Dixmont, Leeds bowlers advance to national tourney
NEWPORT, Maine — Jakob Harzewski of Dixmont and Alexandriah Gagne-Robertson of Leeds qualified for the 2016 Junior Gold Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the Maine State Junior Gold Bowlers fourth tourney of the season Saturday.
Harzewski, who bowls out of the Family Fun Bowling Center in Bangor, rolled a five-game total of 878 to earn an under-20 berth while Gagne-Robertson of Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston recorded a 731 to take an U15 berth.
Harzewski also won the U20 tourney while Christopher Haney of Brewer and Family Fun captured the U15 crown, earned through head-to-head matches.
U20 High Games: Nate Boothby 202, 186; Chris Goulette 201; Jakob Harzewski 191, 181, 180; Zachary Lessard 187, 178; Corey Ridley 185; Matthew Douglas 183; Ben Furrow 182; Preston Kincaid 179; U15: Parker Thibault 177; Chris Haney 175; Alley Gagne-Robertson 172.
UMaine’s Johnson, Bates named All-New England
ORONO, Maine — University of Maine football players Bruce Johnson and Trevor Bates have been named to the 2015 Division-I All-New England Football team. Johnson has also been named a College Sports Madness 2015 FCS Football All-American.
Johnson, an All-CAA selection, started all 11 games at center for the Black Bears and led an offensive line which ranked tied for fourth in sacks allowed (18), down 23 from a year ago.
Bates, who was selected to the All-CAA first team, finished the year second on the team with 57 tackles and led the team in sacks with 7.5.
Bates ranked third in the league in tackles for loss (14.5) and third in sacks while adding two pass breakups, a forced fumble and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Broncos coach Kubiak unsure of starting QB
Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak created some news on Monday by not naming a starting quarterback for next Sunday’s game.
In each of the past four weeks, Kubiak announced during his Monday press conference that Brock Osweiler would be the team’s starting quarterback for the next game.
On this Monday, however, Kubiak said he was not ready to name a starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That means Peyton Manning may be back in the starting lineup this week.
Osweiler is 3-1 as the Broncos’ starting quarterback, but Kubiak has said all along that Manning would be the starter when he is healthy. However, now Kubiak has to wait until later in the week to determine whether Manning is healthy enough to play.
“I’ve got to see where (Manning) is at,” Kubiak said on the Broncos website. “We’ve got to talk through his situation, where we’re at, and talk to ‘Greek’ (head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos).”
Manning, 39, has been sidelined with a variety of injuries, the most serious of which is a foot injury.
Ducks’ Thompson suspended three games
Anaheim Ducks forward Nate Thompson has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Monday.
The incident occurred at 6:25 of the first period in the Hurricanes’ 5-1 win on Friday night. Thompson was assessed a major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct, while Faulk was able to stay in the game.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Thompson will forfeit $25,806.45. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Eagles’ Kelly intends to sign Bradford after season
PHILADELPHIA — Quarterback Sam Bradford will be a free agent after the season, but Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly made it clear Monday that he has every intention to re-sign the 28-year-old passer he traded for last March.
“We always wanted Sam here,” the Eagles coach said. “We wouldn’t have traded for him if we thought he was going to be here for a year.”
The Eagles acquired Bradford in March for Nick Foles and a second-round pick after Bradford missed most of the last two seasons with back-to-back ACL tears.
But the knee has held up fine this season and Bradford’s play has continued to improve as he has gotten more comfortable with his teammates and Kelly’s offensive system.
Bradford’s passer rating in his last four starts is 97.5. He has completed 65.2 percent of his passes, averaged 7.3 yards per pass and thrown five touchdowns and only one interception in those four starts.
