Sharks Drop Opener 5-2 to Ducks

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

By Mary Walsh

SAN JOSE, Calif. — In front of an enthusiastic full house, the San Jose Sharks fell to the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 in their season opener at SAP Center on Wednesday night.

The Ducks had four rookies in the lineup replacing roster regulars who were out with injury. One of those scored Wednesday. Max Comtois, Rickard Rakell, Brandon Montour, Adam Henrique and Carter Rowney all scored for Anaheim, while Jakob Silfverberg had three assists in the game. John Gibson made 31 saves on 33 shots.

Tomas Hertl and Evander Kane scored for the Sharks, while Martin Jones made 10 saves on 14 shots.

Just 49 seconds in, Max Comtois scored on a breakaway after acquiring the puck in the neutral zone. It was Comtois’ first NHL goal. Assists went to Adam Henrique and Jakob Silfverberg.

The Sharks started the game looking like a team playing on unfamiliar ice. Pucks seemed to skip over their sticks, passes missed and the Ducks’ game looked altogether more tidy. After 2:47, the Sharks were on the power play while Josh Manson sat in the box for interference on Kevin Labanc. That power play was cut short when Joe Thornton was called for tripping Hampus Lindholm. The Sharks create some chances during 45 seconds of four-on-four, and then got some four-on-four because Anaheim’s Pontus Aberg was called for goaltender interference just five seconds after the Manson penalty ended.

None of those penalties changed the score, but at 7:51, Evander Kane tied it up. The Sharks’ attack had just been rebuffed, with help from a bouncing puck and general poor timing. As they regrouped on their own blue line, Justin Braun’s pass found Kane crossing the Ducks’ blue line. He skated in with an edge on a defender and put the puck underneath John Gibson. It trickled through for the goal.

The last five minutes of the first period showed a much improved Sharks team. Passes started to connect, plays started to take form and decisions came faster. No more goals were scored but the Sharks stretched out their shot lead to 11-5.

The first five minutes of the second looked much the same. The Sharks jumped out with five shots to Anaheim’s one. As the midpoint approached, San Jose had outshot Anaheim 10-1. Anaheim’s second shot of the period was from Silfverberg and Jones had to be quick to stop it. That imbalance continued through the period, but the score did not change until the Ducks had a power play at 16:24.

Evander Kane was in the box for tripping Josh Manson. After breaking up a pass with his stick and knocking the puck out of the zone, Tomas Hertl followed up, evaded two defenders and scored short-handed at 17:14. While the crowd was still buzzing, Anaheim went back to their power play. Rickard Rakell scored off a nice pass through the blue paint from Silfverberg. Assists went to Silfverberg and Ryan Getzlaf.

At the end of the period, the teams were still tied 2-2 despite the Sharks’ shot lead of 26-9.

Kane and Hertl both had good chances in the first half of the third, but Gibson got in the way. Jones was less lucky at 8:02, when Brandon Montour skated in and scored with an almost casual backhand shot, giving the Ducks the lead. Assists went to Rakell and Getzlaf.

The Sharks looked like they were back to the opening minutes of the game, having trouble handling the puck and finding each other. Pete DeBoer changed the lines up a bit, putting Hertl with Meier and Thornton, and Kane with Pavelski and Hertl.

Logan Couture was called for interference at 10:08 of the third. It took the Ducks 13 seconds to score this time. Quick passes around the outside kept everyone moving, until Adam Henrique found an opening. The shot was not a hard one, it was just enough to slide under Jones without a fuss. Assists went to Silfverberg and Rakell.

In the final two minutes, DeBoer pulled Jones and put Hertl, Pavelski, Kane, Labanc, Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns on the ice. Couture replaced Labanc before the end, but no combination could score a goal. The Ducks scored into an empty net with 23.7 seconds to go for the win.

The Sharks next play in Los Angeles against the Kings on Friday at 7:30 pm PT.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast from Yankee Stadium: A’s gave it their all all season, but climax goes thud

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newsday.com photo: Luis Severino #40 of the New York Yankees reacts after the final out of the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics during the AL Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 You said it best one game and one and done. All the way to New York and it’s all over for the Oakland after some 162 games in a 7-2 loss at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.

#2 The Wild Card should be at least two out of three games, but baseball says that’s a longer season.

#3 The Yankees wasted no time in the first inning getting a two-run home run from their star hitter Aaron Judge.

#4 The Yankees got the pitching too. Starter Luis Severino had a no-hitter going through four innings.

#5 Amaury’s last game of the season. Just get your thoughts on the fantastic year the A’s had to get this far.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Raiders head to Southern California for AFC West matchup with Chargers

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — The Raiders hit the road again, their third road game in the last four weeks, when they travel to StubHub Center to take on the Los Angeles Chargers in a classic AFC West battle. Kickoff for this Week 5 matchup is set for this Sunday, Oct. 7 at 1:05 p.m. PT.

Los Angeles owns a two-game winning streak over Oakland however, the Raiders own a 62-52-1 record over the Bolts. In their previous meeting last season, the Chargers took down the Silver and Black 30-10 in Los Angeles.

The Raiders (1-3) finally got into the win column last week, defeating the visiting Cleveland Browns in thrilling fashion 45-42 in overtime. With Oakland trailing 42-34 with 1:28 left in the game and with no timeouts, Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr engineered a 6-play, 53-yard drive in 58 seconds that culminated in a 7-yard touchdown throw to tight end Jared Cook. It was Cook’s second score of the game. Carr would hit wide receiver Jordy Nelson for the 2-point conversion that would tie the game up at 42-42 heading into overtime.

On the final possession of overtime, Carr orchestrated an 11-play, 70-yard drive where he completed passes to four different receivers to setup undrafted rookie kicker Matt McCrane’s game-winning 29-yard field goal. It was Carr’s 14th game-winning drive in the fourth quarter and overtime, second-most in the NFL since Carr’s rookie season in 2014.

Carr finished the game completing 35-of-58 passes for 437 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions as the Raiders recorded 565 yards of total offense against the Browns (1-2-1), the most by any team this season.

Through four games, Carr has thrown six touchdowns and is third in the NFL in completion percentage (71.0) and fourth in passing yards (1,373), but has thrown seven interceptions, the most by any starting quarterback this season.

Against Cleveland, Oakland registered a 400-yard passer in Carr, a 100-yard rusher in running back Marshawn Lynch (who finished with 20 carries for 130 yards), and two-100 yard receivers in wide receiver Amari Cooper (8 catches for 128 yards and one touchdown) and the aforementioned Cook (8 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns). It was the first time since 1964 that the Raiders achieved that milestone.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Raiders are the first team since the 2013 Denver Broncos to achieve the same milestone in a game.

Along with Minnesota and Tampa Bay, the Raiders have recorded a 100-yard receiver in four straight weeks this season, the only teams to do so in the NFL, according to NFL metrics.

Oakland is averaging 24.2 points per game, which ranks 13th in the NFL, but the Raiders rank second in total yards (441.8) and fourth in passing yards (333) per game.

Defensively, the Raiders forced four turnovers off Browns’ rookie quarterback, Baker Mayfield who made his first career start against the Silver and Black. Mayfield fumbled twice (losing both and recovered by defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins) and intercepted twice, one being returned 36 yards for the game’s first touchdown by second-year cornerback Gareon Conley in the first quarter.

Veteran linebacker Bruce Irvin and rookie defensive tackle Maurice Hurst each recorded a sack for Oakland, who will need to apply pressure to Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers. The Raiders rank 27th in total defense, but 31st in points surrendered per game (30.8).

Now in his 15th season, Rivers is off to a hot start for the Chargers and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

Through four games, Rivers has passed for 1,156 yards with 11 touchdowns to just two interceptions while sporting a blistering 110.8 passer rating this season.

Rivers and the Chargers (2-2) picked up their second win of the season, defeating the San Francisco 49ers by a slim score of 29-27 last Sunday at StubHub Center. Rivers completed 25-of-39 passes for 250 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

In his career against the Raiders, Rivers owns a 16-8 record. Rivers has thrown for 6,055 yards, 41 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 24 games against the Silver and Black. The 41 touchdowns against Oakland are tied with the Denver Broncos for the most touchdown passes against one team for Rivers.

Running back Melvin Gordon had a productive day against San Francisco, rushing for 104 yards on 14 carries. Gordon also hauled in seven catches (tied for the game-high with wide receiver Keenan Allen) for 55 yards and one touchdown.

Gordon can do it all for the Chargers both as a runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield. In fact, Gordon is tied with Allen for the team lead in catches (24) and tied with wide receiver Mike Williams for the team lead in touchdown catches with three through four games.

The fourth-year running back from Wisconsin is the team’s leading rusher with 54 carries for 276 yards and two touchdowns.

Allen leads the team with 282 receiving yards this season.

In the past, the Chargers’ defense were headlined by defensive ends Melvin Ingram and Joey, but rookie safety Derwin James has become a force for Los Angeles this season.

The 6’2″, 215-pound James leads the team with 20 tackles, one interception and has recorded three of the Chargers’ eight sacks this season. The Chargers have been thrilled with the Florida State product the they selected him 17th overall in April’s draft.

Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders will travel to London, England for a “home” game against the Seattle Seahawks at Wembley Stadium in Week 6, the third straight season the Raiders will play in the United Kingdom.

The Chargers head to Cleveland to take on the Browns on Sunday, October 14 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Two San Jose State football names that you should know

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State football has been a horrendous Mountain West team so far. But that doesn’t mean that the Spartans players aren’t putting in work on and off the field.

The Spartans’ defensive tackle Boogie Roberts and tight end Josh Oliver have been balling out this past week.
Roberts, a fifth-year graduate student, touched the ball in four different ways and scored his first offensive touchdown in SJSU’s epic, five-overtime home loss to Hawaii 44-41 at CEFCU Stadium. Moreover, Oliver was named as the John Mackey Tight End of the Week by the John Mackey Award.

Roberts was the first known SJSU defensive player to recover a fumble as a defensive player and score a rushing touchdown on offense in the school’s 125-year history of the sport. Roberts was also added to the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll. The Paul Hornung Award’s currently in its ninth season. It’s given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner presented by Jewish Hospital Sports Medicine at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville in March 2019. This will be the Paul Hornung Award’s third year as an associate member of the National College Football Awards Association. The LSC launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son as well as to promote outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed.

Oliver recently matched a career-high with eight receptions for a single-game career-best 158 yards and one touchdown in SJSU’s 44-41 loss to Hawaii in a whopping five overtimes. Oliver’s incredible night included a 14-yard touchdown reception that extended SJSU’s lead to 24-16 in the third quarter. Oliver also caught a career-best 70 yard reception in the conference contest.

Oliver’s 158 receiving yards are the most by a Spartan playing any position in a single game since 2013. Other honorable mentions this week include CJ Conrad, Mickey Crum, Mik’Quan Deane and Drew Sample.

The 2018 John Mackey recipient will be announced on December 5, 2018 and then presented live on December 6, 2018 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. Other key dates include the 2018 Mackey Semi-finalists on November 15, 2018 and the 2018 Mackey Finalists on November 22, 2018.

The John Mackey Tight End of the Week is an honor distinct from the annual John Mackey Award. This weekly honor was started in 2004 to draw attention to individual play by tight ends during the season. The Tight End of the Week acknowledgment doesn’t have a direct bearing on the final John Mackey Award selection process. The John Mackey Tight End of the Week honor will run until the announcement of the eight semifinalists.

The John Mackey Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association that encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 24 awards boast over 750 years of tradition selection excellence.

San Jose Barracuda podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Returning Cuda and younger players might make this roster competitive this season

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sjbarracuda.com photo: The Barracuda hope for more celebrations for goals scored this upcoming season starting Friday night at SAP Center

On the Barracuda podcast with Marko:

#1 The SJ Barracuda Manny Wiederer scored on a short handed goal at 17:51 for his first preseason goal of 2018

#2 Josef Korenar started the game but was replaced by Austin Lotz in the second period for San Jose with a 2-1 lead for the Colorado Eagles.

#3 Andrew Aggozino in the third period beat Lotz on the right side at 2:57 on a power play, then Michael Joly scored a second goal for the Eagles on a two on one break away shot the one timer for the second goal for Colorado for a 4-1 lead.

#4 Marko talks about some of the Barracuda returning from last season, John McCarthy, Wiederer, Jon Martin, Jacob Middleton, and look for Antoine Bibeau in goal for this seson.

#5 The Barracuda have season opener this Friday night at SAP Center against Ontario they’ll be a lot of competition for everyone to try to get to the NHL.

Marko Ukalovic covers the SJ Barracuda for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Inspite of loss in LA, Rockies go to Chicago and win the Wild Card; A’s long odds to beat Yankees in AL Wild Card; plus much more

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denverpost.com photo: Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a sac fly scoring Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) in the first inning at Wrigley Field during the NL West Wild Card playoff game Oct. 02, 2018.

On the Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 The Colorado Rockies move onto the NLDS with a win over the Chicago Cubs 2-1. For the Rockies, they took a 5-2 loss on Monday night and had to fly to Chicago for a one-game Wild Card game at Wrigley Field and defeated the Cubs to advance to the NLDS.

#2  The Rockies go onto to face the Milwaukee Brewers for game one of the NLDS Thursday night in Milwaukee despite losing to the loss to the Dodgers on Monday night. The Rockies feel like the rewards of their work, advancing to the NLDS.

#3 The Oakland A’s who worked out in New York on Tuesday get set for tonight’s AL Wild Card game. The last time the A’s were in the Wild Card, they were quickly eliminated by the Kansas City Royals. Can they do it with the odds against them in New York?

#4 The Houston Astros have had a great season all year long. Can they keep going as they open up the ALDS with Cleveland at Minute Field in Houston?

#5 Home field advantage for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS on Thursday night. The Dodgers host the Atlanta Braves, which could be one of the best matches of the playoffs.

London Marq does Headline Sports podcast each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose sports podcast with Ana Kieu: Earthquakes lost again; SJSU has to do more than just learn from mistakes

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose sports podcast with Ana:

1. San Jose Earthquakes interim head coach Steve Ralston is 0-3 in his position so far. What can you say about his work ethic late in the 2017-18 MLS season?

2. What are your three takeaways from the Quakes’ disappointing road loss 3-2 to the Houston Dynamo?

3. The San Jose State Spartans lost a heartbreaker 44-41 to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on homecoming. Was there anything you’d like to talk about that you didn’t mention in your three takeaways article?

4. The Spartans have to do more than learn from their mistakes. Head coach Brent Brennan said that the loss was the fault of not only him, but also his coaching staff. Which coach do you think will be ousted first and do you think any players will request trades sooner than later?

5. Switching gears to San Jose State men’s basketball, they’ve put the same faces in different positions. Ryan Cooper was promoted to Assistant Coach and Trent Miyagishima took Cooper’s place as Director of Basketball Operations.

Ana does the San Jose sports podcasts each week for SportsRadioService.com

Oakland A’s and AL Wild Card Game podcast with Charlie O: Melvin sticks with the main ingredient “Bullpenning”

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Oakland Athletics pitcher Liam Hendriks, (16) works out with teammates at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. Hendriks will start as the A’s play the New York Yankees in the wild card game on Wednesday. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

On the Oakland A’s and AL Wild Card Game podcast with Charlie O:

1) Charlie O, you say we shouldn’t be worried about the starting pitching because it’s going to be all about the relievers in the playoffs. Why?

2) The A’s have decided to go “Bullpenning” on Wednesday night in the Bronx. How do you feel about that approach?

3) What can you tell us about the Yankees starter Luis Severino?

4) Who is going to win this game?

Join Charlie O throughout the Oakland A’s post season on Tuesday nights at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose State to host Colorado State for Set The Expectation game on Saturday

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State Spartans hope to turn their luck around when they welcome the Colorado State Rams to CEFCU Stadium on Saturday night. The Spartans will play their second straight home and conference game in the South Bay.

Here are all the details on the Saturday night showdown:

Saturday’s game
San Jose State vs. Colorado State
Saturday, October 6, 2018
CEFCU Stadium, San Jose, Calif., 7:30 pm PT
CBS Sports Network

SJSU’s record
0-4, 0-1 Mountain West. Most recently, the Spartans lost to Hawaii, 44-41 in five overtimes on September 29.

CSU’s record
1-4, 0-1 Mountain West. The Rams lost to Illinois, 34-19, on September 22. CSU had a bye week for the week ending September 29.

Radio
KLIV (1590 AM, San Jose) originates SJSU football broadcasts. Justin Allegri calls the play-by-play. Kevin Richardson provides commentary. The CSU broadcast begins at 3:30 pm PT with a pregame show.

SJSU’s network affiliate is KION (1460 AM/101.1 FM, Salinas).

Television
The CBS Sports Network will provide play-by-play coverage of the SJSU vs. CSU game. Rich Waltz calls the play-by-play. Aaron Murray provides analysis and commentary.  Jordan Daigle is the sideline reporter.

The live telecast is scheduled for 7:32 pm PT.

Tickets:
• sjsuspartans.com/tickets and ticketmaster.com.

Athletics Ticket Office, 1393 S. 7th Street, San José, CA 95112, weekdays, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

For home games at CEFCU Stadium:
• New modern family plan
• Spartan alumni season ticket
• Pricing in a distinct seating section

Series history
CSU leads the series, 5-4. The Rams have wins in the last two meetings between these teams including a 42-14 triumph last year in Fort Collins. SJSU’s last win in the series was a 34-27 road victory in 2013.

Five overtimes
SJSU’s recent 44-41 five overtime loss to Hawaii on September 29 is the longest game in Spartan football history and by a MW member since the overtime rule was enacted prior to the 1997 season.

The game was the third time in SJSU’s 10 overtime games that more than one overtime period was necessary. The Spartans lost a double overtime game to Boise State at home, 56-49, on November 13, 2004, and a triple overtime contest to Navy at home, 58-52, on November 22, 2013.

Of SJSU’s 10 overtime games, three are against Hawaii and all of them were played in San Jose. The Rainbow Warriors are 3-0 against the Spartans in overtime games.

SJSU now has played 18 periods of overtime in its 10 games.

Four hours, four minutes
Each of SJSU’s first two home games this season lasted four hours and four minutes. The UC Davis game on August 30 didn’t have a commercial format while the Hawaii encounter on September 29 did through Spectrum Sports/Stadium.

Best of the week
Quarterback Josh Love’s 451 passing yards in the five-overtime loss to Hawaii was the best by a FBS player in games played the week ending September 29, 2018. The 451 yards ranks seventh best through five weeks of regular-season action.

Passing Yardage Totals for Games Played the Week Ending September 29
Quarterback, School                                               Opponent            Yardage
Josh Love, San Jose State                                        Hawaii                      451
Gardner Minshew, II, Washington State                    Utah                            445
Jon Wassink, Western Michigan                                Miami (Ohio)             439
Kyler Murray, Oklahoma                                            Baylor                          432
Riley Neal, Ball State                                                  Kent State                  402
Charlie Brewer, Baylor                                                Oklahoma                  400

Trend broken vs. Hawaii
The Hawaii game marked the first time this season only one quarterback played for SJSU. Josh Love played the entire game against Hawaii and passed for a career-best 451 yards and matched a career-high with three touchdowns.
In each of SJSU’s first three games, the Spartans used at least two quarterbacks. Love, Michael Carrillo and Montel Aaron played in the opener vs. UC Davis. Aaron and Carrillo were the quarterbacks at Washington State. Love and Aaron called the signals for the Spartans at Oregon.

Tops of the week
Josh Oliver led all FBS tight ends in single-game receiving yardage for games played the week ending September 29. Oliver had 158 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions–the second time this season he had eight catches in a game.

Tops at his position
For the fourth consecutive week, Josh Oliver is the leading pass receiver among FBS tight ends. Oliver is averaging 6.75 receptions a game and has 27 catches for the season. He and Missouri’s Albert Okwuegbunam (5.75/game) are the only two tight ends listed among the FBS’ top-50 pass receivers in games played through September 29.

20 of Oliver’s 27 receptions this season resulted in a SJSU first down.

Oliver’s 336 receiving yards are the most of FBS tight ends.

Most in FBS
SJSU, Texas State and Utah State are the three schools this season to attempt six field goals in a game. Texas State and Utah State attempted six field goals in games ending the week of September 8. The Spartans’ six field goal tries occurred in their five-overtime loss to Hawaii, 44-41, on September 29.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Beathard was surprising against Chargers, can he get the win vs. Arizona?

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Photo credit: sfchronicle.com

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 The 49ers are the walking wounded after last Sunday’s 29-27 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers in Carson. The 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey (left knee), right guard Mike Person (sprained foot), center Weston Richburg (knee), Joe Staley scheduled for an MRI it was first thought Staley had a torn ACL, but was examined on Monday.

The 49ers released this list of injured players to the media on Monday:

#2 The 49ers tight end George Kittle had 125 yards, six catches and an 82-yard reception. It was noted that it was the longest reception in 49ers history, left linebacker Fred Warner had 10 tackles a career-high in a game for Warner.

#3 How big is this game at Levi’s for quarterback C.J. Beathard after throwing for 298 yards going 23-37, two touchdowns and two interceptions can he do it again?

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcasts each Tuesday for SportsRadioService.com