AP Sports Summary for December 29th, 2023.
Freshman QB Avery Johnson leads Kansas State past No. 19 N.C. State in Pop-Tarts Bowl
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Avery Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one, DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards and scored twice, and Kansas State beat No. 19 North Carolina State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Johnson, a freshman making his first start after Will Howard entered the transfer portal, threw for 178 yards and rushed for 71. He directed a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that put the game away and closed out a solid season for coach Chris Klieman's Wildcats. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and threw for 164 yards in his final game for the Wolfpack. Both teams finished 9-4.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Avery Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one, DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards and scored twice, and Kansas State beat No. 19 North Carolina State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday night.
Johnson, a freshman making his first start after Will Howard entered the transfer portal, threw for 178 yards, rushed for 71 and directed a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that put the game away and closed out a solid season for coach Chris Klieman's Wildcats (9-4).
"We knew we needed to finish the drive strong and put the game away," Johnson said. "Credit to those guys up front. Fifteen plays isn't easy. They dominated and we ultimately got into the end zone."
Quarterback Brennan Armstrong rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and threw for 164 yards in his final game for the Wolfpack (9-4), who fell short of winning 10 games for the second time in program history.
"I look back to what could I have done differently because we didn't get the job done," Armstrong said. "I felt like I did what I had to do to be ready and prepared. We just didn't get the job done."
Giddens had a 37-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, his only catch of the game, and ran for a 4-yard TD early in the second that made it 14-0.
Kansas State led 21-7 late in the second quarter and 21-10 at halftime, but N.C. State rallied in the third quarter, thanks in part to some trickery. Trent Pennix ran for a 60-yard touchdown on a fake punt with 1:50 left in the period. But the 2-point try failed, allowing the Wildcats to maintain a 21-19 lead.
Johnson and Giddens took over from there. Giddens had six rushes for 25 yards on a drive that took 7:24 off the clock and concluded with Johnson's 11-yard touchdown pass to Jayce Brown with 2:48 remaining.
"Some of those times a young player may force a throw when he is scrambling and he doesn't see anybody open," Klieman said. "He threw the ball away and avoided a number of sacks for a loss of yards. He's 1-0 as a quarterback. He made big-time play after big-time play."
Jacob Parrish intercepted Armstrong on N.C. State's next play from scrimmage.
FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT
Both teams ran successful fake punts.
Kansas State punter Jack Blumer called his own number in the second quarter for a 30-yard gain that set up Giddens' rushing TD.
N.C. State had its biggest play on a direct snap to Pennix, a tight end, from the punt formation that he took all the way to the end zone.
CENTURY CLUB
Armstrong became N.C. State's first 100-yard rusher of the season. He had come close on a few occasions, with 96 yards against both Connecticut and Wake Forest.
Giddens had his fifth game this season with 100 yards rushing or more. This was his second-highest rushing total behind a 207-yard effort against UCF.
ELUSIVE DOUBLE DIGITS
N.C. State's lone 10-win season came in 2002, when it went 11-2 with Phillip Rivers at quarterback.
EAT ME
One gimmick of the Pop-Tarts Bowl was a mascot that organizers described as edible. After Kansas State was awarded the trophy, the human mascot named "Strawberry" was lowered into a giant replica toaster, and an edible look-alike was ushered out. Klieman and Johnson took bites of the oversized treat before other Wildcats players crowded around for a snack.
UP NEXT
N.C. State will have to replace Armstrong, a fifth-year senior who transferred from Virginia for his final season, and graduating Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year Payton Wilson.
Kansas State can look forward to having both Johnson and Giddens back in 2024.
Joe Flacco throws 3 TD passes and Browns clinch unlikely spot in playoffs with 37-20 win over Jets
CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Flacco passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns and the Cleveland Browns clinched an unlikely playoff berth and just their second since 2002 despite numerous injuries with a 37-20 win over the New York Jets. The Browns are assured of a wild-card spot and still have a chance to win the AFC North. They're still in the hunt for the conference's No. 1 overall seed. That's something unfathomable just weeks ago as major injuries piled up. Flacco threw two TD passes to running back Jerome Ford and for 296 yards in the first half. The Jets held the Browns to just 3 points after halftime.
Celtics send Detroit to NBA record-tying 28th straight loss, beating Pistons 128-122 in OT
BOSTON (AP) — Hoping to avoid a 28th straight loss that would match the longest losing streak in NBA history, the Detroit Pistons forced overtime against the league-best Celtics before Boston recovered to win 128-122. Despite making it to overtime for the first time in the skid, Detroit matched the "Trust the Process" Philadelphia 76ers with 28 consecutive losses. The Pistons need a win at home against Toronto on Saturday night to avoid breaking the record. Kristaps Porzingis had 35 points for Boston and Jayson Tatum finished with 31 points and 10 assists. Boston won its fourth straight and ninth in 10 games. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 31 points and nine assists.
Alabama coaches don't want players watching film on tablets out of fear of sign stealing
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alabama is covering every angle when it comes to preparing for Monday's College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan at the Rose Bowl. That includes making sure their equipment and films do not get hacked in the wake of the Wolverines' sign-stealing allegations from earlier this season. Wide receiver Isaiah Bond and running back Jase McClellan say watching film has been restricted to only as a group and with coaches at team facilities. McLellan also says that players are not receiving practice film directly on their iPads, and that only coaches are receiving it.
Alabama's Jalen Milroe says he overcame naysayers including Bill O'Brien to lead the Tide to the CFP
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jalen Milroe says former Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien once suggested he should change positions. Milroe went on to become Bryce Young's successor and a determined, highly competitive quarterback who led the Crimson Tide all the way to the College Football Playoff this season. He has passed for 2,718 yards with 23 TD throws against just six interceptions. But more importantly to Milroe, Alabama is on an 11-game win streak. Milroe's resilience is the central theme of his college career, which began quietly behind Young. He won the Tide's starting job this year, only to lose it in a one-week benching.
Bills' Von Miller calls domestic abuse allegations against him '100 percent false'
Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller has disputed the allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend, calling them "100 percent false" and "blown out of proportion." Miller addressed the media on Thursday for the first time since turning himself into police in suburban Dallas on Nov. 30. Miller indicated something happened between him and his girlfriend, but stressed it did not approach what he is alleged of doing. The 34-year-old Miller has been charged by police with third-degree assault of a pregnant woman. However, the chief magistrate judge in Dallas County says prosecutors have yet to file charges against Miller.
Dominican baseball player Wander Franco fails to appear at prosecutor's office amid investigation
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco failed to show up for a meeting with a prosecutor who is investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Prosecutor Olga Diná LlaverÃas says the investigation will continue regardless of Franco's no-show. She waited for the All-Star player and his lawyers at her office, but they didn't appear. Dominican prosecutors and police showed up on Tuesday at a Franco property in BanÃ, his hometown about 37 miles southwest of Santo Domingo. They did not find the 22-year-old player to request he appeared for testimony.
Illinois suspends star basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. following rape charge
Illinois has suspended basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. after he was charged with rape for an alleged incident that happened when the football team played at Kansas in September. The school suspended Shannon from "all team activities, effective immediately," a day after the Douglas (Kansas) County District Attorney issued a warrant for his arrest. Chicago-area attorney Mark Sutter says Shannon is "innocent." Prosecutors in Douglas County charged Shannon on Dec. 5 with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery. The complaint says the accuser was born in 2005. The alleged incident happened when Shannon attended Illinois' football game at Kansas on Sept. 8.
Michigan built the pillars of this season's defense off last year's CFP disappointment
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter did plenty of self reflection on the plane ride back from Arizona after Michigan lost a 51-45 shootout to TCU in last year's Fiesta Bowl CFP semifinal. Minter saw his Wolverines defense allow nearly 500 total yards and an average of 7 yards per play in their worst performance of the season. While he was disappointed, Minter also knew that he had an experienced unit returning that knew the scheme. It was now a matter of making his players understand what they needed to do. Enter Minter's emphasis on the four pillars of his defense that have led the Wolverines back to the playoff.
A frantic push to safeguard the Paris Olympics promises thousands of jobs and new starts after riots
PARIS (AP) — Organizers of the Paris Olympics urgently need thousands of security guards to help keep athletes and spectators safe and reduce the likelihood of another deadly extremist attack in the French capital. Demand is high for people at checkpoints, to scan tickets and help manage crowds. So much so that France's state employment agency is offering free and expedited security guard training courses with no specialist qualifications required. The "We need you!" approach and promises of plentiful paid work from July to September during the Summer Games and Paralympics appeal to job seekers who feel ostracized from the labor market.
Vikings turn to Jaren Hall again in latest spin of QB carousel
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have switched starting quarterbacks for the fourth time in nine weeks. They're handing the offense again to rookie Jaren Hall with two must-win games left for making the playoffs. Coach Kevin O'Connell announced that Hall will start against Green Bay. He benched Nick Mullens after his six interceptions in two games doomed the Vikings to defeat despite passing for 714 yards. Mullens was picked off four times last week against Detroit in a 30-24 loss.
AP-Scorecard
TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final OT Boston 128 Detroit 122
Final New Orleans 112 Utah 105
Final Indiana 120 Chicago 104
Final Minnesota 118 Dallas 110
Final Denver 142 Memphis 105
Final San Antonio 118 Portland 105
Final Miami 114 Golden State 102
Final L.A. Lakers 133 Charlotte 112
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Carolina 5 Montreal 3
Final Philadelphia 4 Vancouver 1
Final Vegas 3 Los Angeles 2
Final Edmonton 5 San Jose 0
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Cleveland 37 N-Y Jets 20
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TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Final (14)Arizona 38 (12)Oklahoma 24
Final Boston College 23 (17)SMU 14
Final Kansas St. 28 (19)NC State 19
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (12)Oklahoma 88 Cent. Arkansas 72
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