Breaking News

Sports Columns

Iowa exposes QB depth at Penn State

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Football has long operated with the premise that the coaches and the quarterbacks get too much credit and too much blame. Saturday’s Penn State-Iowa game at Kinnick Stadium exhibited that competent quarterbacking — and quarterback preparation — cannot be overestimated. The Nittany Lions were dealt a painful 23-20 loss, their first of the season, and although their season goals — winning the Big Ten, advancing to the College Football Playoff — remain attainable, what unfolded against the Hawkeyes demands immediate attention. With ...

WR Dotson has caught Hawkeyes’ attention

The biggest subplot of Penn State’s game within the game (of the year, so far) at Iowa will be Jahan Dotson. The standout receiver has been outstanding, easily the biggest difference maker fueling the Nittany Lions’ resurgence from their nightmare season of 2020. Dotson’s 35 receptions (without a drop) and six touchdowns lead the Big Ten, and he’s expected to be a main focus of Iowa’s defensive game plan today in a Top 5 battle of unbeatens (Iowa No. 3, PSU No. 4) at Kinnick Stadium (4 p.m. FOX). Dotson has caught everything, including high passes for touchdowns, ...

Arizona trail cam ban raises questions

On June 11, the five-person Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted unanimously to ban the use of trail cameras. This regulation is clearly focused on hunters as it specifically prohibits the use of trail cameras “for the purpose of taking or aiding in the take of wildlife, or locating wildlife for the purpose of taking or aiding in the take of wildlife,” while the use of trail cameras for research, general photography, cattle operations or any other reason other than the taking of wildlife would still be legal. The ban is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. I first learned ...

Something has to give in Class 3A

More than halfway through the high school football season, it’s still tough to know which teams in the area are the best of the best. Seven teams — Bedford, Central, Clearfield, Bellwood-Antis, Juniata Valley, Portage and Cambria Heights — in the Mirror’s regional coverage area remain unbeaten, and three of them are on a collision course that we’ll start to get a sneak peek at tonight. Central hosts Bedford in a game between the current top seeds in District 6 and District 5 Class 3A, respectively. The game will play a big role in determining the Laurel Highlands Athletic ...

Defense must continue to hold down Nits’ fort

What unit needs to carry the day at Iowa? By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com We can make a case for both, which is what makes for a good topic. In fact, I gave Cory the first pick this week, and he took offense. Shocker. But I’m fine suggesting Penn State’s defense must stand up tall at Iowa for the Nittany Lions’ perfect record to still be intact late Saturday night. Remember, Kirk Ferentz is a veteran, old-school defensive coach who is totally comfortable winning a game 6-4. I call any of the 107,000 witnesses from 2004. The series has almost never ...

Penn State’s best defense will need to be solid offense

What unit needs to carry the day at Iowa? By Cory Giger For the Mirror I usually have five keys for Penn State to win a game. Today I’m going with five words. Don’t. Turn. The. Ball. Over. That is indeed the story line of this week’s showdown at Iowa, as James Franklin said Tuesday. So much of Iowa’s success in rising to a No. 3 ranking has been predicated on turnovers. The Hawkeyes have forced 16 of them (12 interceptions), giving their offense a bunch of short fields and easy scoring opportunities. How good is Iowa if the other team doesn’t turn the ball ...