Eisenhower’s and Warren’s boys and girls soccer teams received their playoff pairings on Thursday.
MONDAY
Eisenhower’s girls team is the fourth seed in a five-team D10 1A bracket. The Lady Knights (11-5-1) will play fifth-seeded Cambridge Springs (7-8-1) at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, at Prep’s Hagerty Family Events Center in Erie. Ike has beaten Cambridge Springs twice this season, 4-1 and 6-4.
Eisenhower’s boys team (8-10) is the No. 7 seed in an eight-team bracket. The Knights meet second-seeded Mercyhurst Prep (12-6) in the Class 1A quarterfinals right after the Ike girls’ game — at 5 p.m. Monday at Prep’s HFEC.
The Knights have lost twice to MP this season, 7-2 and 6-0.
TUESDAY
Warren’s boys team is the third seed in the District 10 3A playoff semifinals against second-seeded Meadville on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at a site and time to be announced. The Bulldogs (13-5) are familiar to the Dragons (10-7) as they have beaten Warren twice this season in overtime — the first was a 3-2 win on September 4, then 1-0 September 30 in double overtime.
The winner of Warren-Meadville will meet Region 5 champion General McLane (15-3) in the title match.
The Lady Dragons (10-7) are also the third seed in 3A, going up against second-seeded Girard (12-6) on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined. Warren lost to the Yellowjackets, 3-1, on September 5.
The winner of the Warren-Girard match meets top-seeded Harbor Creek (11-7) for the D10 title.
Warren volleyball receives bye into D10 semis
VOLLEYBALL
WARREN RECEIVES BYE
Warren’s volleyball team tied Meadville for the Region 5 title, and both teams have received byes into the District 10 Class 3A playoff semifinals.
The defending District 10 champion Dragons (14-1 overall and 11-1 in the region) are the No. 2 seed in the tournament, with Meadville (also 11-1 in Region 5) the No. 1 seed.
Warren and Meadville split their season series — each winning at home.
Next, Warren will play the winner of No. 3 Fort LeBoeuf and No.6 Titusville on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at a time and location to be announced. Meadville will play the winner of No. 4 Harbor Creek and No. 5 Slippery Rock in the other semifinal, also on Oct. 29 at a site and time to be determined.
DUBOIS — Warren’s girls soccer team led at halftime, but fell 4-2 in a non-region match on Thursday at …
After a 62-0 loss to visiting Oil City on Saturday, things don’t get much easier tonight for the winless Dragons. …
COCHRANTON — Warren’s volleyball team hopes Thursday night’s non-region loss at Cochranton serves as a …
Eisenhower’s and Warren’s boys and girls soccer teams received their playoff pairings on …
Time has flown by as we approach Week 7 of the high school football season, and it has been nothing short of cinematic since Week 1.
The Magnificent 11 has seen significant changes over the weeks, but Edna Karr remains at the top of the rankings. Mandeville and Newman hold steady at No. 2 and No. 3 for the second week in a row. Other than that, the standings remain consistent.
Let’s take a look at where everyone stands for Week 7.
#1 Edna Karr (5-0), Last Week: SAME Karr continues to assert its dominance, evidenced by a 42-14 victory over a strong Brother Martin team. Quarterback John Johnson and running back Bryant Sanchez are performing at a high level, powering an offense that averages 43.2 points per game. They will face a Jesuit team that is 3-3, but the Blue Jays have recently upset both Brother Martin in Week 4 and St. Aug last week.
#2 Mandeville (6-0), Last Week: SAME Mandeville is ranked No. 7 in the CCS Class 5A rankings and holds No. 6 in the Division I Non-Select power ratings. However, the Skippers remain unranked in the Class 5A polls from Geauxpreps and the LSWA, despite being undefeated and recently defeating Covington 35-33. Mandeville will have another significant matchup against an improved Hammond team this Friday.
#3 Newman (5-0), Last Week: SAME Newman secured a 49-0 victory over Walter Cohen on Thursday night, remaining undefeated. The Greenies have scored 44 points or more in their last three games. They aim to improve to 6-0 when they play Sophie B. Wright next Thursday.
#4 Lutcher (5-0), Last Week: SAME No team in the River Parishes is playing better football than the Bulldogs, who triumphed 44-0 over South Terrebonne. Lutcher has outscored its opponents 181-18 and has held opposing offenses scoreless in its last three games. The Bulldogs will host E.D. White, who enters the game with a 5-1 record, in what is expected to be the game of the week in the New Orleans area.
#5 Rummel (5-1), Last Week: #7 Despite narrowly winning 14-0 against Warren Easton, the Raiders have demonstrated strong defensive play, holding opponents to 21 points or less in five of their six games this season. However, despite a solid rushing attack, the offense has struggled, failing to score at least 20 points in October. They hope to turn things around against a St. Augustine team that has suffered two consecutive losses.
#6 Franklinton (5-1), Last Week: #9 Franklinton head coach Nick Saltaformaggio has garnered attention with a significant 35-28 victory over an undefeated Lakeshore squad, marking the Demons’ first win over Lakeshore in eight years. Franklinton will seek to improve to 6-1 when they travel to the Lafayette area to take on Abbeville.
#7 E.D. White (5-0), Last Week: #10 The Cardinals have won four straight games, including a victory over Hahnville earlier this season. E.D. White’s offense has been explosive, averaging 60 points per game over the last three outings. They aim to maintain this momentum against a Lutcher team that has kept its last three opponents scoreless.
#8 Hahnville (4-1), Last Week: Unranked Under the leadership of Greg Boyne, Hahnville has made impressive strides, achieving a 4-1 record and surpassing last year’s total of three wins. Following a 21-18 loss to E.D. White in Week 3, Hahnville has won three straight games, including a 51-32 victory over Terrebonne. The Tigers, who recently defeated Thibodaux 45-21, will host Central Lafourche this Friday.
#9 Belle Chasse (6-0), Last Week: Unranked Belle Chasse makes its first appearance in the Magnificent 11 this year. Head coach Stephen Meyers has led the Cardinals to a 6-0 record after a decisive 63-22 victory over The Willow School.
#10 Covington (5-1), Last Week: #8 Despite a tough 35-33 loss to Mandeville, the Lions remain on this list due to their earlier victory over No. 6 Franklinton by double digits. Covington will face Slidell in an out-of-district matchup on Friday.
#11 Lakeshore (5-1), Last Week: #5 Lakeshore remains in the Magnificent 11 despite a close 35-28 loss to Franklinton in the closing seconds. The Titans still appear to be a formidable team heading into the playoffs and could potentially share the district title if Franklinton loses one of its district games. Lakeshore aims to bounce back against Pearl River this Friday.
Next Teams In: Pope John Paul II, Riverside Academy, West St. John, Brother Martin Dropped Out: Brother Martin (#6), St. Augustine (#11)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have a climate problem. To be more precise, Phoenix has a climate problem and, as a result, the Diamondbacks have a field that needs renovations if the team is going to keep fans cool – and no one is sure whose responsibility it is to pay for it.
The team’s lease on Chase Field expires in 2027, and negotiations with Maricopa county have stalled. The organization’s plan to fund the $400m to $500m project is modeled on the Arizona Cardinals’ successful bid to fund their own field renovation through stadium sales and recaptured income, and the plan is supported by the Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Economic Council and Downtown Phoenix, Inc.
So what’s the problem?
One glaring issue is that county officials can’t – or don’t want to – contribute money like they did when the Suns needed their own upgrades in 2019. The root of the issue is in the renegotiation of the contract between the Diamondbacks and Maricopa county in 2018, which resulted in the team assuming financial responsibilities for repairs and maintenance – a responsibility it seems the team is now attempting to offset, at least in part. (The Diamondbacks did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Guardian.)
This financial dispute is taking place against the backdrop of dire climate warnings for the city, including that by 2100 it will be too dangerous for anyone – athlete or otherwise – to work outside for 162 days of the year.. and the team is already struggling to keep the stadium cool enough for fans throughout the summer.
Club owner Derrick Hall believes that building a new stadium is the best path forward, but it’s also the most expensive (renovations would cost up to $500m, but a brand new facility could top $1bn). In September he told Sports Business Journal that modern facilities have to be multi-use and that “it’s about mixed-use, it’s about activating 365 days per year, hotels, restaurants, retail and office space.”
Questions about who is responsible for stadium renovations persist with or without climate concerns, explained Dr Timothy Kellison, an associate professor in Florida State University’s department of sport management. Teams and city governments should first and foremost consider the economic impact of funding such changes on the public. The first question that should be asked, he added, is whether or not “the public investment is worth the cost to the public in terms of the return on investment, if taxpayers were responsible for paying for a major renovation or a construction”. The answer to that question is “always no”.
Offsetting the cost to fans is also something Hall told Sports Business Journal he’s not interested in doing as well. A proposed “theme park district” at Chase Field would have raised taxes by up to 9% on each sale: beer, food, merch, and more. “I don’t think it’s the right thing when it comes to renovation because you’re really taxing your best fans, and I don’t want to do that,” he said.
Adaptations to stadiums can look different depending on what city the stadium is in, and what specific aspect of climate change is particularly tough to contend with. When the Texas Rangers opted to build a new ballpark just south of their former home Globe Life Park, they did so with the climate in mind.
One of the chief reasons for the move cited by the team was, in fact, weather: the field’s location left it more vulnerable than most to high temperatures and rainstorms, so plans for the new stadium included a retractable roof. The option gave the team the ability to keep the stadium cooler on blazing hot Texas days and to play games, rain or shine.
The total cost of building a new field was $1.2bn. When it came to paying for Globe Life Field, the Rangers and the city of Arlington, Texas, struck a 50/50 split, with the city’s contributions capped at $500,000. Both plans were funded by the public: the city tacked on a half a cent sales tax, a 2% hotel tax, and a 5% car rental tax, and voters approved a tax of up to 10% on tickets and $3 on parking at the new field.
The Diamondbacks aren’t the only professional team facing a growing climate problem, and as the threats of climate change continue to become realities in new and sometimes terrifying ways, more and more teams and leagues will have to address the problem.
“Sport is seeing every climate hazard: in the West and through the Rocky Mountains it’s drought and fires, while the South and the East are fighting off increasingly severe storms,” said Dr. Madeleine Orr, assistant professor of sport ecology at the University of Toronto. “Through the center of the country, depending on where you are, the impacts look like flooding, risks of more severe tornadoes, and of course the whole country is facing down higher numbers of very hot days – which increase the risks of exertional heat-related illnesses for athletes, coaches, and referees – and warmer winters, which threatens all winter sport.”
Heat, like what fans of the Rangers and Diamondbacks are up against, isn’t the only concern. As the climate warms up, air quality diminishes, which is a problem for both athletes and spectators alike. Problems with air quality are spurred by everything from pollution to wildfires, and those problems are impacting stadiums all over the world.
So far, a lot of venues have taken a take-it-as-it-comes approach to solving climate-related problems, said Dr Orr. “Meaning, when a venue faces major floods, they install better drainage systems, or when a venue has repeated issues with extreme heat, they invest in better air conditioning.” The result is that problems are addressed, but often not as quickly as they should be. “In other words,” she continued, “many venues are at risk of facing climate hazards they aren’t ready to face, but aren’t making the investments and moves to adapt because it doesn’t feel like a big enough threat yet.”
What will likely change that approach will be the financial strain that climate change – and the costs associated with dealing with its impact – places on venues, teams, and even fans. “As climate hazards start straining the team’s operating budgets through postponed or canceled games, damages to facilities from extreme weather events, or simply higher insurance premiums” will be the push that many teams and cities need to make the necessary changes, Orr added.
There’s also another aspect of the climate conversation that has to be danced around: the politics of a specific city. While it’s rare to find a facility manager who isn’t aware of the threats posed by weather and climate, “what often happens is the adaptations and upgrades are being done quietly, because climate change can be a tricky topic to talk about in some parts of the country,” Orr said.
It’s also true that, for the most part, stadium repairs and renovations aren’t really headline-grabbing news. Fans aren’t particularly invested in what drainage systems a field is or isn’t using, so sports organizations aren’t compelled to share the news far and wide when it does happen. If the politics of a region dictate that fans care about climate-friendly renovations, then a team or venue can and will go all out, which is the case with Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena.
The venue opened to significant fanfare in late 2021 and is home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, and also hosts concerts. Named after Amazon’s 2019 Climate Pledge, the stadium “aims to set a new sustainability bar for the sports and events industry”. To that end, it is the first venue in the country to work toward net-zero certification. Tickets to sports events also double as free public transit passes, which reduces the number of people driving to and from games, and the arena and Amazon provide $500,000 in grants to regional nonprofits that work toward advancing environmental justice.
In the end, sports teams, cities, and even fans will have to continue to adapt to new realities that climate change has introduced. While conversations around climate change are often more disheartening (to put it mildly) than not, there are people around the US who are taking the right steps to meet challenges where they are.
And hey, at least baseball players might hit more home runs as the temperatures heat up, which is something. Right?
With Ishpeming trying to play catchup against Indian River Inland Lakes in the fourth quarter, Hematites quarterback Caden Luoma, top, throws the ball past a swarm of defenders that would get intercepted and effectively end their game played at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Sept. 28. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)
(first-place votes in parentheses)
———————–
11-player W-L Pts Pvs
1. Menominee (5) 7-0 25 1
Marquette quarterback Ford Richardson, left, picks up several yards before he would be pushed out of bounds by Escanaba’s Gavin Wagner at William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette on Oct. 4. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
2. Kingsford 7-0 20 2
3. Marquette 5-2 12 3
4. Iron Mountain 7-0 10 5
5. Negaunee 5-2 7 4
Others receiving votes: Calumet (4-3) 1
Ishpeming quarterback Caden Luoma gets tied up with Indian River Inland Lakes defenders while trying to make a gain in third quarter of their game played at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Sept. 28. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)
———————–
8-player W-L Pts Pvs
1. Forest Park (3) 7-0 23 1
2. Pickford (2) 7-0 22 2
3. North Central 6-1 13 4
4. Norway 6-1 12 3
5. Ishpeming
With Ishpeming trying to play catchup in the fourth quarter, Hematites quarterback Caden Luoma, top, throws the ball past a swarm of defenders that would get intercepted and effectively end their high school football game played at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)
With Ishpeming trying to play catchup in the fourth quarter, Hematites quarterback Caden Luoma, top, throws the ball past a swarm of defenders that would get intercepted and effectively end their high school football game played at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)
With Ishpeming trying to play catchup against Indian River Inland Lakes in the fourth quarter, Hematites quarterback Caden Luoma, top, throws the ball past a swarm of defenders that would get intercepted and effectively end their game played at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Sept. 28. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)
Marquette quarterback Ford Richardson, left, picks up several yards before he would be pushed out of bounds by Escanaba’s Gavin Wagner at William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette on Oct. 4. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Ishpeming quarterback Caden Luoma gets tied up with Indian River Inland Lakes defenders while trying to make a gain in third quarter of their game played at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Sept. 28. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)
MARQUETTE — Negaunee and Munising slipped a bit while Marquette was able to maintain its position in Upper Peninsula high school football polls after all three area teams lost last week.
And Ishpeming made a move back into the top five after the Hematites posted a rather convincing win.
All this is included in the weekly rankings among U.P. teams conducted each week by the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
Ishpeming blew out Sturgeon Bay Sevastopol, Wisconsin, 54-0 on Friday to move back into the No. 5 position in the eight-player ratings, but just barely.
The Hematites (4-2) drew two votes as previous fifth-place Munising (5-2), along with Bessemer (4-3) and Rudyard (4-3), each garnered a single vote and just missed the top five.
Munising lost a narrow 29-28 decision to Rudyard to slip in the rankings.
The top four teams in eight-player had minimal changes after each won last week. No. 1 Forest Park (7-0) remains one vote ahead of No. 2 Pickford (7-0) as the Trojans bounced Ironwood 58-8 and the Panthers pulled off an almost identical 58-0 shellacking of St. Ignace.
No. 3 North Central (6-1) switched spots with No. 4 Norway (6-1), with the Jets outscoring Ontonagon 78-43 and Knights sneaking by Newberry 36-30.
In 11-player, Negaunee (5-2) slipped a position to No. 5 after the Miners lost 34-19 after hosting unanimous No. 1 Menominee. This was easily the Maroons closest game so far this season.
Marquette (5-2) held onto No. 3 despite falling to Petoskey 28-23.
Iron Mountain (7-0) remained unbeaten and bumped past Negaunee into the No. 4 spot after the Mountaineers flew past Bark River-Harris 40-7.
Kingsford (7-0) remained a consensus No. 2 after handling Westwood 34-6, while Calumet (4-3) picked up a single vote after downing Hancock 47-18.
The Associated Press also releases statewide rankings for each MHSAA division, but those weren’t available by early Tuesday evening.
In area games this week, there are a quintet of contests scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday — Gwinn at L’Anse, Hancock at Westwood, Houghton at Negaunee, St. Ignace at Munising and Iron Mountain at Manistique. The Mid Peninsula at Ishpeming game also scheduled for that night was previously canceled.
On Saturday, Superior Central hosts Carney-Nadeau at 4 p.m., while Marquette entertains Cadillac at 6 p.m.
Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 552. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch talks with Derek Cornelius after the team’s friendly match against Mexico on Sept. 10 in Arlington, Tex.Tony Gutierrez/The Associated Press
One of the mixed blessings of playing host to a FIFA men’s World Cup is the qualification process, or more specifically, the lack thereof. So while Canada doesn’t have to sweat out its appearance at the 2026 tournament – it receives an automatic berth as one of the three co-hosts – it also doesn’t get exposed to the rigmarole of the qualifying campaign, which can help forge a team’s resilience as well as a winning attitude.
Instead, Canada will subsist largely on a steady diet of friendlies over the next couple of years, complemented by the occasional Gold Cup or Nations League contest. After two friendlies in September produced a win and a draw – against the United States and Mexico, respectively – Canada gets another chance on Tuesday at home to Panama.
The game in Toronto – head coach Jesse Marsch’s first match on Canadian soil since he took the position back in May – offers the chance to experiment with the team’s personnel, lineup and strategies.
With that in mind, Marsch has handed three former Canadian youth internationals – Jamie Knight-Lebel, Kwasi Poku and Santiago López – their first call-ups to the senior setup. However, while giving young players exposure to the full international experience is nice – rubbing shoulders with the likes of captain Alphonso Davies and others – when it comes to Tuesday’s match, Marsch is still playing to win.
“We’ve brought in different players to look at and expose them to what we do in the national team,” he said Sunday. “But in the end, we still want to go out and win this game. No question.”
Thinking outside the box and trying new things is all well and good – provided it works. England’s interim national-team manager, Lee Carsley, found himself as Exhibit A of what can happen when it doesn’t. Starting three No. 10s and no recognized centre forward in what turned out to be a home defeat to Greece last week, Carsley was pilloried in the English media as a result, proving there’s a vast difference between dipping your toe in the water and pushing the boat all the way out.
Thanks to a respectable first 10 games in charge of the national team – two wins, five draws and three defeats – Marsch says the attention that has come onto the men’s team has largely been positive, thanks in no small part to the fourth-place finish at Copa America. But after coaching stops in the United States, Germany, Austria and England, the 50-year-old is used to being second-guessed in the media and elsewhere.
“I’m older, you know, I’m used to being scrutinized and being called an idiot,” he said. “But what I’m focused on is making sure that the players have the type of environment where they can still be themselves and where they can focus on what we’re trying to achieve, and they can enjoy getting better.”
That environment hasn’t gone unnoticed by the players, either.
Toronto FC fullback Richie Laryea has played under his fair share of coaches as a 29-year-old – six at TFC alone – and in the matches he’s played under Marsch has grown to appreciate the American coach’s ability to take his share of risk when it comes to team selection.
“I think obviously experimenting and trying new things is good, and we need to be able to, as guys have said in the past, grow the depth on the team, see different guys, see different guys in different positions,” Laryea said. “I think this summer was evident of that. You saw guys step in and do really well.”
Winger Jacob Shaffelburg and central defender Moïse Bombito were two such breakout stars who returned to the international fold under Marsch and proved to be some of the better players at Copa America.
And whether it’s moving Davies around on the field to maximize his speed and skill, or sliding Laryea on to the wing from his usual fullback position, Marsch isn’t afraid to tinker with what has mostly been a successful lineup.
“I think with Jesse now, it doesn’t really matter the opponent,” Laryea said. “ … I don’t think he’s scared to put guys into the lineup and stuff like that.
“ … This is the time for our country. Whenever we step out, it has to be a good result for us, because we want to be able to climb and build heading into 2026.”
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WALL — The Class 2A D-II No. 7 Wall football team got off to a fast start scoring 27 points in the first half of its 33-10 win over Idalou on Friday at Hawk Stadium.
In a highly-anticipated matchup between teams that could meet in the playoffs, the Hawks (5-1) never trailed against the Wildcats (4-2). The last time they faced each other was in the regional semifinal in 2022, where Wall came away with a 30-0 victory.
Wall scored on the opening possession after Idalou attempted a surprise onside kick to start the game. The Wildcats tied the game on the next possession, but the Hawks outscored Idalou 20-3 before the first half concluded. The second half was less eventful as both teams struggled with turnovers on offense. The Hawks had six total turnovers and four came in the second half. Idalou quarterback Kutter Houchin threw three interceptions after coming into the game with four on the season.
“The turnovers were scary because we definitely have not been that,” Wall coach Craig Slaughter said. “As good as our offense was last week, tonight was a really poor offensive performance and hopefully we got that one out of our system.”
How it happened
York hit Reid Robertson for a 12-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead.
A high snap and sack-fumble gave Idalou the ball on the Hawks’ 11-yard line where Houchin hit Jenson Davis for a touchdown pass on the next play to tie the game.
The Hawks then marched down the field, scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run from Ethan Michalewicz to take a 14-0 lead.
More:Fan poll: Wall football’s Landon York voted Standard-Times Athlete of the Week
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Linebacker Garret Guy’s interception gave Wall the ball on Idalou’s 34-yard line. The Hawks scored on a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Thomas Leanos. Idalou responded with a long drive resulting in a 19-yard field goal.
On the next drive, York hit wide receiver Evan Boehle down the left sideline for a 78-yard touchdown pass — the game’s longest play from scrimmage. And the Hawks took a 27-10 lead into halftime.
Both teams traded turnovers until Wall came out with its jumbo package of three linebackers in the backfield with four minutes left. Linebacker Ethan Michalewicz broke off a 50-yard run before getting tackled inside the Idalou 10-yard line.
Defensive end Brylan White scored on a 1-yard touchdown run from the same jumbo formation, taking a 33-10 lead with 39 seconds left.
They said it
Wall coach Craig Slaughter on Michalewicz’s long run: “Michalewicz probably hasn’t had a run over 10 yards in his high school career. I mean, you know, we just hadn’t let him carry the ball much. I was like, ‘Let’s get in the big boy package and let’s change it up.’ And it was a great dive right there to end it.
Slaughter on having Briggs Jones back in the lineup: “It’s awesome. And we definitely didn’t do as good of a job letting him get loose tonight. But I know we will, and he’ll get up to game speed. He’ll play even better as he gets more comfortable. He’s an absolute weapon and incredible athlete.”
Up next
Wall begins its district schedule next week with a trip up to Merkel at 7 p.m. on Friday. With the loss, Idalou drops its second game in a row, but heads into an open week before hosting Roosevelt on Friday, Oct. 18.
Wall 33, Idalou 10
Wall 7 20 0 6 – 33
Idalou 7 3 0 0 – 10
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
W – Landon York 12-yard pass to Reid Robertson (Lane Stansberry kick).
ID – Kutter Houchin 11-yard pass to Jenson Davis (Gio Gutierrez kick)
Second quarter
W – Ethan Michalewicz 4-yard run (Lane Stansberry kick)
W – Thomas Leanos 1-yard run (Lane Stansberry kick)
ID – Gio Gutierrez 19-yard kick
W – Landon York 78-yard pass to Evan Boehle (Two-point attempt failed)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
W – Brylan White 1-yard run (kick failed)
Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @Paul_Witwer.
MURRAY— Murray High concluded a superb boys soccer regular season Thursday night with 7-1 victory over Paducah Tilghman at the Mallary France Soccer Complex.
That win gives the Tigers a 19-1 mark so far this season as postseason play arrives next week. The Blue Tornado, much improved this season evens its mark at 6-6-1.
The Tigers did not waste time in taking command of this contest, scoring four goals in the opening 25 minutes of play. Tiger Head Coach Jared Rosa also made certain that as many of his reserves saw action in this match as possible.
Max Rosa had a hat trick, plus one, in this win with two of those four goals coming within seconds of one another seven minutes into the match. That followed Jimmy Kjellberg’s goal that started the scoring five minutes into the match.
Nate Wyatt’s goal with 15 minutes left in the first half padded the lead to 4-0 by halftime. Rosa scored his third and fourth tallies early in the second half and it was left to Preston Key to end the scoring with about 15 minutes remaining in the last scheduled match of this season at Mallary France, though postseason could change that after Murray High’s girls hosted last year’s Region 1 Final Four.
PRINCETON — Road ventures to historic Butler Stadium in downtown Princeton have proven treacherous, over the years, for Calloway County in boys soccer as the host Tigers have given the Lakers some very close contests.
That was not the case Thursday night as the Lakers finished a very impressive regular season with a 13-3-1 record, taking a 2-0 lead into halftime, then imposing their will on the Tigers (3-10-2) in the second half. Oscar Avila had two goals in the win, while Zak Stark, Pablo Duque Iglesias, Ivan Damian, Canaan Bazzell and Yoni Damian all had a goal apiece.
Avila and Yoni also had two assists apiece, while Cole Thomas, Filipe Bertolini also had passes leading to goals.
Lady Lakers run into hot Marshall
MURRAY — Two of the hottest teams in western Kentucky high school volleyball were both in Murray Thursday night.
One of those teams, Marshall County, came to the Calloway Auxiliary Gymnasium for a 4th District matchup with the Lady Marshals looking to remain perfect in district play, and they did just that.
Marshall won for the ninth straight outing in running its season mark to 12-3 and 6-0 in the district and is three matches up in the loss column for first place. The Lady Marshals started with losses in two of their first matches this season.
Calloway, which had a program-best season in 2023, sweeping the district with a perfect 6-0 record and earning the top seed in the district tournament for the first time in school history. now stands at 1-4 in the district and 6-12 overall after beating district opponent Christian Fellowship in straight sets earlier this week, also in Murray.
Lady Tigers takes their cuts, but
can’t hang with tough Mayfield
MURRAY — The other hot team that was in Murray Thursday night was Mayfield, owner of Kentucky Region 1’s best record last season.
The Lady Cardinals may not reach 29 wins like 2023, but they are very formidable as they showed in a straight-sets win at Taylor Gymnasium/Rechelle Turner Court by scores of 25-12, 25-21, 25-15. Mayfield (18-7) has now won six of its last seven matches, while the Lady Tigers saw a two-match winning streak end in falling to 13-10.
Murray High Head Coach Carey Alexander said the Lady Cardinals’ defense was particularly impressive on Thursday as, in his words, ‘They never let the ball hit the floor.” However, he said his team was feisty and fought the bigger and more-experienced Lady Cardinals the whole way, with sophomore Deniah Tukasingura earning praise for her efforts at the net, as well as eighth grader Journie Merriss for her serving ability.
Lady Tigers ruin Senior Night
for Trigg County in Cadiz
CADIZ — After breaking a season-long three-match losing streak Saturday with a home win over Paducah Tilghman, Murray High extended a winning streak Monday night.
In the process, the Lady Tigers wrecked Senior Night festivities for host Trigg County with a straight-sets victory that marked their 13th of the season.
No set scores were available but Alexander said all three sets were quite lopsided in favor of the Lady Tigers Macy Chiles had nine kills, while Olivia Smee had seven of her team’s 18 service aces. Allison Rossi had five kills, while Allie Vonnahme had 15 assists.
Social media has revolutionised fan engagement with football clubs.
Chelsea, Manchester City and PSG are all examples of how success on the pitch can increase interest in a club.
Manchester United are only the third-most followed club in world football.
The way that football fans interact with their favourite team has changed drastically in recent years. As recently as the early 2000s, one of the most common ways people found out the latest news about their team was through Teletext. ClubCall was also introduced in the 1980s, where fans could ring up to find out the latest transfer information and team news.
Times have certainly changed with the growth of the internet and the popularity of social media platforms, such as X, Facebook and Instagram. While social media offers easy access to news and the ability for clubs to interact with their fans, it also has downsides, such as the abhorrent abuse that players often receive.
Instagram was launched in 2010 and is a platform used for uploading photos and videos to your followers. Teams have found it a useful channel to share content with their supporters. While not everybody who follows a sports team on a platform is necessarily a fan, the numbers do give an indication as to how popular a team is. In this list, we look at the 10 most followed football teams on Instagram.
10 Most Followed Football Teams on Instagram (2024)
Rank
Team
League
Followers (millions)
1.
Real Madrid
La Liga
167
2.
FC Barcelona
La Liga
129
3.
Manchester United
Premier League
64.2
4.
Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1
63.6
5.
Juventus
Serie A
60.4
6.
Manchester City
Premier League
54.7
7.
Liverpool
Premier League
45.8
8.
Bayern Munich
Bundesliga
42.5
9.
Chelsea
Premier League
42.2
10.
Arsenal
Premier League
29.9
10 Arsenal
Premier League
The Gunners had their golden era in the Premier League before Instagram existed, with their three Premier League crowns coming in 1998, 2002 and 2004. Although the club endured some difficult times after the move to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, the north London outfit now look like a real force under the guidance of Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal are back in contention for major honours, and playing an attractive style of football under Arteta. The club has worked hard to improve its popularity in recent years, not only on the pitch. They were the focus of the ‘All or Nothing’ documentary series for the 2021-22 campaign, which gave an inside look into the club and particularly some of Arteta’s team talks.
9 Chelsea
Premier League
Photo courtesy of Reuters.
Chelsea peaked at the perfect time to grow their social media presence. With Roman Abramovich’s heavy investment, the Blues became serial winners. When Instagram was launched in 2010, Chelsea were the defending Premier League champions. Two years later, they won the Champions League for the first time in their history. During Abramovich’s 19-year spell as owner, the club won 21 trophies.
Success often brings with it a good following, and Chelsea currently have 42.2 million followers on Instagram. After some disappointing seasons recently, the Blues have started well under new manager Enzo Maresca. Chelsea’s official account has managed to steer clear of any controversy over the years on the platform. However, the same can’t be said for some of their players.
8 Bayern Munich
Bundesliga
Photo courtesy of Reuters.
Germany’s most successful club, Bayern won 11 Bundesliga titles in a row between 2012-13 and 2022-23. Their dominance in Germany over the years has attracted some of the world’s best players to join the club, with the likes of Harry Kane and Leroy Sane currently playing there. As well as that, top managers like Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel have all been in charge at the club within the past decade.
Bayern have also been triumphant in Europe, winning the European Cup six times in their history – most recently in 2020. The club have a huge following on Instagram, with 42.5 million followers. The signings of Kim Min-jae and Hiroki Ito will have increased their appeal in Asia too. The club already have fan clubs set up in their respective native countries of South Korea and Japan.
7 Liverpool
Premier League
Photo courtesy of Reuters.
Liverpool are one of the most well-supported teams in the world due to decades of tradition and history at the club. Although the Reds had to wait 30 years to win their first Premier League title, the club won 18 top-flight crowns in the 20th century.
They are the most successful British side in Europe, having lifted the European Cup six times in their history, as well as the UEFA Cup three times and four UEFA Super Cups too. They have had some of the finest managers and players in the history of the game throughout each generation. Jurgen Klopp helped bring the good times back to Anfield and delivered the long-awaited Premier League title in 2020, just one of the eight major honours he lifted at the club.
Klopp also signed several top players during his time at Anfield, including one of the most followed footballers on Instagram in Mohamed Salah. This all adds to the appeal of the club, with the Reds having 45.8 million followers on Instagram. The future looks bright too, despite Klopp leaving in 2024, Liverpool have started well under new manager Arne Slot.
6 Manchester City
Premier League
Manchester City have emerged as a powerhouse in football over the past two decades. For many years, City were the “other team” in Manchester. Local rivals Manchester United won trophies almost every year, while the Citizens sometimes weren’t even playing in the top flight.
Their luck changed in 2008 when the club was bought by Abu Dhabi United Group, backed by the wealth of Sheikh Mansour. After hitting the jackpot off the pitch, City gradually developed a team capable of winning multiple trophies every season. It started with the FA Cup win over Stoke City in 2011, and by the end of the following season, they were champions of England.
The iconic title-winning goal from Sergio Aguero was a highlight during City’s early success under the new owners. Since the arrival of Pep Guardiola as manager in 2016, Manchester City have lifted six out of the eight Premier League titles available. After many years of trying, City finally lifted the Champions League in 2023, as part of a historic treble. With 54.7 million followers on Instagram, the club is beginning to build a fanbase across the globe.
5 Juventus
Serie A
Credit: REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
‘The Old Lady’ of Italian football, Juventus have won the most trophies in Italy by some distance. As with Bayern, Juventus enjoyed a particularly dominant period shortly after Instagram launched, with nine consecutive Serie A titles between 2011-12 and 2019-20. During this time, they also finished runners-up in the Champions League in 2015 and 2017.
Some of the world’s best players have donned the famous black and white stripes, including Cristiano Ronaldo between 2018 and 2021. Juventus are well-supported across the globe, and unlike a lot of other Italian clubs, their appeal stretches beyond just their home city of Turin.
There have been dark moments throughout their recent history, including being relegated to Serie B and stripped of their titles in 2005 and 2006 as part of the ‘Calciopoli’ scandal. Despite this, the club has bounced back and remains popular worldwide. Juventus have 60.4 million followers on Instagram and are the only Italian club on the list.
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4 Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1
Another club that has been backed by the riches of foreign owners in the Instagram era, Paris Saint-Germain were taken over by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011. In their 13 years at the club, a number of star names, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have all played for the club.
As many as 10 of the 12 league titles the club have won have been since the Qatari takeover, but PSG have built a very marketable brand off the pitch too. Their collaboration with Nike and their Jordan brand has helped to boost merchandise sales beyond what most clubs are capable of. The appeal of playing in one of the world’s most famous cities also helps, as they sit fourth on the list with 63.6 million followers on Instagram.
3 Manchester United
Premier League
Photo courtesy of Reuters.
Manchester United‘s success on the pitch throughout Sir Alex Ferguson‘s 27 years at the club won the support of many fans from across the globe. United dominated in the early years of the Premier League, winning 13 titles between 1993 and 2013. This helped overtake rivals Liverpool for the number of overall league titles won – with United one ahead on 20 top-flight triumphs.
United were ahead of the game when it came to marketing and commercial appeal, regularly playing matches abroad in pre-season to increase their popularity in different regions of the world before it became common. This, along with decades of winning on the pitch with star players, has helped the club become the third-most followed team on Instagram with 64.2 million followers.
2 FC Barcelona
La Liga
‘Mes Que Un Club’ or ‘More Than a Club’ is Barcelona’s club motto. FC Barcelona is a symbol of Catalonia, the region they represent. Many people fell in love with the tiki-taka brand of football played at Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, as Lionel Messi developed into one of the best players of all-time.
A club with a proud tradition of producing top talents, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol are just a few examples of players to have come from the famous ‘La Masia’ academy. Barcelona are another team that have won many trophies since Instagram launched. Seven league titles and two Champions League crowns are just some of the honours won during that time. Barcelona have the second-highest number of followers on Instagram, with 129 million.
1 Real Madrid
La Liga
Real Madrid are the most decorated club in both Spanish and European football. Their 15 European Cups are a record, as are the club’s 36 top-flight titles won in Spain.
The capital outfit has had superstar players across every generation. From Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo Di Stefano in the 1950s and ’60s, to modern-day Real Madrid with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, star players always find a home in Madrid. The ‘Galacticos’ era at the club saw a whole team filled with talent, including David Beckham, Luis Figo and Ronaldo, and increased the appeal of the club worldwide. Like Manchester United, Real Madrid weren’t afraid to test out other markets, such as Asia, to increase their commercial appeal.
Statistics in this article via Instagram. Correct as of 30-09-2024.
The path to Indianapolis has been set for the state’s soccer teams with the IHSAA sectional pairings announcement on Sunday.
The Bloomington-Martinsville-Bedford area’s girls teams will compete in sectional play at Terre Haute North (Class 3A) and Cascade (2A) while the boys will compete at Bloomington South (3A), Jennings County (3A), Edgewood (2A), Greencastle (2A) and White River Valley (1A).
Here’s how the draws lined up locally, with complete brackets available at ihsaa.org:
Girls soccer draw
3A at Terre Haute North
Bloomington South (10-3-1), ranked 17th and last year’s state runner-up, gets a short path to the finals, placed in the bottom bracket semifinal vs. Bedford North Lawrence (3-9).
Up top, Martinsville (7-7) and Terre Haute North (2-12) play in the first-round opener, followed by Bloomington North (5-9) and Terre Haute South (10-3-2). The Patriots topped the Cougars 3-0 in their conference match. Thanks in part to critical injuries, North has just three goals in its last 11 games.
Winner plays host to Columbus East Sectional winner in regional semis with the regional finals at Seymour.
2A at Cascade
Edgewood (12-1), having the best season in program history, will start its postseason run against rival Owen Valley (3-9) in the sectional opener. The Mustangs were 4-0 winners in their WIC contest. Danville (8-7) has played a rugged schedule and meets Northview (7-6) in the other first-round pairing.
More:How a perfect fit has led to a perfect start for Edgewood girls soccer
The host Cadets (6-7-1) and West Vigo (5-8) got byes to the bottom bracket semis.
Winner is at Speedway Sectional champ for regional semifinals with the finals at Bishop Chatard.
Boys soccer draw
3A at Bloomington South
First round features Bloomington vs. Terre Haute rematches as North Cougars (9-3-1) get North Patriots (6-8) and No. 8 South Panthers (12-1) get struggling South Braves (1-11). Both Bloomington schools won their conference meetings in shutouts.
Martinsville (11-1-2) and Mooresville (6-8) meet in the bottom semifinals. The Arties’ only loss is 2-1 to South with ties against Plainfield and Bloomington North.
Center Grove Sectional winner travels to Bloomington South winner for regional semifinals, with the finals at Seymour.
3A at Jennings County
Bedford North Lawrence (7-5-1) drew a first-round matchup with Jeffersonville (3-8-2), made more interesting after their conference matchup ended in a 2-2 tie. The other first-round match has Floyd Central (7-5-2) taking on Jennings County (0-11-3).
The bottom bracket semi pits New Albany (5-6-3) vs. Seymour (9-5). The Stars face Seymour and Floyd Central in the final week of the regular season.
The sectional champion travels to the Castle Sectional champ for the regional semifinals with the finals at Seymour
2A at Edgewood
Indian Creek (7-3-2) will start off against No. 9 Cascade (11-1), whose only loss is to Bishop Chatard. That will be followed by the host Mustangs (2-10), who got a tough draw in Danville (10-3-1).
The bottom bracket semifinal matchup is Monrovia (7-11) vs. Brown County (0-12).
Winner travels to the Greencastle Sectional champ for regional semifinals with the finals at Bishop Chatard.
2A at Greencastle
Owen Valley (4-7-1) has been sent up US 231 to Greencastle and gets the first-round bye in this group of five and will play the winner between West Vigo (3-9) and the host Tiger Cubs (8-5-1), the only team here with a winning record.
The other semifinal has Sullivan (4-8-2) facing Northview (5-7).
The winner plays host to the Edgewood Sectional champ in the regional semifinals, with the finals at Bishop Chatard.
1A at White River Valley
Lighthouse Christian (2-6-2) and Mitchell (5-4-3) will get the affair started, followed by Shoals (8-5-1) and Bloomfield (4-4-2). Those winners meet in the first semifinal while the second is a battle between Eastern Greene (4-7-2) and the favorites, the 14th ranked Wolverines of WRV (10-1-2).
Mitchell (2015) owns the only sectional title in the group.
The winner travels to the South Knox Sectional champ for the regional semifinals, with the finals at Providence.
West York’s Jayden Welch (4) tackles Eastern York’s Nuh’si Valenti (20) during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
Eastern York’s Ijaimi Valenti (10) hits West York’s Gaven Smith with a stiff arm during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
Eastern York punter Blake Manzanet (9) falls on an errant snap, which set up a West York score, during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York’s Issac Roberts (7) celebrates a touchdown against Eastern York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
Eastern York’s Nuh’si Valenti outruns a shirt-tail tackle by West York’s Daegan Trostel during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York quarterback Jensen Ferber (10) holds onto the ball as an Eastern York defender brings him down during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
Eastern York’s Nuh’si Valenti (20) evades multiple West York defenders during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
An Eastern York defender knocks the ball away from West York’s Isaac Roberts (7) during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York celebrates a touchdown by Isaac Roberts (7) against Eastern York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York defends Eastern York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York’s Aiden Leach (54) defends against Eastern York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
Eastern York’s Kamal Brown (3) tries to shed a tackle by West York’s Janziel Torres (13) during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York takes on Eastern York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
Eastern York’s Quinn Bramble is swarmed by West York defenders during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York defenders double up to stop Eastern York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York takes on Eastern York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York takes on Eastern York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
Eastern York’s Quinn Bramble drops back to pass and attempts to see through the fog against West York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18.
Bil Bowden For The York Dispatch
West York takes on Eastern York during York-Adams Division II football action Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Eastern York High School in Wrightsville. The visiting Bulldogs won the battle of unbeatens, 20-18, in a heavy mist.
