A lot went on this past week, from the return of college football to Cat Osterman and Clayton Kershaw's performances on the mound, to recent roster moves in the NFL. Below are some notes and news from the most important events this past week in sports.
College Football
SMU-Texas State
In a Lone Star state showdown, two of Texas’ rising mid-majors battled it out in San Marcos. The Bobcats and Mustangs played out a close contest in front of a national crowd on ESPN, filled with great running, superb catches and two excellent quarterbacks in Shane Buchele (SMU) and Brady McBride (Texas State)...RB Brock Sturges scored the Bobcats’ first, and only, rushing touchdown of the game early in the second quarter. Along with Calvin Hill, who ran for 100 yards, the two backs helped to keep Texas State in the game... At the half, the Bobcats had surprised many, tying the score just before time expired on a fabulous snag in the corner of the end zone by Jeremiah Haydel...SMU managed to pull away in the third, and hold Texas State to a single field goal in the fourth to hold on for a season-opening 31-24 road victory...Buchele put on a show through the air, with 26 of his 36 passing attempts being completed and 367 passing yards...SMU wideout Rashee Rice was one of Buchele’s main targets. The two connected on five passes for a total of 101 yards.
Memphis-Arkansas State
Memphis also made a case to be considered the AAC’s top team, earning a 37-24 victory over Arkansas State in Memphis...The Tigers fell behind early, 7-0, but quickly hit a stride to head to the half with a 21-14 lead...A key interception midway through the third quarter allowed Memphis to extend its lead to 20 points, as a one-on-one matchup between Arkansas State’s 6’5 WR Dahu Green and Memphis’ 5'10 CB Sylvonta Oliver resulted in a jump ball being thrown to the near sideline. Although Green had a clear height advantage, the pass fell through his hands and into Memphis’ lap, literally, as Oliver hung onto the football and earned the interception...On the ensuing possession, the Red Wolves seemed to have forced a three-and-out. However, DL Joseph Dorceus sprang into action on a fake punt, taking the snap and sprinting 25 yards to pick up the first down and more...Tigers QB Brady White managed the game well, throwing for 275 yards and four touchdowns and adding 39 yards on the ground.
Army- Middle Tennessee
Even in a season marked by Covid-19, regulations, and what some are calling a “new normal”, some things never change. Such as Army’s smashmouth running style...The Black Knights ran the ball 62 times, attempting just four passes, and accumulated 340 rushing yards...That style of play quickly wore out the Middle Tennessee defense, and Army shut out the Blue Raiders 42-0...Army RB Sandon McCoy scored three of Army’s six touchdowns.
MLB
Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw joined an elite group on Thursday, becoming the third youngest pitcher in MLB history to reach 2,500 career strikeouts, just behind the legendary Christy Matthewson and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who both reached the mark at age 31. Kershaw is 32. He also joins the Astros’ Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke, as well as Cole Hamels and Max Scherzer as the only active pitchers to have reached the mark...In a lopsided 23-5 victory on Tuesday, the San Francisco Giants overpowered the Colorado Rockies, putting together 27 hits. 2B Donovan Solano saw the ball well all night, going 4-for-6 with six RBI and two runs. SS Brandon Crawford also hit well, with six RBI and a 3-for-6 day at the plate. Colorado starter Jon Gray had an off day, giving up seven earned runs in just 2.2 innings of work…Astros’ ace Lance McCullers Jr. had an off day on the mound Friday evening, allowing six runs against the Angels and failing to record a single out. McCullers told the media he felt the poor performance which ended up costing the Astros the game was a result of his recovery from Tommy John Surgery last year...Yu Darvish continues to be my pick for the NL Pitcher of the Year. After struggling during the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the Cubs, the Japanese righty has emerged to lead the National League in ERA (1.44) and post an impressive 7-1 record. He allowed just one hit, a homer, over the course of seven innings on Friday against the Cardinals...Angels’ CF Mike Trout swatted his 300th career homer against Brandon Bielak and the Astros, which sets a franchise record...Heading into the Labor Day slate, here are the division leaders; Tampa Bay Rays (AL East), Chicago White Sox (AL Central), Oakland Athletics (AL West), Atlanta Braves (NL East), Chicago Cubs (NL Central), Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West).
Athletes Unlimited
The brand-new pro softball league, which features several members of Team USA and other national teams to be represented next summer at the Olympics in Tokyo, got off to a quick start over the first two weeks of its inaugural season...Former Texas star and current Team USA pitcher Cat Osterman was amongst the top four point-scorers on week 1, and was solid in week 2. On the season, the lefty has tossed 22 innings of work, giving up just two runs and accumulating a season-high 32 strikeouts...Behind a six-run seventh, the squad captained by Team Canada outfielder Victoria Hayward earned a 13-5 victory on Sunday over Team Show. It was Team Hayward’s first victory of the weekend...The league, which awards players with points for things such as hits, home runs, RBI, strike outs and innings pitched, focuses more on individual performances, although the team aspect is certainly there. Heading into the final games of the week on Monday, Osterman leads the league in points with 1004.
NFL
Former UCLA star and 2018 first round draft pick Josh Rosen will soon be looking for another job, as he was released by Miami on Friday. The team reportedly failed to find another team willing to trade for Rosen. He was thrust into action with Arizona during his rookie year, going just 3-13 as a starter. With that considered, the Dolphins feel more comfortable turning to a veteran in Ryan Fitzpatrick or an untested, but accomplished rookie in Tua Tagovailoa…Other notable cuts include RB Adrian Peterson (Washington Football Team), WR Donte Moncrief (New York Jets), and CB PJ Locke III (Denver Broncos).
And...one crazy prediction
With the way the Cubs and White Sox are playing, we could see the first world series matchup between these two Windy City teams since the year 1906, when the White Sox won the series 4-2.
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