tigers have their own issues to correct. KEYS FOR HARDING Harding’s pass defense took a beating in its first three g - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Arkansas Tech at Southern Arkansas
— Doug Crise
WHEN 2:30 p.m. Central today WHERE Wilkins Stadium, Magnolia RECORDS Arkansas Tech 3-2, 2-1 Gulf South Conference; Southern Arkansas 0-5, 0-3 COACHES Steve Mullins (74-48 at Arkansas Tech), Steve Quinn (37-44 at Southern Arkansas) SERIES Arkansas Tech leads 41-26-4 RADIO KWKK-FM, 100.9 (Russellville); KVMZ-FM, 99.1 (Magnolia) INTERNET http://athletics.atu.edu ARKANSAS TECH 124.8 rush yards per game; 272 pass yards per game; 24.6 points per game SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 189.8 rush yards per game; 166.2 pass yards per game; 19.8 points per game WHAT TO LOOK FOR This game seems to qualify for “trap” status. Arkansas Tech looked good in last week’s loss to nationally ranked North Alabama, and will be hoping to boost its national standing by blowing out a winless team. But Southern Arkansas played its best game of the year at Harding last week, and its young offense seems to be maturing. KEYS FOR ARKANSAS TECH Southern Arkansas, for so many years a Flexbone team, has taken to mixing things up. While this at times has mad - Saturday, October 11, 2008
Valdosta State at Henderson State
— Doug Crise
WHEN 3 p.m. Central today WHERE Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, Arkadelphia RECORDS Valdosta State 4-1, 2-1 Gulf South Conference; Henderson State 3-3, 2-2 COACHES David Dean (17-2 at Valdosta State), Scott Maxfield (21-17 at Henderson State) SERIES Valdosta State leads 8-0 RADIO KDEL-FM, 100.9 (Arkadelphia); KELD-AM, 1400 (El Dorado); KILX-FM, 104.1 (Mena) INTERNET www.hsu.edu/athletics VALDOSTA STATE 165.6 rush yards per game; 269.2 pass yards per game; 31.2 points per game HENDERSON STATE 119.5 rush yards per game; 314.3 pass yards per game; 34.5 points per game WHAT TO LOOK FOR Valdosta State will surely be focused after losing to Delta State last week, and that could make for a tough afternoon for Henderson State. That said, Henderson State has the ability to keep pace with the Blazers, providing it can stop the run game. KEYS FOR VALDOSTA STATE The Blazers struggled with turnovers a week ago, so keeping away from that will be of prime importance. Valdosta State has shown it can play good pass defense, and wi - Saturday, October 11, 2008
7A-WEST : Northside outlasts Fayetteville
BY HEATH ALLEN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TIMES
FAYETTEVILLE — Fort Smith Northside and Fayetteville aired out their differences Friday night. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
7A-WEST : Rogers loses starting tailback in loss to Har-Ber
BY RICH POLIKOFF
SPRINGDALE — Springdale Har-Ber handed Rogers a 28-13 defeat Friday night. The artificial turf at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium dealt the Mounties a more severe setback. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
7A-CENTRAL : Rockets pull away from Pointers in 2nd half
BY ROBERT YATES
Junior quarterback Taylor Bartlett threw three touchdown passes and ran for another in No. 10 Little Rock Catholic’s 47-21 homecoming victory over Van Buren in a 7A-Central action Friday night at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
7A-WEST : Ragsdale sparks No. 1 Bentonville
BY SAM STEINBERG BENTON COUNTY DAILY RECORD
ROGERS— Rogers Heritage (3-3, 0-3 7A-West ) kept the top-ranked Bentonville offense quiet for the first half, but the Tigers woke up in the second half. - Saturday, October 11, 2008
