The 2011 Penn Relays had wonderful energy that just seemed to fill Franklin Field. From the nervous excitement of the athletes to the passion of the fans and families, everyone was thrilled that this year’s event had finally arrived. The Penn Relays have always drawn a great deal of attention to the “USA vs The World” races, and this Saturday was no different.
The Jamaican fans had the stadium rocking (causing multiple delays to the start, as the runners couldn’t hear their starter). The Men’s 4×100 USA vs World produced dominate showings from both USA squads (Blue and Red). Germany was out on the first exchange due to a vicious fall, which may have slowed Jamaica and dashed their hopes at the title.
The weather was sunny and warm and the track was fast. The LSU tigers had a great showing, leaving with four titles while Villanova’s weekend ended on a somewhat disappointing note.
The carnival, outside of the stands, also had a lot to offer, from a massive Nike “playground” with hair cuts, makeup, and photoshoots for all the young stars, to custom printed shirts produced on-site.
The 2011 Broad St run was about 20 degrees cooler than last year’s race which seemed to really hype up the crowd of close to 30,000 runners. Mayor Nutter was on hand and spoke to the virtues of the race and all the runners who support it.
The wheel chair participants took off at 8:25am and were followed by the sea of runners, lead by the Elite class, at 8:30am. The elite runners quickly separated themselves into a small group of five by mile 1, which dwindled to 3 by the time they hit center city.
From there it was a pace set by Martin Fagan who was matched in perfect harmony by Ketena Migusse and Deresse Deniboda. Fagan set the pace from the very start but was unable to hold of Migusse in the last mile when the sprint started. Migusse bested his second place finish from last year and posted a time of 46 min and 29 seconds. Fagan was second with 46:42 and Deniboda with a 46:46.
You can view of full photo slideshow of the Penn Relay’s and The Broad Street Run below [photo credits: Christian Hafer]:
The 5-1 Villanova Wildcats opened the Big Five portion of their schedule against the 3-3 St. Joseph’s Hawks at the Pavilion on Friday night. Villanova was 3-1 in the City Series games last year, and even more impressively, winners of 21 of its last 23 games against Big Five opponents. The Wildcats entered the game ranked at Number 12 in this week’s Associated Press poll.
Jay Wright & Corey Fisher
The game, which was originally scheduled to start at 8:30 PM, tipped fifteen minutes later in a move made for television (the game was broadcast nationally on ESPNU).
Corey Fisher Floater in the Lane
Fueled by a 16-5 run to start the second half, Villanova took a commanding twenty-one point lead, 54-33, and went on to beat the St. Joe’s Hawks by a final score of 71-60. Corey Stokes led the Cats with 17 points. He was joined in double figures by Antonio Pena, Corey Fisher, and Dominic Cheek, each of whom scored 14 points. Pena was the leading rebounder with 14, followed closely by Mouphtaou Yarou with 12 boards.
Antonio Pena Dunking
Villanova dressed only nine players, including two walk-ons. Neither Maurice Sutton or Isaiah Armwood were in uniform having each sustained an injury in practice (Armwood before practice began and Sutton at the very end of practice). Armwood was out with a back injury and Sutton with a foot injury. At the post game press conference, Coach Jay Wright called both injuries “freak occurrences”. Freshman James Bell saw his first action in a home-game this season (he played in the final minute of the loss to Tennessee at Madison Square Garden) scoring the first basket of his career at Villanova in the first half.
James Bell Checks in for The First Time at Villanova
Corey Fisher had 8 assists and no turnovers to pace the Cats. Overall Villanova had 19 assists and 11 turnovers.
Phil Martelli in the Ref's Ear
The Cats led at intermission 38-28, after the Hawks, coached by Phil Martelli, jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead to start the game. What was most notable about the first half was that the first foul of the game was not called until the 10:59 mark (it was called on Villanova). The first foul on the Hawks was called at the 8:21 mark. A total of nine fouls were whistled in the entire first half; 6 on the Hawks and 3 on the Wildcats. In fact for the entire game, only 22 fouls were called, 15 against St. Joe’s and 7 on Villanova.
Carl Jones
Once again the Wildcats shooting was a cause for concern. The Cats hit 38.5% for the game, hitting 25 of 65 shots. From three point range, the Cats managed 7 of 23 or 30.4%. The Cats converted 14-19 free throws ,a 73.7% clip. When asked after the game if he thought that the Wildcat’s outside shooting was cause for concern, Coach Wright replied that he didn’t think it was yet, but it was getting to that point. He continued by saying that he has a lot of faith in Maalik Wayns, Corey Fisher, and even Antonio Pena’s abilities to knock down three-pointers, adding that Dominic Cheek has been doing a great job.
Maalik Wayns Up & Under
The Hawks shot 41% from the field, hitting 25 shots out of 61 attempts. St. Joe’s hit on 8 of their 23 three point attempts. Leading scorer for the Hawks was Carl Jones with 19. Villanova won the rebounding battle 48 to 34. C.J. Aiken, the Hawks’ Freshman Center, had 7 blocks for St. Joe’s.
C.J. Aiken
In attendance was Steve Lappas, former Villanova Coach, who sat on press row and Eagles running back LeSean “Shady” McCoy who sat in a front row seat.
LeSean "Shady" McCoy
Next up for Villanova is another Big Five matchup wth the Penn Quakers at the Palestra at 7pm on December 8th. Tomorrow Villanova’s football team begins play in the FCS playoffs in Texas against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. The game will be televised locally on channel 57 beginning at 3:30 p.m.
2010: One of The Phillies League Best 95 WinsRoy Halladay Delivers the First Official Pitch of 2010 Season
The Philadelphia Phillies finished the 2010 Major League season with a 97-65 record, the best in all of baseball. After winning the World Series over the Rays in 2008 and losing last year’s World Series to the Yankees, the Phillies seem poised to make another run into late October/early November.
Phillies Win Fourth Straight NL East Title
Up first for the Fightins is the Cincinnati Reds who made the playoffs for the first time since 1995 after winning the NL Central with 91 wins.
Ryan Howard
The Phillies closed out August and September in post season form going 41-18 in late summer. There are also many additions to this 2010 Phillies that make them more dangerous than the 2009 or 2008 clubs.
Cliff Lee in 2009 NLDS
The first, and most obvious, is the starting pitching. Gone is Cliff Lee, the best pitcher the Phillies had last post-season. Instead the Phillies will turn to Roy Halladay (who will take the mound in game 1). Halladay is the front-runner for the NL Cy Young Award. In 2010 he became the first Phillies pitcher since Steve Carlton to record 20+ wins (finishing with 21). He finished the season as the team leader in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.
Phillies Ace: Roy Halladay
Roy Oswalt has been nothing short of spectacular since joining the Phillies. In his 12 starts since he joined the team Oswalt has a 7-1 record with a 1.74 ERA. His only loss came in his first game with Philadelphia just one day after being traded from Houston.
Finally, but no less important, is 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamel’s return to dominant form. Hamels posted a career best 3.06 ERA this season while also setting a career best in strikeouts with 211.
Cole Hamels Returned to Form in 2010
With three legitimate number one pitchers, and no need to use a fourth starter in the NLDS, the Phillies are in very good shape.
Then there is the return of Brad Lidge to the Lights Out closer the Phillies can rely on in the 9th inning. Lidge finished the season with 27 saves in 32 chances and down the stretch he really looked like the guy that helped the Phillies win it all in 2008 (instead of the guy that made Phillies fans all hold their breath with nervousness last year).
Lidge is a Big Piece of the 2010 Phillies Playoff Puzzle
The pitching alone would give Phillies fans more than enough to be hopeful about this post-season, but wait, there’s more.
Placido Polanco
The Phillies added third baseman Placido Polanco before the start of the 2010 season and Polanco ended the regular season as the club leader in batting average (.298) and had a .988 fielding average committing just five errors.
Wilson Valdez
Last season the Phillies didn’t have a bench that was up to the task. In 2010 they head into the post-season with a much improved bench that boasts new faces like Ross Gload, Mike Sweeney, Domonic Brown, Wilson Valdez, and Brian Schneider. The only hold-over from last year appears to be Ben Francisco who ended the final few games of the season as hot as anyone on the team.
Raul Ibanez at Bat Against the Reds
Phillies Catcher Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz
Underneath all of the new editions and reasons for Phillies fans to get excited this post-season, is the best top to bottom line-up in baseball: Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, Raul Ibanez, and Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz, batting out of the eight hole, never ceases to amaze in October.
Ryan Howard: Big Man, Big Swing
Phillies 2nd Baseman Chase Utley
What does Cincinnati bring to the table?
The Big Red Machine: Joey Votto
The Reds were the only team in the National League to score more runs than the Phillies this season. First baseman Joey Votto is the front-runner to win the league’s 2010 MVP award (finishing with 37 home runs, 113 RBI, and a .324 batting average). They also have ex-Phillie Scott Rolen at third base who, along with outfielder Jay Bruce, chipped in another 45 long balls for the Reds (Brandon Phillips and Drew Stubbs contributed another 40 home runs).
Likely 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto at Bat
Brandon Phillips Batting Against the Phillies
The big question for the Reds is their pitching.
Cincinnati Long Ball
Bronson Arroyo led the team in wins with 17, Johnny Cueto was first in both ERA (3.64) and strikeouts (138), and game one starter Edinson Volquez finished the season on a high note (31 K’s, 8 BB, and 17 hits in over 27 innings of work).
The Reds Led the NL in Runs Scored in 2010
In the end, with their dangerous line-up and above average pitching, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Reds win a game in this short series but the Phillies are the more talented team and know what it takes to win in the post-season. The Phillies went 5-2 against the Reds in the regular season. Our prediction is Phillies win in 4.
Ryan Howard at Bat vs. The Reds
Make sure to check back as Independent Philly will be at Citizen’s Bank Park to capture the action this week and will also be making in-depth predictions for each round of the post-season as the Phillies attempt to capture their second World Series title in three years.
**UPDATE: Placido Polanco was forced to sit out game one with a back injury and Wilson Valdez got the start at 3rd base. In his first post-season appearance ever, Roy Halladay threw only the second no-hitter (first since the 1950’s) in MLB playoff history. The Phillies won the game 4-0 over the Reds**
The Villanova Wildcats (2-1) squared off against its Big Five rival the Penn Quakers (1-0) of the Ivy League at Villanova stadium last night.. Overall, coming into the game, Villanova lead the series between the teams 9-5. Last year the Wildcats beat the feisty Quakers 14 -3 at Franklin Field. Penn has not beaten Villanova in football in 99 years.
Wildcat
Last week, Villanova beat up on CAA league opponent Towson 43- 7. Penn, playing its first game of the season last weekend, beat Lafayette 19- 14. Both teams appeared in the latest Sports Network top 25 poll – Villanova in the top-spot and Penn at number 24.
Quaker Meeting
Just as in previous years, Villanova and Penn engaged in a backyard brawl. Penn got on the board first on a 2 yard touchdown run by Brandon Colavita culminating a 17 play, 80 yard drive with 11:37 left in the second quarter.
Penn Head Coach Al Bagnoli
During the drive, Penn lost starting running-back Lyle Marsh with a broken forearm. Villanova got on the board a few minutes later on a safety when Penn snapped the ball over quarterback Billy Ragone’s head and the ball was batted out of the end zone.
Penn QB Billy Ragone
The Wildcats came right back on their next possession, a 7 play, 42 yard march, with Angelo Babbaro slashing in for a touchdown from a yard out.
Babbaro was filling in for Matt Szczur who was injured early in the game with an ankle sprain and did not return. At the half, Villanova led 9-7.
Matt Szczur Watches From the Sideline
After a scoreless, but exciting third quarter Penn drove from its own 10 yard line to the Villanova 2 yard line where the drive stalled. Andrew Samson kicked a 19 yard field goal to put the Quakers up 10-9 with just over 9 minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
Villanova Head Coach Andy Talley
Villanova rallied and drove the ball down field and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 21 yard hook-up from Chris Whitney to Norman White. Whitney was 10 of 12 passing on the day for 155 yards. White caught four balls for 61 yards to lead the Wildcats. Villanova tried for a two-point conversion but were unsuccessful.
Blue N. White
On Penn’s next possession, Villanova sealed the game when James Pitts intercepted the ball and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown to put Villanova ahead 22-10.
QB Billy Ragone Handing-off
In addition to Szczur’s injury, Villanova linebacker Anthony Johnson left the game with a knee injury.
Normally Peaceful Quakers Using a Shotgun (formation)
“They played their usual hard-nosed, tough, tough game against us,” Villanova coach Andy Talley said of Penn’s effort.
Chris Whitney Lined Up at WR
Aaron Ball led the Wildcats with 81 rushing on 16 carries (including a 51 yard run which ended when the ball was punched out from behind by the Quaker’s Josh Powers, which Penn recovered). Lyle Marsh led the Quakers with 40 yards on 8 carries.
Final Score
Up next for the Wildcats is a road game this coming Saturday against league rival William & Mary.
For more photos from the game, check out our photo gallery:
On a perfect day for a football game (70 degrees and sunny) the 2-0 Temple Owls of the Mid-American Conference took on the Connecticut Huskies (1-1) from the Big East Conference at Lincoln Financial Field. Saturday’s game was the 12th meeting between the two schools in a series that dates back to 1963. The teams last met in 2008 with UCONN winning 12-9 in overtime.
Chester Stewart
The game was exciting from start to finish with UCONN scoring first on a 36 yard field goal.
Jordan Todman (23) and the UCONN Big Boys
Temple then took the lead 7-3 in the second half on a 27 yard screen pass from Chester Stewart to Bernard Pierce but Connecticut connected on a second Dave Teggart field-goal to draw with in a point of Temple at the half.
Chester Stewart Hands Off to Bernard Pierce
As the second half began UCONN quickly recaptured the lead 13-7 on a 59 yard touchdown run by Jordan Todman. At the 5:21 mark in the same quarter, Bernard Pierce scored his second touchdown for the Owls and Temple regained the lead 14-13.
Chad Christen
The third quarter ended with UCONN up 16-14 on the strength of a 47 yard field-goal by Teggart with under a minute to play.
Bernard Pierce Carries the Rock
In the final quarter of play Jordan Todman who had gained 192 yards on 26 carries fumbled the ball and Temple’s Adrian Robinson recovered the ball and returned it 24 yards for a defensive touchdown.
Anthony Sherman
Temple’s Bernard Pierce again found the endzone for his third touchdown to give Temple a 27-16 lead. Pierce finished the day with 169 yards on 26 carries.
Adrian Robinson
With less than a minute to play, the Owl’s kicker Brandon McManus added a field-goal to give Temple a 30-16 win over the Huskies.
Zach Frazer Passing Down Field
After wins over 2009 FCS Champions Villanova, 2009 MAC Champions Central Michigan, and now UCONN, Temple is sitting pretty at 3-0. The Owl’s next game is in Happy Valley on Saturday as coach Al Golden leads Temple as they take on Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nitany Lions.
Baby Owls
To view the complete photo gallery from this game please follow this link:
Independent Philly 
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