The Steelers put together their best second half of the season and by far their best fourth quarter to hand the Denver Broncos their second loss, setting up their biggest game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Broncos controlled the first half but still trailed 7-3 as a result of a Tyrone Carter 48-yard interception for a touchdown. AGELESS—Hines Ward celebrates with offensive tackle Willie Colon after Ward caught a touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ 28-10 victory in Denver. Then came the second half and an entirely new Steelers offense took the field, well, after Ben Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass to the wrong team to give Denver a 10-7 lead. But then he came back in just four plays to get that touchdown back, passing for 56 yards, with Rashard Mendenhall adding 24 on the ground leading to a 3-yard touchdown reception by Hines Ward to take a 14-10 lead. The Steelers never looked back from that point as the defense, behind James Harrison and Troy Polamalu, dominated the Broncos, holding them to three and out while picking up two interceptions, one by Polamalu and a second by Carter.
by Carla Crawford Many patrons poured into Arts, a popular bar located on the corner of 29th and 10th in the Strip District on the night of Nov. 4, for their usual midweek social gathering. For the family and friends of Anthony Rivers, AKA Greyhound, whose life was abruptly taken violently on the streets of Garfield in the early morning of Aug. 5, 2008, the night was all but usual. ANTHONY RIVERS After leading his team to victory in the 2008 Connie Hawkins League Championship Game, Anthony Rivers was robbed and brutally murdered. Jason and Vaughn Rivers, Anthony’s brothers, spearheaded this gathering in order to celebrate what would’ve been their brother’s 28th birthday. In past years, the three Rivers brothers had always celebrated together in this manor, and in Anthony’s absence have vowed to continue to do so in his memory.
Schenley (8-1) avenged the Brashear (7-3) team that put a 30-point victory against them back on Sept.18. With the 14-2 victory over the Bulls Nov. 6, they now advance to the City League finals to face Oliver (8-1) Nov. 13. In the wake of such a successful year for the Spartans, they had to face some adversity to get there. DEFENSIVE STANDOUT— Shane Phillips of Oliver grabs Perry quarterback Greg McGhee before he can release a pass as the Bears defeated the Commodores 10-6 to earn a spot in the title game this Friday. “Over the span of four years, with the announcing of the closing of the school, these kids have had to endure so much,” said Schenley’s head coach Jason Bell. “There have been so many negatives that our kids have had to face. This has forced them to come together and that is exactly what they’ve done. Our kids are a group. They mesh really well and really care about on another.”
PITTSBURGH (AP)—Most major college basketball players are recruited by multiple schools. Chase Adams landed at Pitt after recruiting the Panthers. When Centenary dropped from NCAA Division I to Division III, Adams went looking for a program that fit his skills. Last season’s Summit League defensive player of the year wanted to play on a team that valued defense. He also sought to move up to a higher level, but not have to sit the bench. He also wanted a team that needed an experienced guard—now.
As I watched one of the many pre-game shows profiling the Penn State vs. Ohio State matchup last Saturday at Happy Valley, I was disturbed by the mean-spirited display of a few members of the Penn State student body. Some of them actually had shirts with the photo of Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor with his head hung low after Penn State defeated Ohio State at home in 2008. AUBREY BRUCE It is okay to show your loyalty to your school. You can boo, even call a few names because that is the spirit of the 12th man but to profile and attempt to kill the spirit of any young man or woman for the sake of a game is uncalled for and unacceptable. For me, and I am only speaking for myself, I became afraid. I had flashbacks of young Black men, heads hung in shame, just prior to being brutalized in days gone by. There is no room for displays like that in college football or anywhere else. Penn State not only lost the football game a but a piece of its dignity.
The WPIAL couldn’t have scripted it better: Halloween weekend, the cage of Tiger Stadium, crisp fall temperatures and No. 1 Gateway versus No. 2 McKeesport in arguably the state’s biggest game of the season. How many times have you heard that the Quad-A is the king of all WPIAL football? A thousand times? Well, make it 1,001. The undefeated Gators, who entered the game having outscored their opponents 383-52 in eight games this season, have broken the 50-point barrier three times and scored 76 points in a week 8 victory over Connellsville. NO REST—Gateway’s head coach Terry Smith congratulates his payers and staff on a great game against McKeesport. They now must prepare for the playoffs.
by Joe Edwards NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—David Vaughn knows the adulation of NBA crowds. He also knows the humbling task of maneuvering his 6-9 frame into his Chevy Impala to sleep. Less than a decade after the end of a four-season NBA career, the former power forward spent six months on the streets of Orlando, Fla., having run through the $2.2 million he earned in the league. These days, the 36-year-old Vaughn is looking for a job in Orlando, where he spent two seasons playing for the Magic. PUTTING LIFE BACK TOGETHER—David Vaughn, 36, a former NBA power forward, stands outside his apartment in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 29. His story, he says, is one of a young man with sudden riches, manic spending habits and little advice from those who should have given him direction. It’s also one of a man whose friends are coming to his aid this weekend.
The seedings are final in the City League as all top four teams were victorious in their final regular season matchups. The Schenley Spartans have secured the league’s top seed in its post-season and will take on Brashear Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. for the second of two semi-final games. The other contest will include the number two seed Oliver against its North side rival, No. 3 Perry Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.; both games are at Cupples Stadium. UNSTOPPABLE—Richard Lowry of Perry tries to bust through two Langley defenders. Lowry rushed for 192 yards and a touchdown. “Obviously, It’s been good,” said Schenley head coach Jason Bell. “We wanted to turn the corner, which has been a problem for us in the past, and this time we plan to actually get to where we need to be this year (in the championship).”
by Rusty Miller COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—No sooner had Ohio State and Penn State wrapped up their latest victories than both were looking ahead to their critical tangle at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. “The crowd is going to be against us, especially against me,” Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor said of a showdown with Big Ten title implications. “But it really doesn’t matter. I got my family with me, all 75 (teammates) that travel, and we’re going to be ready to rock. I can’t wait.” ‘IRONHEAD’S LITTLE BOY’— Cameron Heyward, son of the late former Pitt and NFL star Craig ‘Ironhead’ Heyward, is a 6’6” 287 pound defensive end for Ohio State. Heyward, a junior may decide to enter the 2010 NFL draft. That emotion is at the other end of the spectrum from what the No. 15 Buckeyes faced last Saturday. They barely raised their pulse rate in eclipsing overmatched New Mexico State 45-0, holding the Aggies—statistically the worst offense in the Bowl Subdivision—to 62 yards.
by Alan Robinson PITTSBURGH (AP)—Pitt’s season will play out with season-ending games against Notre Dame, West Virginia and Cincinnati, three ranked opponents in a month’s time for a team that hasn’t played a Top 25 team since last season’s Sun Bowl. The difficult stretch will tell coach Dave Wannstedt’s No. 16 Panthers if they are Big East championship-worthy and ready to play in a BCS bowl, or if their 7-1 start can be credited to a favorable schedule. The No. 25 Fighting Irish, No. 20 Mountaineers and No. 5 Bearcats represent as many ranked teams as Pitt has played in the last two seasons combined, and that includes the Sun Bowl against Oregon State. Pitt (4-0 in Big East) has never played better during Wannstedt’s five seasons, but they’ve never been tested like they soon will be.
