Thursday, October 31, 2019

West Palm Beach Ratings October 2019

     Ratings were released for sports talk radio stations in the West Palm Beach market. There is no participation by ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM because they do not subscribe.
     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM dropped from a 0.6 to a 0.5 in the period. The New York Yankees clinched the American League East Division and began a playoff run. The Florida Atlantic University football began the 2019 season with a good start.
     Sports Radio 1230 The Zone WBZT-AM finally had a positive trend with a 0.1 in the month. The organization ended a streak in which they had a 0.0 for 13 consecutive periods. There has been an audience for the University of Florida football games. The Miami Marlins finished the regular season with over 100 losses.

Heat Beat Hawks Again

     The Miami Heat knocked off the Atlanta Hawks 106-97 on Thursday night. It was the second time in three days that the Heat defeated the Hawks. 
     At the end of the first quarter, Miami(4-1) lead 30-26. The Heat were still ahead 52-46 at halftime. Atlanta(2-3) could not make a dent in the second half and were down 85-75 after three quarters.
     Kendtick Nunn put in a game-high 28 points for the Heat and Tyler Herro added 17 points. Jimmy Butler fell short of a double-double with 12 assists and nine rebounds. Jabari Parker compiled a team-high 23 points for the Hawks. 

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Trea Turner Wins World Series

     Former local high school baseball player Trea Turner is now a World Series champion. The one-time Park Vista High School shortstop helped the Washington Nationals win the 2019 World Series on Wednesday night.
     They defeated the Houston Astros in Game 7 by the score of 6-2. Both teams hold their spring training at the same facility which is FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach.

Panthers Come Back On Avalanche

     The Florida Panthers overcame the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime at Pepsi Center on Wednesday night. It was a league-leading sixth time this season that the Cats reached overtime. The Panthers finished off a four-game road trip and play the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday in Sunrise.
     Colorado(8-2-2) got a 1-0 lead at 6:05 of the first period. Matt Calvert took a wrist shot from the top left circle which was knocked down in front. Pierre Edourd-Bellemare flicked a shot that was saved, however Matt Nieto poked in the rebound by Sergei Bobrovsky from the center of the crease.
     The game was tied midway through the first by Florida(6-3-4) at 9:59. MacKenzie Weegar sent a cross-ice pass from the left point to the right point. Aaron Ekblad released a wrist shot that was redirected by Colton Sceviour past Philipp Grubauer for his first goal of the season.
     The Avalanche reclaimed the lead 2-1 with 31.4 seconds remaining in the period. Nathan MacKinnon snapped a shot from the top of the zone that was saved. Former Panther Joonas Donskoi whacked in the rebound from the blue paint.
     In the third period, the Avs made it 3-1 at the 7:37 mark. MacKinnon scored his seventh goal of the year on assists from Ian Cole and Nazem Kadri.
     The Panthers moved it to a one-goal margin with 7:56 remaining while on the power play. Mike Hoffman fed a pass from the blue line across to Keith Yandle. His slapshot from the left point was deflected in by Aleksander Barkov from the low slot for his first goal of the campaign.
     The Cats pulled their goalie for an extra attacker and tied the contest 3-3 with 1:30 left. Ekblad angled a pass to his left and Jonathan Huberdeau zipped a snap shot from on top of the left circle for a goal.
     Florida won the game in overtime. Barkov pushed a lead pass from the slot area ahead and Huberdeau placed in a backhand shot from the crease for the game-winning goal just 29 seconds in.

Palm Beach Lakes At Palm Beach Gardens Preview

     The Palm Beach Lakes Rams travel five miles north on Military Trail and face the Palm Beach Gardens Gators on Friday night at Mullinax Ford Stadium. Both schools will be playing in the FHSAA playoffs next week.
     Palm Beach Lakes(8-0) is the only undefeated team in Palm Beach County. The Rams are currently the top playoff seed for Class 7A in Region 3 and have outscored their opponents 324-102 this season. They handled Martin County 53-23 last week. Look for running back Antonio Outler to get the majority of rushing attempts. Quarterback Tre'von Taylor can connect passes to wide receiver Jalen Jones.
     Palm Beach Gardens(7-1) had their winning streak snapped as they fell in the District 10-8A title game to Palm Beach Central 28-14 last week. They have outscored their opponents 276-81 this year. The Gators can use either Lynden Moss or Tyler Kolb at quarterback. Running back Ernest Blackshear should get most of the carries from the backfield. They have a wide receiver core of Myron Levy, Rafael Vasquez and Jabril Jarrett.

Lake Worth At Boynton Beach Preview

     The Lake Worth Trojans drive six miles down I-95 on and challenge the Boynton Beach Tigers on Friday night in a non-district contest. Both schools, who are not expected to reach the postseason, will be playing their third game in the last seven days.
     Lake Worth(4-5) are finishing up strong and have won their last three games. They handled Royal Palm Beach 20-7 on Monday. Trojans quarterback Ke'andre Hollis can toss the ball to wide receivers Jocely Celin and Brendan Dennis. Running back Del Louidor will get the majority of rushing opportunities from the backfield.
     Boynton Beach(3-5) ended a two-game losing streak with a 34-7 win on Monday over West Boca Raton. Tigers quarterback Tyrone Smith can run out of the pocket or pass the ball at anytime. His top wide receivers to be targeted are Charles Bryant, Lopez Lamaine and Paul Boucher.

Palm Beach Central At John I. Leonard Preview

     The Palm Beach Central Broncos head east and take on the John I. Leonard Lancers on Friday night. It is a non-district contest between two Class 8A Palm Beach County schools.
     Palm Beach Central(7-2) clinched the District 10 title in Class 8A with a 28-14 victory over Palm Beach Gardens last week. The Broncos have won seven of their last eight games. Quarterback Anarjahe Douriet intends to find wide receivers Bryan Robinson and Cedric Johnson on pass receptions down the field. Running back Jordan Kolnick can get some carries from the backfield.
     John I. Leonard(2-7) finished in last place among teams in District 11. They have lost their last two games following a win over West Boca Raton. Lancers quarterback Jadiel Cruz can connect passes to wide receivers Ahmad Orange, Jonel Dieujuste and Brandon McCrary. Running backs Henry Dean and Kenneth Charles will get their rushing attempts.

Dwyer At Boca Raton Preview

     The Dwyer Panthers visit the Boca Raton Bobcats on Friday night in a non-district contest. Both schools were district rivals back in the mid-2000s.
     Dwyer(3-5) have lost their last two games. The Panthers will end the 2019 season with a losing record and finish with their worst record in over two decades. Running backs Fredrick Gauberg and Kamari Burns will split the rushing opportunities. Their main wide receiver threats at Austin Thompson and Terel Harris.
     Boca Raton(6-3) has improved during the season and are on a four-game winning streak. They finished second behind Deerfield Beach in District 12 of Class 8A and have scored at least 38 points in their last three games. The Bobcats have options in the backfield with running backs Trey Rainey, Stalens Demeus and Tra'Nell Hollis. Quarterback Andrew Cavarly calls the signals on offense.

Cardinal Gibbons At Monarch Preview

     The Monarch Knights host the Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs on Friday night. It is a non-district game between both Broward County schools.
     Cardinal Gibbons(7-2) are the defending FHSAA Class 5A champions. The Chiefs have been victorious in seven of their last eight contests and they outscored their opponents 314-92 in that stretch. Brody Palhegyi will get to lead the Chiefs on offense and throw the ball to wide receivers Troy Stellato, Majon Wright, Jackson Marsielle and Bryson Williams. Running backs Tajae Davis and Coleman Bennett will get the majority of carries from the backfield.
     Monarch(6-3) have lost their last two games which were to district rivals Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach. They won six of their first seven games of the season. Quarterback Peter Zamora hopes to find wide receivers Brady Brauner, Jaeden Alexis, Trevanti Keitt and Jaheim Carr for completions. Their rushing attempts will be split between Jerell Mash and Tyrese Carey.

Olympic Heights At Santaluces Preview

     The Olympic Heights Lions go on the road and face the Santaluces Chiefs on Thursday night. It is the first Palm Beach County game for the final week of the regular season.
     Olympic Heights(2-7) have lost five straight games. The Lions, who played in the first game to begin the 2019 campaign in Palm Beach County, will be led on offense by quarterback Blake Moreland. Wide receivers K'amerron Joseph, Juan Gonzalez, Christian Ippolito and Nicolas Palmenteri look to make pass receptions down the field. Running back Trotsky Horton will get most of the carries.
     Santaluces(6-2) clinched the District 11 title in Class 8A at home last week when they defeated Park Vista 22-17. The Chiefs are undefeated at home this year and have won six of their last seven contests. Quarterback Kobe Lewis will give the ball to running back Val Carnegie on most rushing attempts. Their other running backs Eric Wallace and Brian Coe Jr. can also get an occasional carry.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Heat Handle Hawks

     Jimmy Butler made his Miami Heat debut as they prevailed over the Atlanta Hawks 112-97 at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday night. Both teams will face each other again on Thursday night in a home-and-home series.
     Miami(3-1) rushed out to a 29-26 by the end of the first quarter and remained ahead 59-49 at halftime. Atlanta(2-2) could not cut the gap and were down 88-70 after three quarters.
     Tyler Herro had a team-high 29 points while Butler contributed 21 points for the Heat. Goran Dragic poured in 21 points and Bam Adebayo nailed a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. John Collins led the Hawks with a game-high 30 points.

FHSAA Football RPI Standings Week 10

     The FHSAA football RPI standings were released. Week 10 was the final week where there was district play by Class 8A teams down to Class 5A schools and Week 11 will have just non-district clashes.
     There were few changes in Class 8A for Region 3. #1 Vero Beach had the top spot followed by #2 Treasure Coast. #3 Palm Beach Central defeated #4 Palm Beach Gardens for the District 10 title and exchanged seeds. The next three spots stayed the same with #5 Centennial, district winner #6 Deerfield Beach, and #7 Boca Raton. #9 Santaluces downed #11 for the District 11 title and now have an automatic top four playoff seed. #8 Forest Hill and #10 Jupiter have to hope for a playoff spot.
     The same eight schools are still in the top eight for Region 4. #1 Miami Palmetto, #2 Stoneman Douglas, #4 Columbus and #5 Western all have wrapped up their district titles. #3 Western is likely safe for the top wild-card position. #6 Miami High, #7 Coral Gables and #8 Cypress Bay have the final playoff spots. #9 Taravella and #10 Flanagan switched spots for an outside shot for the postseason.
     It is the same story in Region 4 of Class 7A with #1 St. Thomas Aquinas on the top of the mountain. #2 Plantation returned to the second spot, #3 Atlantic fell one seed even after they won their district title, and #4 McArthur stayed in the same position. #5 Fort Lauderdale changed seeds with #6 Blanche Ely, who lost the District 13 title game to Atlantic. #7 Hialeah will advance to a top four playoff seed as a district champion. #8 South Plantation, #9 Doral Academy and #10 South Broward will try to get the final playoff spot this week.
     #1 Palm Beach Lakes has been dominant with the first seed in Region 3. #8 Seminole Ridge is on the outside because #10 Lehigh automatically gets in as a district champion.
     Only two local schools look like they will be a part of the Class 6A playoff bracket. #3 Dillard and #4 Miami Central won their own districts and will battle to the end for the better playoff seed.
     Class 5A has three schools that clinched district titles with #1 American Heritage and #2 Miami Northwestern switching spots while #3 Jensen Beach stayed in third. #6 Key West dropped from fourth which caused #4 Miami Killian and #5 North Miami Beach to go up one seed. #7 Cypress Lake, who won a district and will be a top four seed in the postseason, changed positions with #8 Stranahan.
     #1 Gulliver Prep remained as the first seed for Region 4 in Class 4A. #2 University School exchanged spots with #3 Cardinal Gibbons after they beat Bishop Verot. There was no change with #4 Booker T. Washington, #5 Carol City and #6 Somerset Academy. #7 Monsignor Pace surpassed #8 Pine Crest and are on the edge of the bubble.
     There was major change in Region 3 as Glades Central forfeited some of their games this season due to an ineligible player and plummeted from third to eighth. #2 American Heritage was unchanged and #5 Clewiston went up one seed.
     Class 3A in Region 4 kept the same top two schools with #1 Calvary Christian and state champion #2 Chaminade-Madonna, #3 Westminster Christian, #4 St. Andrew's and #5 Somerset Silver Palms all advanced one spot while #6 Edison fell from third with a defeat last week to Booker T. Washington. #7 Palmer Trinity still remains in striking position for a playoff spot.
     In Region 3, #3 Cardinal Newman moved up from the fifth seed with a win over American Heritage in Delray Beach. #5 Benjamin topped 2018 state finalist #6 Kings Academy last week and both schools rose up one spot.
     #1 Champagnat Catholic was on top again in Class 2A regardless of a loss last week to Gulliver Prep. #3 Westminster Academy stayed intact while #5 Miami Christian moved down from fourth. #4 Pahokee rocketed up from the sixth seed in Class 1A and faces local rival Glades Central in the Muck Bowl this week.

Miami Ratings October 2019

     The ratings for the Miami/Fort Lauderdale region were released. The results were the same as 560 The Joe WQAM-AM remained on top for the third straight month.
     WQAM leaped from a 1.0 to a 1.2 in the period as the station doubled their audience in the last three months. They have an improved lineup with Dan Le Batrard and Stugotz plugged in at middays. The Miami Dolphins and University of Miami Hurricanes broadcasts have helped them regardless of their win-loss records.
     Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM improved from a four-year worst 0.3 to a 0.5 in the month. The audience has taken time to adjust to the new lineup changes that included the afternoon show simulcast of Marc Hochman and Channing Crowder.
     Miami Sports 940 WINZ-AM rose from a 0.2 to a 0.3 in the period. They have compiled a 0.3 in five of the last six months.The Miami Marlins finished up a disappointing 100-loss season. WINZ still has University of Florida football along with the Fox Sports Radio lineup for 18 hours on weekdays.
     After moving up to a 0.2 last month, Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM dropped back to a 0.1, which they have in eight of the last nine periods. The New York Yankees clinched the American League East Division for a playoff run along with a good start for Florida Atlantic University football.

Dolphins Acquire Aqib Talib

     The Miami Dolphins have acquired defensive back Aqib Talib and a 2020 fifth-round pick from the Los Angeles Rams for an undisclosed draft pick. He helped the Rams to a 2018 NFC Championship title. They lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII earlier this year.
     Talib has played 12 seasons in the National Football League. He has been with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams during his NFL career. Talib did capture Super Bowl 50 for the Broncos over the Carolina Panthers.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Canucks Blast Panthers

     The Vancouver Canucks scored five goals in the opening period and pounded the Florida Panthers 7-2 at Rogers Arena on Monday night. The loss snapped the Panthers eight-game winning streak.
     Vancouver(7-3-1) began the blitz at 1:14 as Brandon Sutter scored against Sam Montembeault. They added two more goals by Tim Schaller at the 4:25 mark and Jake Virtanen at 6:18 to make it 3-0.
     Florida(5-3-4) stopped the bleeding just a couple of minutes later at 8:09. Brian Boyle put in his second goal with the club.
     The Canucks expanded their lead later in the frame. J.T. Miller helped his new team on a tally with 10:25 left and Josh Leivo made it a four-goal margin with 54 seconds remaining in the first.
     In the second period, the Panthers scored on the power-play with 7:02 to go. Keith Yandle fed a pass from the top of the zone and Mike Hoffman ripped a one-time slot from the top right circle past Thatcher Demko.
     It became a four-goal gap again for Vancouver with 28.9 seconds left. Alexander Edler let go a wrist shot from the blue line and it was redirected in by Miller in the slot area for his second goal of the game.
     The Canucks continued the momentum during their third period. Elias Pettersson centered the puck from the end wall and Brock Boeser lifted a wrist shot from the left of the crease with 6:40 to go.

Steelers Slip By Dolphins

     The Pittsburgh Steelers got by the Miami Dolphins 27-14 at Heinz Field on Monday night. The Fins are now winless after seven games.
     Miami(0-7) took the initial lead 7-0 at the 10:58 mark of the first quarter. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Albert Wilson.
     The Dolphins extended the gap to 14-0 with 1:41 left in the first. Wide receiver Allen Hurns caught a 12-yard pass on the left side for a score.
      The Steelers began to slowly cut the deficit late in the second quarter. Chris Boswell kicked a 42-yard field goal with 2:49 to go. Quarterback Mason Rudolph fired a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Diontae Johnson with 26 seconds remaining and they trailed 14-10.
     The entire second half belonged to Pittsburgh(3-4). Rudolph connected a 26-yard toss to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for their first lead of the contest.
      In the fourth quarter, running back James Conner rambled through the middle and scored from nine yards out at 12:05. Boswell added some insurance with 5:37 left on a 41-yard field goal.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Boynton Beach At West Boca Raton Preview

     The West Boca Raton Bulls host the Boynton Beach Tigers on Monday night in a non-district game. Both schools will not reach the postseason in 2019.
     Boynton Beach(2-5) have lost two of their last three games. The Tigers were edged by Suncoast 13-12 last week. Quarterback Tyrone Smith will be able to lead their offense. He can connect passes to wide receivers Charles Bryant, Paul Boucher and Lopez Lumaine.
     West Boca Raton(1-7) lost their first seven games of the season.  The Bulls finally won a game last week as they defeated Olympic Heights 43-14. They have been outscored 301-112 and shut out three times this year. Running back Allan Israel will get the majority of carries from the backfield.

Heat Fall To Timberwolves

     The Miami Heat were handled by the Mineesota Timberwolves 116-109 on Sunday night. The Heat lost their first game of the season while the Timberwolves remained undefeated.
     Minnesota(3-0) rushed out to a 36-23 lead after the first quarter. Miami(2-1) responded and had a 57-55 lead by halftime. The Heat stayed ahead 84-77 by the end of the third quarter. The Timberwolves outscored Miami 39-25 in the final quarter and won the contest.
     Kendrick Nunn put in 25 points for the Heat. Justise Winslow added 20 points and Duncan Robinson drained in 21 points. Andrew Wiggins had a team-high 25 points for Minnesota while Karl-Anthony Towns compiled a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Panthers Drop Oilers

     The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-2 at Rogers Place on Sunday. The Panthers collected at least a point for the eighth consecutive game. It was the first time this season that a visiting team won a contest in Edmonton.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Heat Outscore Bucks

     The Miami Heat defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 131-126 in overtime on Saturday night. The Heat have won their first two games of the 2019-20 season.
     Milwaukee(1-1) had a 33-29 lead after one quarter and extended it to 70-53 by halftime. Miami(2-0) chipped away at the deficit and trailed 93-82 after the third quarter. The Heat outscored the Bucks 39-28 in the fourth quarter and took the contest into overtime. Miami had a 10-5 advantage in the extra session.
     Goran Dragic led the Heat with a team-high 25 points and eight assists. Bam Adebayo carried a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds while Justise Winslow added 10 points along with 13 rebounds. Giannis Anterkounmpo fell short of a triple-double with a game-high 29 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists for the Bucks.

Hurricanes Topple Pitt

     The Miami Hurricanes outlasted the Pittsburgh Panthers 16-12 on Saturday at Heinz Field. The Hurricanes entered the contest in last place among schools in the ACC Coastal Division.
     Both teams got on the scoreboard in the first quarter for a 3-3 tie. Alex Kessman kicked a 54-yard field at 11:20 for the Panthers and Camden Price got a 22-yard field goal for the Hurricanes at 5:30.
     Miami(4-4, 2-3) took the lead in the second quarter at the 12:05 mark. Running back Cam'Ron Harris rushed up the middle from one yard out.
     Pitt(5-3, 2-2) put up three unanswered field goal to go ahead 12-10. Kessman converted from 25 yards at 2:42 of the second, 29 yards at 12:25 of the third and 29 yards with 7:20 left in the fourth quarter.
     The Canes reclaimed the lead and moved ahead 16-12 with 1:04 remaining in the final quarter. Quarterback Jarren Williams connected a 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver K.J. Osborn.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Atlantic Takes Blanche Ely And Distirct

     The Atlantic Eagles clinched the District 13 title in Class 7A with a 34-16 victory over the Blanche Ely Tigers on Friday night at Hilltop Stadium in Delray Beach. It was the first time that both schools faced other in a district game. The Eagles played in Class 8A last year and were a state finalist in 2017.
     Blanche Ely(7-2, 2-1) scored first at the 2:53 mark of the opening quarter. Schneider Etienne booted a 28-yard field goal.
     The momentum in the contest would change on the next play. Tyler Burke caught the ball at the one-yard line, cut to the left sideline and capped off a 99-yard kickoff return for an Eagles touchdown 16 seconds later and a 7-3 lead.
     Atlantic(6-2, 3-0) made it 14-3 at 8:35 of the second quarter. Running back Bry'yon Jones raced around the left end and scored from six yards away.
     It became an 18-point margin with 5:39 to go in the second. Quarterback Guenson Alexis connected a 35-yard pass to wide receiver Javone Jackson in the front of the end zone.
     The Tigers fought back and make it a game by halftime. Wide receiver Darnell Deas was shifted to the backfield for one play. He went off-left tackle and rumbled in from ten yards out and they were down 21-9 with 1:26 left in the second.
     The Eagles finished their next possession on a bad punt snap with 12 seconds remaining. Blanche Ely capitalized on the first play from scrimmage as quarterback Jevon Williams released a 40-yard pass to the left sideline, wide receiver Dewante Deas got under it for a score and they trailed 21-16 with 2.3 seconds remaining in the first half.
     After no scoring during the third, Atlantic pulled away in the fourth quarter. The Tigers had a bad snap on a punt attempt and the Eagles took over. They scored on the third play of the drive when Alexis fired a 25-yard pass down the right hash marks and wide receiver Tyrese Blue made a leaping one-handed catch in the middle of the end zone at 9:37 for a 27-13 lead.
     Atlantic added one more score later in the fourth. Defensive back Jeremiah McClendon intercepted a pass and retuned it 40 yards to the Tigers 21-yard line. Two plays later, Jones sprinted to the left hash marks and scored on a 16-yard touchdown run with 4:30 left.

Deerfield Beach At Monarch Preview

     The Deerfield Beach Bucks take on the Monarch Knights on Friday night. The contest will determine who will capture the District 12 title in Class 8A.
     Deerfield Beach(5-3, 2-0) comes off a 28-7 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas last week. It snapped a streak where they won five straight games. Quarterback Michael Pratt intends to find wide receivers Bryce Gowdy, Deajaun McDougle, Alex Henningham and Xavier Restrepo down the field on passing attempts. Running back Jaylan Knighton will get many opportunities to advance the ball in their rushing attack.
     Monarch(6-2, 1-1) have not played a game in the last two weeks. They fell to district foe Boca Raton 38-14 in their last contest. The Knights will put an emphasis on their passing game. Quarterback Peter Zamora can connect passes to wide receivers Brady Brauner, Jaeden Alexis, Jaheim Carr and Travanti Keitt. Running backs Jerell Mash and Tyrese Carey will share the rushing attempts.

Cardinal Newman At American Heritage Preview

     The Cardinal Newman Crusaders challenge the American Heritage Stallions at The Corral in Delray Beach on Friday night. Both schools are fighting for a top six playoff seed in their classifications.
     Cardinal Newman(5-2) has won three of their last four games. They fell at home to Treasure Coast 43-12 last week. The Crusaders have a strong rushing attack with running backs Chris D'Or and Jaydon Hood. They will depend on quarterback Austin Wallace to command their offense.
     American Heritage(5-3)  had their three-game winning streak snapped last week by defending Champagnat Catholic 20-15. The Stallions have faced only one Palm Beach County school this season which is Benjamin. Quarterback Zachary Bohannon can guide their offense down the field.

Allyson Turner Transfers To Connecticut

     The Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz producer and booker Allyson Turner will be moving to ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. Turner will continue her position on the program that she has been associated with since 2011. She also has been associated with the Mystery Crate podcast since April 2019.
     Turner was first noticed locally as a producer at CBSSportsline.com in Fort Lauderdale during the late 1990s. She worked with talent that included Scott Kaplan and Sid Rosenberg.
     She has worked behind the scenes in Miami radio at both 560 WQAM during the 2000s and Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM in the 2010s. Turner did co-host and produce a Tampa morning show at WFLA-AM in 2010 and also once hosted a program at SoFloRadio.com.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Flames Fight Off Panthers

     The Calgary Flames held off the Florida Panthers 6-5 in a shootout on Thursday night at Scotiabank Saddledome. It was the first game of a four-game road trip for the Panthers. Florida was able to extend their point streak to seven straight games.
     Calgary(6-5-1) got the only tally of the first period on the power play at 11:43. Austin Czarnik put in his fourth goal of the year on assists from T.J. Brodie and Milan Lucic.
     Florida(4-2-4) struck at the 4:28 mark of the second period to even the contest 1-1. Jonathan Huberdeau compiled his fifth goal of the season while Aleksander Barkov chalked up his ninth assist on the play.
     The Flames retook the lead with 8:01 left in the period. Matthew Tkachuk exchanged the puck with former Panthers Michael Frolik on a give-and-go situation on the left point. Tkachuk then skated through the left circle and released a wrist shot from the low left circle past Sergei Bobrovky.
     The Cats again tied it up with 4:45 remaining in the second. MacKenzie Weegar scored on a long-range shot and Barkov collected his second assist.
     In the third period, Calgary moved ahead 3-2 just 32 seconds in to the frame. Mark Giordano pushed the puck out of his zone to Frolik at center ice. He entered the Florida zone on a 2-on-1 breakaway, angled a pass to his left and Tkachuk tapped it in from low slot for his second goal of the game.
     They made it 4-2 at the 5:16 mark. Giordano dropped a pass at the top of the zone, Elias Lindholm fired a wrist shot from above the right circle and Giordano redirected it in from the slot area.
     The Panthers cut it down to 4-3 at 6:20. Barkov passed from the left wing to Keith Yandle in the left circle. He connected a diagonal pass to the right point and Josh Brown blasted home a slap shot for his first goal of the campaign.
     Barkov added his fourth assist of the contest with 11:19 remaining in the third. He backhanded it from the neutral zone to Huberdeau at the blue line. He raced through the right circle, backhanded a cross-ice pass and Evgenii Dadonov steered the puck by David Rittich from the left of the crease to tie it 4-4.
     Florida took their first lead of the game with 5:01 left in the third. Denis Malgin fed a pass from the end wall and Mark Pysyk ripped a snap shot from the top left circle.
     Calgary was able to tie it up 5-5 with 2:43 to go. Andrew Mangiapane dropped a pass on the right-wing boards to Sam Bennett. His first shot was blocked and he followed up with a goal from the low right circle.
     The contest went to a shootout. The Flames converted on both of their attempts by Sean Monahan and Tkachuk with forehand snap shots while Huberdeau and Barkov for the Panthers were stopped.

Palm Beach Central Tops Palm Beach Gardens

     The Palm Beach Central Broncos captured the District 10 title in Class 8A with a 28-14 victory over the Palm Beach Gardens Gators on Thursday night. The Broncos clinched their third straight district title.
     Palm Beach Central(7-2, 4-0) took a 7-0 lead 22 seconds into the second quarter when quarterback Anarjahe Douriet found wide receiver Bryan Robinson for a 16-yard touchdown on the right side of the end zone. Douriet connected a 23-yard strike to Robinson for a score on their next possession at the 7:28 mark.
     Palm Beach Gardens(6-2, 3-1) got on the scoreboard with 6:10 to go in the second. Lynden Moss fired the ball to the right hash marks and wide receiver Jabril Jarrett on a 70-yard pass play.
     The Broncos reclaimed a 14-point margin with 1:43 remaining in the first half. Defensive back Kamron Young intercepted a pass and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown.
     In the third quarter, Palm Beach Central expanded the gap to 28-7 with 39.8 seconds left. Douriet rolled out to his right and tossed a 10-yard pass to wide receiver Cedric Johnson in the front right corner of the end zone.
     The Gators tried to stay in the contest during the final quarter. Running back Ernest Blackshear busted through with a run and scored from two yards away to make it 28-14 with 8:10 remaining.

Blanche Ely At Atlantic Preview

     The Blanche Ely Tigers challenge the Atlatnic Eagles on Friday night at Atlantic Stadium for the District 13 title in Class 7A. It is the first time ever that both schools are facing each other in a district matchup.
     Blanche Ely(7-1, 2-0) has won every game this season with the exception against local rival Deerfield Beach. The Tigers are currently on a five-game winning streak. They should not look forward to their Soul Bowl contest against Dillard next week. Jevon Williams is a dual quarterback threat as he can run on the option and throw the ball to anywhere on the field.
     Atlantic(5-2, 2-0) have won their last two contests. The Eagles lost their two games this year by a combined eight points. Running back Montahj Joseph is expected to get most of the carries followed by Antoine Williams and Bryyon Jones. They can interchange quarterbacks Guenson Alexis and Jacoby Dorch depending on the situation. Wide receivers Tyrese Blue, Jordan Cash, Javone Jackson, Rashawn Faustine and Tyler Burke look to make pass receptions.

Park Vista At Santaluces Preview

     The Park Vista Cobras visit the Santaluces Chiefs on Friday night. The team that gets the victory will capture the District 11 title in Class 8A.
     Park Vista(6-3, 2-0) pulled off a late comeback over Glades Central 21-20 last week. They have shut out their opponents in three of their six victories this season. The Cobras can utilize any situation with a choice of quarterbacks consisting of Gio Thomas and Riley Klaus. They do have a slew of wide receivers with Frantz Derival, Woodlife Alminord, Courtney Carter and Jayden Wilson. Running backs Markel King and Joshua Jean could see some rushing opportunities.
     Santaluces(5-2, 2-0) had a five-game winning streak snapped last week by Boca Raton 43-28. They were victorious in their only two games at home this season. Their rushing attack of running backs Val Carnegie and Brian Coe Jr. will be the key of the Chiefs offense. Quarterback Kobe Lewis will attempt to guide the team down the field.

Boca Raton At Spanish River Preview

     The Boca Raton Bobcats take on their crosstown rivals the Spanish River Sharks on Friday night at the Shark Pit. The Bobcats need a victory along with a win by Monarch over Deerfield Beach to possibly leap to first place in the district based on the RPI standings.
     Boca Raton(5-3, 1-1) have turned their season around and are currently on a three-game winning streak. The Bobcats recently had victories over Wellington, Monarch and Santaluces in the last three weeks. Quarterback Andrew Caverly is expected to guide their offense. They have several options in the backfield with running backs Trey Rainey, Stalens Demeus and Tra'Nell Hollis.
     It has been a tough season for Spanish River(0-8, 0-2) as they have lost eight consecutive games. The Sharks have been outscored 306-60 this year. Quarterback Drew Alexandris has the ability to run or throw the ball on offense at any time.

Lake Worth At John I. Leonard Preview

     The Lake Worth Trojans head west to Greenacres and face the John I. Leonard Lancers on Friday night. It is a battle between two District 11-8A schools.
     Lake Worth(2-5, 0-2) stopped a five-game losing streak last week with a 42-13 victory over Spanish River. The Trojans are led on offense by quarterback Ke'andre Hollis. He along with running back Del Louidor can control the pace of the game with their rushing attack. Hollis looks to pass the ball to wide receivers Jocely Celin and Brendan Dennis.
     John I. Leonard(2-6, 0-2) have not played a game in the last two weeks. They fell to Santaluces 22-0 in their last contest. Quarterback Jadiel Cruz attempts to connect passes to wide receivers Ahmad Orange, Jonel Dieujuste and Brandon McCrary downfield. Running backs Henry Dean and Kenneth Charles will get their share of carries.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Heat Win Season Opener Over Grizzlies

     The Miami Heat opened up the 2019-20 season with a 120-101 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night at American Airlines Arena. It was the first regular season game that the Heat played since Dwyane Wade retired. Jimmy Butler did not make his Heat debut due to personal reasons.
     It was the sixth straight season that Miami won their home opener. The Heat is now 18-14 in season-opening contests.
     Memphis(0-1) rolled out to a 32-24 lead after one quarter and stayed ahead 60-54 at halftime. Miami(1-0) cut the deficit and trailed 84-83 by the end of the third quarter. The Heat exploded with a 24-1 run to begin the final quarter for the victory.
     Justise Winslow fell one point short of a career high with 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Heat. Bam Adebayo compiled a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Goran Dragic contributed 19 points. Tyler Herro made his NBA and Heat debut where he added 14 points and eight rebounds.

Dwyane Wade TNT Studio Analyst

     Former Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade has joined Warner Media as an NBA studio analyst on TNT. He will appear alongside former teammate Shaquille O'Neal on mainly Tuesday nights.
     Wade played in the National Basketball Association for 16 seasons. He helped the Miami Heat win three NBA titles in 2006, 2012 and 2013. Wade also was part of five Eastern Conference championships with the club.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Panthers Trade Ian McCoshen

     The Florida Panthers have traded defenseman Ian Mccoshen to the Chicago Blackhawks for forward Aleksa Saarela. The announcement was made following the Panthers victory on Tuesday night over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
     McCoshen had played 60 games in three seasons with Florida and compiled seven points. He was sent to the Panthers AHL affiliate Springfield for the 2019-20 season and had four assists in seven games. Saarela has five points while with Rockford of the American Hockey League this season.

Panthers Escape Penguins

     The Florida Panthers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2 at BB&T Center on Tuesday night. The Panthers extended their points streak to six games.
     Both teams were unable to score during the first. It would change midway through the second period.
     Noel Acciari fired a shot from the high slot which went off Matt Murray and went high in the air. The puck rolled down the backside of Murray and into the Penguins cage at the 10:54 mark. Dryden Hunt and Colton Sceviour were credited with assists on the play to give Florida(4-2-3) a 1-0 lead.
     Pittsburgh(6-4-0) evened the contest up just over a minute later at 11:57. Teddy Blueger carried the puck through the slot area and passed to his right. Jake Guentzel returned it to him in the crease for the tap in. It was Guentzel's eighth point in eight games against the Cats.
     The Panthers reclaimed the lead with exactly two minutes left in the period. Jonathan Hubedeau feed a pass from the low slot to the left circle and Denis Malgin put in a wrist shot.
     In the third period, Florida got a two-goal lead with 6:18 remaining. Anton Stralman blasted a slap shot from the right point and it was redirected in by Huberdeau from the slot area.
     Again the Penguins responded immediately with a goal with 5:35 left. Guentzel got the puck in the low left circle, connected a pass through the crease and Patric Hornqvist guided it in from the right side of the net.
     Florida put the game away with 1:03 to go in the third for a 4-2 lead. Frank Vatrano scored into an empty net after the Pens pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.

FHSAA Football RPI Standings Week 9

     The FHSAA released the football RPI standings following Week 9 action. Large size schools from Class 8A to Class 5A will have their final district contests of the 2019 season with many district titles on the line in Week 10.
     Region 3 of Class 8A showed the top three unchanged with #1 Vero Beach, #2 Treasure Coast and #3 Palm Beach Gardens. #4 Palm Beach Central changed positions with #5 Centennial while #6 Deerfield Beach remained the same. There is a rumble for the last two playoff spots with #7 Boca Raton, #8 Jupiter, #9 Park Vista, #10 Forest Hill , #11 Monarch and #12 Santaluces.
     Region 4 consists of #1 Miami Palmetto, #2 Stoneman Douglas, #3 South Dade, #4 Western, #5 Columbus, #6 Miami High, #7 Coral Gables and #8 Cypress Bay. #9 Flanagan is currently outside of the bubble.
     Class 7A in Region 4 had #1 St. Thomas Aquinas on top again as they were victorious over Deerfield Beach last week. #2 Atlantic and #3 Plantation both exchanged spots. #4 McArthur rocketed up from the eighth seed with the District 15 title while #5 Blanche Ely along with #6 Fort Lauderdale did not change. #7 Hialeah was seventh as they won District 16 and #8 South Plantation finally showed up among the top eight seeds. They were followed by #9 Cooper City, #10 Doral Academy and #11 South Broward.
     Region 3 was limited as #1 Palm Beach Lakes stayed on top. #9 Seminole Ridge plunged down from the sixth seed and are on the outside of the playoff picture.
     There was a minor change among two South Florida schools in Class 6A. #2 Miami Central moved up from third while #4 Dillard leaped up from fifth as they clinched the District 15 title last week.
     Class 5A had the same schools claim the top six spots. #1 Miami Northwestern wrapped up the District 16 title and changed seeds with #2 American Heritage while #3 Jensen Beach switched with #4 Key West. #5 Killian and #6 North Miami Beach were able to stand pat. #7 Stranahan exchanged positions with #8 Cypress Lake.
     Movement was rampant with Class 4A in Region 4. Clearwater Central Catholic topped University School and they dropped from the top seed to third. The new rankings has #1 Gulliver Prep and #2 Cardinal Gibbons rose one spot. #4 Booker T. Washington was unchanged followed by  #5 Carol City and #6 Somerset Academy going up one spot. #7 Pine Crest tumbled down from fifth.
     In Region 3, there were no changes. It had #2 American Heritage, #3 Glades Central and #6 Clewiston.
     Clearwater Central Catholic vaulted to fourth which caused two local schools to fall one spot in Class 3A of Region 3 with #5 Cardinal Newman and #6 Benjamin. Kings Academy still stands with the eighth seed.
     #1 Cavalry Christian and #2 Chaminade-Madonna remained on top in Region 4. There were some noticeable changes as #3 Edison jumped over #4 St. Andrew's and #5 Westminster Christian. #6 Somerset Silver Palms switched spots with #7 Palmer Trinity.
     Class 2A saw no changes in their ranking this week with #1 Champagnat Catholic, #3 Westminster Academy and #4 Miami Christian. Pahokee moved up one spot to the sixth seed and a playoff position in Class 1A.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Mark Richt Has Heart Attack

     Former University of Miami Hurricanes football head coach Mark Richt suffered a heart attack on Monday. He is currently a studio analyst on the ACC Network.
     Richt coached the Hurricanes for three seasons and helped the school capture their first ACC Coastal Division title in 2017. He had a career record of 23-16 with the Canes.
     He previously was the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs from 2001 until 2015. Richt, a Boca Raton High School and University of Miami grad, had a 145-51 record at that school. He compiled six SEC Eastern Division titles and two SEC Championship crowns while in charge.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Panthers Sign Brian Boyle

     The Florida Panthers have signed free agent center Brian Boyle to a one-year contract. He has amassed 124 goals and 92 assists for 216 points in 766 games during his NHL career. 
     Boyle played with two clubs last season. He had 13 goals and six assists in 47 games with the New Jersey Devils. He added with five goals in 26 games with the Nashville Predators. 
     He also previously played for the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. Boyle captured two Eastern Conference titles with the Rangers 2014 and the Lightning in 2015. 

Bills Run Through Dolphins

     The Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins 31-21 on Sunday. The Dolphins remain winless after six games.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Panthers Win In Shootout Over Predators

     The Florida Panthers edged the Nashville Predators 3-2 in a shootout at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday night. The Panthers extended their point streak to five games.
     Florida(3-2-3) compiled two goals in the second period. Denis Malgin placed in a power-play goal at 6:27 to go for a 1-0 lead. Brett Connolly scored his fourth goal in three games with 51 seconds left in the frame.
     The third period belonged to Nashville(4-3-1). Roman Josi connected with a tally at the 9:07 mark and they tied the contest 2-2 as Kyle Turris scored with the man advantage with 6:30 remaining in the period.
     The Panthers won the game during a shootout. Vincent Trocheck converted on the Cats second shootout attempt. Turris missed on the Predators third attempt to give Florida the victory.

Georgia Tach Slips By Hurricanes

     The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets outlasted the Miami Hurricanes 28-21 in overtime on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. The Canes have lost two of their last three games. The Yellow Jackets entered the contest with the worst record in the ACC Coastal Division.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Avalanche Trip Panthers

     The Florida Panthers returned home after a three-game road trip and lost to the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 in overtime on Friday night at BB&T Center. The Panthers extended their point streak to four games. The Avalanche are in the middle of a season-long, six-game road trip.
     Florida(2-2-3) rocketed out to a 3-1 after one period. Jonathan Huberdeau got his second goal of the season at 3:32 and Frank Vatrano followed with a shorthanded goal at the 8:26 mark for a 2-0 lead.
     The Avs briefly stopped the momentum midway through the frame at 10:57. Former Panthers Joonas Donskoi powered his third goal of the campaign. The Cats regained a two-goal lead exactly four minutes later as Huberdeau placed in his second goal of the contest.
     There was barrage of goals during the second part of the second period. Colorado(6-0-1) connected on two goals in 32 seconds to tie the contest 3-3. Matt Nieto scored at 11:23 and Andre Burakovsky evened it up at 11:55.
     Brett Connolly continued his hot streak as he scored his third goal in two games for the Panthers with 5:55 left in the second. Colorado answered back just 16 seconds later when Burakovsky scored for the second time.
     After a scoreless third period, the Avalanche got the game-winning tally in overtime. Nathan MacKinnon nailed his fourth goal of the season at 3:03 on assists from Burakovsky and Samuel Girard.

St. Thomas Aquinas Holds Off Deerfield Beach

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders outscored the Deerfield Beach Bucks 28-7 at Brian Piccolo Stadium on Friday night. Bucks wide receiver Xavier Restrepo played for the Raiders and transferred to Deerfield Beach earlier this year.
     It was a scoreless first quarter between both schools. Deerfield Beach(5-3) reached the end zone first midway through the second quarter. Quarterback Michael Pratt threw a pass up the middle and Restrepo outraced the Raiders secondary for a 54-yard touchdown play.
     The special teams unit of St. Thomas Aquinas(7-0) had an impact late in the second. Jaden McBorrows blocked a punt, Dwyer transfer Colby Dempsey caught the football out of the air and he returned it down the sideline 40 yards for the score.
     In the third quarter, the Raiders took their first lead 14-7. Running back Anthony Hankerson broke some tackles and raced in from 50 yards away with 1:05 remaining.
     STA expanded the gap to 21-7 with five seconds left in the third. Defensive back Philjee Bien-Aime picked off a Pratt throw and returned it for a touchdown.
     St. Thomas Aquinas made it a 21-point margin with 2:05 to go in the fourth quarter. Running back Jaedon Henry rumbled up the middle with the ball from six yards out.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Park Vista Upends Glades Central

     The Park Vista Cobras overcame the Glades Central Raiders 21-20 on Thursday night at the Snake Pit. The Cobras came back in the same way against Fort Pierce Central in the spring game earlier this year.
     Glades Central(4-4) got ahead 6-0 at 7:52 of the first quarter. Quarterback Marion Moreland fired a 40-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Desna Washington on the left sideline.
     Park Vista(6-3) took the lead 7-6 with 28 seconds left in the first. Quarterback Gio Thomas found wide receiver Cliff Desir wide open on the left side and he walked in untouched on a 24-yard pass play.
     In the second quarter, the Raiders recovered a fumble at the Cobras six-yard line. They regained the lead 13-7 at the 8:56 mark as Moreland raced up the middle from six yards away on the first play of the drive.
     Glades Central extended the gap to a 13-point margin with 1:59 to go in the second. Running back Jaheim Humphries powered in through the left side of the line from four yards out.
     The Cobras would chop the deficit to 20-13 on the ensuing kickoff. Desir caught the ball at the one-yard line on the left sideline, cut across the gridiron and then sprinted down the right sideline for a 99-yard touchdown with 1:38 remaining in the first half.
     Defensive back Cole Polnasek intercepted a Moreland pass at the goal line and returned it to one-yard line for Park Vista with over five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Riley Klaus was brought in and he helped the team march down the field. He connected an eight-yard pass to wide receiver Frantz Derival on the right side of the end zone to cap a 99-yard drive. Thomas entered the game and cannonballed into the end zone on a two-point conversion run for a Cobras 21-20 lead with 1:30 remaining in the fourth.
     The Raiders had one more opportunity to get the victory on their final possession. Quarterback Zomarion Harper came into the contest and drove his team to the Cobras 35-yard line. He threw a long pass on the final play to the low right corner of the end zone and it was picked off by Polnasek.

Deerfield Beach At St. Thomas Aquinas Preview

     The Deerfield Beach Bucks challenge the St. Thomas Aquinas at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night. It is a contest that people in Broward County have looked forward to all year. Both schools currently are in first place in their districts.
     Deerfield Beach(5-2) has compiled four shutouts this year and are on a five-game winning streak. They have outscored their last five opponents 250-6 and prevailed over Spanish River 64-0 last week. Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo transferred from St. Thomas Aquinas to the Bucks earlier this year. He along with Deajaun McDougle, Bryce Gowdy, Alex Henningham and Derohn King can make pass receptions from quarterback Michael Pratt. Running back Jaylan Knighton will get the majority of carries for their rushing attack.
     St. Thomas Aquinas(6-0) is undefeated and have outscored their opponents 257-66 this season. STA has beaten De La Salle, South Plantation, Miramar, Carol City, FHSAA Class 8A champion Mandarin and last week blanked district rival Plantation 35-0. Raiders quarterback Zion Turner looks to guide their offense with passes to wide receivers Marcus Rosemy, The'Andris Freeman and Jahvante Royal. Running back Jaedon Henry is expected to get his rushing opportunities from the backfield.

Treasure Coast At Cardinal Newman Preview

     The Treasure Coast Titans travel down I-95 and face the Cardinal Newman Crusaders at Sam Budnyk Field in West Palm Beach on Thursday night. Both teams are likely to participate in the 2019 postseason.
     Treasure Coast(6-1) lost a close game to Vero Beach 31-30 last week for the District 9-8A title. They started the season with six consecutive wins over Winter Haven, Monsignor Pace, Jensen Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Pierce Central and South Fork. The Titans, who have scored 30 points in every game, look to mount a rushing attack. They will lean on quarterback Jonius Watkins along with running backs Sean Miller, Joey Fleurjuste, Eden James and Keegan Davis.
     Cardinal Newman(5-1) have been victorious in their last three games over Melbourne Central Catholic, St. John Paul II and Clewiston. They have not lost a game at home this year. Quarterback Austin Wallace looks to lead the Crusaders offense. They will split their rushing opportunities with running backs Chris D'Or and Jaydon Hood.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Wellington At Palm Beach Gardens Preview

     The Wellington Wolverines clash with the Palm Beach Gardens at Mullinax Ford Stadium on Thursday night. It is a District 10-8A game between both schools.
     Wellington(2-6) began the season on a bad note as they lost their first four contests. The Wolverines got by John I. Leonard and Forest Hill then fell to Boca Raton and Jupiter.
     Palm Beach Gardens(5-1, 2-0) have victories over Suncoast, John I. Leonard, Forest Hill, Jupiter and Park Vista. Their only defeat was to Glades Central by one point. The Gators last played a game two weeks ago. Running back Ernest Blackshear is expected to get most of the carries from the backfield. Quarterback Tyler Kolb looks can connect passes to wide receivers Myron Levy and Rafael Vasquez.

Forest Hill At Olympic Heights Preview

     The Forest Hill Falcons visit the Olympic Heights Lions on Thursday night at Corey Lewis Stadium. Both schools were district rivals for the entire decade until the Falcons moved up to Class 8A this year.
     Forest Hill(4-3) won their first three contests of the season, however they have lost three of their last four games. They fell at home to new district rival Palm Beach Central 41-21 last week. The Falcons offense will depend on quarterback Jalen Jeter. He can run from the backfield on any occasion and look for his receivers down the field.
     Olympic Heights(2-5) lost their first three contests then topped John I. Leonard and Spanish River. They were routed in the last two weeks by new district opponents Atlantic 62-0 and Blanche Ely 48-7. Lions quarterback Blake Moreland can throw passes to wide receivers K'amerron Phillips, Juan Gonzalez, Christian Ippolito and Nicolas Palmenteri. Their rushing attack will depend on running back Trotsky Horton.

Spanish River At Lake Worth Preview

     The Spanish River Sharks take on the Lake Worth Trojans at Bill Harvey Stadium on Thursday night. Both schools are not expected to make the postseason in 2019.
     Spanish River(0-7) is winless this year and have been outscored 264-47 in 2019. They were blanked by Santaluces 40-0 two weeks ago and pounded by Deerfield Beach 64-0 last week. The Sharks will use a spread offensive formation. They will depend on quarterback Drew Alexandris to guide the team on offense.
     Lake Worth(1-5) won their season opener at Olympic Heights 26-7. They have lost five consecutive games since to Jupiter, Seminole Ridge, Santaluces, Forest Hill and Park Vista. The Trojans can rely on both quarterback Ke'andre Hollis and running back Del Louidor with an offense that will primarily rush the ball. Wide receivers Jocely Celin and Brendan Dennis could make an occasional catch.

Santaluces At Boca Raton Preview

     The Boca Raton Bobcats host the Santaluces Chiefs on Thursday night. It is a non-district contest between both schools.
     Santaluces(5-1) is on a five-game winning streak following a loss to Forest Hill in the season opener. They have defeated West Boca Raton, Cardinal Newman, Lake Worth, Spanish River and John I. Leonard. The Chiefs can not look ahead toward their District 11 championship game in Class 8A against Park Vista next week. Their offense will put an emphasis on the rushing attack with running backs Val Carnegie and Brian Coe Jr. while quarterback Kobe Lewis can toss the ball.
     Boca Raton(4-3) have won their last two games and scored 31 unanswered points last week to stop Monarch 38-14. The Bobcats have adjusted their offense led by quarterback Andrew Caverly. They have several options in the backfield with running backs Trey Rainey, Stalens Demeus and Tra'Nell Hollis. Ashton Gillotte can make an impact as a defensive end on defense and tight end on offense.

Glades Central At Park Vista Preview

     The Glades Central Raiders head east and face the Park Vista Cobras at the Snake Pit on Thursday night. Both teams look to stay in playoff contention.
     Glades Central(4-3) have interchanged wins and losses this year and are not able to gain traction. The Raiders have not played a game in two weeks since they handled Dwyer 16-6. Marion Moreland takes the reigns as starting quarterback with Zomarion Harper as his backup. The Raiders have skilled wide receivers with Densa Washington, Ja'Vontae Williams and Romaud Porter. Running back Jaheim Humphries will get the majority of carries from the backfield.
     Park Vista(5-3) can not forward to next week when they challenge Santaluces for the District 11 title in Class 8A. Three of their five wins this season have been shutout victories and it includes a 35-0 victory over Lake Worth last week. They can go with Gio Thomas and Riley Klaus at quarterback. Wide receivers Frantz Derival, Courtney Carter and Woodlife Alminord can make pass receptions down the field. The Cobras will split their carries between running backs Markel King and Joshua Jean.

FHSAA Football RPI Standings Week 8

     The FHSAA football RPI standings were issued after Week 8 action. Some classifications became clearer with several top schools in battles last week.
     Class 8A in Region 3 saw #1 Vero Beach victorious over #2 Treasure Coast to clinch the District 9 title while #3 Palm Beach Gardens, #4 Centennial and #8 Santaluces kept their spots. #5 Palm Beach Central rocketed up from ninth as they defeated #9 Forest Hill and they plunged down from fifth. #6 Deerfield Beach and #7 Jupiter switched positions. #10 Boca Raton topped #11 Monarch and exchanged seeds while Park Vista remained 12th.
     Dade County was back on top in Region 4 as #1 South Dade switched spots with District 13 champion #2 Stoneman Douglas while #3 Miami Palmetto moved ahead of #4 Columbus. #5 Western clinched the District 14 title. The rest of the top ten includes #6 Miami High, #7 Flanagan, #8 Cypress Bay, #9 Coral Gables and #10 Taravella.
     #1 St. Thomas Aquinas defeated #2 Plantation last weekend and now has a stranglehold for the top seed in Region 4 of Class 7A. #5 Blanche Ely moved up from seventh, #6 Fort Lauderdale rose from eighth, #7 Hialeah fell from sixth and #8 McArthur dropped from fifth. #9 South Plantation and #10 Cooper City stayed in the same spots.
     It remained the same in Region 3 with #1 Palm Beach Lakes and #6 Seminole Ridge. #13 Royal Palm Beach took a heavy tumble from ninth as they lost to #15 Dwyer.
     There was no change of rankings among Region 4 local schools in Class 6A. #3 Miami Central clinched District 16 while #5 Dillard wrapped up District 15. Belen Jesuit dropped from ninth to tenth.
     The same eight schools remained as the top eight seeds for Class 5A in Region 4. #1 American Heritage took the District 15 title followed by #2 Miami Northwestern, #3 Key West, #4 Jensen Beach, #5 Killian, #6 North Miami Beach, #7 Cypress Lake and #8 Stranahan.
     In the smaller schools, three teams remained with the same rank for Class 4A in Region 3. It was #2 American Heritage, #3 Glades Central and #6 Clewiston.
     Region 4 had #1 University School jump over #2 Gulliver Prep for the top spot. #3 Cardinal Gibbons and #4 Booker T. Washington held their positions while #5 Pine Crest and #6 Carol City switched places. Staying the same behind them were #7 Somerset Academy, #8 Coral Springs Charter, #9 Monsignor Pace, #10 La Salle and #11 North Broward Prep.
     Class 3A in Region 3 looks like they have two playoff contenders. #4 Cardinal Newman and #5 Benjamin remained the same. Region 4 had the top four seeds not move with #1 Calvary Christian, #2 Chaminade-Madonna, #3 St. Andrew's and #4 Westminster Christian. #5 Edison leaped over #6 Palmer Trinity with an upset win over Carol City.
     #1 Champagnat Catholic has the top spot in Class 2A. #3 Westminster Academy dropped one spot and #4 Miami Christian was unchanged. Pahokee was on the outside in Class 1A and stayed in seventh.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Racquel Goldy Returns To Radio

     Former Florida Panthers game operations reporter Racquel Goldy has joined Revolution 93.5 WZFL-FM as an afternoon disc jockey. She began her first shift last week.
     Goldy had worked in the Florida Panthers game operations department for the past couple of seasons at BB&T Center. She started in 2017 as a game operations arena host and was elevated to digital host last season.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Panthers Speed By Devils

     The Florida Panthers overcame a three-goal deficit and topped the New Jersey Devils 6-4 at Prudential Center on Monday afternoon. It was the final game of a three-game road trip for the Panthers in which they went 1-0-2. 
     Florida(2-2-2) raced out to a 1-0 lead just 16 seconds into the contest on their first shot on goal. Aleksander Barkov tapped the puck from the left corner and Jonathan Huberdeau banked it off the end wall. Evgenii Dadonov made a backhand pass from below the right circle and Huberdeau stroked the puck into the cage by Cory Schneider from the blue paint. It was his first goal of the year and Barkov's fourth assist. 
     New Jersey(0-4-2) answered back quickly at 2:28. Pavel Zacha made a drop pass at the right point. Taylor Hall skated to the middle and snapped a shot from the high slot past Sergei Bobrovsky for his first goal of the season. Sami Vatanen got the secondary assist on a clearing pass from his own zone.
     The Devils took the lead 2-1 with 46.7 seconds remaining in the first period. Nikita Gusev sailed the puck from the right wing around the end wall to the left side. Anton Stralman tried to send the puck up the boards and it nicked off the skate of Zacha. Jesper Bratt carried it through the low left circle and lifted a backhand shot from the left of the crease.
     The scoring avalanche continued for New Jersey early in the second period as they lit the lamp twice on their first three shots. Will Butcher scored 32 seconds in and Zacha got a tally at the 1:08 mark for a 4-1 lead.
     Brett Connolly picked up his first goal as a member of the Panthers midway through the frame at 9:50. P.K. Subban turned the puck over in the right corner. Frank Vatrano whipped a pass to the top right circle and Connolly scored on a wrist shot.
     The Cats struck again with 7.5 seconds left in the second and closed the gap to 4-3. Vincent Trocheck made a lead outlet pass to Mike Hoffman on the right side. He dropped a pass to Connolly and he rifled a snap shot from the right circle for his second goal of the contest.
     Florida completely erased the deficit 30 seconds into the third period for a 4-4 game. MacKenzie Weeger scored his second goal of the campaign on assists from Aaron Ekblad and Trocheck.
     They regained the lead 5-4 at the 7:30 mark. Weegar fired a slap shot from the top of the zone and it was deflected in by Noel Acciari from the slot area.
     The Devils were called for a high-sticking double-minor penalty and the Panthers capitalized with a power-play goal. Keith Yandle passed it from the blue line to Mike Matheson on the right point. His snap shot from the top right circle was saved by Schneider, but Dadonov reached and pushed in the rebound from the crease. Dadonov chalked up a goal for the fourth straight game and Matherson got his first assist of the season. 

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Redskins Hold Off Dolphins

     The Miami Dolphins lost to the Washington Redskins 17-16 on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. It was the first game for the Dolphins in the past two weeks due to a bye.
     In the second quarter, Washington(1-5) got up 7-0 at the 11:34 mark. Quarterback Case Keenum found wide receiver Terry McLaurin on a 25-yard touchdown pass. The Fins got a 39-yard field goal from Jason Sanders with 1:07 left in the first half and they trailed 7-3.
     The Redskins struck with the same combination again as McLaurin caught a 33-yard pass from Keenum at 9:42 of the third quarter. Dustin Hopkins booted a 21-yard field goal with 4:15 to go in the third for a 17-3 lead.
     Miami(1-4) finally reached the end zone at the 10:56 mark of the fourth. Running back Kalen Ballage rushed up the middle from one yard away.
     The Dolphins made it 17-16 with 10 seconds remaining in the final quarter. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick connected an 11-yard strike to wide receiver DeVante Parker. Miami failed on a two-point conversion pass from Fitzpatrick to running back Kenyan Drake, which would have given them the victory.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Islanders Get By Panthers

     The New York Islanders survived the Florida Panthers 3-2 in a shootout at NYCB Live Nassau Coliseum on Saturday night. It was the second straight night that the Panthers went to a shootout and lost.
     In the first period, Florida(1-2-2) jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Denis Malgin put in his first goal of the year on assists from Evgenii Dadonov and MacKenzie Weegar.
     New York(2-3-0) got the only tallies in the second period. Anders Lee scored scored his second goal of the season at the 5:40 mark and Josh Bailey gave the Islanders the lead with 2:29 left.
     The Panthers tied the contest 2-2 with 6:02 remaining in the third. Dadonov compiled his third goal of the season. Jonathan Huberdeau and Anton Stralman were credited with assists on the play. Stralman picked up his first point with Florida.
     The game went to shootout and the Isles scored on the only opportunity. Brock Nelson scored on the Islanders first attempt. Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck and Huberdeau were unable to convert in the shootout for the Cats.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Panthers Edged By Sabres

     The Florida Panthers fell to the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in a shootout on Friday night at KeyBank Center. It was the first game of a three-game road trip for the Cats.
     After a scoreless first period, Buffalo(4-0-1) struck first with 31 seconds left in second. Johan Larsson compiled his first goal of the year.
     The Sabres quickly made it 2-0 early in the third period at the 2:02. Marco Scandella got his first tally of the campaign.
     Florida(1-2-1) cut the deficit to 2-1 at the 6:15 mark. Evgenii Dadonov put in his second goal this season on assists from Jonathan Huberdeau and Denis Malgin
     The Panthers evened the contest 2-2 with 11 seconds left in the third as Mike Hoffman placed in his fifth goal of the season. Dadonov and Trocheck were both credited with assists on the play.
     It went into a shootout where Jack Eichel scored on the first attempt for Buffalo and Casey Middelstadt converted on the third attempt. Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov missed on the Panthers attempts.

Hurricanes Surprise Virginia

     The Miami Hurricanes shocked the Virginia Cavaliers 17-9 at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday night. Virginia was ranked 20th in the nation prior to this contest.
     Miami(3-3, 1-2) moved in front 7-0 at 9:35 of the first quarter. Quarterback N'Kosi Perry tossed a 17-yard pass to running DeeJay Dallas.
     There was only one scoring play for the Cavaliers in the second quarter. Brian Delaney kicked a 25-yard field goal with five seconds left in the first half.
     Virginia(4-2, 2-1) cut the gap to 7-6 just six seconds into the fourth quarter as Delaney nailed a 21-yard field goal. The Canes matched it at the 10:38 when Turner Davidson kicked his first career field goal from 19 yard out.
     The Cavs again found themselves down by one point with 7:58 remaining. Delaney booted his third field goal of the game from 44 yards.
     The Hurricanes took a 17-9 lead with 2:37 to go. Perry was able to sprint up the middle from three yards away.

FHSAA Football RPI Standings Week 7

     The FHSAA released the RPI standings following the end of Week 7. It is the first time this season that the new format for seedings were issued. RPI takes into consideration the school winning percentage, their opponents winning percentages and their opponents-opponents winning percentage.
     Class 7A in Region 4 has #1 St. Thomas Aquinas, #2 Plantation, #3 Atlantic, #4 Miramar, #5 McArthur, #6 Hialeah, #7 Blanche Ely, #8 Fort Lauderdale, #9 South Plantation and #10 Cooper City. All four schools from District 14 are in the top 10. Plantation faces St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday night to determine the top seed in the region and district champion.
     There are some local South Florida schools in Region 3. It includes #1 Palm Beach Lakes, #6 Seminole Ridge and #9 Royal Palm Beach. Longtime constant playoff team Dwyer is at #17 and they are not expected to make the postseason.
     Class 8A in Region 4 consists of #1 Stoneman Douglas, #2 South Dade, #3 Columbus, #4 Miami Palmetto, #5 Western, #6 Flanagan, #7 Miami High, #8 Coral Gables, #9 Taravella and #10 Cypress Bay in the top 10. It is a major surprise that a Broward County school is on top of the rankings.
     Region 3 has a mix of teams in the top 12. They include #1 Vero Beach, #2 Treasure Coast, #3 Palm Beach Gardens, #4 Centennial, #5 Forest Hill, #6 Jupiter, #7 Deerfield Beach, #8 Santaluces, #9 Palm Beach Central, #10 Monarch, #11 Boca Raton and #12 Park Vista. Three of the top four teams are from District 12 and Vero Beach challenges Treasure Coast for the top seed in a contest on Friday night.
     Only two South Florida schools appear in the top eight for Region 4 in Class 6A with #3 Miami Central and #5 Dillard. Belen Jesuit is on the outside in ninth and Miami Norland is in 13th.
     Class 5A in Region 4 has #1 American Heritage, #2 Miami Northwestern, #3 Jensen Beach, #4 Key West, #5 North Miami Beach, #6 Killian, #7 Cypress Lake and #8 Stranahan. Local schools behind them are #10 Coconut Creek, #11 Suncoast, #12 Hallandale and #13 Jackson.
     Region 4 in Class 4A consists of #1 Gulliver Prep, #2 University School, #3 Cardinal Gibbons, #4 Booker T. Washington, #5 Carol City, #6 Pine Crest, #7 Somerset Academy, #8 Coral Springs Charter, #9 Monsignor Pace, #10 La Salle and #11 North Broward Prep. Only six teams from this classification will qualify for the postseason.
     There are a couple of local schools for the chase in Region 3. They have #2 American Heritage, #3 Glades Central and #6 Clewiston.
     Numerous schools are challenging for playoff spots in Class 3A. Region 3 has #4 Cardinal Newman, #5 Benjamin, #8 John Carroll and #9 Kings Academy. Region 4 rolls out with #1 Calvary Christian, #2 Chaminade-Madonna, #3 St. Andrew's, #4 Westminster Christian, #5 Palmer Trinity and #6 Edison.
     Class 2A has #1 Champagnat Catholic and #2 Westminster Academy as the two top teams along with #4 Miami Christian. There are no schools locally in the top six for Class 1A. Pahokee stands on the edge with the seventh seed.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Boca Raton Roars By Monarch

     The Boca Raton Bobcats held off the Monarch Knights 38-14 in a District 12-8A contest on Thursday night. It is the first time that both schools faced each other as district opponents.
     The Bobcats defense came up with a turnover to take a 7-0 lead at 8:28 of the first quarter. Defensive back Tre'Nell Hollis intercepted a screen pass to the left side and returned it seven yards for the score.
     Monarch(6-2, 1-1) tied the game 7-7 with 3:27 remaining in the first. Quarterback Peter Zamora connected a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brady Brauner on the right side.
     In the second quarter, the Knights pulled ahead 14-7 at the 9:18 mark. Wide receiver Jaden Alexis caught a 29-yard touchdown catch on the left side of the end zone from Zamora.
     Boca Raton(4-3, 1-1) evened the contest up 14-14 with 1:39 left in the second. Hollis sprinted up the middle of the field from six yards away.
     The second half would belong to the Bobcats as they compiled 24 unanswered points. Quarterback Andy Caverly faked a handoff, ran a naked bootleg to the left side and scored a four-yard touchdown at 7:45 of the third.
     Boca increased their lead to 28-14 at the 9:44 mark of the fourth quarter. Tight end Ashton Gillotte made a diving catch near the left side of the end zone on a five-yard toss by Caverly. Peyton Giersbrook later booted a 26-yard field goal with 6:15 to go.

Plantation At St. Thomas Aquinas Preview

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders host the Plantation Colonels on Friday night at Brian Piccolo Stadium in a District 14-7A game. It is a renewed high school football rivalry in central Broward County between undefeated teams. Both schools played in the same district until 2014 and then Colonels moved up to Class 8A.
     Plantation(6-0, 2-0), who has a chance to clinch the district with a win, has outscored their opponents 282-35 during the campaign and scored at least 38 points in every contest. The Colonels captured the annual Mayor's Cup and beat South Plantation 61-7 last week. Quarterback Gerard Nesbitt will get the opportunity to connect passes downfield to wide receivers Jacolby George, Carlson Armstrong, Devin Howard and wingback Mark Anthony Clark.
     St. Thomas Aquinas(5-0, 1-0) have dominated contests and outscored their opponents 222-66 this season. The Raiders traveled to Jacksonville last week and defeated the defending FHSAA Class 8A state champions Mandarin 56-28. Running back Jaedon Henry is the main clog of their rushing attack. STA quarterback Zion Turner has a core of wide receivers to throw the ball to that includes Marcus Rosemy, Jahvante Royal and The'Andris Freeman.

Palm Beach Central At Forest Hill Preview

     The Palm Beach Central Broncos take on the Forest Hill Falcons on Friday night at Bobby Riggs Stadium. The Falcons moved up from Class 7A to Class 8A this year and they will face the Broncos as a district opponents for the first time in District 10-8A.
     Palm Beach Central(4-2) had victories over Dwyer, Olympic Heights, Wellington and Park Vista which were sandwiched between season-opening loss to Atlantic and a defeat to Palm Beach Lakes last week. Wide receiver Bryan Robinson is the primary target for quarterback Anarjahe Douriet down the field when the Broncos are on offense.
     After winning their first three contests, Forest Hill(4-2) have lost two of their last three games. They fell to Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington and then got by Lake Worth 14-6 last week. Jalen Jeter is a versatile quarterback for the Falcons. He can run the ball out of the backfield for long distances and also throw the ball at anytime.

Lake Worth At Park Vista Preview

     The Lake Worth Trojans challenge the Park Vista Cobras at the Snake Pit on Friday night. It is a District 11-8A contest between both schools.
     Lake Worth(1-4) opened their season with a win at Olympic Heights. They have lost their last four contests by margins of less than 11 points to Jupiter, Seminole Ridge, Santaluces and Forest Hill. The Trojans are a run first offense with quarterback Ke'andre Hollis and running back Del Louidor in the backfield. Wide receiver Jocely Celin can make an occasional catch down the field.
     After winning three of their first four games, Park Vista(4-3) have lost two of their last three. They had a tough time last week on the road and fell to Palm Beach Gardens 33-3. The Cobras can give running back Markel King to rush the ball on numerous opportunities. Wide receivers Frantz Derival, Woodlife Alminord and Courtney Carter look to get the ball from either Gio Thomas or Riley Klaus at quarterback.

John I. Leonard At Santaluces Preview

     The John I. Leonard Lancers drive five miles down Military Trail and face the Santaluces Chiefs on Friday night. It is a battle between two schools in District 11-8A.
     John I. Leonard(2-5) won their season opener and then lost five consecutive games. The Lancers stopped the losing streak with a 27-20 victory over West Boca Raton last week. Quarterback Jadiel Cruz leads their team on offense. He intends to find wide receivers Jonel Dieujuste, Ahmad Orange and Brandon McCrary for pass receptions. They can go with running backs Henry Dean and Kenneth Charles on rushing opportunities.
     After a season-opening lost to Forest Hill, Santaluces(4-1) have won four straight games against West Boca Raton, Cardinal Newman, Lake Worth, Spanish River. They have outscored their last three opponents 88-19. The Chiefs have a powerful rushing attack and will depend on running back Val Carnegie on the majority of their carries from the backfield.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Spanish River At Deerfield Beach Preview

     The Spanish River Sharks travel south to face the Deerfield Beach Bucks at Butler Stadium on Friday night in a District 12-8A contest. It is the first time ever that both schools will meet each other in the newly formed district.
     Spanish River(0-6) have not won a game this season. They have surrendered at least 28 points in five of the six games and been outscored 200-47 this year. The Sharks fell to John I. Leonard, Suncoast, Park Vista, Olympic Heights, Monarch and Santaluces. Quarterback Drew Alexandris will be the focal point of their offense.
     Deerfield Beach(4-2) is currently riding a four-game winning streak. The Bucks played Blanche Ely, Zachary, Oak Ridge and Boca Raton as they outscored their last four opponents 186-6. Running back Jaylan Knighton will get the majority of carries from the backfield. Quarterback Michael Pratt can connect passes to wide receivers Xavier Restrepo, Deajaun McDougle, Bryce Gowdy and Derohn King.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Hurricanes Roll Over Panthers

     The Florida Panthers were stampeded by the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3 at BB&T Center on Tuesday night. Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle was able to play in his 800th consecutive game. The Hurricanes entered the contest with the best record in the National Hockey League.
     In the first period, Carolina(4-0-0) took the lead at the 6:48 mark. Jack Gardiner released a soft shot from the blue line that got tapped by Brook McGinn. Jordan Staal put in a wrist shot from the low slot for his first goal of the season.
     The Canes expanded their lead to 2-0 at 11:04 left. Haydn Fleury fluttered the puck from the right point and it was deflected in by Teuvo Teravainen from the top of the crease past Sergei Bobrovsky. Nino Niederreiter was also credited with an assist on the play.
     The Hurricanes made it a three-goal margin during a 4-on-4 situation with 4:23 remaining in the first. Andrei Svechnikov raced in through the slot on a breakaway and his wrist shot was stopped. He cradled the rebound in the right circle, sent a cross-ice pass to the low slot and Dougie Hamilton put in a snap shot from close range for his second goal of the year.
     Florida(1-2-0) found themselves down 4-0 on a Carolina power-play goal with 1:46 left in the period. Svechnikov fired a shot from the right circle that touched Teravainen. Ryan Dzingel smacked the puck in from the crease area.
     Sam Montembeault replaced Bobrovsky in net for the Cats at the start of the second period. Carolina continued the onslaught at 1:31 to make it 5-0. Dzingel sent a diagonal pass from the left point to Martin Necas in the top right circle. He shot the puck and it was saved by Montembeault, but Dzingel hustled for the rebound and scored on a wrist shot from the low left circle for his second goal of the contest.
     The Panthers finally broke the shutout at the 3:51 mark. Alekander Barkov flicked a forehand shot from the slot area which former Panther James Reimer saved. MacKenzie Weegar roofed a shot from the blue paint for his first goal of the campaign.
     The Cats cut the deficit to 5-2 at 9:34 of the third period with a 4-on-3 power-play goal. Mike Hoffman fed a pass from the left point and Yandle nailed a one-time slap shot. Brett Connolly compiled the secondary assist on the play.
     Florida was desperate as they pulled their goalie for an extra attacker on the power play and it worked. Barkov sent a cross-ice pass from below the right circle across the crease. Jonathan Huberdeau found Evgenii Dadonov in the low slot, he buried a snap shot and the Panthers trailed 5-3 with 4:08 remaining in the third.
     The Hurricanes capped the contest with 1:19 left. Sebastian Aho went into the Panthers zone uncontested and put the puck into an empty net.

David Dwork At WPLG-TV

     David Dwork is now with WPLG-TV Channel 10 as a website writer. He joined their organization six weeks ago.
     Prior to that, Dwork worked behind the scenes at WFOR-TV Channel 4 as a website writer and producer for five years. He first got noticed locally as a producer and weekend host at 560 WQAM-AM. Dwork entered radio as an intern at Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM.

Monday, October 7, 2019

Greg Likens Exits Radio

     Greg Likens announced his final talk show at Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM on Sunday. He also returned to 560 WQAM and did sports talk shows in the past year. He will be leaving the radio business altogether.
     Likens, a Syracuse University grad, first started in the Miami market back in 2007 at WQAM. He held several positions there which included morning producer, morning sports anchor, morning sidekick and weekend host. He left that organization in March 2014.
     He replaced Jesse Agler and became The Finsiders studio host on Miami Sports 940 WINZ-AM and television simulcast on Fox Sports Florida in April 2014. Likens was the studio host for the Miami Dolphins Radio Network during the 2014 and 2015 NFL seasons. He held those positions until March 2016 when WINZ lost the Miami Dolphins radio broadcast rights to WQAM.
     Likens returned to radio in February 2017 on The Ticket as a guest evening co-host alongside Josh Friedman. He would later be elevated to weekend host and evening co-host at that station.

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Hurricanes Fall To Virginia Tech

     The Miami Hurricanes hosted the Virginia Tech Hokies and lost 42-35 at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. Both schools returned to ACC play with a Coastal Division game this week.
     Virginia Tech(3-2, 1-2) scored the first 28 points of the contest and blew the lead. Miami(2-3. 0-2) was able to tie the game 35-35 with 3:30 left in the fourth. The Hokies scored the winning touchdown with 1:08 remaining in the final quarter to defeat the Canes.

Panthers Beat Lightning

     Mike Hoffman compiled a hat trick as the Florida Panthers ran through the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 at BB&T Center on Saturday night. It was the home opener for the Cats and it ended a home-and home series with the Lightning.
     Neither team put a goal on the scoreboard during the first. The second period would be different when Florida(1-1-0) scored a power-play goal at the 9:39 mark. Keith Yandle sent the puck down from the top of the zone to Jonathan Huberdeau on the left wing. He skated to the left side of the Lightning cage, put a diagonal pass across the crease and Mike Hoffman snapped a shot from the right circle for his second goal of the season.
     The Panthers added another power-play goal to make it 2-0 at 11:05. Yandle guided the puck to Huberdeau in the left circle. He sent a cross-ice pass to Hoffman in the right circle and Hoffman put in a wrist shot for his second tally of the contest.
     The Cats extended the gap to 3-0 with 7:28 left in the period. Dryden Hunt recovered a loose puck in the right corner and dropped it back to Colton Sceviour on the right wing. He threaded a pass to Noel Acciari in the crease and he backhanded a shot past Andrei Vasilievskiy.
     Tampa Bay(1-1-0) closed it to 3-1 with 3:37 remaining in the second.  Pat Maroon, who joined the Bolts this season, made a drop pass from the left circle. Luke Witkowski fired a high wrist shot from the left wing which Sergei Bobrovky saved, however Germel Smith slapped in the rebound from the top of the crease.
     It took just 17 seconds into the third period for Florida to go up 4-1. Aaron Ekblad released a wrist shot from right point and it was redirected in by Hoffman on the edge of the right circle for his third goal of the game. Brett Connolly was also credited with an assist on the play.
     The Lightning got a 4-on-4 goal at the 6:40 mark. Kevin Shattenkirk placed a pass from the right wing to Victor Hedman on the top of the zone. He passed to Steven Stamkos and he then one-timed a slapshot from the from left circle for his first goal of the campaign.
     Tampa Bay chopped the deficit to 4-3 with 4:19 left in the third. Carter Verhaeghe centered the puck from the left wing that grazed off Yanni Gourde in the middle. Mathieu Joseph finished the play with a short shot from the right of the crease.

Friday, October 4, 2019

West Palm Beach Ratings September 2019

     The ratings for sports talk radio stations in the West Palm Beach area were released. There was a changing landscape in the local region. ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM is not registered and started to broadcast University of Miami Hurricanes football along with the Miami Dolphins.
     WMEN-AM saw some changes at their radio station as they switched their brand during the period from 640 The Hurricane to Fox Sports 640 South Florida. They also began to broadcast their newly acquired radio rights of Florida Atlantic University athletics, which rose their ratings from a 0.4 to a 0.6 in the month. The New York Yankees continued their momentum as they were about to finalize a playoff spot in the American League.
     Sports Radio 1230 The Zone WBZT-AM remained at a 0.0 for the 13th consecutive month. The Miami Marlins were eliminated from postseason contention and they have been unable to drum up an audience.

Palm Beach Gardens Blasts Park Vista

     The Palm Beach Gardens Gators routed the Park Vista Cobras 35-3 on Friday night at Mullinax Ford Stadium. Both Palm Beach County schools play in different Class 8A districts.

Glades Central Outlasts Dwyer

     The Glades Central Raiders handled the Dwyer Panthers 16-6 at Blum Stadium on Friday night. It was a rare low-scoring game between both teams in this Palm Beach County rivalry. 
     After no scoring in the first quarter, both schools put up points in the second. Raiders defensive back Jacob Camacho ripped the ball out of the grasp of a Panthers wide receiver and returned it 50 yards to the Dwyer 25-yard line at 10:35. Eventually, Glades Central(4-3) made it 7-6 when quarterback Zomarion Harper tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to the back left corner of the end zone and wide receiver Densa Washington caught it at the 8:08 mark. 
     Dwyer(1-4) crawled back in the contest with their kicking game. Brandon Proenza made a 28-yard field goal at 3:15 and he booted a 37-yard field goal with no time remaining in the second quarter.
     The Raiders got the only points in the second half. They were able to score a touchdown along with a field goal by Jose Garcia during the third quarter. 

Park Vista At Palm Beach Gardens Preview

     The Palm Beach Gardens Gators host the Park Vista Cobras on Friday night at Mullinax Ford Stadium. It is a battle between two Class 8A Palm Beach County schools from different districts.
     Park Vista(4-2) have won four of their last five contests. They had wins over Boynton Beach, Wellington, Spanish River and John I. Leonard. Running back Markel King will get his opportunities to rush with the ball. The Cobras can either go with Riley Klaus or Gio Thomas in the quarterback position. They can connect passes down the field to wide receivers Frantz Derival, Woodlife Alminord and Courtney Carter.
     Palm Beach Gardens(4-1) started the season with victories over Suncoast, John I. Leonard and Forest Hill. They lost by one point to Glades Central and bounced back last week with a 34-0 shutout win of Jupiter. Gators quarterback Tyler Kolb will attempt to find wide receivers Myron Levy and Rafael Vasquez. They can have running back Ernest Blackshear gain yardage on many carries.

Glades Central At Dwyer Preview

     The Glades Central Raiders challenge the Dwyer Panthers at Blum Stadium on Friday night. It is a battle between two of the biggest rivals in Palm Beach County.
     Glades Central(3-3) has been up and down all season. The Raiders have lost three of their last four games to tough competition that includes Palm Beach Lakes, Atlantic and Cocoa Beach. They did edge Palm Beach Gardens 34-33 two weeks ago. The Raiders will depend on their passing game with quarterbacks Marion Moreland and Zomarion Harper throwing the ball downfield to wide receiver Ja'Vontae Williams, Densa Washington and Romaud Porter.
     After winning their home opener against Boynton Beach, Dwyer(1-3) have lost their last three games to Palm Beach Central, Pahokee and Martin County. Running backs Fredrick Gauberg and Kamari Burns are expected to get their rushing opportunities for the Panthers. Wide receivers Austin Thompson and Terel Harris can make catches down the field.

St. Thomas Aquinas At Mandarin Preview

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders travel to Jacksonville and face the Mandarin Mustangs on Friday night in a clash between two large-school programs. The contest was agreed on between both schools just a couple of weeks for more games on their schedules.
     St. Thomas Aquinas(4-0) has been dominant in their first four games of the season as they have outscored their opponents 166-38. STA has victories over De La Salle 24-14, South Plantation 61-0, Miramar 36-0 and Carol City 45-24. The Raiders will rely on quarterback Zion Turner and he can throw the ball to wide receivers Marcus Rosemy, The'Andris Freeman and Jahvante Royal. Running back Jaedon Henry is expected to get most of the carries from the backfield.
     Mandarin(3-2) is the defending FHSAA Class 8A champions as they beat Columbus 37-35 in the title game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The team has had a target on them for the entire 2019 season. They were able to clobber Nease 42-3 last week at home. Quarterback Carson Beck leads the offense with running backs Cameron Daniels and Martranius Mack getting the rushing attempts.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Panthers Lose Season Opener

     The Florida Panthers fell in their season opener to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 at Amalie Arena on Thursday night. Both clubs will meet in Sunrise on Saturday night for the Panthers home opener.
     There was just one goal during the first period and it was by Tampa Bay(1-0-0). Nikita Kucherov scored his first goal of the year at the 6:39 mark.
     In the second period, Florida(0-1-0) evened it up at 2:39. Mike Hoffman powered in a shot on assists from Vincent Trocheck and Brett Connolly. It was the first point for Connolly with his new club.
     The Bolts regained the lead 2-1 midway through the frame. Kevin Shattenkirk put in a tally for his new team.
     The Panthers compiled a shorthanded goal at 8:49 of the third period. Trocheck scored on a breakaway off a feed from Aaron Ekblad.
     The Lightning continued with the man advantage and converted on a power-play goal 45 seconds later to go ahead 3-2. Ondrej Palat got the goal with a primary assist by Alex Killorn.
     Pat Maroon helped his new organization with a tally with 6:09 remaining for a two-goal margin. Erik Cernak placed an empty-net goal with 46 seconds left to put the game away.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Miami Ratings September 2019

     The ratings for the Miami/Fort Lauderdale market were issued. 560 The Joe WQAM-AM was on top for the second straight month. It was the first complete period in which both Entercom Communications sister-stations WQAM and Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM implemented their new weekday lineups.
     WQAM rose from a 0.7 to a 1.0 in the month. The addition of the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz jolted the station to an upward trend. The return of University of Miami Hurricanes football and Miami Dolphins broadcasts also did help matters.
     The Ticket moved down from a 0.6 to a 0.3 in the period. It was their lowest ratings since September 2015, a 0.4 at that time, because the Dan Le Batard Show was moved from afternoon drive to middays along with the elimination of the FM simulcast. They saw the first complete month of a program switch with Brendan Tobin, Leroy Hoard and Brian London in mornings while Jonathan Zaslow and Amber Wilson were in the midday shift.
     After four straight months at a 0.3, Miami Sports 940 WINZ-AM dropped to a 0.2. The Miami Marlins were eliminated from postseason contention and the University of Florida football broadcasts returned to the station.
     WMEN-AM changed their brand during the period from 640 The Hurricane to Fox Sports 640 South Florida. It resulted in them going from a 0.1 after seven consecutive months to a 0.2. They started broadcasts of Florida Atlantic University football while New York Yankees were ready to finalize a playoff spot.

Florida Panthers Finalize Roster

     The Florida Panthers announced their opening day roster for the 2019-20 season on Wednesday. The Panthers will consist of 22 players on the team roster.
     Goalies for the team will be Sergei Bobrovsky and Sam Montembeault. The defensemen are Keith Yandle, Aaron Ekblad, Anton Stralman, Mark Pysyk, Mike Matheson, MacKenzie Weegar and Josh Brown.
     The club will carry 13 forwards. They will include Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Jonathan Huberdeau, Mike Hoffman, Evgenii Dadonov, Brett Connolly, Colton Sceviour, Jayce Hawryluk, Denis Malgin, Noel Acciari, Frank Vatrano, Henrik Borgstrom and Dryden Hunt.

Anthony Stewart Hockey Central Co-Host

     Former Florida Panthers forward Anthony Stewart began his new role as the co-host of Hockey Central on Monday. The midday program is simulcast on NHL Network, Sportsnet and 590 The Fan CJCL-AM in Toronto. He replaced one-time Florida Panthers head coach Doug MacLean and Nick Kypreos.
     Stewart has worked as a sports talk host on CJCL for over a year. He filled in as a panelist on Hockey Central several times during the 2018-19 season. Stewart played with the Panthers from 2005 to 2009 and had 12 points in 105 games.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Brett Romberg Joining 1210 The Man

     Former University of Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Brett Romberg is joining 1210 The Man WNMA-AM on October 7. He will host a morning show on that station. Romberg has hosted Out The Huddle podcast since August.
     Romberg, who won a BCS National Championship with the Canes in 2001, previously worked at Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM until July. He started as a guest co-host and contributor on the morning program with Jonathan Zaslow and Joy Taylor at The Ticket in the middle of 2015. Romberg was elevated to morning co-host alongside Zaslow in early 2016.

Brian Shaw Warriors Studio Analyst

     Former Miami Heat guard Brian Shaw has joined NBC Sports Bay Area as a Golden State Warriors television studio analyst. He has not done any broadcasting work prior to this position.
     Shaw played for the Miami Heat during the mid-1990s for two seasons and helped the club to a playoff appearance in 1994. He later won three consecutive NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 to 2002. Shaw became the head coach of the Denver Nuggets from June 2013 until March 2015. He was also an assistant coach with the Lakers and Indiana Pacers.

Ed Jovanovski New Panthers Studio Analyst

     The Florida Panthers have named Ed Jovanovski and Jeff Chychrun as television studio analysts. They will share duties for Panthers home games on Fox Sports Florida. 
     Jovanovski has handled several broadcast assignments over the last couple of years. He has filled in as a radio game analyst for the Vancouver Canucks.
     He had two tenures with the Florida Panthers as a defenseman. Jovanovski arrived with the Panthers for the 1995-96 and helped the club to an Eastern Conference championship. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on January 17, 1999 in a seven-player deal that saw Pavel Bure come to Florida. 
     After a stint with the Phoenix Coyotes, Jovanovski returned to the Panthers as a free agent in July 2011. He was named captain of the team in 2012 and held the position for two seasons. Jovo ended his career in 2014 after he compiled 137 goals and 500 points in 1,128 games.
     Chychrun was a defenseman in the NHL for eight seasons and compiled 25 points in 262 games. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers.