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Dave Hyde: An opening disaster that confirmed every doubt of Dolphins

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 15:13

Tell me you turned it off.

Tell me you saved your Sunday and your sanity.

Tell me you didn’t go the entire, embarrassing distance to witness the Miami Dolphins being penalized for 12 men in the huddle on fourth down from the 2-yard line in the 54th minute of a 30-0 disaster at that point. Twelve men!

And tell me didn’t have to see — after De’Von Achane ran 11 hard yards for their best play and lone score —  that Tua Tagovailoa called time-out before running the 2-point play. A timeout? Is that a first in NFL history?

See, they were awful all the way to the very end of this dismal beginning. You waited eight months for that? Indianapolis 33, Dolphins, 8 said they’re worse than last year if it sticks. What’s clear is they had the worst opener of any NFL team — and, yes, I know all the games aren’t over as I type.

Sunday confirmed a lot of the doubts about the Dolphins and none of the hopes. That’s all the further you go right now, though the real question by the end was whether having 16 games left is the good news or bad news.

“It was a group effort of failure,” coach Mike McDaniel said about one play in particular, a communication breakdown in the secondary leading to another Indianapolis score.

But you can just use that line for everything, everyone, everywhere for the Dolphins’ Sunday. Start with Tua. When you’re in the $50 million Quarterback Club you’re paid to prevent days like this. That’s just how it is. But Sunday was his hands-down worst day as a Dolphin for how he opened his sixth season.

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Where do you even start with it? He threw an interception and fumbled across three, first-half plays. He threw that second interception to start the second half and bump the Colts up to 17 points off his turnovers.

He had a measly 114 yard passing, too. Forty yards went to Tyreek Hill and 30 to Jaylen Waddle. So after spending the offseason solving that pesky, two-deep-safety defense of opponents, the answer is the Dolphins have no answer.

Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the former Dolphin assistant, just seemed to tighten the screws on Tua more over the offseason.

“We don’t’ want to overreact, don’t want to under-react to this,” Tua said. “We want to get this right so that this never happens again.”

Sounds right. But if he wanted to overreact, he now has five interceptions and three fumbles in his past three games — two losses.

“We need to look I the mirror, continue to hold each other accountable and I’d definitely say it starts with me,” he said.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Breaking down Miami’s disastrous loss in season opener at Colts | VIDEO

If it was only him, though.

If only this game could be explained by poor quarterback play.

It was everyone, everything and everywhere.

The defense made New York Giants reject and Colts starter Daniel Jones look like a first-round pick again. Here’s the Colts possessions: Field goal, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, field goal, touchdown, field goal. Seven possessions, seven scores.

To be fair, the Dolphins defense stopped Indianapolis once. But then Matthew Judon was penalized for running into the punter, the Colts got a first down and, yep, they scored again.

“It was a collection of how to lose a football game in the National Football League,” McDaniel said.

And then some. Guard James Daniels, Miami’s big free-agent buy despite an Achilles’ injury last season, entered the game uncertain with a foot injury and lasted five plays due to a pectoral injury.

Storm Duck, the cornerback replacing Jalen Ramsey, was picked on by the Colts until he left injured on a golf cart in the second quarter. Ramsey, by the way, won his opener in Pittsburgh by causing a game-cementing hit for an incompletion.

Darren Waller, the Dolphins’ listed starting tight end, was inactive after not practicing all summer and getting hurt in practice last week. So the Dolphins entered the opener with two tight ends. Oh, and did you see the departed Jonnu Smith run for a touchdown for Pittsburgh?

Could you script a worst opener?

It was the first time of extended play for a lot of players in a game setting, and you either leave feeling your game was appropriately displayed or you leave thinking, ‘What was that?’ ” McDaniel said.

That was a disaster.

The good news: There are 16 games left.

Or is that the bad news?

Dolphins Deep Dive: Breaking down Miami’s disastrous loss in season opener at Colts | VIDEO

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 14:50

In this Dolphins Deep Dive video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss Miami’s blowout loss in its first game of the season at the Indianapolis Colts.

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Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has opener marred by turnovers in loss to Colts

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 14:31

INDIANAPOLIS — The first thing Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel pointed to in terms of reasons for his team’s disastrous season-opening defeat against the Indianapolis Colts was that the Dolphins were minus-3 in turnover margin.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw two interceptions and had a lost fumble on a strip-sack, all in a first half of a season debut that quickly got out of hand on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“We don’t want to overreact. We don’t want to underreact to this,” Tagovailoa said of the turnovers. “We want to get this right so we make sure this never happens again.”

First, Tagovailoa missed high to wide receiver Tyreek Hill on the Dolphins’ opening drive for an interception. He then had a fumble forced by nickel cornerback Kenny Moore that was recovered by former teammate in cornerback Xavien Howard.

“That’s just not how you start the game,” Tagovailoa said. “Interception. We come back out the next drive, turn the ball over with the strip-sack. Next drive, we just can’t get anything going. How do you build off of that, is what we’re looking forward to.

Tagovailoa was seen tapping Hill on the helmet

“Just a throw I sailed on Tyreek. I maybe hung on to it a little longer, probably should’ve progressed on that. My feet were telling me to progress on that. Probably would’ve had Jaylen (Waddle) on that throw.”

Early in the second half, Tagovailoa was intercepted by defensive end Laiatu Latu dropping back into coverage.

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“I did see him,” said Tagovailoa, who off the high throw to Hill didn’t didn’t get it over the underneath defender. “That was terrible, is what it was.”

McDaniel noted his quarterback’s underwhelming play but didn’t pin all the blame on him.

“Without watching the tape, it was something that was left to be desired,” McDaniel said. “It’s definitely not all on him. I think there’s just throws that I know he makes nine times out of 10 and he didn’t make them (Sunday).”

McDaniel also pointed to the “surprise pressures” the Dolphins saw.

Tagovailoa took sacks and hits, specifically as the Dolphins didn’t pick up certain blitzes from defensive backs. He pointed to communication up front at fault on that front and said he handled the hits fine. McDaniel attributed it to mental mistakes against Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s pressures.

Tagovailoa pushed back Sunday against a question stating his turnovers tend to come in bunches, saying it was merely how Sunday went.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Breaking down Miami’s disastrous loss in season opener at Colts | VIDEO

Otto López homers twice, Marlins beat Phillies to avoid sweep

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 13:59

MIAMI (AP) — Otto López homered twice and the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 on Sunday, avoiding a three-game sweep by the NL East leaders.

Troy Johnston had two hits for the Marlins, who snapped a five-game skid.

Ronny Henriquez (7-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, and Lake Bachar escaped a jam in the ninth for his third save.

Trea Turner homered and Brandon Marsh had three hits for the Phillies. Turner exited because of a right hamstring strain after he legged out a grounder and reached on a throwing error by López in the seventh.

Phillies slugger Key Schwarber hit an RBI single in the ninth. Schwarber, who leads the National League with 49 homers, has not gone deep since he did it four times against Atlanta on Aug. 28.

The Marlins sent 10 batters to the plate in a four-run first against Taijuan Walker (4-8). López hit a three-run homer and Máximo Acosta added an RBI single.

Turner greeted reliever Calvin Faucher with a homer to lead off the sixth. Faucher also allowed an RBI single to Marsh.

López hit a solo drive off Philadelphia reliever José Alvarado in the seventh to make it 5-3.

Walker (4-8) worked six innings and held the Marlins scoreless after the first.

Key moment

Bachar walked Max Kepler and pinch-hitter J.T. Realmuto to start the ninth. Bryson Stott popped out and pinch-hitter Harrison Bader lined out before Schwarber’s run-scoring single. Bachar then retired Bryce Harper on a groundout to end it.

Key stat

López became the sixth Marlins player with a multi-homer game this season.

Up next

The Phillies return home for a four-game series against the New York Mets on Monday with RHP Aaron Nola (3-8, 6.78) scheduled to start the opener. The Marlins have not announced a starter for the opener of a four-game series against visiting Washington on Monday.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 33-8 season-opening loss at the Indianapolis Colts

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 13:15

INDIANAPOLIS — This was as ugly as it gets for the Miami Dolphins in their 33-8 loss at Indianapolis on Sunday. The offense wasn’t a threat, the defense wasn’t a threat, and a special teams penalty opened the door for a Colts 17-play drive that resulted in a field goal at the halftime buzzer. Game-ending injuries to cornerback Storm Duck (left ankle) and guard James Daniels (pectoral) made things much worse.

Beyond that, however, coach Mike McDaniel had no answers for what Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen cooked up.

Here’s what we observed:

Tua was awful

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ended 14 of 23 for 114 yards, two interceptions, a lost fumble and a 51.7 passer rating. His first interception resulted in a 14-play, 84-yard Colts touchdown, his lost fumble on the next possession ended in a five-play, 42-yard touchdown drive, and his second interception resulted in a seven-play, 48-yard field goal drive and a 23-0 Colts lead. Tua didn’t do much right on Sunday.

That’s three turnovers, 17 points. Obviously, that’s an ugly start to the season. — Chris Perkins

OL still hasn’t had time together

The first-quarter pectoral injury to right guard James Daniels means the Dolphins’ starting offensive line, a focal point of the offseason, still hasn’t spent much time together. Early in the offseason center Aaron Brewer was sidelined, then right tackle Austin Jackson missed time with a toe injury. And now Daniels, Miami’s big-ticket free agent with his three-year, $24 million deal, is injured.

Daniels, of course, was limited to four games last season with Pittsburgh before being sidelined with a right Achilles injury. He was questionable for the game with a left ankle injury.

Youngsters get early action

The Dolphins are now trying to win with youth and draftees, and it didn’t go well Sunday. Among first- and second-year players cornerbacks Storm Duck and Jason Marshall, running back Ollie Gordon II, wide receiver Malik Washington, safety Dante Trader Jr., defensive tackles Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips, and left guard Jonah Savaiinaea all got early, significant action.

Duck left the game with an ankle injury. Savaiinaea seemed to do OK and Marshall ended with one tackle, Grant had four tackles, Gordon ended with two carries for four yards, Washington had one reception for nine yards, Phillips had five tackles.

Related Articles Tua-to-Tyreek off to shaky start

The Tagovailoa-to-wide receiver Tyreek Hill connection, which was shaky to end last season in games at Houston and against San Francisco, was shaky to start the game Sunday as they sustained a first quarter interception when Tagovailoa overthrew Hill. Hill ended with four receptions for 40 yards.

The two hardly spent time together in the offseason as Hill had right wrist surgery and an oblique injury. 

The Tagovailoa-Hll on-field relationship is a bigger concern than the off-field relationship.

Sloppy play crushes Dolphins

The Dolphins were incredibly sloppy among three turnovers by Tagovailoa (two interceptions and a lost fumble), a coverage bust that allowed a touchdown reception and outside linebacker Matthew Judon getting called for running into the punter that gave the Colts a first down that eventually resulted in a field goal and a 20-0 Colts halftime lead.

The Judon penalty allowed the Colts to have a 17-play, 72-yard drive that included, after the penalty, a 14-yard completion on third-and-10 from the Colts’ 36-yard line, and a six-yard completion on fourth and 2 from the Dolphins’ 42-yard line.

Edge rushers largey negated

The Colts offensive line is regarded among the best in the league and they lived up to that billing against Dolphins edge rushers Bradley Chubb (one sack), Jaelan Phillips, Chop Robinson and Matthew Judon. The Dolphins hardly touched Colts quarterback Daniel Jones. Meanwhile, the left side of the Colts offensive line — guard Quenton Nelson and tackle Bernhard Raimann — were as good as advertised.

The edge rushers were unable to buy time for the under-construction secondary. Jones went to work early and ended 22 of 29 for 272 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a 115.9 passer rating.

Cornerbacks get tested in a couple of ways . . . and fail

The cornerbacks were a huge question mark entering the game and they failed the test as far as performance and health. Starters Storm Duck and Jack Jones and nickel/slot Jason Marshall Jr. didn’t have much success early. After Duck went down in the second half with a left ankle injury, cornerback Rasul Douglas got some playing time. It didn’t matter.

The cornerbacks failed to make plays and failed to cover receivers. There’s a lot of room for growth.  

The Kenneth Grant-Tyler Warren question

The Dolphins drafted defensive tackle Kenneth Grant at No. 13 and the Colts quickly drafted tight end Tyler Warren No. 14. Grant ended with four tackles. Warren ended with seven receptions for 76 yards.

In light of the Dolphins’ tight end issues with veteran Darren Waller, who was inactive Sunday (he was declared ‘out’ Friday due to a hip strain), there’s room to question the Dolphins’ selection.

Of course, there was room to question the Dolphins’ selection on draft night, too. Sunday shined a brighter light on the situation as Warren, the rookie from Penn State, had five receptions for 57 yards in the first half alone. He arguably should have had a third quarter touchdown but safety Minkah Fitzpatrick slipped and seemed to interfere with Warren. No penalty was called.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Breaking down Miami’s disastrous loss in season opener at Colts | VIDEO

It’s another Dolphins rough opener; the reasons vary

The Dolphins are becoming known for rough starts. This year, outside linebacker coach Ryan Crow was arrested for battery a little more than a week before the opener and then the Dolphins laid an egg in the opener at Indianapolis. The two events aren’t related but both happened.

Last year, of course, Hill was detained by law enforcement prior to the opening game. In 2019, they were blasted, 59-10, by Baltimore. In 2018, they defeated Tennessee, 27-20, but the game took seven hours and eight minutes and was the NFL’s longest game thanks to two lightning delays. In 2017, the scheduled opener against Tampa Bay was postponed due to the threat of a hurricane and prior to the de facto opener at the Los Angeles Chargers an assistant coach was involved in an infamous video and linebacker Lawrence Timmons went AWOL.

Dolphins’ offense falls flat, credit Lou Anarumo

The much-hyped Dolphins offense didn’t do anything Sunday. No fireworks, no big plays, no excitement. McDaniel, offensive cooridnator Frank Smith, quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell and senior pass game coordinator Bobby Slowik were all outsmarted by Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, the former Dolphins secondary coach.

By the way, Anarumo had a similar result in 2022 when he was Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator and the Bengals defeated the Dolphins.

Tagovailoa’s ball-security issues are as pronounced as ever

In his past 2 3/4 games, Tua Tagovailoa has five interceptions and three fumbles. If you go back to his second diagnosed concussion of 2022 against the Packers, Tagovailoa has played 31 games. He has thrown an unsightly 27 interceptions and fumbled 21 times (1.55 per game). He had 20 picks and 16 fumbles in his first 35 games (1.03 per game). By comparison, in his 82 career games, Justin Herbert, who the Dolphins passed over to pick Tagovailoa, has 77 interceptions and fumbles combined (0.94 per game). — Steve Svekis

First-quarter scoring has become a problem for the Dolphins

In Miami’s past eight games, the Dolphins have only scratched across 18 points in the opening 15 minutes, a paltry average of 2.25 per first quarter.

An athletic tight end gouged the Dolphins yet again

In the first half, when the Colts blew the doors off Miami to the tune of 20-0, rookie tight end Tyler Warren piled up six touches for 60 yards. The game was basically over at that point. Warren ended up with 79 yards on eight touches. Last year, players such as George Kittle, Brock Bowers and Trey McBride combined for 356 yards in their three games.

The back of Tyreek Hill’s head bounced hard off the turf

Hill made a catch for 4 yards, getting toppled backward by Charvarius Ward on the Colts sideline. The back of his helmet bounced off the turf with major force. Something to monitor.

That was as far west as the Dolphins will go this season

Yes, as incredible as that sounds, the Dolphins will play east of Indianapolis the rest of the year. The last time Indy was the farthest west Miami traveled was 35 years ago.

Is Achane’s usage in the passing game evolving?

Dolphins’ fleet-footed third-year running back has caught 89 passes in his career from Tua Tagovailoa. On average he has caught those passes 1.71 yards behind the line of scrimmage. However, that number was a massive minus-2.37 yards per catch heading into Thanksgiving last year, but in Tagovailoa’s final four games of the season, Achane grabbed 27 passes at a cumulative mere 5 yards behind the line (minus-0.19 per reception). It will be interesting to see if that was a product of the hip issue that eventually sidelined Tagovailoa for the season’s final two games, or something more macro from Mike McDaniel.

Tagovailoa ticked off another first-time opponent

Tagovailoa had seen injuries rob him of his first two opportunities to play against The Horseshoes (2021 and 2024), before suiting up at Lucas Oil Stadium. That leaves the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers still to play to complete his NFL tour. The Buccaneers visit Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 28.

Tua and McDaniel had been a lethal combo in road openers

Heading in to the Colts matchup in Indianapolis, Tua Tagovailoa had been dominant in his first road game of a season under Mike McDaniel, averaging 35 points per game. After Sunday, that average was reduced to 28.3.

On deck: New England Patriots, Hard Rock Stadium, Sunday, 1 p.m.

Patriots fleet-footed rookie passer Drake Maye was handled by the Dolphins last year at Hard Rock, as the defense piled up four sacks, with Zach Sieler stripping Maye on one of them (recovered by Jordyn Brooks). Also after New England had scored 15 fourth-quarter points to make the score 31-15, Tyrel Dodson, in his first game taking defensive snaps with the Dolphins, made a spectacular interception to close out the 34-15 Miami win.

Hyde10: Tua’s worst day, that first-half disaster — 10 thoughts on Dolphins’ opening mess

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 13:02

You couldn’t script a worse start. Dominated. Embarrassed. And injured at their most vulnerable positions, too.

Indianapolis 33, Dolphins 8. And that eight for the Dolphins didn’t come until 55 minutes into a long-settled game.

Here are 10 thoughts on the dismal day:

1.That was Tua Tagovailoa’s worst game as a Dolphin. His 14 completions in 23 passes for 114 yards don’t tell how bad it was. He had two turnovers — an interception and fumble — over three first-half plays. He opened the second half with another interception. Those turnovers became 17 Indianapolis points. He was sacked three times in the first half, once when he in some form didn’t recognize a blitzing cornerback and another time when he seemed to be scrambling in mud he was so slow. That just gets to his passing: Five of seven for 42 yards in the first half when Indy sealed the game. His worst day? He had a four-turnover day in Houston in December. And he has had five other three-turnover games in his career. But considering this was an opener against a mediocre Indy team in his sixth season, it doesn’t get worse than this.

2. How bad was that first half? It wasn’t just Indy led 20-0. Mike McDaniel’s team wasn’t ready to play when you look at the first-half stats:

First downs: Colts 17 to 3;

Total yards: Colts 255 to 43;

Yards per play: Colts 5.9 to 2.9;

Third down conversions: Colts 6-10 to 1-3;

Turnovers: Colts 0 to 2;

Time of possession: Colts 20:40 to 8:20.

3. Tyreek Hill had four catches for 40 yards, and Jaylen Waddle had four catches for 30 yards. Their long catch was 21 yards. So, no, an offseason spent trying to get the ball to your best players in deeper parts of the field wasn’t seen on this day. Give a tip of the cap to former Dolphins secondary coach Lou Anarumo, the Colts defensive coordinator. Whatever he did worked. But what he did seemed to have the same results for the deep ball as many defenses against the Dolphins last season.

4. Daniel Jones made his first start as the Colts quarterback and had the kind of first day you’d want kick-start a struggling career. He completed 22 of 29 for 272 yards and a touchdown. Just in the first half, he was 17 of 22 for 197 yards — or more yards than five of his 10 games last season with the New York Giants. Of course, that means the Dolphins secondary that was a prime worry entering this season officially turned the corner to a major problem. Indianapolis, whose strength is running the ball, threw on its first five plays with Jones completing four for 57 yards. The Dolphins played a lot of zone, but that didn’t work when Storm Duck thought he was handing off Colts receiver Michael Pittman to safety Ifeatu Melifonwu …. and Melifonwu wasn’t there. Pittman caught a 27-yard touchdown. Another lowlight: On first-and-30 at the end of the third quarter, Jones scrambled for 11 yards, but a holding penalty on cornerback Jack Jones gave first down to the Dolphins 49. Repeat: First-and-30.

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5. Throw the special teams into the mix of this mess, too. The Dolphins defense forced Indy to punt on fourth-and-2 with 4:16 left in the half. Matthew Judon promptly ran into Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez to give the Colts a first down at their 36-yard line. The Colts kept the ball all the way to kicking a field goal to end the half at 20-0.

6. Give De’Von Achane some credit in a 30-0 game for taking a short pass in the flat and running 11 hard yards for the lone Dolphins score. Even that score was wrapped in confusion. On fourth-and-goal at the 6, the Dolphins were flagged for having 12 men in the huddle. You can’t make that up. Then, on the two-point conversion, Tua called a timeout after watching the play clock run out. That’s was some run by Achane, but ….

7. The Dolphins suffered injuries in their most vulnerable areas in Sunday’s first half. Guard James Daniels, who was uncertain for the game, left early after a reported pectoral injury. Cornerback Storm Duck was injured in the second quarter, walked to the sideline with trainers and later was carted into the locker room. Kion Smith replaced Daniels, who was signed as a free agent after suffering a torn Achilles in Pittsburgh last season. Rasul Douglas replaced Duck.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Breaking down Miami’s disastrous loss in season opener at Colts | VIDEO

8. Stat of Sunday: Tua entered 4-0 in openers and the Colts were on a run of 0-10-1. Not anymore.

9. Quick Hits:

A.The odd handling of the tight end position and Darren Waller means the Dolphins had just two tight ends active with Julian Hill and Tanner Conner. Hill caught the two-point conversion and Conner had two catches for 20 yards.

B. Minkah Fitzpatrick made the tackle on the game-opening kickoff, showing everyone is available for special teams.

C. Talk about a taxed research department. CBS announcer said the Dolphins 42 yards of first-half offense was their lowest in a half since “at least 1991.” Everyone was scrambling trying to find where there was a lower half.

10. Next Week: Patriots at Dolphins. The home opener brings the new-look Patriots to Hard Rock Stadium for an endangered 1 p.m. start. The Dolphins only have two such hot-yoga starts in September and October. Mike Vrabel knows all about the heat, having been a Patriots player and Tennessee coach. The Dolphins swept New England last year, winning 15-10 at New England in October and 34-15 in Hard Rock Stadium in November. The Dolphins have won the past four games against the Patriots and five out of the last six. Tom Brady, indeed, has left the building.

Seminoles use romp to develop players

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 13:00

TALLAHASSEE — Mike Norvell often picks the Seminoles player who had the greatest impact on a win to break a rock for the celebration in the locker room. After FSU’s 77-3 victory Saturday over East Texas A&M, he chose Ethan Pritchard’s father.

“A lot of great performances today,” Norvell said as he spoke to the Seminoles. “But if you guys are good —”

The team erupted with a “Yeah!” as they gave Earl Pritchard the sledgehammer. It’s been a miserable week for Earl, who has been by his son’s side in the hospital after the FSU freshman, a star at Sanford Seminole, was shot on Aug. 31 while driving his aunt back to nearby Havana not far from the state capital.

Earl wanted to be on the sideline on Saturday to represent his son, who is in critical but stable condition as he recovers from a gunshot wound. FSU players wore wristbands with “35” on them in honor of Pritchard. A team captain, Earl Little Jr., walked out to midfield holding a No. 35 jersey.

“It’s something that made us go out there and play for him today,” quarterback Tommy Castellanos said. “We’re praying for Ethan. We wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully God upstairs gives him a second chance at life.”

The Seminoles have formed a close bond and played with heavy hearts on Saturday. Here are five takeaways from the game:

Depth developing at skill positions

One of the big storylines for FSU going into 2025 was the lack of depth. But it’s also one where the Seminoles have young talent on the second and third teams with little college experience.

FSU was able to play nearly 90 Seminoles. That included 11 pass catchers, eight running backs and four quarterbacks. On defense, 17 players had two or more tackles.

“There’s no substitute for experience,” Norvell said.

These Seminoles go into the bye week with film to analyze with teammates and coaches, which helps in their development.

Early signs of development on offensive line

FSU has started four first-year transfers on the offensive line, with Richie Leonard (a 2024 transfer from Florida) joining them. There’s a definite need to develop high school prospects into dependable backups and potentially future starters.

True freshman center Chavez Thompson of Cocoa was in on 17 snaps in the second half, an encouraging sign for a lineman who didn’t enroll early but is developing quickly. Redshirt sophomore Lucas Simmons played 30 snaps at left tackle while redshirt freshman Jonathan Daniels played 30 snaps at right tackle.

True freshmen enjoy playing time

FSU hauled in a top-20 class in December, and a number of them impressed. Running back Ousmane Kromah had five carries for 37 yards as well as a 43-yard touchdown reception.

Jayvan Boggs of Cocoa had his first college catch, a 3-yard touchdown. Teriq Mallory and Chase Loftin had a catch apiece. Safeties Max Redmon (three tackles) and Antonio Cromartie Jr. (two tackles) also saw playing time.

Backup quarterbacks earn opportunities

True freshman Kevin Sperry entered the game with FSU ahead 42-0 and under six minutes until halftime. He led a 10-play, 65-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown pass to Boggs. Sperry completed 4 of 5 passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns.

Redshirt sophomore Brock Glenn completed three passes for 56 yards, including a touchdown.

While Sperry entered the game first, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s the No. 2 quarterback. Glenn missed both preseason scrimmages due to injury. But now both have game experience in Gus Malzahn’s offense to help prepare them if needed.

Versatility on display

Amaree Williams reclassified, expediting his schoolwork so that he could graduate in May 2024 and enroll at FSU. But the defensive end was behind from a strength and conditioning standpoint, so he played tight end and produced two touchdowns in the fall.

What would he be in 2025? On Saturday, he played both positions. Williams caught a 35-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and a few minutes later he had a sack.

This is not a cornerback who has a side gig as a receiver. It’s relatively unheard of for a college athlete to be a tight end and defensive end, but that’s what Williams is doing.

Instant Analysis: Indianapolis Colts 33, Miami Dolphins 8

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 12:48

Quick thoughts from South Florida Sun Sentinel staffers on the Miami Dolphins’ humbling loss to the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday:

Dave Hyde, Columnist

Could you script a worse start for the Dolphins? Tua Tagovailoa with his worst day as a pro? The Colts scored on every possession? The Dolphins secondary exposed, their offensive line suffering an injury to James Daniels? Can we get a rewrite on the day?

Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist

The Dolphins didn’t even compete. This was a rough one on offense, defense and special teams. Coaching won’t get a break here, either. This was a total system failure. The Dolphins now face a near must-win game next week at home against New England because they go to Buffalo in Week 3. The Dolphins are 0-4 in Buffalo in the coach Mike McDaniel era.

David Furones, Dolphins Writer

Disastrous start to the season, rivaled only by the 59-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. Lack of preparation and execution on both sides of the ball. The seat only gets hotter by the minute for coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier after an embarrassing season opener.

Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor

One of the true opening-day debacles in Dolphins history. Daniel Jones dissected Miami’s defense with short and intermediate passes and threw in some mobility, and Tua Tagovailoa looked utterly unprepared for what the Colts defense brought at him. This was really one of the more winnable games on paper. Gulp.

Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor

The Dolphins offense somehow looked worse than the Tua-less version that trundled to Indianapolis last year, and the defense was annihilated, where last year, they held up. Where will the wins come from on the rest of this schedule?

Dolphins Deep Dive: Breaking down Miami’s disastrous loss in season opener at Colts | VIDEO

Dolphins embarrassed in blowout Week 1 loss to Colts

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 12:48

INDIANAPOLIS — If the Miami Dolphins’ brass was already on the hot seat entering the 2025 season, that was merely the preheat.

After just the first half of their season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, the seats for coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier were in full-fledged cooking mode.

The Dolphins had three turnovers, couldn’t otherwise move the ball down the field offensively and couldn’t stop Colts quarterback Daniel Jones defensively in an overall disastrous 33-8 defeat at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Dolphins (0-1) had their streak of four consecutive Week 1 wins snapped. Meanwhile, the Colts (1-0), who were honoring late owner Jim Irsay, earned a win in an opener for the first time in their past 12 tries.

McDaniel understands the magnitude of the microscope he’s under with his job.

“I don’t see this job void of pressure,” McDaniel said. “I don’t see entitlement in this job.”

Miami looks to make sure one terrible loss doesn’t compound into more down the stretch early in the season.

“It’s a tough loss, but we still got 16 more guaranteed games,” said running back De’Von Achane, who scored the team’s lone touchdown, to go with 55 rushing yards and 20 receiving.

Added McDaniel: “The taste is terrible, and they’re eager to fix it.”

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Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw two interceptions, fumbled away another possession and finished 14 of 23 for 114 yards and a late touchdown with the game out of reach. Backup quarterback Zach Wilson finished off Sunday’s game for Miami.

“This was a lack of a lot of things,” Tagovailoa said of the result.

Jones, maligned for his failed tenure with the New York Giants, was magnificent in his Indianapolis debut. He was 22 of 29 for 272 yards, a passing touchdown and two rushing scores.

The Dolphins’ wide receiver combo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle had four catches each. Hill went for 40 yards and Waddle 30.

“This was a big kick in the balls for us,” Hill said.

Indianapolis outgained Miami, 418-211, in total yards Sunday, winning the time of possession battle by nearly double, 38:43-21:17 and the the turnover margin, 3-0.

“It was a collection of how to lose football games in the National Football League,” McDaniel said. “We got a great lesson and pretty much covered all the bases. We have one direction to go, and it’s going to be through work and nothing else.”

Dolphins Deep Dive: Breaking down Miami’s disastrous loss in season opener at Colts | VIDEO

The Colts, with a 20-0 halftime lead, were outgaining the Dolphins yards, 255-43, at that point. They had 17 first downs to three for the Dolphins.

Indianapolis built its early lead by picking on the Dolphins’ unproven secondary and forcing Tagovailoa into turnovers.

Starting with an early 3-0 lead, the Colts intercepted Tagovailoa on Miami’s first drive of the new season. A third-down pass from Tagovailoa sailed high to Hill, and safety Camryn Bynum was over the top to snatch the interception. Tagovailoa said it was simple high-sailing errant pass.

“The first throw that we had, I wish the connection was there,” Hill said, “but it’ll get there with time. We obviously know what we have to fix and get better at. So, that’s what we’re going to continue to attack.”

Jones then led a 14-play, 84-yard drive that resulted in a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Pittman was wide open down the right side. Storm Duck, who was injured later in the half, appeared to be sitting in a shallow zone on his side expecting safety Ifeatu Melifonwu to help over the top.

“The safety could’ve saved the play, but it wasn’t solely on him,” McDaniel said. “A group effort of failure, starting with communication.”

Pittman led the Colts with 80 yards on six receptions. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren caught seven passes for 76 yards.

“Trying to make our own thing up and not playing team football,” said outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, who had a sack for the Dolphins defense. “At the end of the day, that’s what we watch the film for. That’s where we sit back and learn, see what we did wrong and correct it come next week.”

Two plays from scrimmage after the touchdown surrendered, Tagovailoa was the victim of a strip-sack from blitzing Colts nickel cornerback Kenny Moore. The Indianapolis defender there to recover the fumble: longtime Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard, who was making his Colts debut after missing the 2024 season.

It then took Jones five plays to march down 42 yards for another score, a 1-yard quarterback sneak that put the Colts in front, 17-0.

On the ensuing offensive series, Tagovailoa took multiple hits as Miami, with right guard James Daniels exiting early, struggled to pick up blitzes from defensive backs in Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme.

The Colts ate up the final 6:46 of the first half to go into the locker room up, 20-0, off a 35-yard field goal from Spencer Shrader. The Dolphins had them stopped earlier in the series, but veteran outside linebacker Matthew Judon was penalized for running into the kicker on the ensuing punt.

The second half didn’t start much better for Miami. Tagovailoa was intercepted targeting wide receiver Malik Washington, with defensive end Laiatu Latu undercutting the route as he was dropped back in coverage. The Dolphins later drove into Colts territory in the third quarter, but turned the ball over on downs.

Jones scored his second rushing touchdown from a yard away early in the fourth quarter, putting Indianapolis up, 30-0. The Dolphins later got on the board with Tagovailoa swinging out a fourth-down pass to Achane, who made a strong effort to break a tackle for an 11-yard touchdown that had a 2-point conversion to tight end Julian Hill tacked on.

Warren, who was picked after the Dolphins selected defensive tackle Kenneth Grant in the past draft, carved up the Dolphins defense for three catches and 43 yards on the opening series, which resulted in one of four field goals for Shrader. Grant had four tackles Sunday.

Chubb’s sack in the first half Sunday came in his first game since Dec. 31, 2023 after missing the entire 2024 season rehabbing from his knee injury.

The Dolphins now prepare for their home opener against the New England Patriots next Sunday, which starts to feel like an early must-win as it’s quickly followed by a Thursday night game at the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 18.

Today in History: September 7, Anglican church elevates Bishop Desmond Tutu

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 01:00

Today is Sunday, Sept. 7, the 250th day of 2025. There are 115 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 7, 1986, Bishop Desmond Tutu was installed as the first Black clergyman to lead the Anglican Church in southern Africa.

Also on this date:

In 1921, the first Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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In 1940, Nazi Germany began an intense bombing campaign of Britain during World War II with an air attack on London; known as The Blitz, the eight-month campaign resulted in more than 40,000 civilian deaths.

In 1943, a fire at the Gulf Hotel, a rooming house in Houston, claimed 55 lives.

In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton, Ohio and enshrined its first 17 members.

In 1977, the Panama Canal Treaty, which called for the U.S. to turn over control of the waterway to Panama at the end of 1999, was signed in Washington by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos.

In 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur was shot and mortally wounded on the Las Vegas Strip; he died six days later.

In 2005, police and soldiers went house to house in New Orleans to try to coax remaining residents into leaving the city shattered by Hurricane Katrina.

In 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to make Bitcoin legal tender.

Today’s Birthdays:
  • Jazz musician Sonny Rollins is 95.
  • Singer Gloria Gaynor is 82.
  • Actor Julie Kavner is 75.
  • Rock singer Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) is 74.
  • Actor Corbin Bernsen is 71.
  • Actor Michael Emerson is 71.
  • Pianist-singer Michael Feinstein is 69.
  • Singer/songwriter Diane Warren is 69.
  • Actor J. Smith-Cameron is 68.
  • Actor Toby Jones is 59.
  • Actor-comedian Leslie Jones (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 58.
  • Actor Tom Everett Scott is 55.
  • Actor Shannon Elizabeth is 52.
  • Actor Oliver Hudson is 49.
  • Actor Evan Rachel Wood is 38.
  • Olympic gold medal swimmer Ariarne Titmus is 25.
  • Actor Ian Chen (TV: “Fresh Off the Boat”) is 19.

USF embraces its upset-maker mentality as Florida fans watch in disbelief

South Florida Local News - Sun, 09/07/2025 - 00:10

GAINESVILLE — USF loves being the team you hate. Your anger just helps inspire the Bulls.

After beating Florida 18-16 in the Swamp, Bulls coach Alex Golesh preached gratitude for a supportive administration and his talented squad. But don’t let that fool you.

The Bulls are happy to be your worst enemy, the source of your Saturday night frustrations, the team that knocks you out of the AP Top 25 poll — ask Boise State. USF is the spoiler of college football: a team few believed in at the beginning that has transformed into a formidable force.

“It’s always great to get a win on the road. Going in there, you like the villain,” Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown said. “They don’t want you to win, just overcoming those odds.”

A week after beating then-ranked No. 25 Boise State, USF (2-0) marched into the Swamp and stunned the No. 13 Gators (1-1). A week earlier, Florida routed Long Island University 55-0.

The dominating performance vs. LIU meant little against the Bulls and may mean even less against an upcoming schedule featuring No. 3 LSU, No. 5 Miami and No. 7 Texas.

With the loss, USF shined a bigger spotlight on Florida coach Billy Napier, who now has to answer for a loss to the in-state opponent few thought would win.

As the minutes counted down, Florida fans faced a whirlwind of emotions.

First was disbelief that sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway couldn’t find his footing. With UF clinging to a 16-15 lead, two incompletions by Lagway and an inconsequential run by Jadan Baugh gave back the ball to USF and sent frustrated Florida fans up the stairs and out of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

As USF marched down the field without much resistance, the disappointment settled in. When sophomore kicker Nico Gramatica sent the ball through the uprights just as the clock reached zero, the anger rose.

“It stinks because I thought the football team was good,” said junior Chandler Poppell,  who watched on from about the 10th row from the field.

Poppell hedged the loss’s impact, saying that football didn’t necessarily determine his emotions. But as he stood in the stands, the defeat stung harder than the other games the 20-year-old watched in his time at UF.

“This one’s at the bottom,” he said.

As Florida’s players trudged to the tunnel and into their locker room, USF coaches, players, cheerleaders and fans celebrated with their band. Dancing and jumping up and down, they filed into the visitors’ tunnel with heads held high.

For the second week in a row, the team ruined a ranked opponent’s night, and celebrations ensued.

“This win means everything,” said Jonah Hamilton, an 18-year-old freshman who traveled from Tampa to watch the team play. “We beat Boise State, who was 25 last week. I tried to tell everybody we need to be ranked, and then we play the 13 Florida Gators, come into the Swamp and beat them like this.”

While the Bulls might try to sell you on how they will approach each team with the same mentality and how thankful they are to be supported by a fanbase willing to travel, it’s not the only takeaway.

USF embraces the  odds stacked against it. They’re ready to upset your favorite team, and they’re happy to celebrate on your field even after your team has packed up.

“Going into a stadium and hearing all the boos fires me up,” Bulls linebacker Mac Harris said. “I love hearing it. It makes me excited. And I love especially coming into a big packed-out stadium like this, and getting the job done with my guys.”

 

 

Bianchi: Gators’ spit show against USF leaves Billy Napier’s seat on fire once again

South Florida Local News - Sat, 09/06/2025 - 20:21

GAINESVILLE — Sorry, Billy, but you know the drill.

This is going to hurt us a lot more than it’s going to hurt you.

I hate to do it, but you know where you have to go.

That’s right, we’re going to have to put you in a timeout again.

You’ve been a bad Billy.

It’s back on the hot seat for you.

UF fans boo head coach Billy Napier as he walks off the field after losing yo USF Saturday at the Swamp. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

That’s where Florida coach Billy Napier landed Saturday night after South Florida — yes, USF — strutted into the Swamp and left with an 18-16 upset victory that will live in Gators infamy. Losing to a lesser in-state program in Gainesville at the beginning of Napier’s fourth season is unacceptable, inexcusable and quite possibly irreparable.

The Bulls hadn’t beaten a ranked team on the road in 14 years, and it was Florida’s first defeat at home against a school from Florida — other than Florida State or Miami — since a loss to Stetson in 1938.

This was supposed to be a day of nostalgia, a celebration of Florida’s past greatness. It was billed as “Champions Reunion Weekend” — a gathering of Gators royalty. But instead of a coronation, it was Chumps Reunion Weekend, where the present-day team tripped over itself and face-planted in front of its own history.

You couldn’t script a crueler irony. On the 25th anniversary of honoring Steve Spurrier’s final SEC title team, Napier’s offense looked more like the Doug Dickey days of the 1970s — when offense was optional and Gators football was more punishment than party.

And then, as if to add insult to humiliation, the Bulls’ pivotal game-winning 87-yard drive was helped along when Florida defensive lineman Brendan Bett was ejected for — wait for it — spitting in the face of USF’s Cole Skinner. Spitting! Two days after Philadelphia Eagles star and Apopka High alum Jalen Carter got tossed from an NFL game for the exact same thing. What are the odds? It was an embarrassment wrapped in a 15-yard penalty, gift-wrapped for the Bulls, and the beginning of the end for the Gators.

“When a guy does something like that, he’s compromising the team,” Napier said of the spitting penalty. “He’s putting himself before the team. Everything the game is about, you’re compromising.”

Nico Gramatica’s 20-yard chip shot as time expired sealed it for USF, but the chants that echoed as fans shuffled out of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium were the real dagger: “Fire Billy! Fire Billy!”

The patience is gone. The goodwill Napier manufactured with that late-season four-game winning streak a year ago? Evaporated. Blown away like a cheap tailgate tent in a Gainesville thunderstorm.

On the same day Gators legend Billy Donovan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Billy Napier was indicted into UF football’s hall of shame.

Napier entered this season still fighting to prove he’s the man for the job, and by halftime Saturday, fans were already sharpening the knives. By the time he walked into the postgame media conference, reporters were openly asking whether he’s the right man to lead this program. That’s not just heat on the seat — that’s the chair combusting.

Fans on the radio call-in shows weren’t just angry. They were livid. They demanded he hire an offensive coordinator and blasted his play-calling.

“There’s no excuses here. I’m not up here to make excuses,” Napier said of the onslaught of incoming criticism. “We created it. We deserve it. If you play football like that, you’re going to be criticized. It comes with the territory.”

Asked if he’s the right man to lead UF moving forward, he replied: “That’s a big-picture question, and I think right now it’s more about today …  and getting the football fixed because ultimately that’s going to decide how far we go around here.”

This isn’t the same Napier who swaggered into Gainesville back in 2021 with the catchphrase “scared money don’t make money.” He was supposed to be the fearless riverboat gambler. But so far, he’s looked more like Coupon-Clipping Billy, where scared money is losing money.

Show Caption1 of 51USF kicker Nico Grammatica (7) is hoisted by teammates after kicking the winnng field goal as time ran out during the USF at UF college football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville on Saturday, September 6, 2025. USF won the game 18-16. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Expand

 

Saturday proved it. The Gators managed just one touchdown,  and even that came only after electric true freshman Vernell Brown III bailed them out with a 40-yard punt return, followed by a late-hit penalty on USF. That’s it. That’s the whole offensive highlight reel.

In the second half alone, Florida had seven possessions. The Gators punted six times. Six! Napier’s attack clunked and clanged like a dryer full of sneakers. The Gators were 18-point favorites and, yet, couldn’t even score 18 points.

Outcoached. Outclassed.

It was Alex Golesh and USF’s staff that looked smarter, sharper, hungrier. USF quarterback Byrum Brown, not Gators QB DJ Lagway, was the best player on the field, slicing Florida’s defense with his legs and his arm. He looked like a magician. Lagway, Florida’s supposed prodigy, looked like a freshman again — sailing passes, missing throws and struggling to make plays with his legs.

For a fan base that had crowned Lagway as the savior of the program, it was a sobering reality check. On this night, USF had the better quarterback, the better play-caller and the better composure.

Florida looked unprepared, undisciplined and flat-out overwhelmed. That’s not just a bad night. That’s a coaching indictment.

On the very weekend Florida honored two national championships and 15 conference titles, Napier’s Gators authored one of the most devastating defeats in recent Swamp history. As the final whistle blew, USF’s players and coaches hugged, danced  and celebrated on the hallowed turf. Their chants of “U-S-F! U-S-F!” ricocheted through a stadium that, moments earlier, had been stunned into silence.

For three hours, the Gators were embarrassed in front of their legends, their rivals and their fans. And now they march into the most brutal stretch of their schedule — at No. 3 LSU, followed by showdowns with No. 5 Miami, No. 7 Texas and No. 19 Texas A&M. If Napier couldn’t figure out South Florida, what happens when he’s matching coaching wits with Brian Kelly and Steve Sarkisian?

The painful part is we’ve seen this movie before. Last season began with humiliating blowouts against Miami and Texas A&M. Napier’s job security was wobbling then, too. But he salvaged hope with that late-season rally, capped by a convincing win over Florida State. For a moment, fans believed maybe — just maybe — the vision was finally coming together.

That illusion vanished Saturday. Three sloppy hours against USF undid it all.

Where does Napier go from here? His players looked shaken. His fan base has turned. And his schedule is about to get much, much harder.

Napier needed this season to feel different. Instead, it feels like the same slow-motion car crash all over again.

And so, back on the hot seat he goes.

He can’t escape it.

Sorry, Billy, but you know the drill.

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on social media @BianchiWrites and listen to my new radio show “Game On” every weekday from 3 to 6 p.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen

 

 

Veltkamp bounces back with 5 TD passes, FAU routs FAMU

South Florida Local News - Sat, 09/06/2025 - 19:17

BOCA RATON — Caden Veltkamp matched his career high with five touchdown passes and Florida Atlantic cruised past Florida A&M 56-14 on Saturday night.

Veltkamp, the 2024 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year for Western Kentucky, bounced back after throwing four interceptions in a 39-7 loss at Maryland a week ago.

Against the FCS Rattlers, Veltkamp completed 27 of 39 passes for 309 yards. The Owls had a total of 360 yards passing. Gemari Sands rushed for 83 yards, leading a ground game that piled up 193 yards.

FAU led 39-0 at halftime but the Rattlers scored the only points of the third quarter on a 27-yard pass from RJ Johnson III to Jamar Taylor.

Johnson added a 65-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Edwards in the fourth quarter.

Johnson completed 18 of 28 passes for 222 yards with the two touchdowns.

It was just the second time the two teams have met, FAU now having won both games.

___

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No. 5 Hurricanes cruise to rout against outmatched Bethune-Cookman

South Florida Local News - Sat, 09/06/2025 - 18:52

MIAMI GARDENS — The Hurricanes needed to avoid a let-down against a scuffling FCS opponent after beating Notre Dame last week.

No. 5 Miami (2-0) accomplished that, beating Bethune-Cookman (0-2) 45-3 at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday.

“You still have to play your guys, you’ve got to come to these games full throttle,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “And our guys did a good job while they were in there, and they granted us the opportunity for the other guys to play, as well. So we got the best of both worlds.”

The Hurricanes wasted no time getting going. Miami forced a punt on Bethune-Cookman’s opening drive (though they lost linebacker Wesley Bissainthe due to a targeting penalty). The Hurricanes then rolled down the field on a five-play, 90-yard drive that culminated in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck to CJ Daniels.

The scoring continued on the next drive, this time on the ground. Junior running back Mark Fletcher Jr. capped a 74-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run.

UM continued bowling over the Wildcats on the subsequent drive, with North Dakota State transfer Marty Brown punching in a 2-yard score.

Beck had one of the best starts to a game of any Miami quarterback, completing his first 15 passes. That broke the school record of consecutive completions to start a game; UM great Vinny Testaverde set the previous record of 14 against Oklahoma in 1986.

“It’s super cool, obviously, to perform at a high level and do things like that,” Beck said.

Beck threw his first incompletion of the night on his 16th pass, but moments later, he connected with Daniels for their second touchdown of the night. The score put the Hurricanes ahead 28-3 shortly before halftime.

“The biggest goal for me is to make plays for the quarterback.,” Daniels said. “Wherever you put it, my job is to hold it in (and) make his job easier. I just tell Carson, ‘Just put it around me. I’m a playmaker.’ I just want to make his job as easy as possible.”

Miami added another score on a 1-yard run by Fletcher, who scored two touchdowns in a single game for the fourth time in his career.

Aided by Hurricanes penalties, the Wildcats drove into Miami territory midway through the third quarter. But star defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. forced a fumble that UM recovered. The Hurricanes opted to put their backups in on the next drive.

After UM’s backups entered the game, freshman running back Girard Pringle scored his first career touchdown on a 30-yard run.

“It was a blessing,” Pringle said. “I couldn’t thank my O-line more. I couldn’t thank coach Cristobal for letting me get a chance to play tonight. It was all-around blessing to be able to do that in college.”

Five takeaways 1. Hurricanes take care of business

The chances of Bethune-Cookman beating the Hurricanes were near zero when the game kicked off. The Wildcats are an overmatched FCS team. But one of Miami’s in-state opponents did not take care of business. Florida, who UM will face at Hard Rock Stadium in two weeks, dropped a home game to USF on Saturday.

The Bulls are much better than the Wildcats. But the Gators were still multi-touchdown favorites against USF, and they lost. Miami’s players talked about staying focused in the week leading up to this game, and they were up to the task. Now UM has to prepare for next week’s matchup against those Bulls, who will likely be ranked for the first time since 2018 entering the game.

2. Offense complements each other

The Hurricanes’ offense rolled over Bethune-Cookman without a hitch. They did it with the passing game and running game clicking.

Beck set a UM record with his 15 consecutive completions to start the game, and he finished the contest 22 of 24 for 264 yards and a pair of scores. The Hurricanes’ running backs also performed well. Fletcher finished the game with 86 yards and two touchdowns, while Marty Brown notched 35 and a score.

Miami did not have a negative play while the starters were playing.

3. CJ Daniels a key find

Mario Cristobal wanted Daniels on his side when the receiver entered the transfer portal before the 2024 season. Daniels opted to go to LSU instead.

Cristobal got his man this offseason, and Daniels has repaid him with immediate production. The sixth-year receiver added another 73 receiving yards and two touchdowns after making one of the best catches of the season so far in Week 1.

4. Keionte Scott in the backfield

Miami defensive back Keionte Scott, who previously played at Auburn, lived in the Bethune-Cookman backfield on Saturday.

Scott had three tackles, all of which were for losses. Scott has four tackles this season.

“It’s definitely fun,” Scott said. “It’s something to do when coaches put me in that position to make that play, and I pride myself on being able to make those type of plays.”

5. Freshmen make an impact

Freshman Malachi Toney made a big splash in his first career game against Notre Dame, and he and other members of his recruiting class had solid games this week.

Toney led the Hurricanes with six catches for 80 yards in the win over the Wildcats. Fellow freshmen Luka Gilbert, Brock Schott and Daylyn Upshaw all had their first career catches. Pringle scored his first career touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

On defense, freshman safety and Miami Columbus alum Bryce Fitzgerald picked off a pass in the end zone. Chaminade-Madonna alum defensive lineman Donta Simpson had half a tackle for loss. Freshman linebacker Kellen Wiley also had his first career tackles.

“All those guys are amazing,” Pringle said. “I feel like we’re going to be next up.”

Heat’s Arison speaks at Hall induction of initial ownership doubts, roses from Shaq, perseverance of Spoelstra

South Florida Local News - Sat, 09/06/2025 - 17:34

Micky Arison insisted that his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame would be about more than his three-decade tenure as owner of the Miami Heat.

So as he spoke Saturday night at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Mass., not far from the sport’s shrine, he remained true to that vow.

Instead, he put the focus on those who helped engineer the franchise success that led to three championships, seven NBA Finals appearances, seven Eastern Conference championships, 10 Eastern Conference Finals appearances and 16 division titles.

At the start, that meant words of appreciation for Heat President Pat Riley and Heat icons Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning, as those three sat alongside as his hand-selected presenters.

But there also were moments of candor and backstory that offered a window into the meaning of the moments and the relationships cultivated since taking over stewardship of the franchise in February 1995.

At the outset, even before he took over controlling interest, he said there were doubts about whether his father, initial franchise owner Ted Arison, should pursue such a business interest beyond the family’s Carnival cruise line.

The Hall of Fame is filled with HEAT legends, and there are many more to come pic.twitter.com/MMgtdGAkql

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) September 7, 2025

“In 1988, my father was part of the group that brought the Miami Heat to Miami. Ironically, when I found out that he was talking to David Stern, I tried to convince him not to get involved,” Arison said of that meeting with the late NBA commissioner. “We had tremendous success in the cruise business and valued our privacy. But the Miami Heat and the game of basketball quickly became an all-consuming passion for our family.”

And, Arison acknowledged, the Heat became family, as he related a story about Heat championship center Shaquille O’Neal.

“During the time,” he said of O’Neal’s Heat tenure, “my 90-year-old mother-in-law joined us for every single home game. Shaq sent her a red rose with a funny little note and had it delivered to her seat before every game.”

Never change, @SHAQ

USF, up next for Miami Hurricanes, stun No. 13 UF in Swamp

South Florida Local News - Sat, 09/06/2025 - 17:09

GAINESVILLE — Another early season no-show in the Swamp by the Gators.

Another season on the brink for Florida coach Billy Napier.

A week after UF was virtually flawless against an overmatched FCS foe, the No. 13 Gators fell apart Saturday night during an 18-16 loss to unranked USF that put Napier back in familiar spot — behind the 8-ball and on the hot seat.

A 20-yard field goal by USF sophomore Nico Gramatica silenced a sellout crowd of 89,909 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and sent the Gators (1-1) reeling before the season has even started — and will get only tougher.

“There’s no excuse here,” he said about his latest stunning loss at UF. “I’m not here to make excuses.”

When a 17.5-point home favorite doesn’t score even 17.5 points, there are problems.

Having been through it during each of his three previous season, Napier — now 20-20 at UF — said he’s prepared for an   upcoming cacophony of criticism.

“We created it. We deserve it,” he said. “If you play football like that, you’re going to get criticized.”

UF coach Billy Napier, left, argues with head linesman Ralph Green during the USF at UF college football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville on Saturday, September 6, 2025. USF won the game 18-16. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Napier and the Gators will have to block out the noise while addressing a laundry list of concerns. If Florida cannot find some answers quickly, a season filled with high expectations could end up in free-fall.

Next up is one of the toughest four-game stretches over five weeks in program history, beginning with trips to No. 3 LSU Saturday and No. 5 Miami on Sept. 20. After a Sept. 27 bye week, the Gators host No. 6 Texas Oct. 4 followed by a trip to Texas A&M.

The Gators will have to improve in every way to have a chance against any of them.

“We can do much better. We can coach better. We can play better.” Napier said. “We have to do much better.”

Show Caption1 of 51USF kicker Nico Grammatica (7) is hoisted by teammates after kicking the winnng field goal as time ran out during the USF at UF college football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville on Saturday, September 6, 2025. USF won the game 18-16. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Expand

 

Facing a Group of Five program visiting one of college football’s toughest environments, Napier’s Gators could not finish drives, committed costly penalties and struggled to get the Bulls offense off the field.

“I don’t want to discredit South Florida,” Napier said. “Give them some credit for hanging around and finding a way to win the game.”

Florida could do no wrong in Week 1.

Napier’s team didn’t commit a penalty during a 55-0 trouncing of Long Island University. But against USF (2-0), UF had 11 for 103 yards, including two costly flags on the game-winning drive. Starting from their 11-yard line, the Bulls went 87 yards in eight plays to earn their first win in five meetings with the state’s flagship university.

A second-down pass interference on Dijon Johnson first cost UF 13 yards. On the next play, officials flagged Baylor transfer defensive tackle Brendan Bett 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct after he spit on USF offensive lineman Cole Skinner.

“He made a mistake there,” UF QB DJ Lagway said. “That doesn’t identify his character at all. He’s such a nice guy. He was in there crying and stuff like that, feeling bad, talking to the coaches, talking to the players, and apologizing for it.”

On the next play, Alvon Isaac, a sophomore from Hawthorne just east of Gainesville, took a screen pass from quarterback Byrum Brown 29 yards to the Gators’ 39. A 12-yard completion to sophomore Joshua Port of Sebring put the Bulls well within Gramatica’s range.

USF picked up 18 more yards on four plays to set up a chip shot for Gramatica. The son of the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Martin Gramatica came up several yards short from 58 yards with 2:52 remaining and USF going for the upset win.

The Gators, though, ran just 27 seconds off the clock.  A third-down incompletion by Lagway throwing to true freshman Vernell Brown III of Orlando forced UF to punt to the Bulls with 2:25 remaining.

“We got ourselves into a good play,” Napier said. “We had a chance on third down to put the game away basically.”

Things had begun to look bleak when the third quarter ended with the Gators trailing 15-9. The “Won’t Back Down” tradition played before the fourth quarter rang hollow for a Florida team at that point on its heels.

Florida receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) comes down with a touchdown catch in front of USF cornerback De'Shawn Rucker (22) during the USF at UF college football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville on Saturday, September 6, 2025. USF won the game 18-16. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

But the Gators and the Swamp soon came alive.

Fresh off a breakout performance in his debut, Brown III again ignited his team and sellout crowd, this time with a 40-yard punt return that ended with a shove in the back out of bounds from USF punter Chase Leon to tack on another 15 yards to the USF 24.

Three runs totaling 16 yards by sophomore tailback Jadan Baugh set up Lagway’s 4-yard scoring pass to Tre Wilson, a Tampa native once recruited by USF.

UF promptly forced a three-and-out with a second-down pass break-up by Aaron Chiles and third-down tackle in the flat by Myles Graham.

The Bulls, though, did not fade away after stunning Group of Five heavyweight Boise State 34-7 last week in Tampa.

Florida did not make the key plays on a night when Lagway was so-so, going 23 of 33 for 222 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

“Got to make the plays when I need to make the plays and when my guys are counting on me,” he said. “So I put all that on me.”

Meanwhile, the Gators defense could not contain Brown, who finished with 263 passing yards — including a 66-yard touchdown to Keshaun Singleton for a 13-9 lead — and 66 rushing yards on 17 carries.

Four of UF’s seven second-half possessions ended in punts, another with an interception, another with a USF safety and only one with a touchdown, when Lagway found Wilson to give UF a 16-15 lead with 12:29 remaining.

But the Gators could not hold on to their slim lead to prevent another inexplicable loss for Napier and tough scene in the team’s locker room.

“We were definitely heartbroken, sad, mad,” Lagway said. “We could have played a lot better. We left a lot of points on the drawing board.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Harper homers and NL East-leading Phillies beat Marlins 4-2

South Florida Local News - Sat, 09/06/2025 - 16:05

MIAMI (AP) — Bryce Harper homered, Brandon Marsh doubled twice and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 4-2 on Saturday.

Jesús Luzardo struck out eight over six innings of two-run ball for the NL East-leading Phillies. Luzardo (13-6) allowed five hits and walked four.

Phillies star slugger Kyle Schwarber went 0-for-3 and was hit twice. Schwarber remains at 49 homers since he went deep four times against Atlanta on Aug. 28. He hit a drive to the warning track in the ninth that was caught by centerfielder Jakob Marsee.

After winning three of four at the New York Mets Aug. 28-31, the Marlins have lost five straight.

Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto threw out Agustín Ramírez and Maximo Acosta on unsuccessful stolen base attempts in the second and sixth.

Harper gave the Phillies a quick lead with a two-run homer in the first. He drove a fastball from Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara over the wall in center for his 24th home run.

Philadelphia padded the lead in the fourth on Harrison Bader’s run-scoring single and Bryson Stott’s sacrifice fly.

Miami narrowed the deficit in the bottom half, when Eric Wagaman doubled and Javier Sanoja added an RBI infield single.

David Robertson and Matt Strahm followed Luzardo with scoreless innings each before Jhoan Duran closed for his 27th save.

Alcantara (8-12) gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out four.

Key moment

After he issued walks to Wagaman and Sanoja, Luzardo ended his outing by retiring Troy Johnston on a flyout for the third out in the sixth.

Key stat

Harper has 33 RBIs over his last 50 games.

Up next

RHP Taijuan Walker (4-7, 3.92 ERA) will start the series finale for the Phillies on Sunday while the Marlins have not announced a starter.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Jaden Nixon’s career night powers UCF past North Carolina A&T

South Florida Local News - Sat, 09/06/2025 - 15:05

Jaden Nixon looked skyward as a slow rain pitter-pattered its way onto the field at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium.

Among the drops of rain falling from the black sky was a football, which quietly landed into Nixon’s arms before the talented UCF running back took one step, then another and another as the redshirt senior picked up speed.

He dodged one tackle and then another and soon the only thing in front of Nixon was green grass and open space. Thirteen seconds and 96 yards later, he found himself in the end zone for a touchdown on the opening kickoff.

It was the first of what would be three touchdowns on the night for Nixon, whose big performance led UCF to an impressive 68-7 win Saturday over North Carolina A&T.

It’s the third consecutive year in which UCF has opened a season 2-0.

It was Nixon’s second career kickoff return for a touchdown and the first kickoff return for a touchdown by the Knights since Mike Hughes achieved the same feat on Nov. 24, 2017.

Show Caption1 of 24UCF Knights fans show their resilience on the night of a rain delayed football game against North Carolina A&T Aggies at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel) Expand

 

Ironically, Scott Frost was the head coach at UCF during the last kickoff return for a touchdown.

“It looked eerily similar. I actually thought about it instantly when he came up the hash and broke left and ran about the same track as Mike did back in the day,” said Frost. “It was a little bit of deja vu for me, but it’s a good way to start the game.”

“I had one before, but I’ve been wanting to go get another one ever since then and now I want to go get another one after that,” Nixon added jokingly. “I know the guys on the team feel the same way, so we’re going to keep putting in the work even after this week.”

UCF quarterback Tayven Jackson earned his first start of the season on Saturday, leading the Knights to a 68-7 win over North Carolina A&T. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

Tayven Jackson took his first snaps as the starting quarterback, leading the Knights on an 8-play, 64-yard scoring drive that was highlighted by a 49-yard completion from Jackson to receiver Duane Thomas Jr. at the goal line. Two plays later, Jackson burst through the NCAT defense for a 1-yard score.

Jackson earned the start in place of Cam Fancher, who missed the game after suffering an injury early in the second quarter in the team’s 17-10 win over Jacksonville State a week ago Thursday.

“There was some good and there’s some bad,” Jackson said of assessing his performance. “We could be better at some things and as a team, we want to be great, so we’re going to go in the film room and fix what we did wrong, but also enjoy the win, because it’s hard to win football games.”

With UCF facing a bye week before hosting North Carolina on Sept. 20, Frost wasn’t willing to commit to any one quarterback moving forward.

“We’ve got a bye week to think about it, see who’s healthy and who’s available and we’ll talk as a staff, but I don’t think it’s going to be tough,” Frost indicated.

After an interception by UCF linebacker Jayden McDonald on the Aggies’ next possession, Jackson scampered 4 yards for another touchdown and a 21-0 lead.

Severe weather in the area delayed the start of the game by an hour. This marked the second consecutive game for the Knights to experience a weather delay. Their opener against Jacksonville State had been pushed back by more than two hours due to nearby lightning.

UCF Knights wide receiver Marcus Burke (3) can’t hold onto the pass during the college football game against North Carolina A&T Aggies at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium in Orlando, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)

UCF’s defense got in on the scoring as well, as edge rusher Nyjalik Kelly forced a fumble after sacking NCAT quarterback Champ Long in the end zone. Defensive end Rodney Lora recovered it for a touchdown.

It was the first fumble recovery for a touchdown since Demari Henderson’s 87-yard return for a score against Baylor on Sept. 30, 2023.

The Knights held the NCAT (0-2) to just 200 yards of offense, while forcing an interception and a fumble.

“We talked about getting turnovers all week,” said Kelly, who finished with 4 tackles, a sack, a quarterback hit and a forced fumble. “We talked about starting fast early. So it was a blessing that we were able to get interceptions early and get two sacks early.”

Nixon added an 87-yard touchdown run at the start of the second quarter that pushed the lead to 34-0. It was UCF’s third-longest run from scrimmage, tying him with Kevin Smith (2007) and Adrian Killins (2016).

Noe Ruelas added a pair of field goals (34 and 36 yards).

Nixon added another touchdown run — a 66-yarder midway through the third quarter — to push the UCF advantage to 47-0. He finished the game with four carries for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Jackson went 12 of 21 for 189 yards with a pair of rushing touchdowns. He was replaced in the second half by Jacurri Brown, who added a pair of rushing touchdowns.

UCF, meanwhile, finished with a season-high 560 yards of offense, fueled by 356 rushing yards. It was the most rushing yards by the Knights since totaling 384 against Sam Houston State last season.

Find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

FSU honors Ethan Pritchard and his dad during and after Saturday victory

South Florida Local News - Sat, 09/06/2025 - 14:50

Father Earl Pritchard and Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard were honored during and after FSU’s 77-3 victory over East Texas A&M on Saturday.

The younger Pritchard was shot this past Sunday in Havana, a town about 16 miles northwest of Tallahassee. Ethan Pritchard remains stable but in critical condition at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where he had surgery for a gunshot to the back of the head.

Ethan Pritchard, who played at Sanford Seminole High, was driving his aunt and his 2-year-old cousin home from a family gathering when Pritchard’s car began taking on gunfire and he was hit. No other injuries were reported. 

Seminole LB Ethan Pritchard stays true to mother he never knew, commits to FSU

On Saturday, Earl Pritchard was on the sidelines during the Seminoles’ victory, decked out in a gold FSU jersey with Ethan’s No. 35 and Pritchard embroidered across the back. After the win, Earl Pritchard was honored with being the one to break the victory “rock” in the FSU locker room, a traditional custom after FSU victories.

In the locker room, coach Mike Norvell told his players before handing Earl Pritchard the game ball: “Ethan’s dad came to spend the day with us. He told me the other day this is where his boy wants him to be. We got it done for him,” Norvell said, handing the game ball to Earl. “I want you to take that to him.”

Norvell has been trying to keep his players abreast of Ethan’s situation and had this to say on Tuesday:

“I talked to Ethan’s dad this morning. I’m trying to check on him, check on Ethan. I was able to go by yesterday for a short period of time with limited visitation, just getting a chance to be there for a handful of minutes. It was good to be with him,” Norvell said.

Seminole High coach Karl Calhoun set up a GoFundMe page for the Pritchard family and as of Saturday at 5 p.m., $116,552 had been raised.

Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.

  
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