Section: SPO http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/SPO SPO stories from The Capital Newspaper at HometownAnnapolis.com. en Copyright (c) 2009, Capital Gazette Communications Inc., Annapolis, MD 21401 Sun, 08 Nov 09 13:26:01 +0000 nlundskow@capitalgazette.com (Editor, New Media) technician@hometownannapolis.com (HTA Technicians) <![CDATA[N.C. State holds on, tops Terps]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-30/SPO RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina State's players got back to the locker room just in time to watch the tape-delayed broadcast of the game-clinching defensive series on television.

After the month the Wolfpack had, it was a moment worth watching again.

Russell Wilson threw three touchdowns and ran for another, and N.C. State snapped its four-game losing streak by holding off Maryland 38-31 yesterday in a matchup of the ACC A...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-30/SPO <![CDATA[Fleischmann rallies Capitals past Panthers 7-4]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-07/SPO

Washington played a third straight game without Ovechkin, who has an...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-07/SPO <![CDATA[Hurry-up offense sets winning pace for Ravens]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-44/SPO OWINGS MILLS - Joe Flacco frenetically rushes to the line of scrimmage, signaling with his hands and barking out orders as the play clock ticks down toward zero.

The Baltimore Ravens' quarterback calmly looks over the defense before dropping back to deliver yet another completion with his rocket arm.

Then, he repeats the accelerated sequence without once huddling up to slow down the pace.

The Ravens' no-huddle offens...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-44/SPO <![CDATA[Ravens, Bengals put emphasis on rematch]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-47/SPO Big picture driving AFC North opponents

CINCINNATI - It was a dizzying blur that left the Baltimore Ravens' proud defense stinging with anger at being humbled on their turf and shaking their heads in the locker room afterward.

The final moments of the Ravens' 17-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last month were defined by costly defensive penalties and coverage breakdowns that enabled Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer to e...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-47/SPO <![CDATA[Redskins' defense meets expectations, hasn't made difference]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-22/SPO ASHBURN, Va. - After signing his $100 million contract in February, Albert Haynesworth readily discussed how his presence might make the Washington Redskins defense better.

"What I should have said," Haynesworth said this week, "is we'll get some more wins. That's the thing I failed to mention."

For the most part, the Redskins' expectations for Haynesworth and the rest of the defense have come to pa...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-22/SPO <![CDATA[Falcons, Skins try to break out of ruts]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-58/SPO ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Falcons are eager to break free of their mostly inglorious past, show they can be a team that consistently puts up winning records and contends for the playoffs.

Time to end that losing streak.

For the first time in Mike Smith's two years as coach, the Falcons have lost consecutive games. Certainly, there's no need for panic - Atlanta lost a pair of road games to Dallas (5-2) and unbeaten New Orl...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-58/SPO <![CDATA[College Top 25: Time runs out on Iowa streak]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-37/SPO IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - No. 8 Iowa finally ran out of time.

Northwestern's Dan Persa threw a touchdown pass and Marshall Thomas recovered a fumble for another score to help the Wildcats snap the Hawkeyes' 13-game winning streak with a 17-10 victory yesterday.

It was the first win over a top-10 opponent for the Wildcats (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) since knocking off then-No. 6 Ohio State 33-27 in overtime in 2004. It also ended the n...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-37/SPO <![CDATA[Motivated Air Force soars over Army]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-11/SPO AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - Air Force linebacker Andre Morris Jr. didn't lead the team in tackles, didn't have any sacks, and didn't really turn in any spectacular plays.

Still, he may have made the biggest impact of all in Air Force's 35-7 win over Army yesterday.

Morris motivated his teammates with a halftime rant inside the locker room, lighting a desperately needed fire under the Falcons. Dominated by an am...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-11/SPO <![CDATA[College Roundup]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-40/SPO NAVY VOLLEYBALL: Clutch plays down the stretch allowed the Navy volleyball team to record a four-set victory over Army on Friday night at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis. The Midshipmen topped the Black Knights, who entered the match with a 10-0 record in the Patriot League, by scores of 26-24, 25-20, 21-25, 25-20 before an overflow crowd of nearly 600 fans.

Yesterday, 24 attack errors and a hitting percentage of .034 cost ...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-40/SPO <![CDATA[College Notebook: College halls of fame kicked open for county athletes]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-25/SPO Two Anne Arundel County athletes were inducted into their respective collegiate halls of fame this fall. Shady Side native Dale Castro was enshrined in the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame for his kicking exploits while Owings resident Trevor Perkins was accorded the same honor for his performance as a football player at Wesley College.

Castro was a record-setting place-kicker and punter for Maryland from 1977-80, earning co...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-25/SPO <![CDATA[Zenyatta wins Classic in sensational fashion]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-36/SPO ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - What a gal!

Zenyatta overcame early trouble to beat the boys in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic yesterday, running her record to 14-0 in the most impressive effort of her career.

The 5-year-old mare rallied from last after a poor start and fought off Gio Ponti in the stretch to win by a length at Santa Anita, beating a loaded field of 11 males and becoming the first female to win the Classic in its ...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-36/SPO <![CDATA[Examining fact, fiction of NASCAR competition]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-71/SPO FORT WORTH, Texas - A race that featured 58 lead changes boring? Two cars upside down in the final laps and the talk is about single-file racing earlier in the event?

NASCAR faces a dilemma about its racing.

Complaints by some fans about last week's Talladega race points to a deeper issue about competition. Yet, what is good racing and are fans seeing it this season?

Only each fan can answer if they're happy with wha...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-71/SPO <![CDATA[Mickelson takes lead over Woods in China]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-32/SPO SHANGHAI (AP) - Phil Mickelson was unwinding from a day of high energy and quick turnarounds, one that took him from a two-shot deficit against Tiger Woods to a two-shot lead over the final eight holes yesterday in the HSBC Champions.

In the quiet of the clubhouse dining room, he marveled at how much the crowds have grown in the three years he has been coming to Sheshan International. And he could only imagine what it would be like toda...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-32/SPO <![CDATA[William & Mary shuts out Towson State 31-0]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-08/SPO

Jonathan Grimes and Courtland Marriner each scored on 2-yard runs for the Tribe (8-1, 5-1 Colonial Athletic Association).

The Tribe has won four games in a row and has equal...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-08/SPO <![CDATA[ABA's Maryland Marvels announce roster]]> http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-49/SPO After an extensive series of tryouts and exhibition games, the Maryland Marvels selected 10 members for its 2009-2010 basketball roster. The American Basketball Association team will be playing its home games at Severn School this winter.

Team members include:

Rogers Barnes (Howard County), Guard, 6-1, 190 pounds; played for Morgan State University

Eric Bigby (Prince George's County), Forward, 6-6, 205; played for Libert...

]]> unknown@hometownannapolis.com (Unknown) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/11_08-49/SPO