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How Acalanes ran away with the NorCal 3-AA championship: “Our superpower is speed”

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

LAFAYETTE – Before the third quarter rain, before the fourth quarter running clock, and before Acalanes celebrated the program’s first NorCal title by housing the 3-AA trophy after routing Escalon 49-14, the victors survived a long first-quarter drive.The run-heavy Cougars methodically drove the ball downfield on a nine-play drive, keeping the ball away from Acalanes and chewing up clock using an old-school wing-T offense.But after six minutes, all of that progress was undone in 10 seconds as a flash of blue and white, also known as Acalanes senior Trevor Rogers, jumped in front of a pass at around the 2- yard line, ran downfield, cut back inside to shake any pursuers, and strolled into the end zone for a 7-0 Acalanes lead.That’s how the game went: Escalon, the reigning 4-AA state champions and bigger and stronger than Acalanes, controlled the ball and the clock.But the Dons turned the game into a sprint during key moments, and on Friday night, there was no beating the track s...

Another ex-FCI Dublin correctional officer receives prison time for sexually abusing inmates

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

DUBLIN — Another former correctional officer at the Bay Area’s only federal prison for women has been sentenced for sexually abusing inmates under his authority, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Suspect arrested in East Bay house party shooting that killed teen Crime and Public Safety | Man fatally stabbed in Oakland; suspect later arrested Crime and Public Safety | Man dies in Oakland hit-and-run traffic collision Crime and Public Safety | Second man charged in shooting death of East Bay barber Crime and Public Safety | Man gets 6 years, woman gets probation for Oakland shootout that killed bystander John Bellhouse, 40, a former resident of Pleasanton, was convicted earlier this year of two counts of sexual abuse of a ward and three counts of abusive sexual conduct.On Friday, Bellhouse was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, the Justice Departme...

Throwback domination: De La Salle goes old-school, routs Clovis North to win a NorCal championship

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

CONCORD — Clovis North brought bus loads of fans, a team of cheerleaders and dozens of band members. It decorated the visiting bleachers blue and blew up an inflatable Bronco behind one of the end zones.De La Salle responded with old-school football.In a throw-back to the Concord school’s storied past, the Spartans dominated this California Interscholastic Federation Division 1-AA regional championship game from start to finish, routing its previously undefeated opponent 41-0.The visitors thought they deserved the home game because they were 13-0 and De La Salle had two losses, to Orange Lutheran and Serra.But given what unfolded, would location have made up six touchdowns?“We knew they were coming in with a chip on their shoulder, but so were we,” said DLS running back Derrick Blanche, who ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries, all in the opening half. “I think we were the underdogs because they were undefeated and we were not.”De La...

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix dejected after loss in Pac-12 championship, mum on status for bowl game

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Oregon quarterback Bo Nix couldn’t move, sitting in shock, slumped in distraught for several minutes with a towel over his head after his Ducks lost 34-31 to Washington in the Pac 12 Championship on Friday.“Football is a tough game and sometimes you put it all out there and you come up short,” said Nix, who finished 21 of 34 for 239 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. “I think that’s what sometimes hurts, is when you put it all out there, it’s still not good enough.“And there at the end, it was just one of those things where you want the moment to last longer than what it can. Even though we lost, it was one of those types of games that was really fun to play in.”Which is why he gathered himself, walked across the field and embraced his counterpart, Washington quarterback and fellow Heisman Trophy contender Michael Penix Jr.“When it ends, it just happens very quickly,” Nix added. “I’ve got all the respect in the world for Michael. He’s play...

No. 3 Washington rallies to beat No. 5 Oregon 34-31 and secure playoff spot

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Washington went into what likely was the last Pac-12 Championship living on the edge, and of course the Huskies were going to do it again Friday night.They blew a 17-point lead, watched Oregon go ahead by four and immediately responded with the drive of the game.And now the third-ranked Huskies not only are the Pac-12 champions, they secured a spot in the College Football Playoff with a 34-31 victory over No. 5 Oregon.Washington didn’t panic when pressed in the second half, having closed the regular season by winning three consecutive one-possession games by a combined 12 points. Oregon entered with a six-game winning streak, five of them decided by double digits.“The love and trust we have on our team is unmatched,” said Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., the game MVP after passing for 319 yards and a touchdown. “We’ve been doing it each and every week. We’re not going to say we want those games to be close.”The game was likely the final Pac-12...

Trump is not immune from election-subversion prosecution, judge rules

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

Russia’s ‘cynical’ actions at border aim to sow discord, Finland says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

Russia’s attempts to flood the Finnish border with migrants are “deliberate, cynical, hybrid actions” aimed at sowing anxiety and discontent, said Finland’s Minister of European Affairs Anders Adlercreutz. “It’s not really about trying to get a lot of people across the border,” Adlercreutz said in an interview Thursday. “It’s a proof of concept, making us aware that it views this kind of hybrid action as a tool that it can use, whenever it feels that it’s appropriate or needed.”On Tuesday, Finland completely closed its border with Russia for two weeks amid growing accusations that Moscow was encouraging asylum seekers to travel across its frontier into the EU and NATO country. Since then, Adlercreutz said, the “situation has calmed down,” with virtually no traffic at the border, which he called another indication that the actions were deliberate.While Adlercreutz said the number of migrants itself was not large enough to overwhelm Finland’s resources — approx...

Philippines says China has executed two Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking despite appeals

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — China has executed two Filipinos for drug trafficking despite high-level Philippine government appeals to commute their death sentences to life in prison, the Philippine government said Saturday.The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila did not identify the two Filipinos, citing the wishes of their families for privacy. It added that it did not announce the Nov. 24 executions until the Philippine government was formally notified by China.No other details were immediately given by Chinese or Philippine authorities about the executions and the drug trafficking cases. The DFA said that from the time the two Filipinos were arrested in 2013 until their 2016 convictions by a lower Chinese court, it provided all possible help, including funding for their legal defense.“The government of the Republic of the Philippines further exhausted all measures available to appeal to the relevant authorities of the People’s Republic of China to commute their sentences to li...

Biden rule aims to reduce methane emissions, targeting US oil and gas industry for global warming

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Saturday issued a final rule aimed at reducing methane emissions, targeting the U.S. oil and natural gas industry for its role in global warming as President Joe Biden seeks to advance his climate legacy. The Environmental Protection Agency said the new rule will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants generated by the oil and gas industry, promote use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies and deliver significant public health benefits in the form of reduced hospital visits, lost school days and even deaths. Air pollution from oil and gas operations can cause cancer, harm the nervous and respiratory systems and contribute to birth defects. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House Climate adviser Ali Zaidi announced the final rule at the United Nations climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source of methane, the main component in natural gas and ...

Dear Abby: I am furious that the bride disinvited my little girl from the high-profile wedding

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:37:42 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My young daughter’s half-sister was married last year to a famous athlete.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My husband invites his friends and waltzes away from the hassle Advice | Dear Abby: Should my children forgive my cheating ex-wife? Advice | Dear Abby: I accidentally opened my son-in-law’s mail. Should I tell what I learned? Advice | Dear Abby: I’m tired of older people sneering about smartphones Advice | Dear Abby: I can’t believe my son spoke to his partner that way Initially, they invited my daughter to the wedding. A week later they disinvited her!There is a 20-year gap in their ages, but my daughter looks up to her half-sister. Her feelings were really hurt. My feelings may have been even more hurt. All the other siblings were there, as well as several other family members.We were never told why my daughter was disinvited. Her father did not stand up to h...